Alex and Mike met in high school, sophomore year. Mike came and introduced himself to Alex, and she was very annoyed as she was standing next to her boyfriend at the time and took it as an advance. Mike turned around, and Alex kicked in his knee. The rest of the year he pestered her in an attempt to grab her attention. Covid hit, and school let out, and the next year Alex transferred back to Willow Springs for school. Junior year, Mike and Alex had a few classes together, as he also transferred unknowingly at the same time. He continued to pester her, and she continued to ignore him until one day he made her laugh. Alex began letting down her walls, and they became good friends. They had their partners throughout the years, not knowing the other had feelings for them. Alex got sent to treatment the beginning of their senior year and graduated while in treatment. Once she came home, she messaged him to let him know she had liked him for a while, and wanted to know if he’d give her a chance despite her rude gestures the past few years. Mike told her that he had loved her the whole time, and of course he would like to start dating. They took it slow at first and talked about it for a few days, and agreed to make it official on August 14th, 2022. Alex went off to college in Fredonia, New York, about a week later, but they kept in contact and called every day. Mike visited her a few times with her father, since he stayed in Missouri. Alex eventually decided that college was not for her and she wanted to go home, but her father was unable to take her home at that moment. Instead, her sister allowed her to stay for a few months until she could make it home. Eventually, Alex took a Greyhound from Pennsylvania to Missouri, where Mike picked her up and brought her to her friends house where she stayed for another month before moving home again. February 14th, 2023, Mike proposed, and Alex accepted. March 5th, 2023, Alex found out she was pregnant, and called Mike to tell him right away. A lot of things went downhill after telling family about the baby, but Mike stayed with Alex the whole time to take care of her and the baby. November 3rd, 2023, at 1:53 p.m., baby Finnegan was born, happy and healthy. March 7th, 2024, they finally found their own home in West Plains, Missouri, where they now reside with each other and baby Finn, who is now 5 months old. They plan on 3 more children eventually, and residing in West Plains until they grow old.