Matty's gaze lingers on George's retreating figure until he's swallowed up by the crowd, his mind spinning rapidly as he tries to work through what the fuck just happened.

Matty can't believe that George mouthed off to a customer for him - hell, he's shocked to see him here at all. He had thought that George was never going to come back to the club, it's obviously not his usual element, and although Matty had wanted to see him again, he'd given up any hope of that after two weeks had passed with no sign of him.

Matty doesn't know why he's still thinking about George at all actually, because he barely knows him, but he can't deny that he's a bit enamored with him. Maybe it's because George seems so different than most of the people he interacts with on a daily basis, or maybe Matty just finds him attractive, but either way, he would be lying if he said he hasn't been keeping an eye out for his tall frame and messy hair among the throng of people that occupy Menswear each night.

Matty wants to follow after George, to ask him what he's doing here, to make sure he doesn't leave before he has a chance to apologize for his harsh words, but first, he has to deal with this customer, because no matter how much Matty would love to tell him to fuck off before chasing after George, he can't risk losing clients, especially not right now when he needs them the most.

"Sorry about that." Matty does his best to hide his grimace as he turns back to the man he had been dancing for, his skin crawling slightly as he forces himself to settle down against his wide thighs again.

Matty's no stranger to unpleasant characters in his line of work, but this man has been making him uncomfortable ever since he waved him over. He's new here obviously, and he hasn't learned the proper etiquette of behavior that most of his other clients adhere to, but Matty's not in the right mindset to deal with idiots tonight, and his patience is hanging by a slender thread.

"Is it typical for your boyfriend to pull that sort of shit?" the man grumbles as Matty begins to work up a slow rhythm, his arms thankfully hanging at his sides instead of pawing at Matty like they were earlier.

"He's not my boyfriend," Matty mutters under his breath, just wanting to get this dance over with so he can search out George immediately afterward. He's constantly scanning the crowd as he moves, but he can't spot George just yet. He remembers the direction he headed in though, so hopefully, he'll still be in that area once Matty's finished.

"Sure seemed like it," the man huffs in reply, his large fingers beginning to trace over Matty's hipbones again, releasing small shivers of displeasure that continuously shoot up his spine the longer he touches him. "You know, I should report this to the manager, it was very unprofessional, and I'm a bit put off now honestly."

"Good luck with that," Matty snaps, his temper finally getting the best of him as he wrenches himself out of the man's lap, a half-smile twisting at his lips when he imagines how Jamie would react to this prat's complaint. "Look - I am sorry he interrupted us, but you shouldn't have grabbed my hair either, in fact, I'm quite fed up with you in general, so you're lucky I'm even still here at all."

"Y-you can't talk to me like that," the man sputters indignantly, his face flushing all the way down to his neck when Matty crosses his arm stubbornly. "Touching's allowed above the waist, I checked," the man continues to protest, and Matty can't help but roll his eyes obnoxiously at this man's attitude.

"It is - yes, but you're treating me like I'm a fucking blow-up doll. You can't just yank half of my hair off and expect me to sit there and take it, so if my friend hadn't stepped in when he did, I would have said something."

"But you're a stri-"

"Of course I'm a bloody stripper," Matty cuts the man off midsentence, his bones figuratively vibrating as he loses the last shreds of his tattered composure, "but I'm a person too, and you should remember that if you want to be allowed back in here. One more complaint on you and I'll make sure the bouncers won't let you in again."

Matty storms away from the man without waiting for a reply, leaving him with his mouth half-open and a ruddy sheen staining his cheeks a garish red shade. Matty's practically seething, and he's dying for a smoke, but he needs to find out if George is still here before he heads out for his break.

Matty's search is derailed before he makes it more than a few feet by a gentle hand on his shoulder that steers him back into a secluded corner. Matty doesn't even have to look to know that Adam's found him, because if it was Jamie, he would have taken him into the office immediately, and when Matty glances up, he sees that his hypothesis is indeed correct.

Matty hunches his shoulders under Adam's touch, not wanting to talk about what happened just yet, but it's obvious that Adam had seen at least part of the scene and now he's checking up to make sure that Matty's all right.

"I'm fine Adam," Matty sighs when they come to halt, meeting his friend's eyes so he'll know he's being serious.

