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Paul Matthews hated musicals—it was probably his greatest fear. Watching everyone sing and dance caused a cold sweat to stream down his face, he doesnt like musicals one bit. So the question at hand is why the HELL did he accept Emma's offer to go to her apartment and watch a musical with her? Paul didn’t accept Bill's offer, and he sure as hell wouldn’t accept any offer to see a musical with Ted! No matter how many times he’d ask and even a few times *begged* him to go. As Paul walked to Emma’s apartment his mind raced with possibilities that he didn’t completely want—what if Emma actually did this to make fun of his dislike for musicals? He did know that Emma was in her high school's production of Brigadoon in around 2004—that Paul didn’t remember one bit.
He had flowers for her, just some simple daisies and roses—she’d mentioned it in passing a few times that she wanted a guy to bring her flowers, so that's why Paul was carrying around a simple bouquet for the woman he was oh so deeply in love with. The normally anxious man was extremely anxious, his palms sweating, and his heart racing faster than it ever raced. Why was he so nervous? Paul didn't have an exact reason to be nervous, totally not because he was going over to his girlfriend's apartment.. totally not that. Why would it be that? Emma has been to his place multiple times—why did this feel different? Probably because of the fact that this was basically a date.. Yeah. yeah that's why; all because of the fact it's just a date. A nice and simple date. Totally.
Honestly? Maybe he was just scared of Emma turning him down, or perhaps he was just dreading the idea of being that close to her—not that he wouldn't kill someone to be that close! It was more so being close to her, sweating and shifting uncomfortably at the parts where they were singing or dancing. Paul had fought the strong urge to turn around on the stairs and bolt away, but he did manage to get to the top of the stairs and to *her* door. His knuckles hovered over Emma's door, his hand clenched around the stems of the bouquet like a man gripping a lifeline. Just knock, it's not an execution or anything. But his brain didn’t care if it wasn't, his mind was screaming. He worked up courage after 10 minutes for three quick taps. He hoped she’d answer the door soon.
The knocks definitely sounded more confident that he felt at this very moment. He adjusted the bouquet in his hands a few times to wipe his hands on his jeans–praying to whatever thing was watching him at this very moment that Emma didn’t notice how clammy his palms actually were, almost instantly; the door swung open, and revealed Emma. She was wearing some zip up hoodie and shorts–but she looked stunning in Paul's eyes, like she was the center of attention of this whole thing. Which he kind’ve hoped she was, it's not like he’d particularly enjoyed watching musicals and would prefer anything else.. But he did agree to this. The two of them just looked at each other for a while—like if either of them looked away the other would disappear forever. The silence was broken after a bit by Emma, a certain warmness in her voice.
“You brought me flowers?” she asked, like he had just given her a diamond ring. In a matter of seconds it was like all of Paul’s fear had been temporarily sedated, hidden underneath by the sound of Emma’s voice. Emma graciously took the daisies and roses with an expression of pure joy—her smile subdued as she stepped inside and went to put the flowers in a vase, when Emma had come back she placed a hand on his shoulder. She didn’t know if she wanted to hug or kiss him—although anyone knew she wanted both. “You’re adorable Paul, thank you.” Paul swallowed hard, his heart racing more—he didn’t know how he’d survive this night with her. He couldn’t speak, it was like Paul had lost his voice. He was basically hypnotized in her eyes before she cleared her throat and spoke again. “Earth to Paul are you in there?” Emma joked.
Paul snapped back to reality around three minutes after Emma spoke, he blinked a few times to completely come down to earth. “Oh, yes. Yes yes im okay” he gave a quick response to her; the only things going on through his mind are ideas of him messing up this entire day with his awkwardness and dislike for musicals—This meant a lot to her, and god knows he wouldn’t mess this up for Emma. Honestly, anything was better than disappointing Emma. It was like something had flickered in his head, he was still outside of Emma's apartment in the cold and it was getting dark out.. Remind me why they decided to plan this when it was becoming darker and more cool outside? It was so that Paul would stay the night of course. Smart plan huh, not really–but either way Paul would've asked if he could.
