When we were 15, we shared a group of mutual friends and often found ourselves spending time together — whether it was hanging out at a friend’s house or making trips to the local mall. As we got to know each other better, I (Alanis) began to realize I really liked William. At first, I tried to keep a respectful distance, but those feelings slowly grew stronger. Everything changed at William’s 16th birthday party, when I started to notice that he might be taking an interest in me too. From that day on, we quickly became inseparable. We spent hours talking on the phone, texting after school, and eventually going on a few dates before officially becoming a couple.