Lauren and Tony’s love story began the most Auburn way possible: in Tiger Hall (now Holloway Hall), where they both lived as freshmen — and somehow managed not to meet once. Not in the elevator. Not in the hallway. Not even in passing. Truly impressive.

That said, Tony did notice Lauren from afar, usually in the nearby dining hall, and immediately began what can only be described as a strategic campaign of charm via the dorm hall group chat. He cracked jokes. Lauren liked them. Sparks were flying… digitally.

Eventually, Tony followed Lauren on Instagram, and on March 12, 2020, just in time for the world to shut down, he made his boldest move yet: he slid into her DMs (for anyone born before Instagram stories, this means he sent her a private message).

They talked all through quarantine and officially started dating at the beginning of sophomore year. When they finally met in person for the first time, Tony came over to Lauren’s apartment (where fate, in the form of a very unwelcome cockroach, was waiting). Tony sprang into action, eliminated the intruder, and instantly secured his place as a hero (and Lauren’s heart).

More than five years later, Lauren is still laughing, Tony is still exterminating, and together they live and work in Atlanta — proof that sometimes the best love stories start in DMs and are sealed with a well-timed bug kill.