Work Text:
George O'Malley had always been the guy who finished last. He was the lovable underdog, the one who always put others before himself, but never seemed to catch a break. And then he met Alex Karev, the polar opposite of everything George stood for. Alex was confident, cocky, and always put himself first. He was also one of the best surgeons George had ever seen. Well, he would be if he could get over his ego.
George tried to hate Alex, he really did, but the more time they spent together in the halls of Seattle Grace, the more he found himself drawn to the other man's charisma and charm. He watched as Alex effortlessly won over patients and colleagues alike, while George struggled to make a name for himself.
It didn't help that Alex was also incredibly attractive. George tried to push the thoughts out of his head, but he couldn't help the way his heart fluttered every time Alex flashed him a smile or brushed against him in the crowded hallways.
He knew that Alex would never feel the same way about him. Alex was straight, for one thing, and even if he weren't, he would never be interested in someone like George. He was just the dorky sidekick, the guy who was always there to pick up the pieces when someone else got their heart broken. Definitely not Alex's type at all.
But that didn't stop him from dreaming. He couldn't help picturing a world where he and Alex were together, where Alex looked at him with the same longing that George felt every time he caught a glimpse of the other man. It was a dangerous fantasy, one that he knew could only end in heartbreak, but he couldn't help himself.
He tried to push his feelings down, bury them deep inside where no one else could see. He pretended to be nothing more than friends with Alex, laughed at his jokes, and listened to his stories, all while silently dying inside. And he knew that he would keep doing it, keep pining after Alex Karev, until the day he finally moved on or his heart shattered into a million irreparable pieces. He had been through this kind of heartbreak once before, in med school. He knew exactly how it was going to end, but he couldn't help feeling like he was going to break every time Alex referred to him as just a friend.
His intern year was coming to a close fast, and George was still helplessly pining for the one guy who was uninterested until one night Alex asked him to the bar after work. George's heart leapt in his chest as he heard Alex's words. He had always enjoyed spending time with him, even if it meant just sitting in silence and smoking cigarettes together, but this felt different. This felt like a date, even though George knew it wasn't.
Trying to hide his excitement, George agreed to go to the bar with Alex. He couldn't help but feel hopeful that maybe, just maybe, this was a sign that Alex was starting to see him in a different light.
As they entered the bar, George's heart sank. It was packed with people, most of them loud and rowdy. He immediately realized his mistake as he heard Cristina and Izzie call over to them, inviting the pair to join them at their table. Alex seemed to be enjoying himself, laughing and joking with the girls, but George felt out of place. He had gotten his hopes up too quickly, and now everything felt like one big elaborate joke designed specifically to hurt him.
He nursed his beer, feeling more and more uncomfortable as the night wore on. He tried to make conversation with Alex, but he kept getting interrupted by other people. He felt like he was on the outside looking in, like he was invisible to everyone. As the bar was closing and George was ready to go home and sleep to avoid his emotions, Alex turned to him.
"Hey, would you want to come back to my place? I have more beer, we can chill for a bit longer." He asked, looking much too drunk to get home on his own. George would feel bad if he just left him there.
"Uh, sure." He replied, earning a pat on the back from Alex as they walked out of the bar.
After a few minutes' walk, they arrived at Alex's apartment building and headed inside. He had a studio apartment, so the whole thing was one big room with a separate bathroom. Alex's bed was pushed up against the back wall, covered in clothes and blankets. George couldn't help but imagine laying next to him in that bed when he woke up in the morning.
"Sit down wherever." Alex said as he walked over to his kitchen, opening the fridge.
George took a seat on the couch in the middle of the room. He spent a few seconds looking around and trying to soak in the atmosphere, wanting to hold onto the memory of how Alex had medical books piled on the floor, a random assortment of rocks on a shelf that he must've collected for whatever reason, pictures of him and his mom from when he was a kid hanging from the wall.
"Here." Alex said, pulling George out of his head as he handed over a bottle of beer.
"Thanks." George replied.
They sat and drank for a while, turning on the TV while they talked about work. Alex started to open up a bit, much to George's surprise, but he decided it was probably from the alcohol. By the time Alex was ready to go to bed, the sun was rising and he was going to have to get more beer. George had planned on going home, but Alex offered to let him stay on the couch. He gladly accepted. Alex had brought out blankets from his closet and a pillow from his bed, setting them on the couch next to where George sat.
"I'm fucking exhausted." Alex sighed. He sat next to George.
"Me too."
"Are you doing okay?" He asked.
George looked over at Alex from the TV. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" He said nervously.
"You just seem… off. Like you barely spoke at the bar."
"Oh… well I'm fine. Just had a long day." He replied.
Alex looked at him like he knew something that George didn't. It made him even more nervous, and being fairly drunk didn't help.
"Are you sure? Did something happen?" Alex questioned.
"I…" George paused, and without thinking blurted out, "I'm in love with you."
Alex went quiet. He looked away from George and to the ground as he stood up.
"Oh." He said.
"It's stupid anyway–"
"I don't feel the same." Alex replied, his voice cold.
George's heart sank. "I know."
"I'm going to bed." Alex said, still not looking George in the eye. "You should sleep."
"Yeah."
They fell asleep in silence, the tension hanging thick in the air. George woke up early the next morning, gathering his things and leaving before Alex could wake.
He couldn't help but steal a glance at Alex sleeping as he left.