During the week or so since I last wrote about this story, Aaron attempted to overcome his sexuality once more by showing a renewed interest in his ex-girlfriend Victoria, but when she began to show signs of reciprocating, Aaron backed off.
The one time that Aaron had ventured into that gay pub in the nearby town he'd met Jackson, a guy who'd not only caught his attention, but who'd also seemed interested in Aaron. When Aaron ran out of the pub, he left his phone behind and Jackson ended up returning it to Paddy, thereby inadvertently setting off the chain of events that lead to Paddy thinking Aaron was dealing drugs and, ultimately, to finding out he was gay.
This week, Jackson showed up at the garage where Aaron works, explaining that he was doing a job nearby (he's got his own construction business). Aaron was too nervous to be seen talking with Jackson in the village, but he agreed to meet him for a drink in town later. In the end, though, Aaron stood Jackson up to hang out with Victoria instead.
That brings us up to yesterday's emotionally charged episodes. They started off with Aaron's best friend, Adam, inviting him for a 'lads only' night out at the pub. Aaron agreed (and I loved the quick glance he gave Adam a he was walking away; even though Aaron knows nothing will ever happen between the two of them, I think he still has some pretty strong feelings for his best friend), but in the end Adam's girlfriend Scarlett crashed their evening with a female friend in tow who was very interested in our Mr. Livesy.
In fact, it turned in to an uncomfortable evening for Aaron all around as he tried to ignore the blatant flirtations of Briony, only to have Adam wonder why he wasn't going for a woman whom 'any guy' would want. To top it all off, Jackson showed up at the pub with another guy.
Aaron pulled Jackson outside to ask what he was doing there, and Jackson explained that he was just having a drink with a co-worker. Aaron was too nervous to even be seen talking with Jackson and went back inside, where Paddy soon arrived and noticed Aaron's predicament.
In the end, Aaron took Briony back to his place, but she soon picked up on the fact that he wasn't all that interested and stormed off. She'd barely gone before Jackson knocked on the door, explaining that he'd been on his way to the bus stop and had seen her leave.
Jackson told Aaron that he just didn't get him- he was sending out all these signals, and yet he'd brought home a woman. What was his problem? Aaron asked what Jackson wanted him to say and Jackson told him to be honest- did he want Jackson to stay or to go?
Aaron: Yeah, because it's that easy.
Jackson: It's easier than thinking that no one can like you, or help you.
Aaron: I don't need any help.
Jackson: That's what I was like before I told anybody! I mean, I was just sick all the time, I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, I was that scared that I could get found out at any minute!
Aaron: What?
Jackson: Even telling some of my friends, and my mum and dad, I thought 'if they found out tomorrow, they're not going to want anything to do with me'. It just makes your life sad and it kills you.
Aaron: What happened? When you told them?
Jackson: Nothing. They just want me to be happy. Because you can be.
Jackson: It's easier than thinking that no one can like you, or help you.
Aaron: I don't need any help.
Jackson: That's what I was like before I told anybody! I mean, I was just sick all the time, I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, I was that scared that I could get found out at any minute!
Aaron: What?
Jackson: Even telling some of my friends, and my mum and dad, I thought 'if they found out tomorrow, they're not going to want anything to do with me'. It just makes your life sad and it kills you.
Aaron: What happened? When you told them?
Jackson: Nothing. They just want me to be happy. Because you can be.
I loved Aaron's reaction during this conversation so much. He started off as defensive as ever, pushing Jackson away, but then his body language completely changed as he realized that this was someone who understood exactly what he was going through. As Jackson talked, the two began to slowly move closer, inching towards their first kiss.
Meanwhile, there are only a few people who know that Aaron was the person who beat up Paddy, and one of them is Paddy's best friend Marlon (who also happens to be a cousin of Aaron's mother; like I said, it's a small village!). Marlon has been deeply worried for his friend and confused as to why Paddy continues to not only let Aaron live with him, but also to cover up what he did.
When Paddy saw Aaron leave the pub with Briony, he became visibly upset and Marlon misread his worry over Aaron as Paddy being afraid of Aaron. Marlon tried to confront Paddy about the situation once again and wouldn't drop it. Paddy headed for home, with Marlon in hot pursuit, and the two walked in just in time to interrupt what would have been a hot kiss between Jackson and Aaron.
