Love Stories: Deceptive Love

*Yawns* Well, I'm staying up way too late these days. Back in WIP mode—the transition from editing wasn't as hard as I thought it'd be. Hammered is coming together nicely, I think. It's such a different kind of story for me in a lot a ways, though it still has familiar elements as well. Anyway...on with my little series thing.

Deceptive Love (I know, not the best title, but you'll see)
The Formula: Girl (or guy) disguises themselves as someone else. While disguised, girl meets an incredibly cool guy who wants to hang out with her and stuff. Girl knows it's a terrible idea, but agrees to keep meeting the guy because she's so taken by him and doesn't think he'll accept the "true" her. They fall for each other, but inevitably the charade comes to an end. Guy learns girl's true identity and is upset by it. Girl apologizes. Guy either forgives or doesn't.

This one's a classic, isn't it? It's been done and done and done. I mean, how many modern Cinderella tales can the Disney Channel make? And yet...I'll still sit down and watch them from time to time. It's just so cute! Even if you know exactly how it goes. And there's something to be said about the "disguise" thing—characters often learn a lot about themselves by being someone else. The key to this formula is lovable characters (not just likable) and a really fresh/fun premise.

One of my favorite chick flicks ever? Never Been Kissed. Man, am I showing my sappy girly side this week or what? Drew Barrymore is a geek of a reporter assigned her first undercover project—pose as a high school student and learn what kids are really into. She has to become popular. Problem? She was THE nerd back in high school. In her quest to popularity, she falls for one of her teachers, but of course they can't really date and there's all this tension/flirting there. After she wins prom queen, it all comes out. Teacher is freaked. But she finally gets her first kiss. Awww.

I'm picking a modern YA book for this one—I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter. If you haven't read it and you're into YA, you gotta pick it up. Seriously. This is a perfectly done "deceptive love" story. Cammie is a spy—she goes to a secret spy school made to look like a preppy all girls private school. On a practice mission in town, Cammie accidentally meets a "town boy" named Josh—the first boy to ever see her. She pretends to be a homeschooled girl; he wants to see her again. Her spy friends make it happen. Hilarity, mischeif, and heartbreak ensue.

I think this form is especially fun for YA. I mean, every kid struggles with identity. These stories put that at the forefront. Will people like me for who I really am? Am I being more myself when I'm "pretending" because I'm not afraid? Do people even know who I am inside? Would they care? Would they tease me if they knew? Would they like me more? Could anyone really love the real me?

Hey, I just met this really cute love story! *Ninja flies by* Oh my gosh! I think that was my love story! It's a ninja? What? How am I going to deal with this?