G & G

It all started in 2017… both of us at the age of 15 years old. (Yes, 15 years old!!) We didn’t meet like other typical couples. With our generation, technology plays a huge role in connecting with others. Especially when you are in high school still trying to figure life out. Well let’s just say technology wins this round.

It all started one day as a lonely, bored teenager who came across a Snapchat story saying "iMessage games".. that intrigued me since I have always been competitive. I was also trying to flirt.. so I asked to play. I did not have an iPhone at the time, so we weren't really able to play together. But our competitiveness led us to download the 8 ball pool game instead. We played all night long, exchanging each other's losses.. her being the one who lost the most. After that, we were inseparable – from spending all night on the phone, texting everyday without missing a beat. We eventually met up in school.. and you can tell on the look of both of our faces we were both so nervous. We would walk with each other between periods, before and after school. We fell in love – but we were too young to really know what love was.. So we had our ups and downs. But, eventually all the pieces came back together. We had matured and both wanted to be together. We would hangout every single day - at her house after school, and on weekends we would go to the pool where we have created some of our most memorable moments together. There was a time where I was trying to go down a slide, and did not realize the water was really deep. I could not swim very well.. Gabbie and her mom got to see me almost drown. They were not aware that I couldn't swim.. all because I was trying to show off. Regardless, it ended up being a hilarious memory to look back on, even to this day. These are memories I will never forget and we have made many more along the way. From staying up all night playing games together, having heartfelt conversations, and just enjoying each other's company. She is the most beautiful girl in my eyes – with her hazel eyes, and her gorgeous smile. On her 16th birthday, I officially asked her to be my girlfriend. It was the most nervous I had ever been - I got her a pearl necklace that she still wears to this day, and I could feel my whole body shaking trying to put it around her neck. After asking her to be my girlfriend, I remember when we were dancing, me looking into her eyes and her staring at me, seeing how nervous I was.. this was the day I met her whole family for the first time. I have really grown to love them like my own over the years. Gabbie has always been very family oriented, and It's one of the many reasons I fell in love with her. Over the years we have been to many concerts together, been bowling, and had lots of dinner dates. We have been there for each other through everything – covid being the hardest part of it all. Having to be away from each other for so long due to quarantine, and the worry of getting our families sick. This only made our bond so much stronger. Now things are perfect – we are still the same goofy couple we have always been, and I wouldn't want it any other way. She is still my gaming buddy, and both still very competitive – from who can get the highest score on Guitar hero, to finding ghosts on Phasmaphobia, to staying up all night talking about our future together. Just enjoying every second together. I knew I wanted this forever, and decided to ask her to marry me on New Years. With her whole family there and mine as well, this was a very special and nerve wracking moment for both of us. She had no idea about any of it, and that's what made it even more special. I wanted to surprise her and we all did a great job at accomplishing that.. even though I ran to the bathroom what felt like a million times because of how nervous I was. When I asked her to marry me, I could see the glow in her eyes and that beautiful smile on her face. She was definitely surprised, but the moment she said yes, our families celebrated a moment that will forever be special. These are just some of the many memories and our love story so far. I am very excited for what life has to offer us in the future, and happy to have her walk by my side throughout it all. I fall in love with her more and more every single day.

I never imagined I’d find real love in high school. You expect drama, short-lived crushes, and lessons learned the hard way. I have certainly had my fair share of those.. But then, out of nowhere, something truly special came into my life—and somehow, it stuck. It all began in the most unexpected way: a simple iMessage game of 8-Ball Pool. I was a bored teenager looking for a little fun, challenging friends to a match, when someone messaged me out of the blue saying he could beat me easily. Now, anyone who knows me knows how competitive I am, so of course, I took him up on it—especially after learning he didn’t even have an iPhone at the time.. I went so far as to download a cross-platform version just to prove I could win. That game led to hours of playing… which turned into hours of texting… which turned into something much more. And for the record, yes—I won every time. Texting became calling, and soon we decided to meet in person. I was nervous. He was nervous. But the moment I saw him, I noticed his big smile, warm brown eyes, and that unmistakably goofy charm that still makes me laugh until my ribs hurt. That day is still so vivid in my mind. Not long after, at my 16th birthday party, he asked me to be his girlfriend. In front of my family—shaky hands and all—he gave me a pearl necklace I still wear to this day. It was simple, sweet, and unforgettable. From that day forward, our journey began. Of course, like any young couple, we had our ups and downs. But we grew through them. Over time, it became clear that life just didn’t feel right without each other. We did everything together—movies, pool days, dinners out, concerts, holidays, shopping—you name it. And no matter what we were doing, we always had fun. Being with him made even the ordinary feel special. Gage has always been the most genuine, loving person I know. He treats me like a queen, never misses a chance to remind me I’m beautiful, and constantly goes out of his way to show how much he cares—not just to me, but to everyone around him. His heart is big, and it’s one of the many reasons I fell so deeply in love with him. Over the years, we’ve grown together in ways I could have never imagined. We’ve made so many memories—family vacations, concerts, holidays, quiet nights in. And when life got tough—especially after my POTS diagnosis—he never wavered. He stood by me, cared for me, and reminded me that love is truly about showing up, even when things aren’t easy. When he finally asked me to marry him, I was genuinely surprised… and also thinking, finally! But it was perfect. The timing, the way he included my family - it was everything I could’ve hoped for and more. This is just the beginning of our next chapter, and I couldn’t be more excited for the journey ahead. Wherever life takes us, I know I want to walk it hand in hand with him. After all these years, I still feel like the luckiest girl in the world. ❤️