Georgie had always noticed James Love. How could he not? James was tall, popular, and effortlessly athletic—everything Georgie wasn't. But James was also cruel, constantly teasing him throughout school, making sure everyone knew how "different" Georgie was. Even though James was the last person Georgie should have a crush on, that didn't stop him from secretly admiring him. Georgie knew it was foolish, but his heart had never been particularly smart when it came to James.
It was at a house party in junior year where everything shifted. The music thumped, and the lights were low, the air thick with the smell of beer and sweat. Georgie was out of place, dragged there by his friends, but somehow, between the alcohol and the unfamiliar comfort of the basement, he found himself laughing with James. They were both drunk—too drunk. What started as teasing turned into a kiss. A moment of intoxicated desire led to something more, something that neither of them expected nor understood.
The next morning, James pretended nothing had happened. And for the next few months, Georgie convinced himself it was all a mistake—that he could just forget. But when Georgie found out he was pregnant, forgetting wasn't an option anymore.
Rumors spread through school like wildfire. Everyone knew Georgie was pregnant, but no one knew who the father was, and Georgie wasn't about to tell them. He didn't want to ruin James's life. But the pregnancy meant his own life was falling apart faster than he could handle. His parents, furious and ashamed, kicked him out of the house, leaving him to fend for himself. Georgie spent most nights sleeping at McDonald's, huddled in a booth, trying not to think too hard about the future.
It was there that James found him, his face pale when he saw Georgie curled up in the corner. James hadn't cared much about the rumors—until he saw it for himself. Georgie's stomach was beginning to show. Without saying a word, James pulled him up and walked him out to his car. The silence between them was thick as James drove aimlessly through town.
"I know the baby's mine," James finally said, his voice flat.
Georgie turned away, staring out the window. "I didn't want to ruin your life, James. I wasn't going to make you do anything. You can pretend it's not yours."
James stopped the car abruptly, his hands gripping the steering wheel. "Why didn't you come after me? Why aren't you threatening me with child support like you should be?"
"Because..." Georgie's voice cracked. "Because I care about you, okay? I don't want you to hate me even more than you already do."
James was silent for a long moment, his chest tightening. For the first time in years, the cruelty he hid behind felt hollow. Georgie had every reason to destroy him, but he didn't. It broke something inside James, in the best way possible.
"You're coming with me," James said. He didn't ask; it was a command.
James moved Georgie into his grandmother's house without a second thought. His grandma, a lively woman with a sharp tongue and a heart of gold, took to Georgie immediately. She didn't blink at the news of Georgie's pregnancy. In fact, she was thrilled.
"If your parents won't accept you," she said, pulling Georgie into a warm hug, "I'll accept you twice as hard."
For the first time in months, Georgie felt safe. James's grandma made sure he was taken care of, ensuring he had everything he needed for the baby. As his belly grew, so did his bond with James. They settled into a routine. Georgie transferred to online school, while James kept going to his classes, focusing on securing his football scholarship. It felt like a strange kind of normal. And, slowly, James found himself falling for Georgie in a way he never expected.
When their baby—a boy—was born, everything seemed perfect. They were happy, if only for a moment.
Graduation came and went with the baby in their arms, and for a brief moment, James and Georgie were a family. But a week later, James's grandma passed away. The loss hit them hard. Then, James didn't get the football scholarship he'd been counting on. Forced to work two back-breaking jobs, James became distant, angry. The pressure of bills, the baby, and his shattered dreams led him to drinking every night. He lashed out at Georgie, the venom in his words cutting deep.
"I'm sorry," James would say the next morning, every time. But the cycle continued.
One day, James got his big break—a chance to act in a movie. The news was enough to lift the cloud that had settled over their home. They celebrated, but the high was short-lived. James needed money for a plane ticket to Hollywood, and they had nothing.
Without hesitation, Georgie handed him the money he'd been secretly saving for his own dreams. "Take it," he said softly, "go live your dream."
James stared at him, speechless. For once, his tough façade cracked, and he broke down, thanking Georgie with all his heart. He promised to send money back as soon as he made it big. And he did—at first.
For two years, Georgie watched James's career soar from the small screen to blockbuster films. He sent money every month, but he didn't call. Georgie clung to every scrap of news he could find, going to see every movie James starred in, hoping it would bring them closer. But then, the money stopped. James changed his number, and Georgie was evicted from the house. He struggled to raise their now three-year-old child alone, but his love for James never wavered.
One day, while working as a bartender on a movie set, Georgie saw James. He was an A-list celebrity now, unrecognizable in more ways than one. To his heartbreak, James didn't recognize him. Georgie, pretending to be someone else, served him drinks as James poured his heart out about his glamorous life, his complaints about his celebrity girlfriend, Jennifer Wilcox. It hurt, but Georgie stayed quiet.
For a year, James visited him at the bar, and they slowly rebuilt a bond. Georgie fell in love with him all over again, but never revealed who he truly was.
On the final night of filming, James, drunk, insisted that Georgie—who he thought was named Charlie—come back to his place. Instead, they ended up at Georgie's rundown apartment. One night of passion later, James awoke confused, but it wasn't until he saw a photo of their graduation on the wall that the truth hit him. "Charlie" was Georgie.
He froze, guilt and shock flooding through him. But when he saw their child sleeping on the couch, it all came crashing down. He had abandoned his family.
Georgie sobbed, apologizing for not telling him sooner. But James couldn't hear it. He was too ashamed. "Don't apologize," he said, "I'm going to make this right."
Determined to take care of them, James moved Georgie and their child into his penthouse in New York. Georgie resisted at first, but James found ways to support them regardless. Slowly, they began to rebuild their relationship, learning to be a family again. James wasn't perfect, but he was trying.
And for the first time in a long time, they were happy.
