Let's do this thing!

With many mutual friends in the Raleigh, NC area, we knew of each other and followed each other on social media for a while but never really spoke. He sent a Twitter DM responding to one of my tweets and the rest was history. We began messaging more frequently but he was still in Raleigh, while I had already moved to Charlotte for college. We stayed in touch but never really considered making it anything more than a friendship. Fast forward to a few years later, he messaged me saying he was transferring to UNC Charlotte and asked if I could show him around to his classes since he didn't know anyone else. Excited to make a new friend and show off the campus, I jumped at the opportunity. We finally met for the first time in the Lynch/Wallis courtyard on UNC Charlotte's campus, then I walked him around campus showing him all the cool spots! If you don't know Caleb, he walks faster than a cheetah chasing it's dinner. After about 30 minutes of profusely sweating trying to keep up with him, we were done with the tour and I wasn't sure what would come next. We went on our separate ways but not for long, because by the next day we were already getting lost (literally, lost) in IKEA. The days after that were filled with the best friendship I could ask for. We started hanging out every day, he became my absolute best friend. Late night pizza runs, day trips around Charlotte, and rapping on the spot to songs in the car... memories were made. It wasn't until December (about 3-4 months after we met) that we realized we had feelings deeper than just a best friendship. Leaving for Christmas break, we finally told each other how we felt. Returning to campus after break we picked up where we left off but this time as boyfriend & girlfriend!

4.3.21 we were supposed to go on a "tour of the UNC Charlotte football facilities" - he had this fake event all planned out and I believed it. The day before, he told me we couldn't do the tour anymore but we could still walk around campus for the day, an activity we enjoy doing on the weekends! I was excited to see some new campus updates and enjoy a beautiful sun-shiney day on campus. We parked in our usual spot and walked through the Lynch Courtyard, where we had originally first met. Without my knowledge, he had a whole plan and MAN did I try and throw a wrench in it without even realizing! I kept asking to go a different direction on our campus walk, but he insisted we go the way he wanted. I started heading up the stairwell and he stopped me- he got down on one knee and popped THE question. Not until after a big sigh and tears in his eyes saying "oh wow, I didn't think I'd make it this far" (lol) - he asked me to marry him. Another surprise up his sleeve, I looked up and saw my family all there to help celebrate the big occasion! Truly such a special moment with so many details thought out to make it even more special! Here's to the future Fountaines!