Melanie and Nick first met in State College in a random classroom in Mueller Laboratory in January of 2020. It was the second week of the Spring Semester on a Thursday at 1pm. It was a fairly cold day —Melanie remembers this vividly because she was bundled up in a thick black sweater, leggings, and her fuzzy winter boots. Melanie did not think much the first time Nick introduced himself in class. She remembers him saying, “Hi, I’m Nick, your TA.” and “I was born in London” and that he "liked to scuba dive". She also remembers his outfit: his typical red zip-up hoodie (that she now knew he owned since High School), jeans, and a beanie (because again it was cold). The only thought that crossed Melanie's mind in that moment was, "oh, he's cute." But she quickly dismissed it, assuming nothing could come of it since he was her TA.

The story begins in a hotel room in Ecuador in March of 2020. The world was in lockdown, and Melanie was frantically trying to join her online lab class. She had lost her internet connection, and by the time she managed to log in—after several mini meltdowns—her classmates were already in Zoom breakout groups. Completely clueless about the assignment, Melanie had the brilliant idea to text her friend Tori, who happened to be in a group with Nick, their TA. She asked Tori to check with Nick about what they were supposed to do. Nick’s response? “I have no idea.” Frustrated, Melanie told Tori to relay a bold message to Nick: "Tell him that he sucks as a TA." Not one to wait around, she moved on and asked the other TA for instructions. Moments later, a notification popped up in the private Zoom chat box. “What do you mean, I suck as a TA?” It was Nick. That single text kicked off a chain of private Zoom chats during lab sessions. For four weeks, Melanie and Nick messaged each other every Thursday, until Nick took the next step. He gave her his number, and the rest is history.

After many weeks of laughter, flirting, and endless conversations. Melanie knew that her crush on her TA was much more than just a fleeting infatuation…and so did her parents. While Melanie hadn’t mentioned anything about a boy to them, her constant laughter was a dead giveaway. Sharing closer quarters in the hotel, they could hear her giggling nonstop, and it didn’t take long for them to figure out she was talking to someone. Nick had won her heart through laughter. The day after her biology final - and conveniently after her lab grades had already been submitted – Melanie decided she couldn’t keep her feelings to herself any longer. She remembers giving herself a pep talk: “What’s the worst that could happen?” At that time, her family had moved from the hotel to a small apartment, where the kitchen had better internet connection than her bedroom. It was there that she nervously dialed Nick’s number. They started with small talk and talked about their days, but Melanie could feel her heart racing. Finally, she decided to go for it before she lost courage. “I like you,” she blurted out. Nick, completely caught off guard, didn’t realize that Melanie’s playful flirting over the past few weeks was more than just friendly banter. After a moment of shock, he managed to respond: “I like you too.” That night, Melanie could not sleep. While she was ecstatic that Nick liked her back, she couldn’t shake the nagging thought that he didn’t ask her out. This was a problem. And so, the very next day in their phone call, she asked: "I like you, you like me...so why aren't we dating?"

Nick and Melanie’s proposal story unfolded on June 23, 2024, at the picturesque Lake Como. It was a cloudy, rainy day as they explored the stunning Villa Balbianello—famously known as the setting for Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala’s wedding. Melanie had no idea that this day would mark such a milestone. She had always thought Nick would propose sometime in the fall, so she was blissfully unaware of his plans. While on the villa tour, the guide mentioned, “This is a very popular place where people get engaged.” Playfully, Melanie turned to Nick and teased, “So, Nick, when are you going to propose?” To her surprise, Nick looked visibly panicked and stammered, “I dont know?” In that moment, he felt like he was having a heart attack, trying to keep his plan under wraps. Once the tour ended—and Melanie had completely forgotten about her earlier interaction—they wandered off to explore the villa’s breathtaking gardens, snapping photos along the way. Eventually, they found a secluded spot away from the crowds. Nick turned to Melanie and asked, “So… what if it wasn’t a joke?” She looked at him, utterly puzzled. “So if what wasn’t a joke?” Before she could fully process what was happening, Nick got down on one knee and opened a small box to reveal the engagement ring. Melanie’s confusion melted into pure joy as she began jumping up and down in excitement, exclaiming, “Do you see this? Do you see this?” After her happy outburst, she hugged Nick tightly and said the word he had been hoping to hear: Yes.