"You sure?" Adam sounds skeptical, but that's not unusual. He's almost as protective as Jamie when it comes to the other dancers, and he's even gotten into a few fights with patrons when security didn't show up quick enough.

"Yeah, he didn't do much, just a tad too rough you know? I actually might have overreacted a bit honestly," Matty reassures him, peering over his shoulder when he sees a tall bloke standing up, but much to his chagrin, it isn't George that passes by them.

"Do you want to go talk to Jamie, he can give the man a warning for you so he won't pull that shit again."

"No, it wasn't that serious," Matty shakes his head, running his hands through his hair gently since his scalp is still a bit sore from its previous rough treatment, "besides, I already told him off. Watch him though, he's one of those entitled pricks that thinks he can do whatever he want since he's paying us."

"I will," Adam nods in agreement, glancing toward the booth where the older gentleman is still seated. "Do you want to call it a night mate? You seem a bit shook up."

"Not yet," Matty protests, even though he'd love nothing more than to be back in his flat with Allen curled up in his lap, but he had recently gotten a notice stating that his landlord is raising his rent at the end of the year. It's not by a lot, but it's still enough to put Matty in a bit of a bind, so he needs all the tips he can get if he's going to be able to continue making his payments on time. "I could use a smoke though if that's okay?"

"Take as long as you need."

"Thanks mate, I'll be back soon," Matty promises, allowing Adam to pull him in for a brief hug before he darts off in the direction he last saw George heading toward.

After a few minutes of fending off customers and dead ends, Matty finally spies George off by himself seated at a table in the corner. Matty isn't quite sure why, but his chest feels lighter when he realizes that George hasn't left, probably because he won't have to carry around the guilt that manifested itself after he snapped at him for the rest of the evening. He hadn't meant to be rude to George, he'd just startled him is all, and Matty wants to make sure that he didn't take his hasty words personally, in fact, he's glad he stepped in when he did, although he really shouldn't have.

George looks like he's trying his best to hide, his large frame curled around the drink he's currently nursing. Matty's surprised he found him at all given his secluded location, and everyone else isn't paying him any mind, providing Matty with the perfect opportunity to speak with him.

Matty can't help but notice how pretty George is under the multicolored lights, although that's a dangerous train of thought to be wandering down, but it's impossible not to appreciate the way his jawline is accentuated by the pink glow, the shadows draping his face highlighting his best features in a way that Matty greatly appreciates.

Matty shakes his head roughly when he realizes he's been staring, finally traversing the few feet separating him from George before the other man catches on to the fact that he's being watched, not that he's looking around, in fact, George has kept his head down the entire time, not once glancing toward the stage or at any of the dancers who are wandering by, which is odd behavior for a patron at a strip club, but Matty's already beginning to figure out that George isn't like everyone else.

"Hey," Matty greets George as he slips into the small open space to his left, a soft grin tugging at his lips when George lifts his gaze from the tabletop, a look that Matty thinks is bafflement crossing his features before he returns Matty's smile with a weak attempt at mirroring the expression.

"Matty?" George asks warily, his eyes pinching shut before they lock back onto Matty's made up face again. A small spike of concern flares up Matty spine when he catches sight of how watery George's irises are, like he's been crying, or maybe trying not to cry, but Matty decides not to focus on that observation just yet.

"In the flesh," Matty giggles, not quite sure if George's confusion is caused by his sudden arrival, or if he's a bit pissed, but he doesn't seem that inebriated, he remembered his name at least, and Matty has gotten pretty good at picking up the signs of excessive drunkenness after working in the club for so long.

"What are you doing here?" George continues to appear puzzled, and Matty can't quite place why. Maybe he assumed that Matty would be busy for the rest of the night, or maybe he thinks that Matty's still upset with him. Matty doesn't know him well enough to read his body language just yet, but he hopes it isn't the later.

Before Matty has the chance to ask for clarification, the song changes to a new track that is much louder than the previous one, making comfortable conversation an impossible task. "Do you want to come outside with me?" Matty raises his voice to be heard over the pounding speakers, standing up and holding his hand out to George in case he hadn't understood what he had said.

George hesitates for a moment before linking his fingers through Matty's, swinging his long legs out from under the table before gesturing for Matty to lead the way. Matty reluctantly drops George's hand so he can begin heading to the back, his palm tingling slightly like he's been shocked with a small voltage of static electricity, the sensation startling Matty a bit since nothing in here usually carries much of a charge.

