I CAN FIX HIM ! by KissLeclerc
September 14, 2022 # "Anytime."

LOUNGED COMFORTABLY IN HER BED, Adeline sunk into the soft cushions as she skillfully braided Joslyn's hair. The gentle rhythm of their conversation filled the air, accompanied by occasional bursts of laughter with Genevieve sitting nearby on a beanbag, absorbed in the endless scroll of TikTok videos.

"Wait, what's Paul up to right now?" Adeline craved a milkshake and asked Genevieve.

"Uhh-Isn't he out with Vivienne right now?" Joslyn chimed in and looked up at the girl branding her hair before she shoved her head back down in order to not mess up the hairstyle.

"OW-YOU ASS."

"Don't move, idiot." Adeline retorted, quickly going back to the topic in question. "Ugh, What about Ollie or Kimi?" She asked as Genevieve looked up from her phone.

"They're together right now. I think they got milkshakes?"

"FUCK." She groaned, slouching her head back. "I've been craving one, it sounds so good right now."

"I can text them to come over and bring some?" She offered as Adeline finished braiding Jos' hair, nodding eagerly.

"Yes! Please I want a-"

"Strawberry milkshake, we know." The girl let out a laugh as she texted her boyfriend, requesting for him and Ollie to come over with beverages of their own.

"I'll pay for all three of us, let Kimi know I'm sending him money." Adeline picked up her phone as, Joslyn checked her appearance in the mirror.

"Hair looks wonderful, thank you my lovely Adeline dearest!" She turned to the girl, quickly leaning in for a playful kiss that they pulled away from before their lips touched.

"One day, I hope for it to be real." Joslyn frowned as Adeline jokingly rolled her eyes and went back to her phone to send money to Kimi. "And sent! Let him know!"

"Okay, they'll be on their way soon." Gen shut her phone off and tossed it aside, glancing at her two friends who now seemed bored now that their hair braiding session was over.

"Are your parents home?" Joslyn asked, glancing at Adeline. "Uhh, no." She shook her head. "They left for my aunt's house about an hour ago."

"Shall we watch a movie downstairs?" The girl with freshly braided hair placed a finger on her chin and asked. Knowing the answer deep down inside already.

"I have an essay to write but, we shall!" Adeline replied. "You guys know your way around so go ahead! I'll be down there in a bit just let me gather my things." She smiled before getting off her bed.

Striding towards her work desk, she neatly folded her notebook and kept it grasped in her arms, along with a pen and a few other essentials, including her laptop.

With a quick glance around the room to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything, Adeline grabbed her glasses and put them on her face before shutting the lights off in her room, and joined the others downstairs.

"So! 10 Things I Hate About You orrrr, When-"

"First option. There's no debate." Adeline swiftly responded as she settled onto the living room couch, cutting off Genevieve before she could finish listing the choices.

"Beautiful!" Joslyn smiled, turning the movie on as the doorbell rang.

"Oh! That must be them?" Adeline quirked a brow at the sound of her doorbell. Genevieve glancing at her phone with a confused expression. "No, Kimi's location is still 10 minutes away." She explained.

"Yeah-I was about to say that was extremely fast?" Joslyn laughed as Adeline stood up from her spot at the couch and made her way to her front door.

Glancing through the peephole, she was met with confusion as it was someone she least expected.

"Paul?" Adeline opened the door, a confused look on her face as he stood there with his hands in his pockets.

"Adeline, I messed up." He frowned. "Really bad."

"Oh?-" She quirked a brow. Her face softening as the boy looked in distress... or what seemed to be disappointment.

"Uh, come in?" Adeline moved to the side to let him enter. His face still painted with an unamused expression.

"Jos and Gen are here... do you want to join us?" She asked awkwardly as he glanced at her. "Orrr... talk?" Her voice trailed off, making him take a breath.

"Can we talk." Paul laughed nervously, "I need help." He said with an embarrassed tone.

"Uhh-yeah. For sure." She nodded, motioning for him to follow her through the house, where they also had to walk through the living room.

"Oh... Hi-Paul?" Joslyn tilted her head in confusion as the two now stood in front of the TV.

"How was your date with Vivienne?" She asked, glancing at Adeline with an unknowing smile, the girl sending Joslyn a deadly glare to knock it off.

In response, Paul huffed in frustration and shoved his hands into his pockets, looking down at the floor, refusing to look at the other girls.

"Uhh..." Adeline cleared her throat. "Go to the patio, I'll be there in a sec." She instructed Paul as he quickly did as she said and got out of the room as soon as he could.

Making sure he was out of sight, the girl came closer to her two best friends in a panic, unsure of what to do. "What the hell was that?!" Genevieve leaned in and asked eagerly.

"I don't know, he said he messed up. And he wants to talk. I'm so confused. I-" She paused. "I'm gonna go talk to him, so just, stay here I guess." Adeline backed away and looked back at her patio to see Paul calmly sitting in the conversation pit alone.

"How is he this upset over a girl he barely knows.." Joslyn looked out at the patio as well, nearly snickering at the thought of Paul's girl dilemma.

"It's beyond me." Adeline hunched over and kept her hands on her knees. "Okay, so when Kimi and Ollie arrive, can one of you bring me my shake?" She asked.

"Yeah, sure thing." Genevieve nodded as Adeline gave the girl a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you, my beautiful." She finished before she bid them a quick goodbye and went over to the back patio.

Sliding the door open before closing it as she exited her house, Paul glanced at her as she came around and sat beside him on the cushioned seats.

