PRESENT TIME

"Mr. Harrison! It's your landlord, are you home?" Was the first thing George heard early Friday morning. He groaned and rolled out of bed, blinking in the bright light spilling from the window.

"I'm here! One moment please." He called out, staggering to the door. He opened it and saw his landlord there, he had too look down a bit because George was quite tall compared to him. 

"Your rent is overdue Mr. Harrison." George cocked a thick eyebrow.

"I have it right here." He picked up an envelope from the coffee table.

"This is last months' rent." 

"O-oh, um, I'll get it to you the next time I get my pay check. That should be today I believe." The stout landlord exhaled out his nose and furrowed his brows.

"I'll let it slide as long as I get it by Sunday, but no later or I'm cutting your power."

"I understand. Thank you."

"Good day, Mr. Harrison." He said as he walked away from his apartment door. George closed the door and slumped against it, running a hand through his untidy hair. 

"Oh I need a miracle. And soon." He groaned, going to take a shower. Once in the bathroom he closed the door and took of his pyjamas, the cool air biting his bare skin. He stepped in and the cold water spilled on his head, making him gasp and shiver.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

George took a bite of the toast Brian had gave him for breakfast. He always does that for him every morning before work.

"Thanks again Eppy." He said through his last mouthful of toast. Brian shook his head.

"Least I can do. Now go get your apron, it's just about opening time." He looked at his watch, 11:35 it read. He got his apron and tied the string at his waist. George went to get some nuts from underneath the bar for the tables. He put them in bowls and put each on a table, a few lining the bar. 

The day was quite slow, as per-friggin-usual. George's cheeks were pinned up in his large, toothy grin, but on the inside he was extremely anxious. Brian seemed like he was hiding something from George, and he never did that. He didn't want to bother him with it, but he couldn't stand it much longer. I was at the height of their slow day, meaning the barstools were almost all occupied, and he decided to talk to Brian about it. 

"Hey Eppy?"

"Yes George?" He was at the tap, pouring a couple of pints. 

"You've been a bit secretive to me lately. Penny for your thoughts?" Brian bit his lip and handed the beers to a couple of immaculately suited blokes at the bar. Normally George would question such poshly-dressed individuals in a dive bar, but he was too on edge with nerves to care. 

"W-why don't you clean some tables Georgie. Or sweep. J-just do something okay?"

"I cleaned the tables already, and the floor is clean enough to eat off of. You're dodging my question. Is there something you want to tell me?" There was sadness in Brian's eyes. He fiddled with his fingers and took a deep breath.

"Alright. Fine. Y'know that phone call I got last week." George thought back to last week for a moment. He distinctly remembered his worried expression.... and that strange man.

"Yes."

"Well, that was the tax collecter, and um..." He nibbled on his lip more and George felt the anxiety swell in his chest. "Well, to put it simply.... I can't afford to pay you any more. So I'm... I'm laying you off. I'm sorry George, I didn't want to." George felt sick.

"N-no you can't! I need this job! I-I don't know how to do anything besides bus tables Eppy." George begged. A few people were staring at the scene going down behind the bar. 

"I'm sure there are many places that could use a busboy George." Brian pointed out, cowering under George's utter shock.

"What do you think I've been doing ever since I started working here? Nobody needs a busboy anymore!" George threw his hands up in the air.

"Y-you're causing a scene George."

"Oh I bloody will cause a damn scene. I'm losing the only job I'm good at for fucks sake!" George was fuming, fighting back the tears welling up in his eyes. "Please, please, Eppy... this job is the only thing keeping me alive and sane. Don't fire me." He sniffed. George was now on his knees, holding Brian's legs. The suited pair at the bar looked at each other and nodded, walking outside.

"George... I can't have you labor without pay. I'd be arrested! It.... It's for the best. Here's your last paycheck." Brian pulled an envelope out of his pocket and George allowed his tears to fall, as well as embarrassing sobbing noises escaping from his lips. He stood up and looked Brian in the eyes.

"Fine." he spat, snatching the money from his hands. He stomped away from the bar and tipped over a glass so it shattered on the floor. "Oh I'm sorry, too bad you don't have a busboy to clean that up. Brian." 

He left without taking his coat and after about 15 minuets of walking, regretted it. His loud sobs broke the silence of the dark London streets and he walked with no general direction. George sniffed and opened the envelope, only to find that it was only half of his normal pay. 

"I'm fucked. Utterly fucked." He said to himself. What he had wasn't nearly enough to live off of for even a week, let alone pay his bills. George didn't want to go back, but he needed his coat. He forced himself to turn around back to Abbey Road. Wiping his eyes with his cold fingers, he didn't see two figures lurking in an alley.

~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Sorry if Eppy seems kinda like a dick here. This story just makes itself up as I write. I'll be at my dad's house this weekend, meaning I won't be able to update, soooooo....... yeah. Tell me how it is so far, sorry if it seems a bit slow-burning. I 'ave this problem where I write in large chunks, so I break them up to make more chapters out of it. But then it takes me forever to write. Phucking writers block. Sendin' all my loving to y'all bitches.

Wincest shippers can shove it up their ass,

Maggs xoxox