We're getting married!

It was the beginning of a new semester at college, and I decided to take up a dance class for fun. I've always loved dancing, even performed competitively in high school, so I was excited to try something new. Although I was having a blast, it was still awkward not knowing anyone in the class. So I decided to try to make friends. During a warmup stretch, I was looking around and noticed one guy in particular who looked like he didn't know anyone, either. Being the smooth operator that I am, I painfully crab-walked in my mid-split stretch over to him and introduced myself. After some nervous laughter and small-talk, we finished the class and decided to grab In-N-Out for dinner. In that five minute drive to get burgers, it was pretty clear that Chris and I would be close friends. We instantly became comfortable with each other, and that's when I discovered Chris's amazing talent for singing when Phantom of the Opera started playing in my car. And that was the start of our amazing friendship.

[Caitlin] We are the best of friends, work together and even live together in an apartment with our other two roommates. Chris is my confidante, partner in crime, and even my shoulder to cry on. He has been there to help me through every lousy ex-boyfriend I'd ever had. But now I'm single and he has a beautiful girlfriend he met in community theater. It only took two months of living together for me to realize that I had stronger feelings for my best friend of five years than I realized. So I got up the courage to tell Chris how I felt. [Chris] When Caitlin told me how she felt about me that night, I didn't sleep. I was with someone at the time and although it wasn't too serious, I was still at a loss of what to do. On one hand, I was with a very nice girl who I knew liked me. On the other hand, the girl who I had pretty much been in love with for 5 years and whom I never thought I had a chance with just told me she might like me too. I didn't want to risk 5 years of friendship. Alas, fate has a funny way of intervening. My relationship did not last much longer after that. I suddenly found myself single again, but I didn't want to rush into things or assume she felt the same way after time passed.

[Chris] It had been a couple months since Caitlin had told me how she felt and I was still terrified to even bring it up. Since I had met Caitlin, I had always felt something for her and knew it was now or never to tell her how I felt. On Memorial Day, Caitlin and I decided to hang out with a few friends in Laguna Beach. While we were out, our friend Kayle sensed something was up and asked me about it while Caitlin was away getting a drink. I told Kayle that I wanted to tell Caitlin how I felt about her. She said encouraging words and told me she was rooting for me. Fast-forward through the night and we ended up joining some more friends at Skyloft. I sat with Caitlin at a table to guard the various purses that our group had left while they danced. We were alone together at last! We made small talk as I tried to gather the courage to bring up my feelings; It wasn't going well on that front. I was very close to letting my nerves get the best of me when Kayle comes walking up to the table. She takes one look at us and knowingly says "Oh, I'm sorry! Did I interrupt a moment between you two?" and walks away. She knew exactly what she did! I went white. My heart stopped completely. Any option I had to postpone confessions of feelings had vanished... [Caitlin] Poor Chris was just sitting there, flustered. I turned to him and asked “What did Kayle interrupt?”. I knew exactly what was going on but wanted to give Chris the opportunity to be straighforward with me. After begrudgingly admitting to his feelings, Chris continued to stare down at his hands. I spent about three seconds playing a sped-up montage of our years of friendship in my head leading up to this moment. I pushed aside my fears and kissed the man who had always been by my side for the last five years.

[Chris] It was coming up on three years together and from the very start we both knew that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. The subject of marriage was something that we spoke of often with great excitement and anticipation. Caitlin had even had a hand in choosing the ring for the big day. That being said, I had a good feeling she'd say yes. I decided that I could not wait any longer to ask her to marry me and started formulating a plan. Well, more like plans. I went through several variations and ideas, starting with the impossible and working my way down to a plan that I could actually manage and pull off. However, I needed help and messaged a few friends with my plan. Caitlin and I would go out on an unassuming (or so I thought) double date with our friends Courtney and Brian. Meanwhile, Kayle and Kaitlyn would sneak into our apartment and decorate it with flowers, candles, photographs and other small touches, transforming our entry way into a romantic setting. While we were at dinner, I grew more and more nervous to the point where I could not follow the conversation that was happening at the table. I heard the words being said but I could not comprehend them. I tried my best to play it cool but was sure I still appeared nervous. Dinner came to a close and it was time to head back home. On the drive back, all I could focus on was the sound of my heartbeat and the closer we got, the harder it pounded. We finally arrived at the front door.

[Caitlin] Firstly, I have to laugh at the notion of men trying to pull a surprise on a woman! We KNOW when they’re up to something, but bless Chris for trying. It didnt help his charade when he got his car detailed, a fresh haircut, and dressed up all in the same day. I knew this wasn’t a typical double date with friends, so I mentally prepared myself for the moment. The four of us had a lovely and uneventful time at dinner, to my frustration. I was beginning to think maybe I had guessed wrong! When I stepped through the front door to our apartment, my brain didn’t comprehend what it was looking at. As embarrassing as this is, I genuinely thought “Oh no! Someone broke in, stole our furniture, and... decorated??” Our 7 piece dining set had disappeared and in its place was littered with rose petals, photos, flowers and candles lighting the entryway. By the time I had finished looking around to take in the scene, I realized that Chris was kneeling on the floor and in the middle of a beautifully written speech. I was so choked up from the surprise that I barely managed to whisper “yes”, which was followed by Kaitlyn abd Kayle bursting out of their hiding spots and squealing with joy. We spent the rest of the night toasting and celebrating with a small group of friends in our apartment. It was so perfectly intimate.