This is an AU, snapshot-style. It's a drabble (?; dunno never written one) of a way longer AU (appropriately titled A Brief History of Clichés) that's been kicking around my hard drive for years. If anyone's interested, I can polish it up and post sometime. I promise I'll finish A Slow Trip To Somewhere and probably soon (never quite meant to abandon it like that) because, in spite of complete lack of interest and access to OTH these days, procrastination = fic writing.
A Briefer History of Clichés
He's the best basketball player in the county, maybe the state. Note: also the richest and hottest.
She's the girl next door. Correction: his little sister's best friend who lives across the street.
They kiss at his graduation and the next day he leaves nothing behind. Not even a promise.
Valedictorian. Terrified, soon-to-be college freshman. Possessor of a family ring from that boy/man who's been sending her mixed signals for years.
That girl who is proposed to by the boy/man she grew up with at her graduation.
She refuses and two weeks later abandons everything. Including her heart.
The greatest night of his life, thus far, is celebrated with his old, and her new, friend Absolut.
She leaves him in bed, wasted and clothed.
He never realizes she was real.
They accidentally meet cute on a sidewalk. Coffee spilling may even be involved.
There is awkward silence and too much said, but no offers of "what if?" sex. At least none verbal.
Between his life and hers, they part ways, disappointed as always.
The first date starts with a drink to ease the nerves.
Two bottles of wine and three phone calls later, they're drunk and on a plane.
One layover and six hours later, they're sober and married. By an Elvis impersonator.