It was May 5, 2017, and Benton had a row of seats all to himself on the coach bus. The QACHS band was headed to Hershey Park to compete. Julia had been sick the day we chose buses, and came back to school the day we were leaving for Hershey. After talking with Eric Wright, our band director, he directed her to Bus 1. Benton remembers watching Julia talk with Mr. Wright, but never expected what would happen next. Julia comes walking confidently down the bus isle and slides into the empty seat next to him. Frustrated, yet silent, Benton allowed it. Their friendship grew over that bus ride and soon after, May 12, 2017, they started dating.

Shortly after they returned to Maryland from their Winter Break from Purdue University when they went out on a dinner date on December 22, 2021. They had reservations at Molly's Restaurant for 5:30, but arrived a little early. They enjoyed some of the best Crab Dip they have every had. A little while before they left, Benton suggested to Julia that they should go look at Christmas Lights in Centreville after dinner. With no idea that was his excuse to go to the spot he would propose, she agreed. On the way to Centreville, they shared some of their favorite moments of their relationship. At this point in time, they had been dating for over 4.5 years. As they pulled into the QACHS bus loop, Julia was confused, and Benton's heart was beating out of his chest. He told Julia he had a present for her, and they stepped out of the truck and went in front of the Band Room outer doors. Benton handed Julia a small box, and she opened it and found an ornament engraved with "Our First Christmas Engaged." Full of confusion and shock, she looked passed the ornament in her hand to find Benton on one knee, asking her to marry him.