By the time the pair had made it to the couch in Emma’s living room Paul was informed that they’d be watching cats—oh that amazing, a musical where the whole cast was dressed up as felines and had zero plot whatsoever.. But, Emma seemed excited to ‘hate watch’ this so who was to deny her this excitement? As Paul got situated on the couch Emma had gone to the kitchen for a few things to eat or drink while they watched that god forsaken musical that he unfortunately had to sit and watch. He was so nervous he’d mess up randomly during the night and make Emma extremely uncomfortable. Paul didn’t notice that Emma had come back with the snacks and drink—also currently trying to get his attention. “Yoohoo- earth to paul??” Emma said, waving her hand in front of his face and snapping a few times.
Jesus Christ Paul, pull yourself together! His mind raced. It was like she had this spell on him causing him to lose any train of thought whenever he was beside her. Paul took a deep breath and faced Emma, almost instantly getting lost in her dark brown yet still very captivating eyes.. almost. Paul forced a slightly strained smile on his face, though everything screamed at him to pull her into his arms and hold her until they both slept.. But neither of them were completely prepared for that, so all Paul did was hold her as she put on the musical. As the musical started to play Paul couldn't help bouncing his leg up and down with something that could be read as him being uncomfortable or even scared—which is completely valid. Cats is a horrifying musical if i say so myself.
He couldn’t focus on the musical, not when Emma was sitting beside him with her hand on his arm and this focused expression on her face. He also couldn’t focus due to this stupidly horrifying musical. It was a good break from work and stuff, and definitely a good break from Melissa—god she was even scarier than the musical! Why was he thinking about this to be exact, so he didn’t need to pay attention to both the girl beside him and the musical on the screen. Even though whenever Emma wasn’t looking at him he would have turned to stare at her when he thought she didn’t notice, or pick at his nails to stop the urge of turning the musical off and force her to pay attention to him. But he didn’t voice that, because he knew that Emma wanted to hang out with him.
Emma was actually paying attention, not because she liked it—who actually likes the musical Cats? Probably Melissa. That’s actually not a probability she most definitely does, but that point. The point is Emma seemed actually focused on something she might have a little passion for watching this god forsaken musical, even while Paul looked at her at almost every moment. She slowly looked down at Paul's unused hand and had slowly started to interlock their hands together, it now resting on her leg. All Emma had probably known is that Paul was freaking out mentally and she found that slightly interesting on how one simple touch could make him lose whatever marbles he had leftover in his mind, but that isn't important. She’d just act like she didn’t know what she just did, what? She doesn’t have a lot of fun.
And Paul was completely freaking out, His hands clammy and his throat dry—why did Emma randomly decide to hold his hand and now pretending like she didn’t know what she just did? She drove him insane—in a good way. Not the crazy psycho boyfriend who wants to kidnap his girlfriend insane. He didn't! Paul was just extremely aware of every little thing around him unfortunately, He was acutely aware of her breathing and the why her eyes fluttered at the really boring parts. But even all through this she looked beautiful, incredible—basically the girl of his dreams. She could have anyone and she settled on Paul fucking Matthews, the most basic guy in the entirety of Hatchetfield! He was so basic in fact he drinks his coffee black and doesn’t like musicals. Paul was basically vibrating with fear as they sat in supposedly perfect harmony.
They both were sick of just sitting there, the silence was deafening besides the sounds of the horrible musical playing on Emma's TV and the sound of their breathing mingling with each other. Paul on one hand was basically vibrating with how fast he was shaking while on the other hand Emma was slowly going impatient, why was this so goddamn hard? Before either of them could realize it, Emma had caught Paul mid staring at her and closed the already pretty small gap of distance between the pair. As their lips moved together, Paul's mind raced; it was better than he’d ever imagined.. As if he did that, Paul wasn’t like that. He especially wasn’t like a certain friend of his whose name started with a letter ‘T’ acted. Neither of them dared to break the kiss, it was like they couldn’t until it did.
Emma was the one who ended up breaking the kiss for air, with a slightly happy sigh as she went back to watching the musical. Paul was sitting there dazed, like that was the first time he’s ever been kissed.. Knowing Paul, it probably was. But the point is, Paul definitely couldn’t focus on the musical. Why should he? Emma literally just kissed him stupid, and he honestly didn’t hate it, it wasn’t a bad sensation..just new. He’d honestly like to continue that feeling.. What? Have you never seen a guy being madly in love with his girlfriend? Because we all know Paul is in love with Emma and Emma was in love with Paul.. Jane would be proud of Emma. She has a lover, and she is getting her life squared out, and that was the best thing anyone could ever wish for in their sibling.
Paul Matthews has always hated musicals.
However, maybe, just maybe—Emma made them a bit better.