Chapter Text
When Ian Gallagher was 13, he met George O'Malley, who was 14 at the time. They were rarely ever seen apart. George was basically one of the Gallaghers since he was always over at their house. Most would run from the Gallaghers' chaos, but George seemed to run towards it.
When George was 15, he took Ian to a park on a cool fall day. When the leaves were just starting to turn colors, you could just feel the crisp autumn wind blowing through your hair.
And he told Ian, “I’m gay, and I didn’t tell you because I thought you would be mad or hate me, and I didn’t want to ruin this.”
Ian hugged George and replied, “You being gay doesn’t change anything between us.”
George tensed at first, but slowly melted into the hug, and responded in shock, “You aren’t disgusted or think I’m weird.”
Ian said, “Why would I? You’re my friend, nothing you do can change that.”
Ian ruffled George’s untamed curly brown hair, which caused George to chuckle. A few months later was George’s birthday party, and there were only his three closest friends there: Ian Gallagher, Lip Gallagher, and Izzie Stevens. When the music was playing loudly, Lip and Izzie were busy getting into trouble doing who knows what. Ian pulled George off to the side.
Ian said, “George, I’m gay, and I really want to date. I know it’s stupid, and I probably ruined everything between us.”
George’s eyes widen, then he reassured Ian, “No, you didn’t ruin anything. I feel the same way.”
Ian was surprised, “Really? I thought you would hate me.”
George replied, “I would never hate you for that.”
From then on, they became even more inseparable if that was even possible. Ian was George's first boyfriend, first kiss, first time having sex, and vice versa. Still, somehow, no one suspected that they were dating. He, Lip, Izzie, and George were all really close. It was a miracle he didn’t suspect they were dating yet. Ian wanted to tell Lip, but didn’t because George didn’t want Lip to see him differently. Ian was thinking about coming out as gay just to Lip and not say that he was dating George.
But then it was time for George, Izzie, and Lip to start applying for colleges. They were all stressed because none of them came from families that went to college, especially Lip and Ian’s family. They wanted to make their families proud. But it was sad for Ian seeing his closest friends and brother go off to college while he was still in high school.
But in the end, George got accepted into Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine (OHSU), which was obviously in Oregon. But Ian was in Chicago and couldn’t handle a long-distance relationship at the time. So when George got to Oregon. While Izzie got accepted into the University of Washington Medicine, which is obviously in Washington. While Lip was accepted into the Chicago Polytechnic Institute (CPI), which was close to Ian.
Ian sadly broke up with George by saying, “I love you, I really do, but I can’t handle you being in Oregon while I’m stuck here in Chicago. I’m telling you now because I didn’t want to be the reason you didn’t pursue your dream of being a surgeon. After all, I know you’re going to be a damn good one. Don’t waste your potential. Do it for me.”
Ian quit talking to Izzie as much because talking to her reminded him of what he had with George, something he won’t ever get back or find in someone else. The worst part, in his opinion, was that he had no one at all to talk about this with, because if he did, that would mean outing George. He had to act normal or his nosy family would find out, even though they would probably find out before the end of the week. He didn’t want his family to see him any differently, so he wanted to not let many people know he’s gay.
Ian didn’t have many ways of coping, but he threw himself into ROTC training. Most of what he did in his spare time was trying to get better so he could get promoted in ROTC and have a better shot of getting into West Point, something he always wanted to do. He knew it would help him get into the Navy. But he also knew that getting into West Point was extremely difficult, so he focused on doing the best he could.
From then on, Ian focused on ROTC, his job at the Kash and Grab, and helping out Fiona, Lip, Carl, Debbie, and Liam. He grew close to Kash, one of the co-owners of the Kash and Grab. And a few months after he broke up with George, he started to hook up with Kash. But it wasn't like it was with George; it was like a spark was missing from the relationship. He didn't know what was wrong with the relationship and why it didn't feel the same as the one he had with George.
