It was a chilly February week in Bloomington. Little 500 Qualifications, or “Quals,” were nearing, and the last of the Spring Formal dates needed to be sorted out—along with midterms, of course. Who else would Emmett ask? His pal Shelby! Their paths had crossed at many social events—FIJI x AXO pairs and Little 500 the year prior—but it wasn’t until spring 2018 that feelings began to change.

Emmett and Shelby attended the Chicago FIJI formal as friends. Even a pillow fort was assembled as a barricade to ensure the “tone” was set for an amicable weekend. Emmett asked Shelby over text, which she gladly accepted. They hopped on the bus after Friday classes, only to have it break down on the side of I-65 near West Lafayette. It must have been a curse from the nearby Boilermakers. They ended up spending a total of 10 hours on what should have been an easy 3.5-hour drive to Chicago that day. They bonded over Fireball spirits (or two... or three) and talked about their families, dreams, and love for Indiana University. Oh, did they mention the bus did NOT have bathrooms on board? Emmett took Shelby to Beaumont’s, the bar where his parents met in the '80s, and Shelby was smitten. The trip ended much better than it had started, but had it not been for the engine failure, who knows if they would’ve had the chance to get to know one another outside of a fraternity basement?

After they returned, Shelby was the first to reach out for a movie and ice cream date. They ventured to Siam House for their first date—the friend barricade had finally fallen, and the rest is history.

Emmett and Shelby graduated in May 2020 and spent the past four years in Chicago. They finally moved into their dream Lincoln Park apartment in June 2024.

Their love for one another continues to grow, and what better place to celebrate with friends and family than in the place where it all started?