Vanstory Hall Night on the Quad Hers I didn’t really know many people in my dorm at the time so what made go outside with all of the black folks, I will never know. But we met a warm night in September 2010 at THE illustrious North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. I was with one of my friends and we were hanging outside of Vanstory Hall. He was already in deep conversation with a couple of our classmates, so I decided to join in the conversation. Once my friend and I left, he followed behind us and asked me my name. I said with a little sass “Kelsey “and I asked him and he stated “Julian”. After that, we walked around campus for the rest of the night. We talked about music, classes, and television shows. Before the night ended he sung Donnell Jones “Where I Wanna Be” to me and then carried me on his back up the steps to the third floor. His It was a long night of marching band practice but I was restless afterward. My roommate and I decided to meet up with some people from the dorm outside. So on this warm September night in 2010, a majority of Vanstory Hall was outside and getting to know one another. I noticed her from across the way as she walked up to the group but I tried to play it cool. As soon as she decided to skedaddle off to her next location, I couldn’t let her leave without at least knowing her name so I was in hot pursuit. I approached her and said, “Excuse me, I didn’t catch your name back there.” With a splash of sass as if she was playing hard to get she said, “Kelsey.” In return, she asked mine and I replied, “Julian, nice to meet you.” We continued our conversation while taking a pleasant walk around the campus of NC A&T. I showed off my vocal talents before whisking her away via piggyback to the third floor as we said our first but not our last goodbyes.

Kelsey was anxious already for some reason and went into the bedroom to lay down. Julian called her name to get her to come to the living room by luring her with food. A Snickers bar to be exact. Kelsey LOVES Snickers bars by the way. Julian told Kelsey that she wasn’t the same when she was hungry and that she needed a Snickers. Ha Ha (not funny). Julian then started talking in circles about how much he loved her and what she means to him, which made Kelsey even more anxious. She asked him, “Julian, what are you doing.” He then said, “Well Tom Brady wouldn’t be the only one to get a ring today and then got down on one knee. (Kelsey is a Patriot’s fan). She immediately put her hand over her eyes and started crying. He then asked Kelsey if she would marry him and she wouldn’t even look at him because she was trying to make sure he didn’t see her crying. It was at this moment that Kelsey realized that she failed as an “emotional thug”. Julian asked if she was going to answer him and Kelsey shook her head yes and he put the ring on her finger. He said he wanted to hear an answer and Kelsey then said Yes to what would be the beginning of the rest of their lives. A seven-year friendship that turned into the ultimate love story.