In December of 2015, an adventure began with a mysterious text and an unnamed suitor. Rather skeptically, Carissa awaited her secret date at the apartment of a mutual friend. All three girls sat patiently waiting their male dates, when a knock at the door interupted their conversation. In waltzed Antonio- wearing plaid instead of flannel, like we were all instructed -handsome and confident. On the way to the first stop, Antonio “got lost”. From the start the chatter flowed easily, and by the time the two arrived at Top Golf, both had decided the date was a success. Carissa and Antonio were titled victors of the green, prior to departing to the second and final location: Velvet Taco. Something about the way Antonio order a variety of tacos and assured Carissa the abnormal pairings of ingredients would taste gourmet, put Carissa at ease. They shared the tacos and laughed both knowing this would not be the end. Four years later and the pair have eaten dozens of tacos and gotten worse at golf, but the electricity and giddiness of that night has not dissipitated. What grew into a beautiful friendship, transformed into the bud of a flower and is now awaiting the final transformation into a blooming blossom.