Alex and Zack first crossed paths in 2018 at Molloy College. Though they both grew up in Oceanside, it wasn’t until they landed in the same education classes after transferring schools that fate finally brought them together. Both were quiet, a little shy, and not particularly chatty... so naturally, it took a while (and a solid friend group of four) for them to really get to know each other. Zack was the only guy in the class, which made him pretty hard to miss—and what Alex didn’t know was that he had a crush on her from day one. They spent months hanging out, swapping stories, and pretending not to flirt. The two spent time hanging out beyond that first semester, building a connection that lingered even as life took them in different directions. Over the next five years, Alex and Zack had a handful of unexpected run-ins at Long Beach bars, always seeming to find each other no matter where the night led. Then, one day, Zack moved to Long Beach—right on Ohio Ave—and everything changed. Or maybe, everything fell into place. Alex and Zack like to thank the invisible string theory for their relationship—because while it took longer than most love stories, and a whole lot of growing and timing and patience, it always felt like something was pulling them toward each other. The universe may have taken its sweet time, but in the end, it got it right.