tedcruz420 said: high school popular kid/nerd au? (Rey as the nerd ) plz?


also for likeadove since she suggested a fender bender meet cute. 400 word drabble courtesy of tumblr numbered AU prompt post. Embrace ALL the tropes!


Ben Solo explosions were events of legend at Hosnian High. (Last time Solo lost his temper, he and two others were suspended for a month.) So half the senior class had come running to see the dent in the front of the 1964 Ford Falcon; no one wanted to miss this.

"Your dad is going to kill you," Hux told Ben. He didn't sound too upset about it.

"I am so sorry," Rey said. Her bicycle was beyond repair, but she, at least, had come out of the collision unscathed. The Falcon had swerved into a light pole to avoid running her over. "I was late to class, I wasn't looking, and… er…"

She felt herself quailing under Ben's gaze. He was very, very tall. And… uh… intense.

"I'm sorry," she said again, meekly. "I can probably fix it – I'm good with cars."

"It's my father's. He won't let anyone else touch it. Except for me." A pause. "But not after today, probably."

Oh, God. She'd only been here since October, but she'd heard stories, and– he wouldn't hit a girl, right? "I'm Rey," she offered.

"Yeah," he said. "Yeah, I know."

She blinked. Ben Solo knows who I am. Maybe that wasn't so surprising – not that many mid-year transfers with English accents who turned into instant outcasts thanks to third-hand clothes and unattractive dining manners. (No matter how long she'd been off the street, she couldn't stop from eating as fast as she could.) But still. She was nothing, and he was a legend.

"I'm Ben."

A legend who for some reason felt the need to introduce himself. "Yeah," said Rey. "I know."

The crowd stirred restlessly. This was the part where Ben Solo was supposed to break something or someone. Inscrutably staring at a girl in dirty overalls was both out of character and dull.

Rey dug into her backpack and pulled out a sheet of paper. "Here," she said, scribbling quickly. "This is my house number. My… uh, guardian – he'll pay damages." (Unkar wouldn't, but that was a problem for six hours from now.)

Ben took the number without saying anything. His eyes didn't leave her face.

Rey felt herself inexplicably blush.

The late bell rang, dispersing the crowd – and breaking the spell. "Um… sorry again," she said, before beating a hasty retreat towards the entrance.

("Jesus, Solo," she heard Hux say. "What the fuck was that?")