Over 10 years ago I picked a random seat in an ordinary History class. Who would have known that right next to me would be someone that I would eventually marry. Through several passed notes, hundreds of Mcnuggets, many unneeded Old Navy trips, tons of late night trips to the beach, that classmate became my best friend. Though our ups and downs as I moved around the east coast, we would come back together like nothing had changed. As my feelings grew, my confidence to share them diminished. But, when I decided to move back home to Boca, I knew it was time to take the leap and prove everyone wrong. I was told "Nah it'll never work, you're in the FRIEND ZONE". Well almost 6 years together, a ring on her finger, and us headed to the aisle, The FRIEND ZONE'S GOT NOTHING ON ME!

While I casually knew Ross since 7th grade, our story really began back in high school. I knew Ross through friends, and as the years went by, we eventually became the best of friends. From helping me with my physics project to passing notes during a way-too-long history class, I quickly learned he was someone I could count on. Some will say he was stuck in the friend zone for a decade, but I will say that maybe I was enjoying being a free spirit.

Scared of potentially losing a true best friend if things didn't work out, it took Ross months of convincing me to go on a first date. April 29, 2018, was our first date at hibachi, and it went great! I kept joking that if the date didn't go as planned, I might not make it to his birthday dinner the following day. And how better to celebrate an excellent first date than with a high-five in his driveway. Fast forward to the end of summer and we officially began dating.

We love a good staycation, and unwinding after a long stretch of night shifts couldn't have been better than staying in downtown Hollywood by the water. The next morning, I was watching a zoom lecture and eating a cookie (those warm DoubleTree cookies pair so well with coffee), when I finally go to get ready for the day. Ross tells me he wants to take a picture of me on the balcony. I'm admiring the ocean, and when I turn back around, he is down on one knee, ring box in hand.