Instinctual//George Daniel.

VI: This guy sucks, quite a lot.

17th of February, 2013

Alison slowly blinked her eyes open, the morning light filtering through the curtains and casting a soft glow in Lola's bedroom. As she stretched and yawned, she soon noticed a note on Lola's bedside table,

Hey Ali, had to slip out early this morning, borrow anything you need from my wardrobe and make yourself at home. I'll be back at 3. - Lols

Alison checked her phone, it was 11am. She chose to not go back to sleep, despite having to wait for Lola. She knew she'd have Matty, and/or George to talk to and maybe some T.V to watch. Taking a deep breath, Alison gently slipped out of bed.

Alison brushed her collarbone length brown hair, fluffing it up for that 90s "Rachel" look that she so loved. After rooting through Lola's closet, she decided on a lavender crop top with a low neck, which she paired with yesterday's black jeans. Brushing on some light mascara and some tinted lip balm, she was ready for a relaxed day in.

She vaguely remembered the events of the previous night—staying up until the early hours of the morning, locked out with George as they shared conversations and moments of unexpected connection.

She quietly made her way to the kitchen, hoping to find a cup of coffee.

As she reached the kitchen, she was surprised to find George already there, sipping from a steaming mug of coffee. His expression was distant, his eyes fixed on some distant point as if lost in thought.

Alison hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. Despite the warmth they shared last night, she couldn't help but feel apprehensive about how George would act in the light of day. She mustered her courage and decided to address the situation head-on.

"Good morning, George," she greeted, her voice filled with a mixture of caution and hope.

George glanced up, his gaze meeting hers briefly before flickering away. His response was curt and distant, lacking the warmth and openness she had witnessed last night.

"Morning," he replied, his tone cool and indifferent.

Alison's heart sank, disappointment clouding her features. She had hoped that their late-night conversation would have left some lasting impact, but it seemed as though George had retreated back into his shell.

Undeterred, Alison chose to push forward and maintain her own sense of warmth and openness.

"I wanted to thank you for last night," she began, her voice steady but vulnerable. "I appreciated the conversation we had, and it meant a lot to me."

George's eyes briefly flickered with something akin to surprise before his expression hardened once more. He didn't respond immediately, leaving Alison in a state of anticipation.

After what felt like an eternity, George finally spoke, his voice devoid of emotion.

"It was just a conversation," he replied dismissively, taking a sip of his coffee.

Alison felt a pang of frustration and sadness, but she refused to let it consume her. She had come to realize that she couldn't control George's behavior or emotions, but she could control how she responded to them.

Resolute, she mustered a small smile and met George's gaze.

"Maybe it was just a conversation to you, but to me, it meant something more," she said, her voice filled with quiet determination.

For a fleeting moment, a hint of something flickered in George's eyes—a mix of surprise, confusion, and perhaps even a touch of vulnerability. But just as quickly as it appeared, his walls went back up, and his expression hardened once more.

"Sure," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

Alison decided to let the tense atmosphere in the kitchen dissipate and seek solace in spending time with Matty. She made her way to the living room, where she found him sitting on the couch, strumming his guitar absentmindedly.

"Hey, Matty," she greeted, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all, at all! Good morning, Ali! Grab a seat." Matty sings half his sentence.

Alison finds it funny, the severe contrast between the good mornings she's received.

Matty hands Alison the spare guitar, and within moments they are harmonising, Matty is playing rhythm and Alison follows with a simple lead riff.

As they played, they couldn't help but laugh and share inside jokes, completely losing themselves in the music.

Matty plays a few chords that Alison immediately recognises.

"Standard Lines?" She looks up, smiling.

Matty's face lights up. "You know Dashboard Confessional?!" His voice is saturated with delight.

"Of course I do!" Alison replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Dashboard Confessional has been one of my favorite bands since forever. 'Standard Lines' is such a classic!"

Matty grinned, strumming the chords with enthusiasm. "Well, Ali, looks like we're about to have a little jam session dedicated to Dashboard Confessional."

They dove into the song, their voices blending together, Matty's obviously better quality than that of Alison', as they poured their hearts into the music.

They set their guitars aside and sank into the couch, still buzzing with the energy of their impromptu performance. They began chatting, exchanging stories about their favorite bands, concerts they had attended, and the impact music had on their lives.

"You were in a Sex Pistols cover band? I never painted you as a punk rocker, Ali,"

Their laughs echoed through the whole house, poking fun at one another and making inside jokes. As they set the guitars aside, they started playing video games, talking and laughing about various topics. Time flew by as they bonded over their shared interests and memories.

Meanwhile, George, who had been brooding in the adjacent room, began to feel a pang of jealousy. The sounds of laughter and the genuine connection between Alison and Matty were hard to ignore. It stirred a mix of emotions within him, a feeling of being left out and a longing for the kind of connection he had witnessed last night.

Unable to bear it any longer, George abruptly stormed out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. The door slammed shut, leaving Alison and Matty momentarily surprised by his sudden departure.

"Should we.." Alison breaks the silence.

"Leave him be. He's a big boy." Matty reassures her.

Alison nodded, understanding Matty's point. They continued their conversation, allowing George his space and hoping that he would find his own way back when he was ready.

They spent the rest of the afternoon engrossed in their discussions, laughter, and shared activities. It was a balm for Alison, a chance to connect with Matty and enjoy their time together.

As the clock ticked closer to 3 pm, the time Lola was expected to return, Alison couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and curiosity about what the rest of the day would bring. She hoped that the connection she had shared with George the previous night could be rekindled, and that he would open up and share more of himself.

But regardless of what happened, Alison knew that she had found a friend in Matty, someone who brought joy to her life. And for now, that was enough.