I had just moved to Washington 3 days prior to the fateful day where I walked into Mr. Killams first period history class. On that day we played some ice breakers to help everyone get to know one another. During the first round of the ice breaker we were told to find someone in the room that liked the same music as us, I looked around and saw Derek. I walked up to him and tried to talk with him but he was mortified, answered my question and immediately looked at his feet. We had to wait with that person until the next question so I stood there embarrassed that he clearly didnt want to speak to me and when the next question came up I asked him, he answered, he looked away and I left. Awkward. We didnt talk for 3 months after that but once we did, it just never stopped. Derek asked if once we returned to school from Thanksgiving break if I'd start sitting next to him in class. I said yes and we became best friends. After a couple of weeks i asked Derek to the Sadie Hawkins dance with a poster, and even though he was incredibly embarrassed he said yes! A couple weeks later it was my birthday and Derek became the first boy i ever brought home to my family as he wanted to join us for dinner. after he left my mom came to my room with tears in her eyes and said she had never seen me like someone as much as i liked him. The next day he came over again and asked me to be his girlfriend. In the 6 plus years since we have had so many amazing adventures, an unimaginable amount of laughter and so much love. I cant imagine a world without my best friend, partner in crime. and the too lenient father of our many rescued fur babies. I truly cannot wait to marry him and cant wait to have our friends and family there to witness our happiest moment together.