Bret and Anna’s story began in 2010 in their freshman year world geography class at Soquel High. During class, Bret would toss little paper balls at Anna, sparking a mini war between them. From these playful battles, they discovered they were dropped off for class in the same parking lot, which connected to a trail leading up to the school. Soon, they began meeting there almost every morning to walk up to class together. On those short 10-minute walks, they grew closer, and Bret always managed to make Anna laugh with his endless stream of jokes. Over the school year, their friendship deepened and carried into summer. Things took off when Bret helped Anna set up her family’s Xbox 360 headset so they could talk online while playing Call of Duty together. They played constantly that summer, and after weeks of gaming, Bret finally asked Anna out on a proper date (to see the movie Rise of the Planet of the Apes). On their next date, they played mini golf at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and as the sun was setting on August 13, 2011, they officially became a couple. Through high school and college, they stayed together, even over long distances. Anna went to Claremont McKenna College to play softball, while Bret attended Cabrillo before transferring to San Diego State, where he joined the rowing team. After college, they reunited in the Bay Area, but then later decided to move to San Diego, a city they had both loved since Bret’s college days, and began building their life there. After 12 years together, Bret decided he was ready to officially commit to a lifelong partnership with Anna (Bret would like to note that the last sentence was written by Anna). While finishing a promotional fire academy in Redding, Bret spent months planning a surprise proposal back in San Diego. After Anna finished her spring semester of law school in 2024, he tricked her into thinking she was going to brunch with some friends. Instead, he led her to Sunset Cliffs, one of their favorite spots to take a stroll. On the trail, Bret started telling one of his old jokes, the same joke that won Anna over back in high school when they first walked to class together. By the time he finished, they had reached the perfect spot overlooking the ocean, where he dropped to one knee and proposed.