He regrets breaking up with him but knows it was for the best. He is now 17 and is a senior in high school, and is dead set on joining the Navy. He has a 3.9 GPA, close to a perfect GPA. He was hoping to raise it. Even though he didn’t talk to George, he still wanted to make him proud of what he was doing.
But the relationship with Kash was short-lived because Kash’s wife found out, and Kash ran away like a coward. So they were a staff member short until the neighborhood troublemaker Mickey Milkovich started to work there. He walked in with this smug ass smirk and hair sticking out in every direction. Along with way too much confidence, looking like he personally owned the damn place.
And said, “Where is Ian Gallagher?”
Ian replied with, “Right here,” and muttered, "Unfortunately."
Mickey said with a scowl, “You are going to regret the day you were ever born if you keep looking at me like that.”
Ian stuttered, “Sorry, it won't happen again.”
Mickey snarled, “I’m only here because my probationary officer forced me to work at this dump.”
The way Ian looked at Mickey, you would think he hung the damn moon. But Ian thought Mickey was the straightest person in town because of his dad, and even if he wasn’t, if Ian ever tried anything, he would probably get a black eye by the end. Mickey was the kind of guy who would punch someone for looking at him wrong or just because he felt like it. No one dared mess with him. Because of his dad’s reputation as a drug lord, and how many times both Terry and Mickey had gone to prison before.
Ian wished that he could just graduate from high school now because working with Mickey Milkovich for any length of time would be a nightmare, even if Mickey couldn’t do anything. He tried to not look at Mickey so he couldn’t accuse him of staring, acting gay, or punchpunchingfor looking at him. Ian tried to avoid him at work, but it was hard since Mickey was so naturally irresistible to Ian.
It was awful working with Mickey; he was so lazy, rude, and extremely disorganized. As it was nearing the end of Ian’s shift, which he was so glad was about to end because Mickey was being partially annoying today. But then, as Ian was leaving the store, he heard the sound of a familiar car. It sounds like George’s car; he hopes it isn’t because he just doesn’t want to deal with any drama.
Through the night, Ian saw who was driving the car; it was Izzie, with George and someone he didn’t recognize in the back. The car stopped across the street from the store, and Izzie got out and waved to Ian.
Izzie yelled, “IAN COME OVER HERE!”
Ian pretended to not hear her and walked away, while Izzie jogged across the street to Ian.
Izzie said, “Hey, why are you acting like you don’t know me? And why haven’t you responded to my texts?”
Ian turned around, “I’ve been busy with ROTC.”
Izzie replied, “So ROTC has you doing a lot more now.”
Ian admitted, “Not really, I’ve been training more, trying to get promoted.”
Izzie said, “Well, George and I are on break and wanted to see family. We can give you a ride back home. We were going to stop by anyway.”
Ian nodded his head reluctantly. Then they went to the car. He and Izzie opened their car doors and got in.
George looked surprised as he said, “Izzie, you didn’t say that Ian was going to ride with us.”
Izzie responded, “We were going to stop by their house anyway. I thought we could pick up Ian so he didn’t have to walk home.”
George’s eyes widened, “You never said we were going to stop by. I thought we were just back to see family.”
Izzie misinterpreted George’s surprise as a good thing and said, “Yeah, they’re family to both of us.”
George stammered, “I know, I just wasn’t expecting to see them.”
With that, Izzie drove off to the Gallaghers’ house. All four of them get out of the car and go into the Gallaghers’ house. Inside the house, there are beer bottles everywhere, and Liam’s toys are scattered everywhere.
Ian went in first and announced, “Lip, get over here, two people are here that you might want to see!”
Lip walked down the looking like he had just been sleeping and groaned, “Who is it I was trying to sleep?”
As Lip reached the bottom of the stairs and said, “George, Izzie, we weren’t expecting you!”
Izzie said, “We are on break and came to town to see family, and George has someone he wants to introduce to you guys.”
George mumbled, “I have someone I want my family to meet, not friends.”
