We met over 10 years ago, in the summer of 2013, at a small local theatre run by the Greer Cultural Arts Counsel. We rehearsed and performed together for almost a month but we didn't know each other super well. You could say we were "just friends." We both returned the next summer, 2014, to preform once again. We started talking a bit more and got to know each other as we often had our make-up done at the same time. I loved to watch him perform and we spent yet another month together. But we were "just friends." I took a break from theatre and we didn't see each other until 2016, when he performed and I ran tech. I got to watch him perform every day and it was privilege each time. But we were "just friends." The following year, 2017, we performed together for the last time (at least for now), and we became close friends. We would often sit together at lunch or in the greenroom and we started going to youth group and babysitting Levi together. But we were "just friends." At the beginning of 2019, we went on a youth retreat together, spending most of the time with each other but still in a group, and getting to know the other person. But we were "just friends." A few month later, in April of 2019, we went on the first of many family vacations together. All 19 of us (my family and his) went to Dollywood together and we held hands for the first time! But it was on a rollercoaster so we were still "just friends." We celebrated out first New Years together at the beginning of 2020, and went on another youth retreat that February. Aiden just so happened to have his nice camera, and Elijah took pictures of the two of us in the snow. But we were still "just friends." Later that month, he brought me heart-shaped chocolate and a French baguette for Valentines Day. Of course I liked him, but all friends do that, right? We were "just friends." In May of 2020 we had our first (of 3) unofficial dates. We met after church and walked downtown Greer for hours. But mom said not to hold his hand and that was okay because we were "just friends".... right? Turns out, maybe we weren't just friends. In July of 2020 Aiden asked me out for the first time. I realized I had crush on the cute boy I grew up with and he had just asked me out! But I was young, and nervous, and not very smart, and I told him to come back in a year. But during that year, even though we were "just friends" we sent him a box full of cards and inside jokes and notes that said I love you in subtle way and some that said it outright. Because that's what friends do, right? Fast forward a year, and I'm older but someone else got to him first, but that's okay, I can be happy for them... right? I mean, after all, we were "just friends." Well they didn't work out and I figured now was as good a time as any. I invited him to our homeschool ball in December of 2021. As a friend of course. We sat together and danced together and had a matching set of flowers (a corsage for me and a boutonniere for him). But we were "just friends." Well "just friends" wasn't where we wanted to be. So I figured it was my turn to ask him out, and I did just that in the spring of 2022. Except that, once again, someone else got to him first. Turns out, third times a charm and that relationship didn't work out either. We had out second unofficial date in August of 2022 and reconnected a bit. It went great and we decided to do it again the next week. But we were "just friends." The next week we had our third, and final, unofficial date and held hands once again. The next day, at 11pm on September 5th, I asked if we could please be dating now, and he responded with an emphatic yes. We finally went from "just friends" to friends first and so much more to come. Friendship was our foundation for so long and it always will be, it has been our constant rock. He is my best friend and that is just the beginning Finally and forever, The rest is history