I'd also like some recommendations for more stories like this.

You might find more stories you like here:
http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=getithere&keyword=HS+AU&filter=all

There also was an high-school AU!RP going on for a while a few years ago called veni_amor, but I can't remember what became of it (I stopped reading when it got too predictable for my taste). Might just be it's yet another unfinished WIP :|