a true love story

Although Jevon and Chelsea lived on the same block and he played with her brother years prior, they officially met in 2003 at Western Avenue Elementary School. They were in the same 5th grade class and had interesting ways of showing affection for one another. Jevon chose to make fun of Chelsea, while she chose to kick him in the shin with her favorite pink Timberland boots every chance she got. The two picked on one another during recess, lunch, school performances, picture day, and even in the classroom but had no idea how to tell each other how they really felt. Towards the end of the school year, each 5th grade student was given an autograph book. Chelsea wanted nothing more than for Jevon to sign hers and decided to wait until graduation hoping the crowd of people would hide her embarrassment. This story ends on culmination day as Chelsea saw Jevon with his family, they made eye contact, and she turned away being too afraid to ask.

After 5th grade the two wouldn't see each other again until junior year of high school when Jevon transferred to Crenshaw High School. Chelsea heard whispers of his arrival around the halls from friends saying "Jevon is here!" "Have you seen Jevon yet?". Chelsea hadn't seen him since 5th grade graduation and was nervously telling friend Jahbrielle about him when he suddenly walked into her homeroom class. What were the odds he would transfer to her school and now be in the same program with most of the same courses? You could say they ignored each other for the remainder of the school year as if those 5th grade feelings weren't still there, the timing however was still off for the two. During their senior year, Jevon admired how carefree Chelsea was as she sang in class almost everyday with friend Kim and did not worry about getting into trouble. One day, Chelsea & Kim were singing as usual when Jevon decided to interrupt. The three began to eventually talk about the poetry covered in their class. By the end of the conversation Jevon pulled a fast one and asked for Chelsea's number (although he already had it) to continue the poetry debate. They continued to text poetic responses back and forth late into the night. From then on they talked everyday and made their relationship official on April 6, 2011.

On their 7th anniversary, Chelsea gifted Jevon a "Love Jar" that the two would use to write down all of their favorite moments and memories together over the year. They'd each add memories to the jar without telling the other and planned to read them together the following year. As their 8th anniversary approached they decided to celebrate in Santa Cruz, California. Over breakfast in Downtown, Jevon noticed an alley with suspended string lights and after seeing Chelsea's excitement (she loves string lights), he mentioned coming back later sometime at night to see them lit. After what seemed like a perfect day of fun, food, and laughter the two sat down under some hanging string lights (she REALLY loves string lights) at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk to read the notes they'd added over the year. As they went through them all, Jevon grabbed the last one and made sure to point out that Chelsea was to read the first note next time. The two returned to Downtown to enjoy art murals and walk under the string lights from the alley they noticed earlier at breakfast. Jevon kept stalling as he tried to find the perfect spot while Chelsea continued to say "Whew Chilay" and complain about the cold breeze. As they were walking toward the end of the alley, Jevon stopped and pulled out a single note that read "Getting their blessing" with the date April 3, 2019. Seeing the confused look on her face, he began to tell her the story of how he pretended to go to work one day and instead met with her parents to ask for their blessing to marry her. He then pulled out a small box hidden under his jacket, got down on one knee, and asked "Would you do me the honor of marrying me and becoming my wife?". And of course she said YES!