Never have either of us been ones to believe in "true love" but we both believed in some sort of perfect timing or rather, God's timing. Thankfully our story is ultimately one that waited to be started at the right time and is now one of our favorite stories to ever be written.

When we first became aware of each other, I was beginning my first year teaching at South. Tyler was still at China Grove Middle, but had taught almost all of the students I was starting to teach during their middle school years. These students were pretty much all of my seminar (homeroom) students. Most of the days during seminar revolved around them trying to find me a boyfriend, and Mr. Downs' name was always thrown around. One night Callie, one of our shared students, got him to add me on instagram at a football game. He did, I accepted, and that was that for a while.

Next, with it being the heightened age of social media and COVID, and ya know social anxiety, we both downloaded Hinge and Bumble; yes we were both trying ALL options. Ironically enough, we ended up matching on both platforms. Unfortunately, I talked myself into thinking I was not his "type" and that we would not have much in common. I made a lot of assumptions, which isn't right but easy to do behind a screen, and Tyler never fails to remind me of that when this comes up. Looking back on it now, I do regret it, but I think God knew I needed to work on myself and that the timing wasn't right yet.

After I "ghosted him", as Tyler says, a year or so had passed. I was now in my second year of teaching, and the end of the year was approaching. I was teaching an integrated class of English 1 and Civics. I was still teaching students that also had Tyler at the middle school, that loved him dearly. Specifically, Laurel. I assigned my class a final project known as their "Campaign Project". They got to choose something to run for and had to create a visual, and speech to share this with the class. Well, Laurel went above and beyond. She created an iMovie for her Campaign, "Why Allen and Downs Should Date". The iMovie revolved around our potential "love story" and she incorporated photoshopped images of the two of us together. It was hilarious to see, and a tad awkward as my principal at the time, Dr. Macon, found out about the video and just so happened to be Tylers principal the year before. So, she shared with him. Now we had both seen the love story written for us, and I felt even more awkward about the fact I "ghosted him", but it made for a great memory.

Fast forward a few months, and we are now hiring for a new math teacher at South, and, you guessed it, Tyler applies. He was already coaching the track team, and soon to be the XC team, so that along with him being an amazing teacher, made him a shoe in for the position. As our year was wrapping up we were cleaning out rooms for the summer, and Tyler was moving things in. One day after our staff cook out, Tyler and his friends were moving his things in. We had never spoken in person and I am already socially awkward so I just stood in a group and talked as he finished moving in. When he left, I didn't think I would see him again until the start of the school year, but thankfully, I was wrong. That night I got an instagram notification on my phone. Thinking nothing of it, I opened my phone and my jaw dropped. It was a message from Tyler asking me out and giving me his number. I immediately freaked out, and in true fashion of a girl in her early twenties, and went home to consult others on what to do or say. I ended up liking his message and then sending him a text, accepting the date. I was instantly answered with a Betty White gif, and was so thankful in that moment, that Callie made him add me on instagram.

We went on our first date at City Tavern, where in true T-Downs fashion, I was greeted with a firm handshake. We spent the night laughing, talking, and quizzing each other on random topics. I can confidently say neither of us wanted to leave the table that night, but they did have to close at some point. So, instead of parting ways we went and got ice cream and sat in the back of Ty's truck. When we went our separate ways, I did finally get a hug, but also could not stop smiling on my drive home. The next day, I left for my families beach vacation. I told my mom that week that I met Tyler and really thought that it could go somewhere. Thankfully, it did.

The next three years went by so fast. Getting to know Tyler and getting to officially begin writing our love story has been nothing short of amazing. Tyler is truly the yin to my yang, and we balance each other out so well in a way I never thought was possible. (And since I am writing this I would like to add that I am WAY funnier than him and if he denies it- he is lying).

In the end, God had a plan and his timing was exactly right. Our invisible strings finally connected, and there was no other answer than 'yes' when he asked me to marry him. We have written the first three chapters of our love story together, and we can't wait to write the rest.

And yes, Fitzgerald does love him more than he loves me.