Rae: I created a tinder profile the fall semester of my sophomore year at UW-RF. You may ask why.... but that's a totally different story. Anyways, after a few cringy tinder dates and endless left swipes, I was about to give up this slice of life but then... I came across Alex's profile. I instantly thought, "This is the most beautiful man I have ever seen." Obviously, I swiped right and Tinder notified me "It's a match". I waited and waited and waited for him to message me first. It didn't happen, and of course, I had already shown all my friends his profile and most definitely manifested a date (and potentially the rest of my life) with him. No man has ever not messaged me first... so this was the time to take the initiative. Exactly a week after matching, I made my move and sent him a message over Tinder. It's all blurry about what exactly was said but he was extremely pleasant and likable. I scored a date with him that night at Milwaukee Burger Company. I "accidentally" forgot my leftovers in his car after he dropped me back at my dorm. Alex offered to walk them right back on over and asked to come in to see my dog, Roo. I was highly skeptical because Roo was, and still is, a little terrifying demonic b**** to any new person... I forewarned, but Alex was adamant about meeting her. To my complete and utter surprise, Roo walked her happy (very nondemonic) butt on over to Alex with her teddy bear in her mouth, begging and pleading with him to play with her. This had never happened before and has never happened again with anyone new. Very quickly, Roo and I fell in love. Alex: I had been on Tinder for a couple of months, and I didn’t monitor it all that much but while bored in class I was checking it out and came across Raeanne’s profile. I swiped right because she seemed elegant and down to earth by her description and profile pictures. I never messaged any of my matches on Tinder because I never took it seriously, when Rae messaged me, I was appalled. I even showed Kevin while lounging in our dorm room and he was dumbfounded as well. We had never heard of a girl messaging a guy first on a dating app. After we organized our first date, I remember being nervous as hell waiting in my shitbox Subaru sport wagon outside her dorm hall. She walked out in her Wrangler boot-cut jeans, boots, and a softshell jacket embroidered with all her equestrian championships. I was instantly intimidated. At Milwaukee Burger Co., I thought the date went well, and based on where we are now, I’d say it did. Thanks for accepting me, Roo-Rat.