If you ask Trevor: It all started with an invitation. November 2019, A blind date to a sorority social event, “Country Christmas". Trevor, nearing graduation, had never gone to a sorority event. He was nervous; despite the country theme matching his Belmont upbringing. One picture of Fern was all the convincing he needed to say yes.

When the night arrived, Trevor’s attempts at confident small talk fell flat meeting Fern. The nerves took over but something about her put him at peace. When he couldn’t find the words to say at dinner, Fern filled what would’ve been an awkward silence with a sense of ease and Trevor knew that he could wait for the right moment to speak up. The overworked waiter telling them it was his “first night” on the job to deflect from the long wait for food was his chance. Trevor leaned over to Fern, ‘he’s lying you know. I’ve done the same thing.” She laughed, and that was all Trevor needed to come out of his shell. The rest of the night was filled with laughter, dancing, and a long, cold walk home. Trevor knew he needed to see her again and a study date was planned. Then another date. And another.

By January the two were officially dating, and in March COVID began. What could have kept them apart, brought them closer than ever in Trevor’s beloved Chapel Hill apartment. Trevor, still afraid of awkward silences, was terrified of the idea of having nothing to do while trying to impress the girl of his dreams, but she brought that peace to him again. What would have been long, empty days became unforgettable times shared between them. Falling in love in their own little world. The days turned to weeks, and weeks into months until Trevor graduated and returned home to Belmont. Fern remained in Chapel Hill for her senior year. Working as a waiter, all Trevor could think about was getting time off to be with Fern. Trip after trip, Trevor and Fern continued to grow through the challenges of life and Trevor knew every moment with Fern should be treasured.

When Fern completed her nursing degree and came home to Charlotte, the two were reunited permanently. It did not take long before they moved in together and finally got to share all the biggest moments together. No more long drives or work schedules to consider, just them and their new life together. Fern is Trevor’s forever date and they still make every moment together count. They love trying new things together and spending time with friends, especially on Thursdays at music trivia! Trevor’s favorite memory came in July 2022. The pair traveled to Portugal for Fern’s birthday. A trip to Fern’s favorite place on Earth, the aquarium, was planned. This day will always be at the front of Trevor’s mind. He had seen the signs before and had an idea of what he wanted, but it was here, on that day, that Trevor knew. He knew, without a doubt, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Fern.

If you ask Fern: Things really got serious between them in a car crash. A hit-and-run specifically. Thankfully there were no injuries. One of their first dates, back home for Christmas break, the pair were driving through Charlotte taking in the holiday lights. Two blocks from home and turning onto her street, Fern must have been lost in Trevor’s eyes because she did not see the other car running a red light straight into them. Fern, always responsible, pulled over while Trevor made sure she was OK. She watched in disbelief as the other driver took off into the night. She couldn’t help but think this was the last time she’d see Trevor. Surely, he wouldn’t want to keep getting to know her after this. So close to her home, Fern drove back to her driveway and told Trevor he could go home. Trevor had not met her parents yet and was not planning on doing so that night. To Fern’s surprise, he stayed. He waited for the police to come, he met her parents under duress, and he made sure she was ok, made sure she was safe. Fern couldn’t believe it.

In the coming weeks back at school, the two spent time together when they could and always had the best time. The only problem was Trevor would not make a move (he was nervous). He had to be told to kiss her, dropping her off one night, which he swears he was planning on doing anyway (he was). After that, things really took off.

With COVID confining Fern to Trevor’s apartment, she imagined a life with him everyday. One that didn’t include this apartment Fern found to be “very boy.” As the days passed she felt more and more safe with him. Despite the crisis outside, Fern knew she was safest here with him. When Trevor had to return home after graduating, the weeks dragged on without him. She counted down the days until he was able to come back and teared up when it was time for him to leave again. Fern thought about their future together, when she wouldn’t have to miss him like this and those thoughts got her through.

When that time came and the two were reunited in Charlotte, Fern knew they’d be together forever. Everyday was more exciting than the last and they began to find their groove together out in the world as adults. As Fern settled into her new career, she was happy knowing she had Trevor to come home to. His cooking helped too. He always made her feel like a priority and that was one of the thing she loves most about him. She loved how coming home to him made her feel safe and like everything was going to be okay. It felt like their lives were truly beginning.

Fern’s favorite memory is the moment that she knew she loved Trevor. Far away from each other on Spring Break in March of 2020, when the world was shutting down, the couple knew that their love was strong enough to withstand anything. Fern was in the mountains of North Carolina with her roommates and Trevor was with his friends in Miami. The pair had planned to call and talk about their days that they were spending with friends. They talked and laughed and said they missed each other and when it was time to hang up the phone, the words "I Love You" almost slipped off her tongue. She knew in that moment that what she felt was love for him. Little did she know, that in that exact same moment, he shared the same feeling. When they both had returned to school after their trips, she beat him to the punch and told him that she loved him (and she will never let him forget that she said it first). Day by day their love grows stronger.