Paddy was mortified at having come in at the wrong time and tried to get Marlon to leave with him, but Marlon once again misread the situation and thought Paddy was acting 'like a battered wife' who was afraid to get in Aaron's way.
Jackson ended up walking out when Aaron wouldn't tell Marlon who he was, and I loved that Paddy urged Aaron to go after him and that Aaron actually listened. Aaron caught up with Jackson and apologized, saying that things were just coming a bit 'too close to home'. Jackson corrected him, telling him that he meant things were becoming a bit too real.
When the guys spotted Adam walking towards them, Jackson told Aaron that he wouldn't stay around and embarrass him and this time Aaron let him walk away.
Paddy, meanwhile, told Marlon that he had to back off and that if he didn't, they couldn't be friends any more. Marlon left, but later that night Paddy showed up at his door, apologizing and telling him that he needed someone to talk to.
Paddy explained that he'd given Aaron his word, but that he didn't know what to do and was so worried that he couldn't sleep at night. He explained to Marlon that he wasn't afraid of Aaron, but afraid for him.
Marlon was stunned when Paddy told him that Aaron was gay, saying that if it was anyone other than Aaron, he could believe it more easily. Marlon told his friend that Aaron's sexuality was no excuse for what he'd done to Paddy, though, pointing out that they knew other gay guys who didn't behave that way.
Paddy broke my heart when he summed up Aaron perfectly, telling Marlon how much Aaron hated himself for being gay and pointing out to Marlon that the boy had never had anyone to love him and that the reason he pushed away everyone who tried was because he was testing their limits. Aaron was convinced, Paddy said, that being gay was the thing that would make him lose everyone just when he was starting to believe that he could be loved.
Marlon thought that they should tell Aaron's mother, Chastity, and that together they could talk the rest of the family around (including their Uncle Zak, the head of the family, who isn't likely to be supportive) and show Aaron that he was accepted, but Paddy told Marlon they couldn't say anything or Aaron would never trust him again.
Later, Aaron returned home and confronted Paddy about whether or not Marlon had figured out the truth from what they'd walked in on that evening. Paddy insisted that he hadn't, but Aaron didn't believe him and smashed a vase while saying that this was exactly what he never wanted, people looking at him like he was pervert, like someone who would "do that with other men".
Dominic Brunt, who plays Paddy, was great in this scene as he was able to convey through body language that Paddy was obviously scared, especially when Aaron got right in his face, but was at the same time determined to trust that Aaron wasn't going to hurt him again.
Aaron demanded to know who Marlon was going to tell- his mother? his uncle Cain?- and said that they'd think he was sick and want nothing more to do with him. Aaron broke down (and broke my heart) as he tearfully asked Paddy what he was going to do.
Paddy told him that he had to be honest with his mother, that he thought she'd support him, but when Aaron said that he couldn't, Paddy said that he didn't know what to do, that he'd tried everything he could and it just seemed to make things worse. Only Aaron could decide what to do now.
The final scene had me in tears myself as Aaron, unsuccessfully fighting back tears of his own, and having difficulty speaking, called Jackson's phone and left him a message, apologizing for what had happened and saying that no one else gets what he's going through except for Jackson and that he really needs someone to talk to.
Fantastic scenes! Danny Miller just completely blows me away, but Dominic Brunt has also been amazing in this story. I love Paddy and Aaron's relationship, and I love that Aaron finally seems to be realizing that he doesn't want to even pretend to be interested in women anymore and is struggling to reach out for someone to talk to.
As great as the emotional final scenes were, I think I was actually more impressed with Danny's work in the earlier scene with Jackson, where you could see Aaron visibly realizing for the first time in his life that he wasn't alone, that someone really did understand. A truly great actor can convey so much without saying a word, and we really saw that demonstrated during that scene.
