I CAN FIX HIM !      by KissLeclerc
February 4, 2023    #    "No One Else Matters."

            STANDING IN THE SOFT, GLOWING LIGHT OF PAUL'S UPSTAIRS BATHROOM, Adeline and her best friends finished the final touches on their party looks. Joslyn's leopard-print tube top was perfectly paired with her baggy, low-waisted pants, while Genevieve's light green halter contrasted well with her black denim jeans.

"So, then what happened?" Joslyn asked, focused on her reflection as she blended gloss into her flawless lip combo.

Adeline sighed, straightening out her lacy red tank that was paired with a black mini skirt. "I don't even.. I don't know, the dinner was nice. I was sure it was gonna go smoothly, but Paul was just...." She paused.

"Like, it felt as if deep down inside he hated it but was trying to enjoy it for the sake of me—It felt a little embarrassing honestly."

Genevieve raised an eyebrow as she applied a final coat of mascara. "Did something happen before orrrr?"

Adeline shook her head, her frustration evident. "No, that's the thing. Everything was fine, but I don't know... he didn't react how I thought he would. I wanted it to be special. UGHH I can't explain it."

Joslyn capped her lip gloss and turned to Adeline, leaning against the counter. "Well, did you ask him about it? Like, why he was acting weird?"

"I didn't want to ruin the night by bringing it up." Adeline bit her lip, glancing at her reflection. "It felt like such a letdown." She groaned into the palms of her hands.

"But also, he mentioned how he isn't good at allowing others to do things for him. And I wish I knew that." Adeline paused.

"It just makes me insecure. Like... in a way, last night made me think we're just not compatible? If that makes sense."

"Overanalyzing to the max." Joslyn sighed before exchanging looks with Gen.

"Adeline," Gen started, "Paul adores you. He cares about you a lot. Being in lo——Okay well." She paused, catching herself quickly as she almost said the L word.

"Say it with your chest." Joslyn nudged her before glancing at the debate captain.

"Yeah.... Ads, he's in love with you."

"Dude." She felt even more stressed. "He hasn't even said it yet." Another groan escaped her lips. "He couldn't even say it on the field after his game that one time and we haven't even acknowledged it since, so..."

Genevieve raised an eyebrow, giving Adeline a playful yet serious glance. "You're overthinking this. I'm so sure he loves you, whether he's said the words or not."

Adeline shifted in place, her gaze drifting to the floor. "I don't know." She shrugged.

"Cut him some slack and just think about it for a moment." Joslyn took a deep breath as she checked her appearance in the mirror one more time.

"Realistically, when do you think he's ever actually said that to a girl?" She sarcastically paused. "Oh, wait! He probably hasn't because he used to be a complete ass to quite literally any woman ever."

"Ignore her." Gen scoffed. "But, on a serious note. Genuine question. Do you love him back?" She added, crossing her arms over her chest.

Adeline's face softened as she nodded shyly. "I do," She admitted, her voice quiet but sure. Her two best friends exchanged a look and squealed quietly in excitement.

"I really do," She cringed at herself for feeling a little vulnerable.

"Called it!" Joslyn grinned, cutting in.

"But!" Adeline sighed, "My way of showing it kind of flopped last night, so..."

Genevieve turned to Adeline and took a deep breath. "My sweet, beautiful, strawberry pie, Adeline." She cupped her friend's face.

"Can you not be gay for one second." Joslyn grimaced in the background.

"Don't piss me off, stay on topic." Genevieve argued, not even taking her eyes off of Adeline.

"Look. It's okay to have mishaps. Figuring each other out along the way is all part of the process." She paused.

"Like, cut yourself some slack too. You've only been friends for years. You guys are just barely getting into a relationship. Just take last night as a lesson and a way of growing as a couple." She stopped.

"Was that inspiring? Let me know."

Joslyn laughed in agreement, deciding to be serious for a moment and give her friend words of encouragement as well. "Yeah. And obviously, you of all people should also know how awkward Paul can get when it comes to romantic emotions."

Adeline frowned. "Maybe." Her shoulders lifted into a shrug. "I just thought he'd be more... excited, I guess... he has no problem doing these things for me, and I would have never guessed he doesn't like people doing it for him..."

"Maybe he's just not used to it, babe." Joslyn tried to be comforting. "Perhaps he'll warm up to it eventually."

"Oh, hell no. I am never doing anything like that again." Adeline sighed.

Genevieve nudged her. "Hey, don't let it get to you too much. What you did was sweet. You didn't kill his family."

