i’m on my way to believing (for @shonamariex)





He stares at himself in the mirror for a good while. He’s wearing a grey long sleeve top with a pointless button and a pair of denim jeans. His hair isn’t as styled as it usually is because he can’t be bothered.

There’s a knock on the door and his mum opens it with a smile on her face after Aaron tells her to come in. “You look lovely.”

His cheeks turn red. “Whatever.”

She hangs by the door for a second. “They’re waiting for you in the taxi outside.”

He grabs for his coat and dodges her attempt to squeeze his cheek. She looks so happy for him it’s a joke.

“Have fun love.” She says and he nods out a reply before heading for the stairs.

—

He’s stuck against a sticky wall and trying to look out towards the bar when he notices someone dancing like an absolute maniac a few feet away. He’s moving his arms around in the air, a massive grin on his face as he nods and then the music changes and he slows down again.

He’s everything he’s been trying to avoid seeing in this bar that they’ve dragged him to for reasons he doesn’t even want to disclose. Perhaps they revolve around him being a moody prat who can’t get over the lonely existence of his life. Maybe it’s that.

The man dancing slows as their eyes meet and he tries to look away but the man smiles at him and he’s paralysed for a second. He can’t remember the last time someone’s looked at him without wanting to get their hands down his pants.

“Oi. Aaron, another pint yeah?” Adam’s loud voice manages to block out the way he’s looking at the man, his blonde hair disappears from view and he shakes his head before staring at Adam.

“Yeah. Go on. One more.” Matty’s saying, poking at Aaron’s rib and then moving back as Aaron scowls at him. “Cheer up.”

Aaron sighs hard. “You know how sick I am of hearing that?”

“You’re young, alright looking —“

Aaron rolls his eyes, says, “Can you stop trying to psych me up ‘cause it ain’t working.” He crosses his arms over and sighs.

Adam’s laughing though, head rolled back as he looks out at the bar. “Let’s think of the percentage of gays in here.” He says and Aaron really wants the ground to swallow him up. He runs a hand across his face and then pulls Adam’s arm down when he starts pointing.

“You’re pissed.”

“Yeah and you’re lonely.” It hurts more than Adam probably thinks it does.

Aaron closes his eyes and then pushes past them until he’s at the bar and he’s staring down at a shot of something he shouldn’t be drinking.

“I hear that they put all sorts of stuff in them.”

Aaron turns to see that the dancing guy is next to him, his shoulders brushing against his. Aaron stares up at him, he’s got this soft half smirk on his face like he knows Aaron’s going to fall at his feet.

He can really, really think again.

“The shots.”

Aaron just looks away. “Thanks for the heads up.” He says before downing it and moving to step away. The guy steps closer and Aaron stares at his chest instead of his face. “What?”

“Your friendliness. It’s charming.” He says before he dips his head down. “I’m Robert.”

Aaron muses on the name for a second, he looks at him and can’t help but feels this pull of ‘I so would’ but then something pins him back and he can’t stop it. He’s almost frozen for a second and he pushes at Robert’s chest.

“And I’m not interested.” He says before he hears Matty call out his name and sees them heading towards the exit.

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