Chapter Text
George woke up before Ringo, and was immediately caught off guard when he was apparently spooning him in his sleep. He knew it'd happened before with people he's shared a bed with, but it felt different with Ringo. He tried to not pay much attention to it. George picked up his phone and kinda messed around with defferent apps. Then, he remembered he and Paul didn't finish talking yesterday because of, well, whatever made John scream.
He put his phone down and groaned before rubbing his temples as if Paul was already pissing him off. He wanted to finish the conversation, but the topic made George's whole face turn into a bright pink. He didn't know why, it was only talking about a friend, a friend whom he cares for and likes very much. George knew he had to ask to finish the conversation himself, or else Paul would bring it up and he would dread it more than he already does.
George hesitantly picked up his phone, pulled up Paul's contact, and texted him, "Hey, can we finish talking about the stuff yesterday? Since John started yelling his lungs off before we could finish" George typed slowly, trying not to just delete the message. and abandon the whole discussion entirely.
It took a few minutes until Paul replied. "Of course, I was about to force it out of you if you didn't ask anyway! How does 17:00 at the park sound?"
"Great, see ya then"
George put his phone down and layed down. After a couple of seconds, he found himself staring at Ringo sleeping. He kept thinking about how cute and peaveful he looked. George couldn't help but smile at the other man. How could he not? Ringo was always smily and adorable, but he looked most at peace when asleep. It was like it was the only place he could relax.
Then after a couple more minutes of staring, Ringo was finally starting to slowly awake from his sleep.
"Mm.. G'morning, Georgie.."
"Mornin' Ritchie,"
Ringo yawned, "How'd ya sleep?"
"I slept alright. Hey, in a couple hours I'm gonna go see Paul, d'ya mind if I stay here until then?"
"Not at all, I'd let ya live here if ya wanted."
George and Ringo smiled at each other, half because of the bad joke Ringo made and half because they just wanted to smile at each other. They spent their morning talking and watching TV together, and maybe some cuddling too. George actually forgot about having to meet up with Paul at some point. Until Ringo brought it up,
"Hey, what time did'ya have to see Paul?"
"Oh shit, I totally forgot about that. I think around 17:00?" George checked his phone for the time, and it was 17:23. And no surprise, he had about 1,000 messages from Paul.
George sighed and got up, he really didn't wanna leave. "I'm really sorry I have to go, like, now."
"Nah, it's alright Georgie, hope ya have fun!"
"I'll see you later okay? Bye!"
And right when George was shutting the door, he could've swore he heard Ringo quietly say "I love you." Now he was almost to a point he just wanted to tell Paul he wasn't feeling well enough to talk, but he knew he had to do it now so that it would be over with sooner.
George walked slowly to the park. He walked even slower when he saw the park nearing. He knew he had to talk about it, but he still dreaded even thinking about it near Paul, of all people. Once he got to the park, he looked around for Paul, and by looked, he just took a couple of steps and turned his head a bit. But of course, Paul just had to spot him first.
"'Ey, Georgie!!"
Damn it.
"Hey Paul, wanna just go sit at the bench over there?"
"Yeah, as long as you tell me everything!"
George blushed at the thought of getting everything out, it wasn't dirty thoughts or anything, it just felt embarrassing. He wondered how Paul would react if he told him everything he thought of about Ringo. Would he laugh or would he take him seriously for once? He really hoped he actually takes it seriously.
The second they sat down on that bench, Paul immediately started talking. (Surprise, surprise.)
"Tell me everything: like what you guys say to each other, what you think about, if any of you've made flirty comments, anything out of the norm for something 'platonic' because if you want me to help you, I have to know everything."
George dragged his hands over his face. He already regrets this. "That's the thing, we're just normal friends, as far as I know. I don't even have a clue what could've made me have a crush on him."
Paul frowned, "Seriously? Even I could figure out why you have a crush on him, and I don't even soend that much time with you guys together!"
"What? We spend like everyday with you and John."
Paul grinned, "I know, but it still leads me to point A: You guys always find an excuse to hang out with each other alone. Not with me or John, just you two. Not only that, y'know, but the excuses are always a load of B.S. that you and Ringo come up with the same minute. If you guys didn't always swear on your mothers' lives that you weren't dating, I would've thought you were shagging. But who knows," he shrugged his shoulders, "you don't have to be in a relationship to shag."
