Chapter Text
Moodboard created by beybex
I. ~.Never Been Kissed.~
"There have been five great kisses since 1642 B.C. when Saul and Delilah Korn's inadvertent discovery swept across Western civilization. (Before then couples hooked thumbs.) And the precise rating of kisses is a terribly difficult thing, often leading to great controversy, because although everyone agrees with the formula of affection times purity times intensity times duration, no one has ever been completely satisfied with how much weight each element should receive. But on any system, there are five that everyone agrees deserve full marks.
Well, this one left them all behind…"
She closed the pages of her favorite novel and blissfully sighed while pressing the cover against her chest close to her heart. My goodness, to be kissed like that. Rey had always wanted to know how it felt. The feeling of being swept off your feet, tasting the sweet lips of your one true love, seeing and feeling the sparks fly with an electric jolt that rushes through your body. To be kissed like that? Why, Rey would immediately marry the man that gave her that feeling.
It was a minimum day at Corellia High School. While the students were dismissed by noon, the faculty stayed behind to catch up on grading projects and what not before the students returned from the Thanksgiving holiday. Rey Niima, the 11th grade English Literature teacher, was taking a break from reading student reports on the rise and fall of literature's greatest heroes. While she taught a diverse curriculum, her favorite works to dissect had always been romance (if it weren't already obvious). In her spare time Rey - the true bibliophile she was - always carried around a couple of books in her messenger bag, sneaking a few minutes of reading her favorite stories in between breaks.
Her love life wasn't nearly as grand as the epics she read in her novels. Nope, she didn't live in a fairytale. There were no knights in shining armors or frog princes, no wealthy suitor who looked past their social statuses, millionaires who threw parties to grace her presence, or a man losing his eyesight in a fire to be with her. None of that. She didn't have the best luck in relationships, but frankly these novels of hers kept her hopeless romantic heart beating. She read fairytales in lieu of her own happily ever after. And until she found hers, she lived vicariously through the lives of Jane Eyre, Daisy Buchanan, Elizabeth Bennet and of course her favorite little farm girl, Buttercup.
"Hey girl, are you almost done grading your papers?"
Rey's fellow colleague and best friend Rose Tico walked into her classroom and slumped at a nearby desk.
"Taking a break right now," she said and flashed the book in her hands up for her friend to see.
"You're taking a break to read a book? Have you ever head of television?"
"Well books are like TV to me. Except I see it in my head. Blame the day job I'm an English lit teacher," Rey giggled.
"How does going from reading papers to reading a book mean taking a break?" Rose laughed. "It's all the same, you're still reading!"
"Yes, well I love my students, but I love this book more," Rey replied.
"Girl haven't you read that book like a million times?" she speculated.
"I haven't read it a million times Rose. That's not possible."
Logically, it wasn't. Rey was 27 years old. Even if she started reading this book at five years old, she wouldn't even be close to a million reads. But Rose had a point…
"Well you've read it enough to practically memorize it. And don't even lie that you haven't memorized the thing cover to cover!"
"Augh, it's just a beautiful story, Rose!" Rey gushed.
"You see and this is why you're single," her friend pointed out. "You're too consumed with the romance of fictional characters than the romance of your own life."
"Well they make me happy, more than any of my last boyfriends have ever made me," she pointed out.
"I guess," Rose said. "But come on, if you're not going to do any more grading, let's call it a day and grab some drinks at my place."
Rose stood up and walked to the bookshelf hugging the wall opposite the door, playing with the several knick-knacks Rey decorated her classroom with.
"Are you done grading your papers?" she asked her friend.
"Of course not," Rose said. "I never even started."
"Then what have you been doing for the past 3 hours?"
"I was flash freezing a banana in the chem lab to make chunks for my cereal. But then I realized I wanted to drink alcohol, so I just dismissed my papers altogether and came to you," Rose happily shared.
"Rose, you can't use your lab to make food all the rime," Rey rolled her eyes, closing her book and gathering her things.
"Hey look, I love my job and I love chemistry," Rose said. "But I also love food and if I can use a Bunsen burner to roast marshmallows on a cold rainy morning, I will do so without any retort from you or my students," she bragged.
"I swear one of these days you'll start a lab fire and not from a chemical accident but from like burnt chicken or something," the two women laughed.
When Rey finally agreed to head over to Rose's, her friend went down the hall to her classroom to lock up and grab her things. Rey tidied up her desk and slipped the stack of reports in her messenger bag as well, opting to read the rest at home over the long weekend. She was wiping down her whiteboard when there came a knock on her door.
"Ben, hey!" Rey greeted her other friend and fellow colleague.
"Hey Rey," he smiled brightly at her.