Meanwhile, there are only a few people who know that Aaron was the person who beat up Paddy, and one of them is Paddy's best friend Marlon (who also happens to be a cousin of Aaron's mother; like I said, it's a small village!). Marlon has been deeply worried for his friend and confused as to why Paddy continues to not only let Aaron live with him, but also to cover up what he did.When Paddy saw Aaron leave the pub with Briony, he became visibly upset and Marlon misread his worry over Aaron as Paddy being afraid of Aaron. Marlon tried to confront Paddy about the situation once again and wouldn't drop it. Paddy headed for home, with Marlon in hot pursuit, and the two walked in just in time to interrupt what would have been a hot kiss between Jackson and Aaron.
Paddy was mortified at having come in at the wrong time and tried to get Marlon to leave with him, but Marlon once again misread the situation and thought Paddy was acting 'like a battered wife' who was afraid to get in Aaron's way.
Jackson ended up walking out when Aaron wouldn't tell Marlon who he was, and I loved that Paddy urged Aaron to go after him and that Aaron actually listened. Aaron caught up with Jackson and apologized, saying that things were just coming a bit 'too close to home'. Jackson corrected him, telling him that he meant things were becoming a bit too real.
When the guys spotted Adam walking towards them, Jackson told Aaron that he wouldn't stay around and embarrass him and this time Aaron let him walk away.
Paddy, meanwhile, told Marlon that he had to back off and that if he didn't, they couldn't be friends any more. Marlon left, but later that night Paddy showed up at his door, apologizing and telling him that he needed someone to talk to.
Paddy explained that he'd given Aaron his word, but that he didn't know what to do and was so worried that he couldn't sleep at night. He explained to Marlon that he wasn't afraid of Aaron, but afraid for him.
Marlon was stunned when Paddy told him that Aaron was gay, saying that if it was anyone other than Aaron, he could believe it more easily. Marlon told his friend that Aaron's sexuality was no excuse for what he'd done to Paddy, though, pointing out that they knew other gay guys who didn't behave that way.
Paddy broke my heart when he summed up Aaron perfectly, telling Marlon how much Aaron hated himself for being gay and pointing out to Marlon that the boy had never had anyone to love him and that the reason he pushed away everyone who tried was because he was testing their limits. Aaron was convinced, Paddy said, that being gay was the thing that would make him lose everyone just when he was starting to believe that he could be loved.
Marlon thought that they should tell Aaron's mother, Chastity, and that together they could talk the rest of the family around (including their Uncle Zak, the head of the family, who isn't likely to be supportive) and show Aaron that he was accepted, but Paddy told Marlon they couldn't say anything or Aaron would never trust him again.
Later, Aaron returned home and confronted Paddy about whether or not Marlon had figured out the truth from what they'd walked in on that evening. Paddy insisted that he hadn't, but Aaron didn't believe him and smashed a vase while saying that this was exactly what he never wanted, people looking at him like he was pervert, like someone who would "do that with other men".
Dominic Brunt, who plays Paddy, was great in this scene as he was able to convey through body language that Paddy was obviously scared, especially when Aaron got right in his face, but was at the same time determined to trust that Aaron wasn't going to hurt him again.
Aaron demanded to know who Marlon was going to tell- his mother? his uncle Cain?- and said that they'd think he was sick and want nothing more to do with him. Aaron broke down (and broke my heart) as he tearfully asked Paddy what he was going to do.
Paddy told him that he had to be honest with his mother, that he thought she'd support him, but when Aaron said that he couldn't, Paddy said that he didn't know what to do, that he'd tried everything he could and it just seemed to make things worse. Only Aaron could decide what to do now.
The final scene had me in tears myself as Aaron, unsuccessfully fighting back tears of his own, and having difficulty speaking, called Jackson's phone and left him a message, apologizing for what had happened and saying that no one else gets what he's going through except for Jackson and that he really needs someone to talk to.
Fantastic scenes! Danny Miller just completely blows me away, but Dominic Brunt has also been amazing in this story. I love Paddy and Aaron's relationship, and I love that Aaron finally seems to be realizing that he doesn't want to even pretend to be interested in women anymore and is struggling to reach out for someone to talk to.
As great as the emotional final scenes were, I think I was actually more impressed with Danny's work in the earlier scene with Jackson, where you could see Aaron visibly realizing for the first time in his life that he wasn't alone, that someone really did understand. A truly great actor can convey so much without saying a word, and we really saw that demonstrated during that scene.
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