"Come on, Paulito." Adeline crossed her legs and slouched. "Talk to me."

"I don't even-Man. I don't know." Paul grumbled into his hands. "I thought it was going good, but she got upset with me." He huffed a breath as she listened. Actively nodding at everything he had to say.

"What exactly happened? Did she tell you what you did wrong...?"

"She listed a lot of things actually." He replied with subtly frustration. "She said I was arrogant, selfish, self centered, close minded-Don't look at me like that."

"Sorry-Sorry." Adeline bit down a laugh, trying not to make fun of him as he was clearly upset.

"You can laugh, it's fine." He crossed his arms. "This is so stupid, I don't know why I came to you-" He attempted to get up but she grabbed him by the hand and sat him back down.

"No, no, sorry!" She apologized. "That was my bad! You're my friend, and I wanna be here for you. I appreciate that you came to me first of all people-"

"I actually went to Dino first but he wasn't home." Paul corrected. Her lips forming into a straight line before shrugging. "You came to me regardless." She said with a small grin as he sighed.

"I just don't know what to do." He mumbled.

"Let's start with what she complained about? Do you remember it at all?..." Her voiced trailed off.

"I guess I was talking too much about myself. And I did that thing where I put blueberries in my nose... the thing you, Joslyn, and Genevieve think is funny-She didn't think it was amusing at all..." Paul began to list as Adeline intently listened.

"She said I'm bad at listening and I speak too highly of myself..." He continued.

"And I guess she didn't like how much we kissed."

"Hmm.." Adeline nodded. "Right." She glanced at him as she brought her legs up to her chest. "Valid points-Ish." The girl was unsure with where to start.

"What am I supposed to do? She was really upset with me." He placed his hands on his head as he complained.

"Did you apologize at least?" Adeline asked.

"I did. But she just walked away."

"How did you say it..."

"Uh-I'm Sorry...?"

"Ah. Riiiigggghhhtttt..." She nodded as the sliding door behind them interrupted the two. Turning to see Genevieve with a large beverage in hand. "Oh! Thank you!" Adeline whispered as she grabbed the milkshake.

"Of course!" Gen bid them a goodbye before heading back inside.

"Try talking to her tomorrow?" The girl turned and continued to comfort Paul. "Do something nice for her even?" She suggested. "I think your apology was ass, and I would also walk away if that was all I got."

"Unfortunately, she has a doctor's appointment." He scoffed. "She's not going to school at all."

"Oh." Her lips pursed, sipping her milkshake as she continued to talk to him. "Maybe Friday?"

"Yeah. I'll probably do it then." Paul held his hand out for the drink as Adeline was hesitant, but soon handed it to him for a sip.

"Okay, so get her some flowers." She sat up straight and suggested. "Do a nice gesture for her, and tell her how sorry you are and why you're sorry."

"What do you mean?" He quirked a brow as she sighed.

"Goodness gracious." Adeline grumbled. "So! When you apologize to someone..." She paused. "You have to sound and be, what you call, sincere." Her voice was taunting as she dumbed it down for him.

"I'm not good at this, Ads. You know this." Paul sighed.

"Okay, so that's why I'm here to help." She set her milkshake down as he was quick to pick it up and drink from it himself. "You, ass."

"Proceed." He insisted.

"So, if I were you." Adeline took a deep breath. "I would say, Hi Viv! I'm sorry for the way I acted." She started. "Something like that..." The girl shrugged.

"And since you like her so much, I suggest you talk about bettering yourself for her, and how you want things to work."

"Like how?" Paul was still lost.

"You're killing me here." Adeline's arms fell with disappointment as he groaned into his hands. "I'm sorry! I'm really trying. I just want to learn! I've never done this."

"Okay. It's fine! I admire that you're trying!" She sighed.

"So when you're talking to her on Friday, maybe mention things like; I actually do really like you, and I want things to work so I'll try to better myself and fix my behavior?" She suggested his use of words. "You know?"

"Yeah.. I get what you mean." He nodded. Sipping more of her milkshake.

"Give me that." Adeline snatched it out of his hands and sipped from it herself.

"Sorry. It's really good." Paul laughed softly as he wiped his mouth from fallen milkshake residue.

"Do you know her favorite flowers by any chance?"

"Daffodils."

"At least you listen!" She tried to make a light hearted joke which turned successful. Earning the first small laugh from Paul of the night.

"I do." He nodded. "So I should get her daffodils?"

"Leave it to me. I'll ask my aunt." She insisted, knowing her aunt was a florist in the city. "I'll lend you a hand."

"Thank you." Paul finally smiled as she sipped her milkshake. "Of course." Adeline pat his back.

"I think it's really cool you're changing your ways. It's time you matured." She snickered.

"Agreed." He nodded.

"Are you good then? Wanna head back inside?" Adeline asked, slightly shivering as it was getting colder, wearing nothing but leggings and a t-shirt.

"Yeah. This helped." Paul grinned as he grabbed the milkshake once again. "Oh, just take it at this point." She rolled her eyes.

"Thank you!" He happily took it and stood up.

"Help!" She called back for him, holding her arms up.

Laughing at her struggles, Paul turned back over to her and effortlessly helped her up, unintentionally bringing her closer but she was quick to step away for personal space.

"Come on." Adeline moved past him and headed straight to the familiar sliding door that lead back inside her house.

VERA'S VOICE!
and everyone died.

guys why am i lowk obsessed
with this book. i'm chuckling.

HELLO ELENA. HELLO BELLE.
and goodbye VERA.