We are so overjoyed to share our day with you

We were both in college, working at Target part-time. Technically, I was his boss (I was a front-end manager and he was a team member). Shortly after meeting, I messaged him on Instagram because I had just put together that Anthony (his brother, who I was friends with first) was related to him. At first, we became friends, talking occasionally. Then, we started talking every single day. Andre was always so kind to me, but I didn't think anything of it. I just assumed he was a nice guy. All of my best friends were trying to tell me he liked me.. like like liked me.. but I did not believe them. "We are just close friends," I would say, constantly. A couple months went by and he finally admitted it to me. I shot it down, I did not want to lose my closest guy friend and ruin what we had by dating. Then, my 21st birthday rolled around and I knew, all my friends knew, even my mom knew that I was VERY into this boy. So, I told him how I felt before my 21st birthday personality took control and told him for me (hehe). I just KNEW that he would be the one, it took me about 2 months before I was ready to say the three words. That's about the most detailed I can get, but we will always be thankful for Target and for the friends that convinced me they were right. As they say, the rest is history...

Andre and I were friends for about a year before we decided to move up to "The Talking Stage". We both admitted we liked each other around my 21st birthday (him before me, because I was scared and tried to deny everything). We talked for about one month (LOL) before we made it official. However, Andre was going to Virginia Tech and I was in Winchester attending Shenandoah. I kept wondering when we were going to be official because I knew I wanted to be, not to mention that I already felt that I knew he was the one. If you know Andre, you know he has the best sense of humor. So first, he asked by out by requesting money from me on Venmo and said "money for you to be my gf" so obviously I sent him money, but made the tagline "try again". Then he tried Venmo again... but this time by sending me $10 and saying "You're my gf" so I sent it back and said "nope". THEN he texted me and asked me to bs his girlfriend and I still said no, making it very clear that I wanted to be asked in person. I did not expect anything romantic, just the words face to face. The night it happened, we were hanging out at Star and Dominic's (actually the night before Star's 21st birthday). We were getting ready to go to dinner, all together and then Star and Andre disappeared. I was so confused, and Dominic acted confused because he knew what was happening. All of a sudden, Dominic said we had to go outside to leave so I got into his car, and Andre and star pulled up. After throwing a fit for 20 minutes about how it was stupid to drive separately and being confused as to why Dom was trying to force me to ride with Andre, I got into his car. He handed me a bouquet of candy (because I hated flowers) and a stuffed penguin (my favorite animal) and said "Will you be my girlfriend?". Clearly, I said yes!

As anyone that is reading this probably already knows, I am OBSESSED with the tv show "One Tree Hill". It's the only show that can make me laugh, cry, scream, smile and every other reaction every single time I watch it, which has been at least 12. THE OTH couple, Nathan and Haley (Also known as 'Naley'), are the couple that gave me every expectation for love, and Andre has exceeded them all. Nathan and Haley met on this bench on the Riverwalk (which is now a permanent land mark that fans can visit). Haley was Nathan's tutor and on the first day of tutoring, he hands her a bracelet on this bench and says "don't say I never gave you anything" which is known as THE LINE that got them together. One Tree Hill was shot in Wilmington, NC, which is also my favorite place in the world. We were going to visit there for Valentines day, but then there was bad snow so we put it off until Spring time. We arrived on Saturday, April 3rd and the bench was the first place I wanted to go, but Andre suggested we go Sunday when it's going to be light out, so I decided that that would be fine. The next day, we walked around downtown Wilmington, and all the other landmarks from the show. When we get to the bench, I sat down to take a picture with him and then I felt a tap on my shoulder.. My "brother" (Dominic) and best friend (Star) were there, along with my nephew (Izaiah). I was shocked and asked why, well Star said "We wanted you to be able to spend Zay's birthday with him", which I believed because everyone knows how much I love that baby! I got distracted talking to Zay and when I turned around, Andre was on his knee, holding the ring of course. I immediately bursted into tears and before he could even finish what he was saying, I screamed "YES!". The crowd of random strangers applauded us, and I was in utter disbelief for the rest of the day (ok probably a whole month at least). The man that I knew I wanted I spend the rest of my life with, asked me at my FAVORITE place.