Work Text:
“I don't think I'm asking much!”
Paulina is stomping her foot. Sam is rolling her eyes. Both of them are frowning.
“Paulina, you don’t need another bag. It’s horrible for the environment — fast fashion pleather slop. Besides, you have so many already. You don’t need another one.”
“Sam, we’re rich, we can afford as many bags as we want! I don’t have to get the pleather one, but—”
Sam narrowed her eyes. “Ugh, you know I hate that kind of attitude. It’s materialistic; we don’t actually need another bag, Paulina!”
“But I want one!”
“Why?! It doesn’t even look that good.”
“Because— because—! Because it’s not about the bag!” Paulina shouts. “It’s about— you never treat me! I want you to treat me! Do you even love me?!”
Sam blinked, “Of— Of course I love you, I’m dating you! I wouldn’t date you if I didn’t like you, Pauly.”
Paulina sniffles. “Because you didn’t use to,” she says. “You hated me. You thought I was shallow. And maybe I am, because… We have so much. You have so much. And it feels like I get none of it.”
“No, I…” Sam swallowed. “Pauly, material items aren’t the only way to show someone you love them.”
“I know that! But… They’re physical proof that you do. They’re… They’re something I can hold, I can look at, when I doubt your love. I… I know you see me as some dumb, shallow girl, but I—”
“No, I don’t!” Sam says. “I… I know I called you shallow, but I shouldn’t have. No one is actually shallow. You just… I think you’ve been taught to value stuff like, like items, and money, and riches, and status, and beauty, and base all your worth— and even all of others worth— on those things, Pauly. But I’m not dating you for those things, you know? I’m dating you for the girl I got to know under your superficial mask. I… I do love you, you know? I don’t… I would get you as many bags as you need to believe that, but I don’t think you’re ever going to believe it that way.”
“I don’t… Please, just… I want you to appreciate me.”
“I’m trying to.” Sam says. “I am, I promise you. What do you need for me to prove it?”
“I… I don’t know. I don’t even know what you see in me, if it’s not my beauty, not my status, I… What else is there?”
Sam reached to cup her cheek. “There’s you, Pauly. How about this— instead of a fast fashion bag, I’ll get you something more sustainable in the same style. In the meantime, I’ll buy you as many sweets as you want.”
Paulina smiled slightly, sniffling. “Okay,” she says. “And… I’ll try to believe you.”
“Good,” Sam smiled, before she leaned in for a kiss.
Paulina melted into it.