Matty shakes it off though, expertly threading his way through the booths until the door labeled "performers only" comes into view, checking over his shoulder to make sure George is still behind him every few seconds as he goes. George pauses when Matty grabs onto the handle, his eyes scanning the small plaque nervously like someone's going to stop him from entering even with Matty by his side.

"Are you sure I'm allowed in?" George asks when Matty quirks one eyebrow at him, his low voice vibrating through Matty's chest alongside the bass that's accompanying the current song.

"Of course, you're with me you twat, and we aren't actually going to the dressing rooms, there's another exit out here, and this way you can get back in without having to pay the cover again."

"Alright then," George mumbles, waiting for Matty to go in first, holding the door open for him as he goes, and as silly a gesture as it is, Matty finds himself smiling up at George briefly before he continues onward, making a quick stop by his bag so he can grab his cigarettes before he leads George outside into the small alley that outlines the club.

Matty takes a deep breath, enjoying the sensation of inhaling air that isn't clogged with the scent of alcohol and body spray before he begins filling it with smoke. The slight nip in the air has him shivering while he cups his hand around his lighter, but that's his own fault for coming out here topless. It's almost an incentive for him to keep his breaks shorter though, because if he allows himself to get comfortable, he knows he would stay out here for much longer than he should.

"Here," George speaks up, reminding Matty of his presence which he had momentarily pushed to the back of his mind in favor of getting his nicotine fix. When Matty looks up, he finds that George has shed his jean jacket and is currently holding it out to him cautiously. Matty can't hide the grin that envelopes his face when he accepts the large coat, slipping his arms into the oversized sleeves gratefully while keeping his cigarette out of the path of the fabric.

"Thanks love," Matty beams, leaning back against the brick wall idly once he's finished putting on the coat. "Want one?" Matty offers, holding his half-empty pack in George's direction, a small chuckle breaking out of his throat when George eyes the slim sticks greedily.

"That'd be great actually, left mine at home and I could use a smoke right now."

"I can tell," Matty smirks, placing the entire box in George's hand along with the lighter, "you seemed a bit tense in there, so have as many as you like." Matty keeps his tone purposefully nonchalant, hoping that George will willingly offer up more information relating to what's bothering him without him having to pry. Matty doesn't want to come off like an intrusive little shit during their first proper conversation, even though he's practically thrumming with curiosity at the moment.

"Is it that obvious?" George groans, his large fingers enveloping the lighter entirely as he brings it up to his mouth.

"Well the fact that you were willing to pick a fight with someone for me was a good tip-off," Matty shrugs, biting his tongue to prevent himself from adding on that no one that wasn't employed at the club has ever done that before, and the fact that George had was very endearing if a bit problematic.

"I'm so sorry about that by the way," George mumbles around the cigarette he's got in his mouth. "I feel like shit for getting involved, I don't even know why I got in between you two honestly, it wasn't my place."

"It's alright mate, just maybe don't do it again yeah?" Matty chuckles, but he can tell by the dejected expression on George's face that he's still mentally chastising himself for his actions.

"I swear I won't, god - I probably won't even come back here after tonight, should never have shown up in the first place," George groans, sinking down onto the bottom step leading into the club with a drawn-out sigh.

"Don't say that," Matty giggles softly in an attempt to lighten the mood, folding himself up beside George although the concrete is freezing his arse through his leather trousers. "It was a nice thought - really, I just can't have you scaring off all of my clients you know? I quite liked the whole knight in shining armor act though."

"It was a stupid thing to do," George murmurs, his gaze fixated on his lap instead of in Matty's direction. "I know I should have minded my own business, but I couldn't just stand there and watch that. I didn't like seeing you treated that way." George sniffles then, and Matty's so shocked by the fact that George is properly upset by this that he wraps his arm around George's shoulder without truly registering what he's doing, inviting the other man to lean into his side which he does after a moment's pause.

Matty's not usually this affectionate with relative strangers, but for some odd reason, he feels comfortable around George, like he's an old friend that he's getting reacquainted with. It's a strange sensation, but Matty quite likes it - hell, he quite likes George in general, so he's more than willing to comfort him, especially when he's so obviously in desperate need of it.

