It seems like forever ago that I first met Kianna. Way back in March of 2016 our high school was putting on a trip to go to Italy. The previous year I had gone a trip to Spain with the same teacher that was hosting the Italy trip. I remember asking him for a list of all the students that would be going so I could familiarize myself with everyone. I began looking them all up on social media; as high schoolers do, and as soon as I landed on Kianna's page I knew something was different. I looked at the girl and instantly felt like I wanted to get to know her. Once the trip started we were all supposed to get in groups of 5 and exchange numbers. At the time, being too scared to ask for her number I saw this as an opportunity to get her number and meet her without the fear of rejection. The next 10 days in Italy was something from a Disney movie. All trip long Kianna and I were attached by the hip. I realized on the plane ride home that I actually started to have feelings for her and wanted to see what could become of this newly formed friendship. I think the exact moment that hit me was at the fly away. When we all got back to the fly away, everyone's parents were there to pick them up. I remember in the midst of everyone getting off and finding their parents Kianna had already gone. I felt this feeling of "oh my god, will I ever see this girl again?". It was in that exact moment I knew that I truly had feelings for her. From there everything just blurs together. As I sit here and type this out I can't believe it has already been over 6 years. To me, I feel like I've known Kianna my entire life. I tell her all the time, I remember things or events from my past before you, but I don't remember what life was without you.

When I first met Alec, he was just another person on this Italy trip. I heard about going on this trip from a friend in class, but knew no one else on the trip. I felt a little reserved and nervous going into the trip, only because I really didn't know anyone. Right before we boarded the plane at LAX, here comes this guy, super gelled hair, beat up white vans, and his iconic Powder Puff wind breaker jacket. He came right up to me and asked to be in my group of 5. Of course I said yes, but to me he was just looking for a group to be in. I didn't realize then what would happen next. Alec and I very quickly developed a great friendship. We were constantly hanging out on the trip. He would come to my room to hangout with my roommates and I, we would text non-stop if we weren't together, and if there was ever free time to go explore, him and I were off doing our own thing. From the outside, it seemed as if Alec and I had been friends for years and had this amazing established relationship. In reality it was the birth of one. I don't know what it was about him, but it just felt so natural to hangout and be with him. Even after the trip we continued to hangout all time. We started carpooling to school every morning, we would text during class, hangout during school breaks, he would come over after school, and every weekend we would make plans with each other. To be honest, Alec came to me at a point in my life where I didn't want to be in a relationship. I was happy single and doing my own thing, but Alec changed all of that. Alec made me realize, what I always wanted in life was right in front me, and I haven't looked back since.