Alex + Sarah

Story

 

They Meet

Boy meets Girl at college. Boy thinks, “She's beautiful.” Boy proceeds to pine for Girl, taking a succession of literature classes that would not otherwise appear on his schedule for the sole purpose of sitting in general proximity to aforementioned beautiful girl. Acquires accidental knowledge of South Asian poetry and 14^th century French love sonnets, thinks this may help with same girl someday (hopefully).

They Exchange Letters

Summer comes and the girl goes abroad. Boy uses this moment to refine his writing skills, attempts to charm Girl via long distance with witty emails intended to make her remember him amongst a sea of British boys, undoubtedly with accents. Boy is worried, but hopeful English dentistry will work in his favor. Edits religiously, removes words and lines from his messages that seem too cool or, conversely, not cool enough. Months pass like this.

They (Pseudo) Date

Fall arrives in Orange County. Sun-filled streets dotted with palm trees pointedly miss the memo. School starts again and Boy is thankful to be on staff of same literary magazine with Girl. Boy takes the opportunity to talk to Girl in class, outside of class, in computer labs, walking from computer labs, in quads, courtyards, and so on. At no time in history has more been said, with so much subtext, about the Humanities and the editing of bad student writing. Girl does not seem to mind and Boy is encouraged. Girl agrees to go to movie together, as friends sometimes do. “It’s a date,” Girl says. “You know, like an event.” Boy is completely confused with two halves of this sentence but determined date will be Date instead of mere event. Boy shows up early and buys movie tickets for both of them, thinking himself very sly. Girl insists on paying him back. Boy suggests nearby restaurant he has never gone to before and stumbles into outrageously expensive candlelight dinner by accident. Girl and Boy both order cheapest dish on menu (chicken roasted to meet stringent NASA dehydration standards) and proceed to reassure each other how excellent it all is. The check is split. The movie, billed as a dark comedy, turns out to be more dark than comedy. Boy and Girl say goodbye in parking lot, are on the verge of embracing despite all odds...until almost run down by heartless Jeep Grand Cherokee. Date (event?) ends. Boy returns home early and details to best friend, for hours, how he has blown his one chance at happiness.

They See Each Other Again

Weeks later, Girl invites Boy to friend's costume party and Boy is tossed into sudden panic over Halloween wardrobe choice for first time since fifth grade. Decides on sport coat and fedora so as to be vaguely in costume but avoid awkward “trying to impress Girl while dressed like a brain-eating zombie” moment. Girl arrives, says hello, and proceeds to play it cool the rest of the night. Boy tries to do the same but somehow ends up blabbing to surrounding guests as soon as she leaves the room that he has major hopeless crush on her. Girl leaves party seemingly none the wiser, but has actually heard from every other girl within a five mile radius via phone call, skywriting, and general telepathy that Boy cannot stop talking about her. Intrigued, another “event” is arranged at local low-key bistro. And this time…

They Take the Next Step

…it’s a success. Soon after, they become Boy + Girl. Through eight years and two coasts, they've remained Boy + Girl. All leading up to November 19, 2011...when they become Husband + Wife.