As most of you know, Abigail and Sean were in the music program in high school together, but that is not where they initially met. Sean decided he would much rather take a standard biology class his freshman year instead of the advanced placement he was taking. Little did he know that would land him in the class Abigail was already taking.

On his first day in the new biology class, Abigail recognizes him, and, being the loud and rambunctious teenager she WAS, she demands the teacher to sit him next to her. Abigail only wanted someone who she knew from outside of the class to help her be a nuisance in class and to be able to chat with about their shared interest in band. However, Sean wanted nothing to do with disrupting class, so he remained his quiet self until Abigail slowly wore him down and turned him into her partner in crime.

The two quickly became a huge pain in their teacher’s neck and became closer friends. They would talk nonstop in class and noticed their classes after biology were in rooms next to each other, so they would walk together and ultimately spend more time together at band performances or practices. Abigail and Sean were never seen one without the other throughout the school day.

Finally, one day, on their way from biology to their next class, Sean PUNCHES Abigail’s shoulder with brute strength and asks, “We’re just friends, right?” To which she responds, “Yes, but that doesn’t mean you need to punch the sh*t out of me!” Then, not until they reach their corresponding classrooms does Sean shout, “Well, I want to be more than that,” and scurries into his classroom as the bell rings. Now, Abigail is left thinking, “WHAT THE F*?” (for those who don’t know, Abigail was known as F-bomb Abie in school; the girl cussed a lot). She spent the whole class period wondering, “Was that real? Did he really say what I heard him say? what does that mean? does he like me? no way, he just f*ing hit me. do I like him too? holy sh*t. I like him too. crap, what do I do?”

Class lets out, and now the two have an awkward walk to their usual lunch spot because Abigail is waiting for Sean to explain himself while he’s waiting for her to break the silence. It turns out that Abigail’s influence on Sean to become more talkative in class was the key for the two to transform from strangers to best friends to soulmates.

Flash forward to when Sean joins the Marine Corps after graduating high school. Meanwhile, Abigail is working towards her bachelor’s degree at Concordia. Then COVID hits, which suddenly makes it very hard for the two to communicate, causing discomfort in their long-distance relationship. Luckily, Abigail can fly to Virginia, where Sean has just graduated from the Naval School of Music, for a much-needed reunion. They turn Sean’s PCS from Virginia to South Carolina into a fun trip, which reminds them why they are so perfect for each other.

As the trip ends, Sean and Abigail are sad and anxious to live apart for an unknown amount of time. Sean then suggests that Abigail should join him in living in South Carolina if she’s willing. She agrees, returns to California, packs up her entire life in a suitcase, and is off to live across the country with her boyfriend. Once she lands in South Carolina, Sean proposes to her in the house they eventually elope in.

The two have been married for three years (four years this coming November) and have a beautiful baby boy. They feel it is time to have the wedding they have fought to have in the past now that the two are back in California as a vow renewal this summer.

A&S