How We Met
meet-cute (noun)
Scenario in which two individuals are brought together in some unlikely, zany, destined-to-fall-in-love-and-be-together-forever sort of way (the more unusual, the better).
— Urban Dictionary
Disclaimer
Ryan and Jessica can't agree on their meet-cute. What follows is an approximate timeline based on their collaborative memories.
...according to Jessica
OCTOBER 7, 2012
While at Trinity Cathedral, Jessica hears the voice of a god chanting the Prayers of the People. She introduces herself to the beardless god-voice man immediately after the service.
DECEMBER 7, 2012
Jessica runs straight into Ryan while turning a corner on ASU's campus. Ryan immediately recognizes her, but she has no idea who he is. (She was used to choir robes.) Ryan writes his name on one of her student's exams. Jessica forgets and throws the exam away.
DECEMBER 8, 2012
Jessica friends Ryan on Facebook.
DECEMBER 14, 2012
Jessica accidentally gives a marijuana grinder to a priest at a Trinity party, thinking it was a camping device. She posts on Twitter that she's too embarrassed to go back to Trinity again.
MARCH 31, 2013
Jessica crashes a Trinity Choir party on Easter Sunday, where three friends (Ian, Tim, and Kathleen) get her slightly tipsy and shove her in Ryan's direction. She has no idea they're being set up, despite obvious screenshot evidence. She tells her mom that night that she met the perfect guy.
APRIL 19, 2013
Ryan takes Jessica to the ASU Art Museum for their first date. They part ways at the lightrail station. 30 minutes later, a truck driver jackknifes Jessica's lightrail car off the tracks. The first person she texts is Ryan.
MAY 3, 2013
Ryan and Jessica go on their second date to the Arizona Science Center, where Ryan explains his feelings (because she had no idea). They spend so long at a local bookstore afterwards that Jessica's friends think she's been kidnapped.
...according to Ryan
OCTOBER 7, 2012
Beardless god-voice man actually introduced himself several weeks before. Jessica just forgot about him.
DECEMBER 7, 2012
Ryan runs into Jessica while listening to Carolina Chocolate Drops (he even took a screenshot to commemorate the moment Jessica didn't recognize him without choir robes). He offers his name so she can friend him on Facebook.
DECEMBER 8, 2012
Ryan friends Jessica on Facebook.
He also starts following her on Twitter, because Twitter was still a thing back then.
DECEMBER 14, 2012
Ryan sees Jessica's tweet and messages her to ask what happened. He consoles her with cat-themed Star Wars memes. They start talking.
MARCH 31, 2013
Ryan is perfectly aware they're being set up and just rolls with it. They talk for three hours straight about technology, books, and (for Ryan) the shocking fact that Jessica has never visited an art museum in Arizona. He still asks for her number.
APRIL 19, 2013
Ryan immediately heads to the scene of the accident at the I-10 and Washington and waits until the EMS finishes inspecting Jessica for injuries. He walks her through breathing exercises to calm her down. They spend the next 11 hours together.
Ryan is asked by at least 10 Trinity members a week whether they're dating yet, and asks Jessica on a second date.
MAY 3, 2013
Ryan realizes just how oblivious this woman is to dating cues, and wonders what he's getting himself into. This is still true of most areas of their relationship.