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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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?