In 2009, we were in the 6th grade at MSA West, and every kid was the new kid. We developed a friendship and started "dating" in 7th grade, whatever that can mean to a couple of 12-year-olds. We broke up for reasons that 12-year-olds "break up," but continued a distant friendship through high school. Finally, when we were both single at the same time, we went to homecoming together and have been in lock-step ever since.

A few months before our tenth dating anniversary, we went on our newly-established annual friend group vacation to Hot Springs, Arkansas. We had designed the ring together a few months prior, so I (Madeline) knew that it was, indeed, going to happen (eventually). Up to this point, I was poking and prodding at Cade to get a sense of what (or if) he was planning, unsuccessfully. After days and weeks and months of getting nowhere, he wore me down, and I eventually forgot about the ring box that I accidentally saw in his nightstand drawer. In Hot Springs, we went on a group hike. It was overcast and humid, and I was saturated in sunscreen and bug spray. After a short trek, we reached a reservior at the base of a small waterfall. The group dispersed to explore the area and I tiptoed across the rocky stream running from the waterfall that fed into the lake downstream. I rested on a large rock facing the waterfall and Cade appeared beside me. I scooted to the edge to make room for him to sit, and he did. The rest was lightning speed. I looked over, and there was a ring, and he was crying. My tears were soon to follow. I turned around, eyes stinging with sunscreen and bugspray, and all of our friends were standing in a half-circle around the water (cameras in hand). We ate lunch and passed out for the rest of the day. It was absolutely perfect.