George blanked. Paul was right, he and Ringo always try to sneak off to be alone together. It's not like they're doing anything sexual or romantic, though. They just hang out alone, most the time just staring at each other and laughing about it, but he wasn't convinced that that was the reason.
George slowly exhaled, "You said that was point A, do you have a point B, as well?"
"Yes, infact I do have a point B: Everytime all 4 of us hang out and you and Ringo are, y'know, ACTUALLY there, you guys just stare and smile at each other, you have no interest in what John and I are saying. It's not just normal stares or glances at each other either. Ringo looks sad about something, and it's not his resting face. He looks like he's been yearning for you for years or something. And you always stare the longest, like you're trying to replicate him in your mind so you can remember it for the rest of your life. You stare at him as if he's God himself."
"When the hell did you turn into Shakespeare?"
Paul laughed and slapped George on shoulder, "It's the truth, y'know."
George thought about it for a minute, it was only two things and it sounded like a solid theory, but he knew that couldn't be it.
"By the way, I do have types..or whatever you call them." George said confidently
"Oh you do? Let's hear 'em then!"
George sat up, more positive than ever, "I feel like I need someone who can make me laugh on the worst days ever, someone that I can look into their eyes and forget all the horrible things in my life. I want someone who I think is the prettiest in the whole world, they don't actually have to be; I want my love for them to be so strong that I think they are and there's no changing my mind."
Paul looked very bored and only spoke up after a few sentences, "So, someone like Ringo?"
"What?"
"I only hear some of the things you guys mumble to each other and I know that you just described how you feel about Ringo."
"The mumblings are just jokes we don't want you hearing."
"How is 'You look dashing today' or 'I never wanna stop being near you' a joke? Especially when both of you are eye-fuckin' each other into oblivion."
George was convinced his whole face had turned red. "They could be inside jokes!"
"I'm not stupid, Hazza." It was obvious Paul was annoyed at this point. "You and Ringo 've got huge crushes on each other and if any of ya keep denying it, it's more than likely gonna fade and one of you'll be heartbroken. Because ye got two options: Either you or Ringo'll be crushed or neither of you'll be sad and you'll feel happier than ever."
George actually felt a pang in his chest. The thought of hurting Ringo in any way, even just a little bit, made him feel like the worst person ever. He loved the sound of the second option, but he didn't know how to bring it up. If Ringo saw it all as platonic it'll be awkward for the both of them, but if it's mutual George would be on cloud nine for a whole year. It felt hard to choose what to do when each option had big changes to their dynamic. George thought about it for a couple of minutes that felt like hours while Paul stared at him.
Eventually, Paul got bored. "Alright, 's gettin' boring watching you think about Ringo shirtless and on top of ye, unless ya wanna talk about that as well?"
"Bog off!" At least George was smiling now.
"Okay, okay! Is there anything else you'd like to talk about?"
"Not really, it's just- Like, how do I even bring it up without it being awkward?"
Paul sighed, "It's gonna have to be awkward; that part sucks, but once you tell him it'll be worth it. Trust me."
"Not if he doesn't like me back." George whispered to himself.
"Oh my God." Paul groaned, opened his phone, and texted John if Ringo's said anything. No surprise, when John answered he said 'He doesn't even have to say anything, it's obvious just looking at them on their average day together!'
George raised an eyebrow. "What the hell are ye doing?"
"Nothing, and ye don't have to worry about Ringo not liking ya."
"Huh?"
"Look, it doesn't matter if he ends up liking you back or not Once you tell him it'll feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders."
"I'll take your word for it." George pointed at Paul, "Oh, and by the way, this the one and only thing I'm trusting you on, like, ever."
"Alright," Paul rolled his eyes, "don't be surprised that the day you tell him is gonna be the only good day in yer life!"
They both stood up and George immediately hugged Paul.
"Thank you for lettin' me bore you with all this."
"No problem, now I have something new about you and Ringo to tell John. Not that we didn't know, just ye finally admitted it."
"You make it hard to enjoy being your friend, you know that, right?"
"Arsehole!"
