Basic Trope: A couple isn't a real couple, but one half says they should be.
- Straight: Alice and Bob sleep together after a little too much to drink at a party. Alice has had a crush on Bob for a long time, and wants them to go out for breakfast together. Bob has no interest in Alice.
- Exaggerated:
- Alice has one conversation with Bob, and immediately declares him as her soulmate and One True Love. Bob thinks she's insane.
- Alice actually tries The Baby Trap or threatens to kill Bob if he doesn't stay with her.
- Alice considers Bob to be the love of her life, but Bob considers their relation to be nothing but an embarrassing scandal and when she approaches him, he demands to know if she wants money to cover it up.
- Downplayed: Bob and Alice are dating, but while Bob views their relationship as a casual fling, and would consider dating other girls if they attract him enough, Alice wants their romance to eventually lead into marriage.
- Justified:
- Alice has had feelings for Bob for a long time, but Bob either doesn't return them or is Oblivious to Love.
- Bob is one of those people that can separate the physical aspect of sex from the emotional; Alice is not.
- Bob has cheated on Alice in the midst of a troubled relationship; Alice bringing this up is the "make it or break it" point.
- Inverted: Alice and Bob are an Official Couple, but then decide they should call it off.
- Gender Inverted: Bob suggests the Relationship Upgrade, and Alice is the one that turns it down.
- Subverted:
- Alice admits that she is fine with being Friends with Benefits.
- Bob admits that he too, loves Alice.
- Alice and Bob actually have the Relationship Upgrade.
- Double Subverted:
- For now, anyway. But sooner or later, she wants them to be an official couple.
- But also that he's already dating or married to Carol.
- But they don't last very long.
- Parodied: ???
- Zig Zagged: ???
- Averted: Alice and Bob both have feelings, and are upfront about them.
- Enforced: Rule of Drama
- Lampshaded: "I thought you loved me!"
- Invoked: Claire accuses Alice of being a slut for being with a man she does not love, prompting Alice to seek out a real relationship with Bob.
- Exploited: ???
- Defied:
- When Alice confesses her feelings for him, Bob stops sleeping with her.
- Alice breaks up with Bob when she realizes he only wants sex from her.
- Discussed: "Look Alice, I know you think Bob loves you but so did all of the other girls he was with".
- Conversed: ???
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