The debate captain gave a small smile before letting out a laugh, though the disappointment still lingered.

"Yeah, sure."

Joslyn sighed and decided to table the conversation and just move on as they fell into a short fit of silence.

"Well." She cleared her throat. "They're still pre-gaming down stairs. Are you ready?" Joslyn changed the subject and reached forward for Adeline's hand.

"Mhm." The Huang girl took a deep breath and smiled softly.

"Are you gonna be okay?" Joslyn and Genevieve questioned her knowingly.

"Oh! Yeah. Don't worry." Adeline shrugged it off.

Although she didn't mind parties, she just had to be in the mood for them—which she usually is!

Unfortunately though, today was most definitely an off day. Adeline really wished she were home, laying in bed instead.

But... she didn't wanna ruin her boyfriend's day.

Touching up their final looks, the trio eventually made their way out of the bathroom, the sound of music and laughter growing louder as they descended the stairs.

Adeline's heart pounded a little faster, not just because of the party, but because of Paul. She couldn't help but wonder how tonight would go, hoping things wouldn't feel so strained.

The two had actually barely said a word to each other since she arrived to his house—and that was hours ago when she and the others came to help set up.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Gen gave her a gentle nudge. "It'll be okay." She was able to sense Adeline's unsettled nerves.

"Yeah, he's probably in there thinking about you right now." Joslyn nodded in agreement.

Upon entering the kitchen, the warm buzz of conversation and the clinking of bottles filled the air. The room was filled with familiar faces, and Adeline could feel the energy shift the moment they stepped in.

"Jos!" Ollie called out, his face lighting up when he spotted his girlfriend. He was stood by the counter with Kimi, Paul, and a few of their football mates like Dino Beganovic and Pepe Martì, casually leaning against the cabinets with a drink in hand.

"Hi, hi!" Joslyn waved, letting go of Adeline's hand before giving her a reassuring look. Reminding the girl to take a deep breath and just enjoy her boyfriend's birthday.

Joslyn grinned once again and finally broke away from Adeline to head over to Ollie, who had greeted her with a warm kiss. "Took you long enough," He teased, pulling her in close.

"Well, someone in this relationship has to serve cunt," She shot back playfully, nudging him in the ribs.

For a moment, Adeline hung back, watching as Genevieve made her way towards Kimi. He stood casually, continuing to happily chat with Paul, but the second the blonde saw his girlfriend, his eyes softened, bringing his attention to her direction.

Paul straightened up, a subtle smile spreading across his face as he pushed off the counter and walked over to Adeline. "Hi," He smirked, his voice gentle despite the noise around them.

"Hey," She replied, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement as he closed the distance between them.

"You look," He trailed off. "Really good." His eyes scanned her with admiration while his free hand found its way to her lower back to pull her in closer.

Adeline felt a rush of warmth. "And you clean up nice too, I guess," She teased, attempting to thug out her clash of emotions as she played around with the top undone buttons of his black shirt, her voice holding a touch of softness.

"Want a drink?" He asked, offering a sip from his own solo cup as she happily took it with no hesitation.

"What is it?" She asked, bringing the rim to her mouth.

Paul shrugged knowingly. "Just punch." Paul grinned as he watched his girlfriend take a sip. "With lots of vodka, of course." He finished.

"Oh, really? Thanks," She replied sarcastically, cringing as she struggled to swallow. The harsh taste violently spoiled her taste buds, prompting Paul to laugh at her disgusted expression before pulling her in for a kiss.

"Happy birthday, dork." Adeline pulled away as she wrapped her arms around his neck, the duo continuing to share a fit of giggles.

And with a small breath of relief, everything felt fine.

As the evening went on, the music thumped ever so loudly. Adeline could feel it pulsing through her chest, the heavy bassline almost rattling the floor beneath her feet.

She stood close to Paul, her hand intertwined with his forearm as her heart pounded with what felt like excitement but also a familiar twinge of anxiety. The party had only been going for an hour or two, but it felt like ages.

Paul's birthday had practically drawn nearly everyone from their school. Adeline had hoped for more quiet moments with him, but the sea of people made it nearly impossible.

They hadn't had a moment alone since guests arrived.

"Paul!" One of his mates yelled, jogging over with a grin before patting him on the back. "Happy birthday!"

Another group joined in, laughing and adding their own birthday wishes, pulling Paul into a conversation, and without meaning to, pulling him away from Adeline.

She smiled at first, hanging back and watching him interact with his friends. He was the center of attention, and while she didn't mind, the more people who crowded around, the more she began to feel stressed.

