Joseph and I first met in 8th grade in 2014. He introduced me to one of his friends, though before that, he knew me as the new girl next to Tyler Herro. He and his friends once pulled a prank on me by playing ding-dong ditch.

My early impression of him was as my best friend's boyfriend and the occasional teaser. However, during our 8th-grade graduation dance, things changed.

That night, Joey's humor, kindness, and charm shined through, and I found myself laughing and smiling more than ever before. This marked the beginning of our journey together.

After graduation, while others enjoyed their summer, Joey and I stayed in touch. Towards the end of summer, despite missing a neighborhood pool party, Joey's cheesy pick-up lines caught my attention.

As we entered high school, our interactions lessened, but a few weeks before homecoming, rumors swirled about who Joey might ask to the dance. A misunderstanding led me to confront him, and we cleared things up. Joey asked me to homecoming, and I said yes.

Our first date was a movie night, where I met his mom. Despite a comical accident during an attempted kiss, it was memorable.

For the homecoming dance, we planned to take pictures at Joey's house before heading to mine to board a limo arranged by my grandparents. It was an unforgettable evening. As freshmen, we didn't dance much, but during John Legend's "All of Me," Joey asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes. That night marked the start of our beautiful journey together.