let's do this thing

At approximately 3PM on August 17, 2021, a group of five rising juniors in college met up for sno cones and giggles at Current Midtown apartments. Among this group were a trio of roommates, their close friend, and a bubbly girl one roommate had known from Twitter. A tradition of the apartment was that all visitors were to add a Magic Grow Dinosaur to the living room wall and sign their name by it. The Twitter girl chose a blue one, of course, and put her dinosaur in water to watch it grow. The dinosaur's shape took form. "Oh! Mine is the same shape," chimed Matthew, the roommate with dark, shoulder length hair. "Great," the girl responded with a beaming smile. "I'm going to put mine next to yours." In all caps and adorned with a smiley face, she took the sharpie and wrote: CATHERINE. Call it fate, coincidence, or simply two people with exuberant joie de vivre open to making a platonic connection — Matthew and Catherine were instant friends.

They didn't know it yet, but Matthew and Catherine were finding home in each other everywhere they went. Amidst their busy schedules, the newly inseparable pair would carpool each Thursday night to a Cookout parking lot. The purpose of the weekly meetings was two-fold. Firstly, to share stories and enjoy the other's presence. Secondly — and perhaps more importantly — was to indulge in milkshakes, quesadillas, hot dogs, and hush puppies. Each time, without fail, the conversation's energy would amplify so quickly, it'd burst through the car windows as Catherine and Matthew continuously conjured up new things to share. Each time, without fail, the two would chat into ungodly hours. And each time, without fail, they laid down a brick. They took turns mixing the mortar while cultivating shared interests. Their favorites were playing Roblox, watching "Community", and board games. Lots of board games. One time, Matthew taught Catherine how to shuffle a deck of cards upside down. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the pair would split off for morning classes, only to reconvene for lunch. At Five Guys, they scribbled drawings on the index cards meant to occupy kids, and posted them on the cork-board. Matthew carefully laid the next course of bricks, while Catherine assembled custom art kits for the both of them. The next Five Guys trip was bound to be even more fun!

Our protagonists grew from friends to lovers like so: Matthew fell for Catherine first. He stuck around patiently with no expectations; the bond they shared was worth a tiny unrequited crush. Next, a "Cookout Thursday". Per usual. They sipped their milkshakes clean, but Catherine wasn't yet ready to say goodnight to Matthew. So, they took a walk in Colonial Williamsburg. Matthew showed Catherine some beautiful paths under fairy lights. They spent the entire time chatting, of course. Catherine imagined holding Matthew's hand. They concluded their walk, but Catherine still wasn't ready to let Matthew go. So, they fell to a patch of grass and stargazed. Catherine's head found itself on Matthew's shoulder. Catherine then spent a week deciphering her feelings for Matthew, before finally confessing to him. I won't tell you if they kissed.

Officially a couple, Matthew and Catherine readied up for new adventures. Together, they learned how to cook, sang through many a road trip, adopted a second cat, graduated college, vacationed abroad, and began their adult life together. Catherine quickly integrated Matthew into her life, bringing him along to every Martinez Janicki beach trip. Matthew took joy in involving Catherine in his favorite holiday traditions as well, especially driving down to Virginia Beach for the big family gathering on Thanksgiving. In August 2023, the two lifelong Virginians packed up and moved to Delaware for Matthew's new job at JP Morgan Chase. The following May, Matthew was Catherine's biggest supporter as she took a leap of faith and began teaching piano. Since living together, the two have only grown closer. Matthew lets Catherine blab about music theory and vocal technique, and some weekends Matthew will roll a nat 20 on charisma and convince Catherine to play tennis. Matthew always imagined his proposal to Catherine as sentimental with both families around. Catherine's family vacationing in Virginia Beach was the perfect opportunity. He surprised her mid-photoshoot on the dock outside his parents' house. The happy couple celebrated over dinner before resuming their usual antics of playing video games and singing sea shanties. They returned to their townhouse in Delaware as fiancés. Catherine took a good look at the brick house. "I'm so grateful for what we've built." Matthew put an arm around Catherine. "Me too."