And as the conversations grew louder, so did the knot tightening in her chest.

Paul tried to glance back at her a couple of times, offering a reassuring smile, but each time he was pulled deeper into a new conversation or introduction. Teammates talked about upcoming matches, classmates reminisced about old school stories, and Adeline... well, she wasn't sure where she fit in this.

She wrapped her arms around herself, taking a small step back. The room suddenly felt too tight, too noisy, and the air too heavy. The more Paul's friends flocked to him, the more she felt like she was fading into the background.

Adeline forced a smile but couldn't shake the creeping sensation of being out of place. These weren't necessarily her people—they were Paul's. She didn't even know half their names, and every attempt to join in felt like an interruption.

"Hey, you okay?" Paul was able to pull away and check on her, his soft voice breaking through the loud music that flooded Adeline's ears.

"Yeah, I'm fine," She replied, her smile tight.

"Uhh. I think I'm just gonna go find Joslyn."

"Do you want me to come w—"

And before Paul could finish his initial statement, more shouts of "Happy birthday!" rang out from across the room, pulling away his attention once again.

Even strangers were drawn to him like moths to a flame. And it didn't help that a few girls—particularly ones she knew had always had their eyes on Paul—were sticking a little too close for her comfort.

She tried to push the feelings away, telling herself there was no need to be jealous and it was ridiculous to be insecure because she was Adeline Huang. Some sort of confidence boost she wanted to give herself.

She was Paul's girl, and that's what matters.

He chose her. And only her.

But that didn't really help her feel any better.

They had been together for only a couple months now, and she knew how much she meant to him. And yet, the longer the party went on, the more that unfamiliar knot of insecurity tightened in her chest.

Adeline now stood near the stairwell, separating herself from being shoved around in the big crowd. Feeling too anxious and nervous to do anything—feelings she wasn't necessarily used to.

She had no clue how to handle it.

Adeline watched Paul from the railings as he was once again approached by another girl tonight. This one, tall with long, dirty blonde hair, leaning in too close, her hand brushing his arm as she laughed at something he said.

She closed her eyes deep in thought to calm down, not noticing Paul had actually shoved the girl off him,

His reputation didn't help either, but he should be better now, right?

Adeline squinted, biting down on her lip, trying to suppress the pang of envy stabbing at her insides.

It's his birthday, she reminded herself. Invalidating her own feelings, she told herself she shouldn't be feeling like this. That she can't. Telling herself she knew exactly what she signed up for when agreeing to be his girlfriend.

Her boyfriend is popular, and that's okay.

"Perhaps leave it as a problem for tomorrow to deal with."

She turned away, pretending to look for something upstairs, though in reality, she was just trying to put distance between herself, her stress, and the rest of the party.

She felt foolish, selfish even, for wanting Paul all to herself. Wishing he had just settled for an intimate gathering like she would aim for usually, but the two were both different, finding entertainment and fun in opposite ways.

And as much as she tried to reason it away, the jealousy and plethora of emotions gnawed at her bones.

The upper part of his house was nearly deserted, a few half-empty bottles and some plastic cups scattered across the floor. She stared at them blankly, trying to regain some composure, when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.

"Adeline?"

She turned to see Genevieve standing there, concern etched on her face. "Are you okay?" She asked, her voice soft amidst the noise from downstairs.

Adeline forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just needed a minute."

Genevieve raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Does this perhaps have anything to do with random girls drooling all over Paul?"

Adeline's smile faltered. "Not entirely." She shrugged. "I don't know. I don't want to seem obsessive. It's his birthday. I should be glad he's having fun."

"Girl, are you kidding?" Gen groaned. "That's literally your boyfriend." She leaned against the railing, taking a pause. "I mean, I get it. I get jealous too. It doesn't help that the guys are... you know...." She trailed off.

"Popular."

The Cortes girl cringed at her own words, hating the fact that she just said what she said to describe Ollie, Paul, and Kimi.

"And it's even worse when people act like you don't even exist, which is total bullshit."

Adeline laughed softly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah, well... it's not like I can just pull him away from his own party."

"Free will, girl. You literally can." Genevieve studied her friend for a moment before sighing again.

"God Adeline, for someone so smart, you are really, really dense sometimes." She exhaled through her nose.

"Paul doesn't seem to be the same Paul we've known for years, he's not that much of an idiot anymore, because of you." She came to a brief pause, recollecting her thoughts.

