Caleb and I met through mutual friends after a high school football game. Most of the guys in my friend group were flag runners for the team, and that night they needed an extra person because someone got sick. Caleb stepped in as the substitute, and we met later that evening. Even though Caleb went to a different school, he was always hanging out with us. Throughout high school, we became close friends—but nothing more than that. When we came home for Christmas break after our first semester of college, we both started to develop feelings for each other. But neither of us said anything, afraid to risk the friendship. So we headed back to school and quietly pushed those feelings aside. Once the spring semester started, we found ourselves constantly FaceTiming, texting, or talking on the phone. Then COVID-19 hit, and we were both sent home. With everything shut down, there wasn’t much to do except spend time with family and close friends—and once again, Caleb and I found ourselves always together. We joked that it was just because “there was nothing else to do,” but we both knew it was more than that. Finally, one day, Caleb worked up the courage to say what we were both thinking. Our relationship became official, and I soon found myself traveling to Louisiana, Temple, and San Antonio to watch him play baseball. The long distance helped me appreciate our time together even more, and now I can’t wait to start this next chapter with him.

Alyssa and I met in high school at a Midlothian football game; however, I attended Grandview High School and not Midlothian. I was there to sneak onto the field to help my best friends run the flags across the field at the football game after each touchdown. After the game, I noticed my buddy talking to someone. He introduced me to her, and I could tell right away that she thought I was a dork because of how awkward I was being around her. Years go by, and our friendship grows closer and closer. We always found ourselves hanging out amongst our group of friends but were nothing more than that. Actually, to quote Alyssa here, she said she "would never date me." Makes me glad that Alyssa was finally wrong about something! Over the COVID summer is when we began to grow feelings toward one another, which then brought the challenge of long distance for the next four years. And I can say with extreme confidence that the distance apart over the years played a big role in our relationship. It tested our patience, deepened our trust, and ultimately strengthened the love we share today.