The Exception to the Rule (The Improbable Meet-Cute, #1)

The Exception to the Rule (The Improbable Meet-Cute, #1)

Christina Lauren



Chapter One


2014


From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2014

Subject: Missing Assignment Hi Ms. Solyom,

I am a student in your first period Calc class. Based on midterm grades, it looks like I have a missing assignment under the Unit 4 Math packet. I believe I turned this in. Is there any way you can check? Alternatively, I can redo the packet.

Thank you.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2014

Subject: Re: Missing Assignment Hi c.sun,

I’m not Ms. Solyom. I’m a student. The teacher codes for our high school district emails are 88, so Ms. Solyom would be [email protected].

Also, you should probably sign your name at the bottom of an email to a teacher so that she knows who’s emailing her.

T.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2014

Subject: Re: Missing Assignment Hi T,

Sorry about that. Typo. Thanks for answering.

C.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2014

Subject: Re: Missing Assignment Hi C,

Don’t worry about it. Tbh, it was the only note I got from a guy on Valentine’s Day, so I’ll take it.

T.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2014

Subject: Re: Missing Assignment That sucks. But also, how do you know I’m a guy?

C.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2014

Subject: Re: Missing Assignment I just took a wild guess since you didn’t use any exclamation points and any female in this city would use several.

T.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2014

Subject: Re: Missing Assignment Smart. So from your lack of exclamation points you must also be a guy.

What school do you go to?

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2014

Subject: Re: Missing Assignment I am the exception to the rule.

And didn’t your parents tell you not to share personal information with strangers on the internet?

Happy Valentine’s Day, T.





Chapter Two


2015


From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2015

Subject: Happy Valentine’s Day Hey T,

Wanted to make sure you got at least one Valentine’s note this year.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

C.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2015

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day C!

You are the mythical unicorn who remembers dates and conversations.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too.

T.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2015

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day What can I say? I’m the exception to the rule.





Chapter Three


2016


From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2016

Subject: Happy Valentine’s Day!

C,

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!

I didn’t want to forget. It feels like a tradition now!

xo

T.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2016

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

T,

DAMN!

I was going to send this when I got home tonight, and you beat me to it.

And look at your egregious exclamation point usage, Miss Exception to the Rule.

Happy Valentine’s Day,

C.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2016

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Egregious? I think you mean spirited! Today is a holiday! About love! Aren’t we supposed to be enthusiastic?

(And yes, in case it isn’t obvious, this is the first Valentine’s of my life where I’ve actually got a boyfriend, so let’s hope he doesn’t shank it on the date plans.) T.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2016

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Lol, have some faith. I’m sure Mr. Boyfriend will blow your mind.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2016

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

I’m a simple woman: forget flowers; give me a cupcake and it’s a perfect date.

Are you seeing anyone?

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2016

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Is this an actual personal conversation we’re starting? Didn’t your parents warn you against sharing information with strangers on the internet?

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2016

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

We aren’t strangers! We’ve known each other for two years now. And how’s this: we won’t give names or other identifying information.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2016

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sounds like a plan.

I do have a girlfriend, and we’re getting dinner at Din Tai Fung later with a group of friends.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected] Date: February 14, 2016

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

You’re not supposed to give me specifics like restaurant names! What if I had plans at Din Tai Fung as well with my date and I walked in to see someone who looks exactly like he’d be named c.sun16?? The mystery would be ruined.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2016

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

I guess we could use acronyms only, but then I’d be telling you that my girlfriend and I are at DTF with a group of people, and that seems like something that could land me on a sex offender list.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2016

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Omg fajdks;afsjksfa go eat your soup dumplings, you filthy animal, and I’ll see you next year.

T.

PS: I also want to say because our district email addresses make this secret impossible to keep: Happy early graduation, C, and I hope you’re feeling good about whatever comes next.





Chapter Four


2017


From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2017

Subject: Happy Valentine’s Day Yoooooooooooo

I win.

C.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2017

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day I’m sorry, DID YOU START A NEW EMAIL ACCOUNT WITH THE SAME USERNAME

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2017

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day I am nothing if not the laziest.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2017

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Lazy people don’t email at exactly midnight just to win a race to wish someone Happy Valentine’s Day.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2017

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day What can I say, I’m a conundrum wra0pped in a mystery tied with a p7uzzle shoved in a pickle jar.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2017

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Oooh, exactly how hammered are you right now?

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2017

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Pretty hajmmered From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2017

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Are you still in Irvine?

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2017

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day No. I moved away for college.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2017

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Don’t tell me where! I enjoy the mystery.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2017

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Oh I won’t. I know the rules.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2017

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Are you having fun, wherever you are?

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2017

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day I guess?