"He's not going to fall for any of that. And anyone who knows him knows he's only got eyes for you. So maybe just... this might be a crazy idea!!! But go find him and hang out with him." She laughed.

Adeline sighed, her countless amount of shots prior to the party finally getting to her. She nodded, though her doubt still lingered.

"It's not just that." The debate captain let out a breath. "I don't know what I'm doing." She admitted. "All of this is so new to me and, I don't know what I'm allowed to feel or not allowed to feel."

Adeline paused. "You know what I mean?"

"Yes and no." Gen answered truthfully. "You're just too analytical for your own good." She groaned. "You're overthinking and overanalyzing everything to the point you're letting yourself taint the thought of your own relationship. Am I hitting the mark? Am I right?"

Standing in silence, Adeline stared at her friend with an ashamed glint in her eyes. Genevieve landed straight on the bullseye.

"I take that as a yes." Gen snickered softly before offering Adeline an encouraging smile, "Please just take what I said into consideration. I'll leave you to it, but I better see you back downstairs in five minutes." She playfully scolded.

"Got it?"

"And what if I'm not down there in five minutes?" Adeline quirked a brow.

"I will do very bad things to you." Gen replied.

"Don't threaten me with a good time." Adeline zoned out of her drowsy mood to playfully flirt back with a cocky smirk as Genevieve rolled her eyes.

"Five minutes." She repeated. "Now, see you later." Were the last words Gen said before turning on her heal and heading back into the party.

Left alone again, Adeline's smile slowly faded as she took a deep breath and leaned over the railing, feeling the weight of the evening pressing down on her again.

As the night wore on, the crowd in the living room only seemed to get rowdier. Paul was still the center of attention, laughing and talking with anyone and everyone who approached him.

Adeline hung back, not wanting to interrupt, though every now and then she'd catch his eye and he'd send her a wide smile and an inviting hand.

It was enough to reassure her for a moment, but the whispers of insecurity were hard to silence, she was too overwhelmed for anything—she felt stuck.

Alone and lost.

She spotted another girl approaching Paul, one who had been particularly persistent throughout the night. This one had sleek, red-dyed hair and a flirty smile, and she wasted no time making moves.

Adeline watched from across the room as the girl placed her hand on Paul's arm, leaning in to whisper something into his ear that he was quick to shove away.

Paul's reaction was immediate. He pulled away, giving the girl a repulsed glare, probably telling her to piss off afterwards. Adeline could see the girl's face fall, though the blonde boy seemed unbothered by it, casually returning to whatever conversation he was having with Dino.

It was almost an unusual sight to see. Barely a year ago, Paul would've been all over that girl.

Scratch that. He probably would've been all over every girl that had approached him tonight.

But what's so different this time around?

His heart belonged to Adeline.

Relief washed over the Huang girl, but it was fleeting. She knew he wouldn't betray her trust, she had that gut feeling, but that didn't stop the jealousy from creeping back in, every time another girl tried to cozy up to him.

It was as if the entire night had turned into a test of her patience, her own confidence, and her trust in their relationship.

Adeline wasn't sure how much more of this she could take.

It was all just foreign emotions to her.

Later on, the party was still very much roaring. The crowd had thinned, but most of the people who were still there had settled into groups, chatting or lounging around with drinks in hand.

Adeline found herself in the front yard, away from the noise, sitting alone on the porch steps. The cool night air was a welcoming contrast compared to the stuffy, overheated house she was previously trapped in.

She kept her knees close to her chest, resting her chin on them as she traced small circles on her legs, staring out at the darkened yard.

Her mind was a swirl of conflicting emotions—pride for Paul, happiness that he was having a good time, and frustration that she'd barely spent any of it with him because she was an anxious and insecure mess.

Her emotions got the best of her, and it honestly ruined her own night.

Suddenly, footsteps approached, but she didn't need to look up to know who it was.

She'd recognize his presence anywhere.

"Hi," Paul said softly, taking the vacant space beside her. His voice was quieter, but the party energy still lingering. This exact moment feeling like deja vu as it mirrored what happened in the front yard of Gen's party, but this time it was him finding Adeline.

"I've been looking for you."

Adeline lifted her head and glanced at him, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of him.

"I've been out here for a bit," She replied, her voice quiet.

He nudged her shoulder gently. "Mhm.. You okay?" He asked softly. "And do not lie to me."

She hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip. This was the part where she could just brush it off, tell him everything was fine and that she didn't want to ruin his night.

But that would be a lie, and she knew Paul would see right through it.

"Mm... I don't know," She finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know it's your birthday, and I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, but... I've been feeling kind of off tonight..."

