In a land far, far away and in a time long, long ago… We met in 8th grade at Portola Middle School. We became friends and were part of the same friend group. Our friend group spent those days hanging out and playing funny games like backpack ball. Thankfully, we all ended up going to the same high school. We were a close group. Somewhere between those early days and long afternoons with friends, we found ourselves always near each other. In high school, Vincent joined drumline and I later joined colorguard, which meant we spent even more time together. Between long practices and bus rides, we were always side by side, talking, laughing, and slowly becoming something more. Our story really began at our friend Erik’s birthday party during a game of truth or dare. I was dared to kiss him, and from that moment on, something just clicked. We started dating the following year during marching band season in our junior year. We spent so much time together at practice and on bus rides, and we would talk on the phone every night until we fell asleep. Like many young relationships, ours had its ups and downs, but no matter what, we always found our way back to being friends. During that time, I also grew close with his sister Allison. We became besties and spent time together every chance we could, especially after we graduated high school. That also meant I was around their family home often, creating so many memories together before I eventually moved to Las Vegas. Even after I moved, we stayed in touch and saw each other whenever I came back to visit. After some time apart, life brought us back together in the most unexpected way at Anthony and Marie’s wedding, where we ended up sitting next to each other. We started talking again slowly, picking up right where we left off. Not long after, we were texting all day, every day. Vincent asked me on a date, and I said yes. We went to a drive-in movie and the OC County Fair, both a little nervous but so happy to be together again. That night at the fair, he asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes. From there, we made long distance work. I would visit him in California and he would visit me in Las Vegas. He came to Las Vegas for a concert and later for Halloween, and somewhere in between those visits, everything just felt right. With a little help from my mom, I made a plan for him to stay during that Halloween visit and not go back to California. Vincent came to visit, agreed to stay, and I love saying that I stole him away. A few weeks later, we picked up the rest of his things, and from that moment on, we have been side by side ever since. Vincent had wanted to ask me to marry him earlier, but he knew how important it was for me to finish my degree first. I graduated in February 2025, and shortly after, he began planning. My graduation ceremony happened to fall on the same weekend as my birthday, which we planned to celebrate in Big Bear with family and friends. During the trip, we did one of our usual drives around the lake with Allison, stopping to take pictures at all of our favorite spots. I had a feeling something might happen, but I wasn’t sure. Then, on the shores of Big Bear Lake, Vincent got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said YES!