Izzie asked, “Why don’t you want our friends to meet him? He’s an important part of your life.”
George said, “I’m not ready.”
Lip questioned,” You mean meet the person I haven’t seen before? He looks nice.”
Izzie said, “This is Alex, mine and George’s friend. He transferred from the University of Iowa to Oregon Health & Science University.”
Lip held out his hand, “I’m Lip.”
Alex shook Lip’s hand and grumbled, “Nice to meet you.”
Ian said, “I’m Ian.”
Fiona walked in looking disheveled from working three jobs, with her hair looking like a rat’s nest, and saw George, Izzie, and someone she didn’t recognize.
Fiona defensively said, “Who’s this, and why are you guys here? I thought you were in college?”
Izzie calmly explains, “This is Alex. He transferred to George’s college. And we’re on break and wanted to see how everyone’s doing.”
Fiona sighed, “I’m Fiona, it's nice to meet you. I’m sorry we don't have room for people to stay over, I guess, though George can sleep in Ian and Lip’s room, Izzie can sleep in mine, and Alex can take the couch.
Izzie said, “It’s okay, we figured you didn’t have a lot of space.”
Ian yawns and says, “I’m going to go to bed. Goodnight.”
Then Ian turned around and went upstairs. When he reached his shared room, he was on the verge of tears from the memories of George. He tried to sleep, but he was haunted by the memories of him and George together. Then the thought of him with someone else makes him sick; he thinks George and Alex are dating. Ian sees the way George looks at Alex when he thinks no one is looking. He could hear everyone talking downstairs.
He heard someone coming up the stairs and thought it was Lip. The footsteps stopped at the doorway, and he heard a soft voice speak. It sounds like George’s voice.
George spoke softly, “Can we talk about how we… we broke up?”
Ian roughly rolled over to face George, “There’s nothing to talk about.”
George quickly retorts, “Really, because breaking up with me because you couldn’t handle a long-distance relationship. Without talking to me, you couldn’t talk to me when we promised each other about things like that. But only doing it when I get to Oregon, because you wanted me to go be a surgeon. It leaves something to talk about.”
Ian said, “ I know what we promised each other. I just couldn’t be the reason that you didn’t do what I know you can.”
George said, “I didn’t stop thinking of you.”
Ian said, “Look, I know you’re dating Alex. So why are you talking to me?”
George’s eyes widened, and he stammered, “H-how did you find out? And I’m talking to you because I want to know why you broke up with me.”
Ian replied, “It’s obvious I see how you look at him when you think no one’s watching, and I just met him. Let me guess, Izzie knows since she thought everyone knew that you’re gay. I told you why I broke up with you.”
George took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair, a nervous habit Ian noticed.
Then George said, “Yes, Alex and I are dating. It was easy to hide from Izzie until I was ready to come out since we live in the same dorm. But I’m not ready to come out to anyone else that I haven’t already. Plus, Alex isn’t exactly out yet. And the only reason I’m telling you is I know you won’t use it against him or tell anyone.”
There was a moment of silence, then Lip came up behind George.
Lip said, “I thought you said you were tired, Ian.”
Ian replied,” I was about to go to sleep.”
Lip climbed into the bed across from Ian, while Ian scooted over so George could get into bed. George hesitated before climbing into bed with Ian. When Ian felt the bed dip, he tensed. Neither George nor Ian got much sleep that night. Around 6 in the morning, George decided to get out of bed. He got dressed and went for a walk.
When he stepped outside, he felt the cool wind hit his face, heard the birds chirping, and saw the beginnings of what would be a beautiful sunrise. George walked 1 mile like he usually did every morning. Only this morning it felt different because he saw his ex-boyfriend for the first time in a year. George planned out what he wanted to say to Ian when he saw him again, but now that he has the chance, he doesn’t know what to say. Alex doesn’t even know that George dated Ian. All Alex knows is that before he went to college, he was dating someone, and when he arrived at college, that person broke up with him.