Paul frowned, furrowing his eyebrows, clearly caught off guard. "Off? Like how?"

She exhaled slowly, cringing at her own thoughts while wrapping her arms even tighter around her legs. "Well, for one... all the girls who've been all over you. I know it's stupid, but I couldn't help it. Every ounce of confidence I have withered away tonight."

Her voice cracked slightly as she continued, "I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I just... I felt so insecure, I don't know. I probably sound so dumb right now."

Paul stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without warning, he reached out and took her hand, lacing his fingers through hers. The gesture was simple, but it instantly calmed her frayed nerves.

He began, his voice firm but gentle, "You have nothing to be insecure about. Not tonight, not ever." He squeezed her hand as he continued with a small laugh.

"I know parties aren't your thing, and I'm sorry we haven't talked all night... and yeah, a lot of people were talking to me, but none of them matter. Not the way you do." He paused.

"And every single time I turned down one of those girls, it was only you that I thought of because they don't even come close to you. My girlfriend." His smile was evident, she didn't even have to look at him to know he was grinning.

Adeline swallowed hard, her heart swelling at his words, but a part of her still felt raw, vulnerable.

"Yesterday when I surprised you with that dinner, it felt like I made things awkward... Like I didn't even know my own boyfriend..." She trailed off.

"And my emotions have been getting the best of me. I've barely even spent any time with you tonight... on your birthday! It's so selfish of me." Adeline wiped away a sudden tear that she didn't plan on letting out.

"And now you're comforting me on your birthday and it just feels pathetic." Her rambling trailed off.

"Or maybe I'm about to get my period. Who fucking knows." She groaned into the palms of her hands, causing Paul to briefly smirk, attempting to suppress his laugh at a time like this.

Soon, he exhaled, leaning closer. "You're not selfish. You're just being real with me, that's all."

"I just hate feeling this way, like I'm not enough."

"But you are enough," Paul said, his voice thick with emotion. He turned toward her fully, his eyes searching hers. "And I'll remind you as much as you need me too." He said confidently.

"This wise girl once told me it's best to talk about your feelings and I'm pretty sure that is what you're doing." He playfully nudged her side, but she didn't budge. Adeline knew exactly who said that, and she knew it was her.

"Come on, look at me." The blonde requested. She hesitated, but eventually listened.

"You're more than enough. Trust me."

Paul's expression softened as he processed her previous words again. "You make me wanna be better. That's how much you mean to me." The blonde paused.

"I promise you," He said earnestly. "I know that dinner was special, and it truly meant a lot to me." He trailed off.

"And I know... I didn't handle it the way I should have."

Paul took a deep breath, searching her eyes for understanding. "You're not just my girlfriend; you're my best friend. I want to do everything with you, but sometimes things are foreign to me." Another pause.

"I'm still figuring this out too." He admitted. "But don't ever think that you're not enough. Because you are."

Before she could respond, he leaned in, taking her in for a sweet hug as he rested his chin on her head, soon pulling away and placing a sweet kiss on her forehead.

Paul's voice was barely a whisper when he chose to speak again, but it was filled with a tenderness that took her breath away.

"I love you."

She froze, her breath catching in her throat as the words hung in the air between them.

She hadn't expected it—not tonight, not in the middle of her whirlwind of emotions. But hearing those words from Paul, in that moment, was like a balm to every insecurity she'd been feeling all night.

"I—" She was speechless.

"I love you too," Adeline found the words. Whispering back, her voice trembling with emotion.

Paul smiled, and in that moment, all the tension, all the jealousy, all the doubt faded away. He pulled her into his arms, and she melted into his embrace, feeling more certain than ever that this...

This was exactly where she belonged.

vera's voice. 4.5k words.
HEEEEYYYYYYYYYY......

they love each other Ok
just stfu. i don't want a SINGLE word hating on our girl. EMOTIONS ARE VALID DAMN 😒😒😒😒😒

i don't want any of you to complain about "adeline letting girls feel up on him." SHE WAS OVERSTIMMED AND ANXIOUS AND INSECURE AND UPSET. LEAVE HER ALONE.

HATERS WILL BE BLOCKED. SO LMK.

i've had this written since the last time i published but i've revised it at least like. 50 fucking times bedore finally being satisfied with it (Which is now.) Yeah. anyways. i also still don't like it but ykw , i'll cope.

k bye.

Hi Belle. Hi Elena.
Do u fw it. Lmk. Do u fw me.
Love, Vera.