April showers bring May flowers — and also bring Penn State springtime love. The past few days may have been overcast and dreary, but they won’t stop the PSU love that always manages to bring the sunshine. From meeting in an apartment complex to run-ins at Indigo, Penn State love is always in the air, and it will fall upon you at the most random of times. Here’s to unexpected meetings and adorable proposals.

On this Friday, we present the second segment of Penn State Love Stories.

Benjamin and Lauren

Ah, young love, discovered in Centre Court. It’s a tale as old as time.

During the first weekend of the semester in 2008, Ben and his roommates, who lived in 209 Centre Court, decided to introduce themselves to their new neighbors in 210. This is how Ben met Lauren, and the rest, as they say, is history. After their initial meeting in Centre Court, the two were inseparable, according to Lauren. They began dating soon after they met, and have been together ever since.

They also may have started an everlasting Penn State tradition in their families: “We were both the first in our families to go to Penn State,” Lauren said, “but we each have two younger siblings, and all four of them have continued the tradition and have attended (and one still attends) Penn State.”

Though they may have been the first in their families to attend Penn State, they certainly have done up their relationship blue-and white style. In April of last year, Ben proposed to Lauren in front of Old Main, and afterwards celebrated at a tailgate with both of their families. At the celebration, they even met James Franklin!

The lucky couple with James Franklin.

“It was the perfect weekend,” Lauren said.

Lauren’s little brother hid in order to catch the proposal at just the right moment.

They have been together for six and a half years in total, and plan to be married this-coming October. Congratulations, Ben and Lauren! We wish you all the happiness.

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Nick and Kayla

Between her junior and senior years, Kayla was taking summer classes at Penn State and met a girl named Leigh. They quickly became friends, and Leigh brought Kayla to a party at Lexington House — where she met Nick. However, it wasn’t quite love at first sight. They met at that first party, but remained at a distance, running into each other around campus and downtown over the next few months. A chance meeting at Indigo brought them together.

“You’re Leigh’s friend, right?” Nick asked her at Indigo. “What’s your name again?”

He was a little intoxicated, Kayla added. They laughed it off and danced for a song or two. Finally, Leigh truly played matchmaker and set the two up for a date. That was their first official date, at none other than Bar Bleu, and after that moment, they spent the rest of fall semester together. After dating throughout the spring, they both graduated in May of 2008, and moved together to Philadelphia.

Nick and Kayla sittin’ pretty at the lion shrine.

Kayla is grateful to Happy Valley for her having found Nick. “Thank you, Penn State, for bringing us together!” she said. After three years together, the two lovebirds are now happily engaged! Congratulations, and all the best to the both of you.

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Deonna and Alexis

This love story is founded on Penn State, pure modern day technology, and total sass.

After Deonna saw Alexis walking by Redifer Commons, Deonna thought that she was incredibly cute, but was unable to catch her attention. However, after doing some Instagram browsing, she stumbled upon Alexis’s page, and the two became digital friends, spending their time talking and getting excited that they were both from Pittsburgh.

Deonna and Alexis, all grad-ed up, on the steps of Old Main.

A few days later, Deonna returned to Penn State from a visit back home to Pittsburgh. As she was waiting for the V Cata at Walmart, she got a cryptic text that simply read, “I see you.” It turned out to be none other than Alexis, who herself was also at the stop — yet once they both boarded the bus, they sat apart from one another, and only exchanged texts throughout the drive.

Once they got off at the same stop, Deonna was lagging behind, her bags heavy, and finally Alexis dropped back to walk beside her and said, “Are you going to make me talk to you first?”

“I flipped out on her!” Deonna joked, reminiscing about their first in-person meeting. “She watched me struggle, and had the nerve to ask me about who is going to speak to whom first!”

Their first meeting may have been digital, and in-person it was comedic and light-hearted, but in the end it was all perfectly romantic. According to Deonna, they have been “madly in love ever since.”

The sweet proposal — they’re even matching!

They’ve been together for three years, and are currently engaged. Congratulations, Deonna and Alexis! We hope you keep having a fun and wonderful time together.

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Do you have a Penn State love story to share? We’d love to hear it!

Feature photo: Ben Lau Photography || All other photos provided by the respective couples.