"It was lovely gesture, and he was overstepping the line, so don't worry about it mate. I told him off after you left as well, he deserved it really."

"You don't have to lie to me to make me feel better," George sighs, taking a long drag on his cigarette before speaking again, "so if you want to yell at me or tell me to fuck off, I understand."

"I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have invited you back here if I was going to throw a fit," Matty teases, nudging George lightly until the taller man finally lifts his head up and meets his eyes. "In fact, I wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings between us. Can't have you ignoring me the next time I'm in a bind at Tesco can I?"

"Maybe you just didn't want to make a scene inside?" George suggests, a soft laugh punctuating the end of his sentence that wavers shakily halfway through. "Either way though, I promise I won't be pulling that shit again."

"That's probably for the best..." Matty trails off when George pulls away from his hold to stub out his cigarette, unsure if he should voice the words on the tip of his tongue, but deciding to take the plunge either way in case he doesn't see George again after tonight, "but you will come back yeah? You don't have to of course, but it's been nice seeing you."

Matty silently curses himself as soon as he asks, not wanting to deal with the emotions he's sure will assault him if George says no. It's not like Matty to get attached so quickly, but there's something about George that draws him in, that keeps him on Matty's mind even weeks after they've last spoken.

Matty knows he's got a bit of a crush, but this feels different than anything he's experienced before. He's utterly fascinated by George, he's even gone back to Tesco five times over the past few weeks in the hopes of running into him again, his stomach sinking into his knees every time he's forced to accept that George isn't there.

Matty's well aware that he needs to calm down before he gets properly caught up on George, because he's taken, so Matty's infatuation will never be returned, but there's something else there besides plain lust. Matty isn't planning on stealing him away from his boyfriend, he just wants to spend some time with the first person who's caught his interest in ages, even if he'll most likely end up regretting it.

"I don't know," George hums, chewing on his bottom lip idly while avoiding eye contact with Matty once more. "I shouldn't even be here right now honestly, god knows what Kyle would say if he found out."

"That's your boyfriend?" Matty asks, trying to pretend that he's not at all bothered by the recent turn in their conversation, although the angry churning in his lower belly proves otherwise.

"Yeah," George groans, scratching at the back of his neck idly before motioning to the pack of cigarettes that he's set down on the ground between them, waiting for Matty's nod of confrontation before he pulls another stick out gratefully.

"Did you two have a row?" Matty asks, not really sure if he's crossing some sort of line, but he hates seeing George so upset, and he's dying to know the cause of his distress.

"Sort of, I mean - not a proper fight," George explains, his words emerging slowly as if he's thinking over what he's about to say before he allows himself to give voice to it. "We were supposed to go out to dinner tonight for our anniversary, but he bloody canceled at the last minute, which is why I'm here instead."

"Well that's pretty shit of him."

"It's not his fault," George protests, his voice hitching slightly in a fashion that has Matty's heart aching for the other man, "he works long hours and all that, so I should be used to it by now, but I'm not." George pauses briefly, tugging his free hand through his hair before suddenly meeting Matty's eyes again. "I didn't come here out of spite by the way, like I wasn't planning on cheating, I just wanted to get out you know, and I was sort of hoping you would be working tonight," George mumbles quickly, his face flaring with a sudden rush of color that Matty barely has a chance to appreciate before he turns his head away rapidly.

"Really?" Matty smirks gleefully, not used to having someone desiring to see him so badly that they would go to the club simply to search for him, but he can't deny that he's loving the attention.

"Well, you did tell me to come back, and I thought - fuck, I don't know honestly, I shouldn't even be telling you all this."

"Don't be embarrassed love, I'm quite flattered, although I'm sorry about your date getting called off," Matty lies through his teeth, gently placing his hand on George's shoulder in a sympathetic gesture.

"Don't apologize," George huffs, his torso suddenly straightening up as he leans back quickly. "I should be the one doing that for bothering you with this. It's silly of me to be this upset you know? It happens all the time, but I just thought tonight might be different."

"You can tell me whatever you like," Matty encourages him, lighting up another cigarette briefly before turning his attention back to George. "I'm a good listener, and maybe getting it off your chest will help some."

