We're Getting Married!

Our story together starts in 2016 with the Sound of Music- the musical our school was putting on that year. I was new to the school, so when I was asked if I would like to join the pit orchestra, I jumped on the opportunity in hopes to make friends. Coincidentally, it would also be Dakota's first time in pit orchestra as he decided to stop wrestling. I would play cello while he played drumset right behind me in pit practices. I did not know much about Dakota, but he seemed pretty popular among the band kids. We played in the pit orchestra together but did not talk to each other too often for the majority of the musical. Then, it was Valentine's Day. I did not expect much for Valentine's Day- I was not pursuing anyone at the time and I surely was not expecting anyone to pursue me. Valentine's Day was the last day of the musical, so everyone was busy taking down sets and cleaning The Grand Opera House when Dakota and I began to talk. We talked for a while among friends, and it was crazy how much we had in common. He had a Holland Lop rabbit, I had a Holland Lop rabbit. He had a Teddy Bear dog, I had a Teddy Bear dog. He had a Kia, I had a Kia. It was odd how similar we were even past the rabbits, dogs, and cars. We both liked Star Wars and other fandoms, and both had a similar sense of humor. He was so nice to talk to, that I had completely lost track of time until my dad came to the basement of The Grand Opera House to pick me up. Startled, I said my goodbyes, grabbed my cello, and started heading out. I saw Dakota start walking towards me out of the corner of my eye. I thought Dakota merely had to go to the bathroom or grab something from upstairs, so you can imagine my surprise when he asked me if I would like to go out on a date with him sometime. I was in so much shock, I asked him "Are you serious?" and "Is this a joke?" because I could not even imagine him asking me out. When he reassured me that he was, indeed, serious, I told him that I needed to ask my dad first as I was 15 at the time. My dad had already left me, so I told him I'd update him on my answer the next day. The next day arrived. I hadn't run into him all day, which made me feel bad for delaying my answer to him without me even giving him my phone number or anything. I was worried I wouldn't see him, so I prayed I'd run into him at the end of the day when I would stop at the band room to drop off my music. Just as I was about to walk into the band room, Dakota stopped me in the door frame, asking for my answer (very rom-com-like). I gave him my answer- yes- and that was that. All these years later, as we've had our ups and downs and grown into adults, I still feel that same love and happiness towards him as I had in high school. I said my first "yes" to him on February 15th, 2016, and I cannot wait to say "yes" to him again 9 years later.