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George Malone wasn't the type of guy to smoke around guests, but the proposal had thrown him from his most structured and predictable manner. Together the three sat in George’s "dinning room", which was essentially the living room and bedroom too, being a studio apartment and all. Susan, who prided herself on a "clean and clear" lifestyle, was clearly agitated by the streaks of stale smoke that seemed to caress her face, but refrained from making a fuss under the circumstances.

"So...what exactly do you want me to do?" George's tone was most curious as he panned his eyes from Marc to Susan, then back to Marc.

"All we want..." speaking in unison Marc and Susan paused for a moment. Looking toward George with raised eyebrows, Marc continued..

"We just want you to go on a date with her. She’s a lovely girl and we just think you two would get along"

"She’s really nice!" Susan added

George glared at them both sympathetically glaring back. He felt like a child. They meant no harm, they were merely concerned friends, had been for some time. You see, George was a lonely man. The type that would wake in the morning, step into his slippers accurately placed by the side of the bed, then walk a few paces to his pristine clean kitchen for a cup of elm tee, half a sugar, a whole being too much! Every aspect of his live was carefully planned from morning to night, and above all he hated surprises.

"Stop looking at me like that! Both of you! What do you want me to say? I've barely said to words to the girl and I’m supposed to go out on a date with her?"

George hurriedly puffed his cigarette, staring toward the continuous pattern on grey carpet beneath him.

"George, we want you to say yes! We've known you for many years, and we love you, but quite frankly its about time you bloody well started enjoying yourself" Susan laughed half heartedly as she said this, but was aware that George's head was descending further toward the aging carpet.

"What are you saying? I'm happy with my life! And I certainly don't need some random stranger to fulfil it! I really cant believe you two!"

Realising their innocent gesture had not been taken as such, the two merely looked at George with a saddened gaze. He had lost his wife some thirteen years ago, but her death had taken a significant par of the George that both Susan and Mark loved. They remembered how when Victoria passed away ,George began a life of routine, obsessing over every occurrence from mess and all that was untidy, to the prompt sit down for meals at six every evening. This routine was who he was now, though they loved him nevertheless. He could she it in their eyes, the reflection of his old self.

"So is this a double date or what then?"