George and Paul laughed a bit before they each walked back home. Except, surprise surprise, George was going back to Ringo's house. He didn't want Ringo to worry about him if he didn't come back.
———
Once he was at Ringo's doorstep he almost came in without knocking. He guessed it was because he was here so often it felt like his second house. George knocked on his door, and it only took a few seconds before John opened the door.
"Hey John, is Ringo in there?"
John just looked at him, not even trying to look sober. Ringo came to the door and smiled, "Georgie! Yer finally back!"
It was so obvious both of them were buzzed, well, Ringo was buzzed, John was already drunk. Ringo lifted up a full bottle in his hand,
"Ya want one?"
George took it the moment Ringo offered, he'd just dealt with Paul alone for over 10 minutes, he needed a drink.
Soon George his second, then his third, then it was around his four or fifth that he forgot about the beer altogether. John was sprawled out on the floor, probably sleeping. George and Ringo on the couch watching TV, not actually paying attention to whatever was on. George was laying on top of Ringo with his head in between his stomach and his chest with his arms wrapped around Ringo's waist. They were both just spouting whatever nonsense came to their mind first.
10, maybe 20 minutes later, Paul knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Ringo shouted.
"I can't when the door's locked!"
Ringo got up, which made George a little sad. Paul came in and noticed George on the couch and John on the floor.
"Jesus Christ." He mumbled.
"What are ye even doing here anyway?" George said from the couch.
"John texted me earlier that he was gonna go to Ringo's house to drink with him, it was while you and me were talking."
George looked at Ringo next, "Wow, so you didn't want me to drink with ya? Real great friend!" He said dramatically.
Ringo laughed and sat down next to where George was laying, "You were still talkin' to Paul and I didn't wanna interrupt!"
George smiled and scooted to put his head on Ringo's lap, "Yer so sweet, I hope ya know that."
Paul shook his head, "That's literally just what any normal person would do."
"Shut up, let me compliment someone I love."
"I'm surprised yer not bothered by Ringo's hard-on right now," Paul muttered.
"What?" George and Ringo said at the same time.
"Oh, nothing! 'Ey Georgie, want me to take ya home? I'm already driving John, so it's no biggie."
"Eh, I don't feel like movin right now."
"Of course you don't."
"Wha's that supposed t' mean?"
Paul ignored George's question and lifted John up from off the floor.
"See'ya lads!"
"Bye!" George and Ringo shouted.
When Paul was out of the door George sighed in relief, "Finally, I never wanna deal with him, especially alone, ever again."
"Huh?"
"Paul can jus' be so.. annoying. Is it mean to say that? I- I still love him, but who knew someone could talk so much?"
Ringo loudly laughed, "I don't think 's rude, 's fine if a friend does somethin' you don't like."
George sat up and turned to face Ringo, "Yer like the best person ever, like, to be in my life. Don't tell Paul or John, but yer my favorite person."
"You're my favorite person, too, Georgie. You're the only one of the four to actually know I exist."
"Well John and Paul are missin' out then, 'cause you're the best person in the world."
"I doubt I am in the whole world."
"You are in mine." George blurted it out without thinking. Thank God he was drunk.
Ringo crawled closer to George, and was eventually on top of him. Both of them were breathing heavily, it felt unreal. Ringo relaxed and bent down, softly pressing his lips onto George's. George kissed him back and cupped Ringo's face. After a few seconds, Ringo pulled back. The both of them wanted more, but accepted that a little kiss was all they were getting.
———
Around an hour later, Ringo and George headed off to bed. They weren't letting a little kiss make everything awkward, so they still shared Ringo's. At this point, the drunkeness had wore off a bit. George and Ringo were both thinking about the kiss, but Ringo was also thinking about what George said before.
"Georgie," Ringo whispered.
"Hm?" George mumbled, half-asleep
"Y'know the thing you said like an hour or two ago, like the 'best person in your world' thing?"
George was wide awake now, "Yeah, sorry about that-"
"No, you don't have to be sorry. I'm just wondering if it was true or you just said it to make me feel better."
"Why would I say something so special to you and not mean it?"
Ringo grinned and scooted to hug George. George hugged back even tighter. Maybe beer isn't the worst thing in the world.