Ben was a new hire two years ago. He came from another school district to take over the head coaching position of the school's football team. By the looks of his physique, it was no secret that Ben played some college ball because he couldn't hide those muscles under his windbreaker even if he tried.
Rey enjoyed hanging out with Ben. He was a very sweet and funny guy. They became instant friends and in the two short years best of friends. He had a smile that would light up the room, at least for Rey she thought his smile was bright. He always had a smile ready for her when she saw him.
This high school was filled with cliques – even in the faculty level. Rey, Rose and Ben stuck together because they were the only teachers at that school who didn't brown nose the principal, act like they were in the popular crowd, or greedily abuse the funding for their curriculums (although Rose may have once or twice expensed a bag of marshmallows for her personal use). They were merely just teachers who loved their jobs and came to work just like everyone else.
"I saw your light was still on, so I came over," he said. "What are you still doing here?"
"I should be asking you the same thing," she said back. "I didn't know gym teachers had to grade papers," she teased.
Ben chuckled at her remark.
"Grade papers, no. But the varsity team is one game away from making it to the playoffs so we're putting in some extra practice before the break."
"Have I ever told you I admire your dedication?" she smiled sweetly at him.
That smile. It could move mountains. Ben Solo wasn't the most outgoing person, he wasn't the first person you'd think of to be a romantic. But when he met Rey, his whole world brightened up. The usually introverted guy he was, he was a changed man when he started at Corellia High because he went out with Rey and Rose whenever he was invited to do things. For a man who got dumped by his last 3 girlfriends for not showing enough affection, Ben wrote sonnets in his mind whenever Rey spoke to him. He was smitten over his colleague, but she had put him in the friendzone the first day they met. Now he's one of her best friends and doesn't think he'll ever get the chance to be something more with her. But a man could still dream.
"Maybe once or twice," he kidded, trying to keep a blush from forming.
"Well you're a hard worker. Those boys on varsity are lucky to have you as their coach," she pointed out.
"I think you mean your students are lucky to have you," he said leaning against the door frame. "I can't tell you how many times they've talked about their favorite teacher. And I hear your name more than my own," he laughed.
"Oh, well… I don't have a retort for that," she giggled. "Are you heading home?"
"I've got to give some of the boys rides home since we went a bit past our practice time. There are no more late buses for them to take. It's the least I could do."
"That's very sweet of you," Rey smiled.
Before he could give himself a chance to blush, he needed to change the subject.
"What do you have going on tonight?"
"Rose wants to drink at her place."
"Hmm… take smelly teenagers home or grab a drink with a girl friend? Yeah, you win this round, Niima," he joked.
"Thanks, Solo," she giggled.
"I'll be dropping by the grocery store on my way home. Got to pick up some stuff for my mom for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. Let me know if you need anything and I'll swing by your apartment tonight."
That was Ben, always considerate and eager to help her out. He was the nicest person she's ever met.
"Thanks, Ben. I think I'm good."
"Alright, have a good one, Rey! And Happy Thanksgiving!"
~.~.~.~
Rose was pleased that Rey agreed to come over and have some much needed girl time. They hadn't lounged around together since the school year started and they wanted to destress before the craziness of the Christmas season began.
Rose popped open a bottle of wine and poured a glass for her and Rey. When she brought the drinks to the living room, she found her book nerd friend curled up in the corner of her sectional couch continuing to read her book.
"Augh, girl. It's after hours and officially Thanksgiving break. No more work!"
"This isn't work, this is just a hobby read," Rey defended.
"You're still reading. Still work. Put it away!"
She handed Rey her wine and sipped half her glass even before taking a seat beside her.
"But this is a good part! Westley was just about to-"
"Unless Westley is going to show up at my door and whisk me off into the sunset with his black stallion then I don't care."
"Technically, it's a white horse-"
"I don't care, sweetie," Rose said before sipping her wine again.
"Fine, fine. I'll put it away," Rey said dejectedly and placed it on the table before grabbing her glass.
After polishing her first round and refilling her glass, Rose decided to give her friend a break.
"What is it that you love so much about that book, anyway? Seriously…"
For someone who loved Netflix, Rey was excited that her TV loving friend asked about her favorite novel. She jumped on that conversation quick.
"I don't know, Rose. Didn't you dream of a fairytale love story when you were a little girl? The struggle, the oppression, the strife… then when all hope is lost true love wins and you finally get to have that moment where you and your prince share a kiss?" Rey daydreamed.
"I mean I watched Disney movies and wanted to be like Cinderella and get married to a prince but that's all," her friend shared.
"It's just… there's something so grand about The Princess Bride that I just wish to find my Westley someday. And I don't think I need to say that this book has one of the best kisses in the history of literature," Rey said as if it were the most obvious fact.
"Okay but have you seen or read The Notebook?" Rose shared. "You know how Ryan Gosling looks like right?"