"I don't really want to talk about it," George sighs heavily, his voice cracking slightly as he speaks. "If I do I might start crying again." George does look visibly shaken, and Matty doesn't want to press him any further, especially not when the mental picture that flashes across his brain featuring George in tears is making his chest tighten uncomfortably.

"Well how about this then," Matty interjects, knowing that what he's about to propose is stupid at best, but it might cheer George up, not to mention it involves an opportunity to spend more time with him, "I get off in about an hour, so if you want, we can go out then, grab a bite to eat or whatever. I'm always hungry after my shift ends anyway, we can have our own little dinner so your night won't be completely ruined."

The second the words leave his mouth, Matty belatedly realizes that he might have been a bit too forward, but subtlety has never been his specialty, and it's not like he invited George back to his place for a quick fuck or anything, but he's still afraid that George is going to balk at his casual suggestion.

"I - I don't know..." George hedges, but Matty can tell by the way his eyes light up that he's considering the idea, "Kyle might be home soon, and I should probably get back before he does."

Matty rolls his eyes then, already extremely disliking this Kyle fellow even though he doesn't know him at all, but anyone that upsets George this much can't be a decent person. Matty knows he's being a bit conniving, but he wants to make George smile again, and he's not afraid to fight for that chance.

"Oh come on, he's left you all alone, so you should give him a taste of his own medicine," Matty pleads, batting his eyelashes in a joking fashion when George doesn't immediately respond.

"I-it wouldn't be a date right, just a friendly thing between mates?" George stammers out, his cheeks blushing scarlet as he voices his query.

"Of course, just a friendly thing," Matty agrees, although he'd like nothing more than to go on a proper date with George, but he's got to remember that he's taken, and even if he seems unhappy, Matty doesn't want to a home wrecker, but he isn't going to leave George by himself in this state either. "Consider it me paying you back for your help the other day."

"I just got you a box of cereal, it's not like I saved your life or anything," George chortles, his lips twitching upwards in the beginnings of a grin that has Matty's heart fluttering inside of his chest.

"You don't know that," Matty tries to keep his voice even, swallowing down the giggles that are bubbling up in the back of his throat, "that is my staple breakfast, and without it, I might have starved to death." Matty places his hand over his chest dramatically, pretending to swoon to add to the theatrical effect.

"You're ridiculous, you know that right?" George laughs deeply, the sound doing something to Matty's insides that feels suspiciously like butterflies, but he forces himself to ignore them. He's not allowed to be attracted to George, and he's really got to get a hold of himself if this friendship is going to last, which it won't if Matty ends up scaring George off with his unruly emotions.

"I'm being serious," Matty protests, but he can't keep a straight face any longer. He collapses in a fit of laughter then, almost tumbling off the step he's seated on in the process, but like the gentleman he is, George hooks an arm around his waist before he loses his balance completely. "So is that a yes to having dinner with me?" Matty finally asks after he's composed himself again, trying his hardest not to pout when George removes his hold around Matty's middle after he's righted himself.

"Yeah, I'd love to honestly," George replies, a proper grin stretching across his face when he does so, and Matty can't help but to feel like he's won some sort of prize when George beams down at him, unleashing a warm feeling in the pit of Matty's stomach that quickly spreads throughout the rest of his body.

Matty shouldn't be so giddy over the prospect of grabbing a quick meal with George, but really, it's practically the highlight of his week, if not his entire month. Even after they head back inside once Matty made George promise to wait for him, he can't stop smiling, and the expression stays plastered to his face for the rest of his shift.

Matty knows he should begin bracing himself for disappointment now before his interest in George evolves into full-blown adoration, but this is the happiest he's been in ages. He's not worrying himself sick over his money problems or any of the other things that plague his mind on a daily basis, and he doesn't want this unexpected burst of joy to end, so he's going to do everything he can to keep George in his life for as long as possible, even if it's just as a friend.

Hello there I am still in love with this fic especially this chapter. I am so happy with this, bless Matty and George for making me enjoy writing so much.

This took me way longer than I wanted it to but it's a bit lengthier than the other chapters have been so hopefully that makes up for it.

Votes and comments are lovely as always if you feel like leaving one.

I'm a pain in women's clothes

(I'm getting bored of my sign off idk if I will keep using it for this fic honestly)

xo starr