This story concludes the Fulton Sun's "Week of Love," a collection of daily love stories from around Callaway County leading up to today, Valentine's Day.
Day seven: The story of T.J. Green and Sam DeBrodie
Sam DeBrodie, 22, has spent all of her life in southern Callaway County.
"I went to high school at South Callaway and grew up just south of Mokane," DeBrodie said. "I went to William Woods on an art scholarship."
T.J. Green, 24, has spent most of his life outside of Callaway County.
"I grew up near Jackson, Mississippi," Green said. "A scholarship to the William Woods theater program is what brought me to Fulton."
DeBrodie said she and Green met after a mutual friend suggested they go see one of Green's performances.
"Everyone said I had to meet him," she said. "So, I went to see him in the Peer Players."
The Peer Players is an informative theatrical performance given at the start of every new school year to incoming freshman at William Woods. Green said things didn't go as planned for him during that show.
"I gave the worst performance of my life," he said.
DeBrodie, however, was not swayed.
"He redeemed himself later, during the social at the dock," DeBrodie said. "He ended up being funny. I appreciate funny."
Green said he remembers the event well.
"She was following me around, right behind me, for the whole event," he said.
DeBrodie remembers it a bit differently.
"No, I was walking around, and you kept trying to get me into a conversation," DeBrodie said.
Things later came to a head when Green went to get a drink.
"I got a soda, and she walks up and steals it," Green said. "It was love at first swipe, I guess you would say."
Things continued to blossom. DeBrodie said the relationship just kept on evolving.
"We started off as just friends, only ever really hanging out in a group," she said. "But, as time went on, we would end up hanging out one-on-one."
DeBrodie said their first date was to K.C. Country.
"We went line dancing," she said. "It went well."
Green disagreed on one point.
"The date was good; the dancing was horrible," Green said. "But things were progressing, and there was definitely a spark."
Out on the dance floor, DeBrodie said things became official.
"He asked me to be his girlfriend right there in K.C. Country," she said.
"'Cowboys and Angels' was playing," Green added.
Several years later, it was time for Green to pop the question.
"For months, every time she saw someone on Facebook get engaged, she would make a comment," Green said. "Something like, 'It's so weird these people are engaged now.' She was really pressing me on it."
While DeBrodie was turning up the heat, Green said he had a plan in motion.
"Little did she know, but I already had a ring in my underwear drawer," he said. "I had this plan to get everyone we know and love there in town for the engagement."
The big night finally came.
"On the night I turned 21, he called me saying he got called into work," DeBrodie said. "I got angry."
Said Green: "She was furious at me."
A friend of DeBrodie's tried to calm the situation until Green called DeBrodie and asked her to come to Dulany Auditorium at WWU.
"I immediately knew what was happening," she said.
After arriving at the auditorium at WWU, DeBrodie said things became magical.
"I got to Dulany, and all the lights are off," she said. "I called him, and he told me to come inside. So, I walked in through the side door onto the stage. The stage curtains were closed, and lit by a spotlight."
Walking through the curtains, DeBrodie said she finally saw Green.
"He was standing there, and the spotlight was on us," she said. "Our song started to play."
"'Unforgettable,' by Nat King Cole," Green said.
"He said, 'Dance with me,'" DeBrodie said. "We were both shaking the whole time. The song was almost over, and he dipped me. I thought 'Maybe this is just a cute birthday thing.' That's right when he got down on one knee. I said 'Yes.'"
Green said that right at the crescendo, the final piece of his plan fell into place.
"She thought I was the only person there," he said. "But, I had filled the audience with 20 people that we know and love."
It was a great surprise.
"The lights came on, and I heard applause," DeBrodie said. "All my family and friends were right there. It was the greatest birthday and the greatest day of my life.
Being engaged, Green said, has been more than he bargained for.
"It's stressful," he said. "The first question she asked me after saying yes was 'When are we getting married and who is doing it?' She told me the only thing I would have to do is get the tuxes."
"I lied," DeBrodie said.
Green and DeBrodie said keeping things light is what has made their relationship work.
"Sarcasm is good," DeBrodie said. "We play together, and he has never asked me to be anything I'm not. I do the same for him."
Even when things haven't been light, DeBrodie said they always have each other's backs.
"We have had a lot of losses during out relationship," she said. "We have moved, moved again, switched jobs and lost loved ones. But, it's all been OK."
Being friends helps.
"When you have your best friend through everything, nothing is quite as bad," Green said.
Green is the assistant manager at Fulton's B&B movie theater. DeBrodie works at Blue Ridge Elementary School in Columbia.
They will be married May 27.