"Yes, I have and yes that's a great story too. But this… the way their kiss is described as the greatest kiss in history. Have you ever felt that?" Rey said giddily.
"You mean been kissed? Of course I have," Rose said apparently.
"No, I mean like really been kissed?"
"Yes, Rey. I've really been kissed," Rose chuckled at her. "I have a husband remember?"
"Yes, I do. And I think it's so romantic that you and Ezra can have a lover's reunion kiss every time he comes back from deployment. It's so beautiful!"
"Lover's reunion kiss? Is that even a thing?"
"Yes of course it is!"
"I guess," Rose giggled. "What's your point?"
"My point is, Rose…" Rey nervously swished her wine around in her glass. "I don't think I've ever been kissed that way."
Rose looked at her stupidly.
"What are you talking about? You've had relationships before. Long term ones. Didn't you love your boyfriends?" she pointed out.
Rey placed her glass down and tucked her legs beneath her, getting a bit more comfortable.
"I guess. At least at the time I did, sure. But I've never felt that spark, you know? The one that lights up the inner flame inside you because it's pure love. Maybe for lust if anything. And the 'love' I felt for my ex-boyfriends wasn't the one true love I thought."
"Rey sweetie," Rose sighed. "You've been kissed before. I've seen you light up with your ex-boyfriend, Cal. He was a great guy. You can't possibly tell me you didn't feel a single spark or even a flame for him?"
"Honestly Rose... Never. Not like this."
Rey picked up the book and flipped to a bookmarked page. She read Rose the description of Buttercup and Westley's kiss and happily sighed.
Her friend couldn't help it, she let out a small giggle.
"What, are you going to tell me next that you're a virgin because you've never made love?" she teased.
"Har har, Rose," Rey rolled her eyes at her friend.
"Oh sweetie, you've romanticized this notion of a true love's kiss so much it's almost going to be impossible for you to find 'the one'. You know that, right?"
"He's out there I know it," Rey wanted to believe.
"Well you're going to be searching for quite a while. Why not at least settle for 'the one right now'?"
"Well, maybe the next one will be it? Maybe I'm ready to be in a real relationship this time and not just pointless flings?"
"Oh my god, yes! I've been waiting all year for you to get back in the dating game," Rose was excited.
Rey's last relationship was a year ago and while the breakup was amicable, she didn't immediately try to meet another man. It puzzled Rose because Rey was all about wanting to fall in love, yet her best friend didn't mind being single for a while.
"I don't really know if I want to jump into the 'dating game'," Rey said of the phrase.
"You can't find your one true love if you don't put yourself out there, babe."
"I just don't want to play the dating game though. No more flings, remember?"
"Sometimes flings can turn into relationships," Rose pointed.
"Don't know if I'd want to be in that kind of relationship though."
"Okay then why don't you go out with someone and just kiss him first to see if there's at least mutual attraction before you start talking about 'the one'?" her friend suggested.
Rey thought for a moment.
"You know in my undergrad one of my lit professors talked about how sometimes your surroundings can enhance the intensity and emotions around you and can make a kiss feel even more regal."
"What are you saying, you're going to set the stage for a perfect kiss?" Rose quipped a brow at her friend.
Rey's eyes widened.
"That's exactly what I'm going to do!"
Not enough wine could help Rose figure out her friend's gibberish.
"Okay, explain…"
"Rose, there are so many 'perfect kiss' moments you can have. What if I just need to be in the right moment with a guy to feel that spark of true love's kiss?"
Rose took a long sip of her wine. She really thought her best friend was losing it. But she played along for Rey's sake.
"And what exactly are perfect moments? You know besides a wedding?" she teased.
"I don't know, like kissing in the rain, kissing at sunset, under the mistletoe or even at midnight on New Year's Eve. Stuff like that."
"Oh, like the cute moment at the end of She's All That when they kissed in the backyard after prom?" Rose said dreamily of that fun teen movie she watched back in the day.
"Definitely," Rey agreed. "She kissed him under the moonlight with the twinkling lights. If that's not romance, I don't know what is."
"I do love me some Freddie Prinze Jr.," Rose giggled. "God, I love the song too!"
Rey nodded in agreement. "I want my perfect kiss moment just like that."
"You can't expect to automatically fall in love with someone just like that do you?"
Rey thought about it for a moment. She really thought about what Rose was saying about dating and relationships.
"I guess not. But like you said, maybe if I feel a spark then I can go from there."
"Alright."
Rey wasn't really sure if she was ready, but she was hoping to find her 'Westley'. And if it meant putting her heart on her sleeve again, then she'd take the chance.
"Then it's settled, Rose. I'm going back in the dating game."
"Oh hell yeah. I'll drink to that!"