November 26, 2021
A quiet apartment greeted Marc when he woke up at 7am. Sarah was still asleep, which meant there were no distractions for Marc as he worked on expanding the itinerary for the Columbus portion of their time away from JMU, adding in a visit to Trinity Lutheran Seminary, a bro date to Easton Town Mall, and a bae one on what's become their weekly date night (Tuesday).
At 9:00, Marc's phone chimed. After seeing that a Milwaukee-area number was calling him, he answered.
Marc: Hello?
Amanda Stevens: Marc, it's Mandy.
Marc: Sis! New number, as I didn't recognize it on the Caller ID?
Amanda: Had a small accident with my phone a couple of days ago. I was trying to reach for it while in the tub with Michelle and it fell in. Decided it was easier getting a new one than try to repair the old one, with the new number coming from the two of us getting a package plan. How's school?
Marc: Busy, but fun and entertaining. Jason, Paige, and the rest of the fam dam sends their best and are wondering, with me now down here, if you're planning to visit at some point.
Amanda: Gonna be hard before the summer, as clinicals and rotations overlap with the last two weeks of semester break and run straight through until the end of April, after which I'll take my comps and hopefully graduate. Anything new in the love department?
Marc: Yes. I'm actually dating a graduate student.
Amanda: Ooooooo....tell me about her.
Marc: She was a goalkeeper for Vanderbilt's soccer team as an undergrad. She's also the first woman to play football for a team in the SEC.
Amanda: WHAT?!?! You're seriously dating Sarah Fuller?
Marc: You want me to wake her up and have her confirm it? As for how we met, my assistantship had me cross paths with her during preseason volleyball practice here, then I found out we lived in the same apartment complex.
Amanda: Way. To. Go. Brocephus! Planning to hit the malls today? Wait, do you even have malls where you are?
Marc: We have a strip mall in Harrisonburg, but Sarah and I are going to be joining the younger members of the clan down in Roanoke. I want to shop for gifts for her and the rest of her family so we can ship them to Wylie prior to our visit over the holidays. We'll shop for you, Mom, and Michelle when we're up there, so don't think you're being forgotten, Manda Panda!
Amanda: You haven't called me that in I don't know how long. Sarah MUST be having some kind of effect on you and I look forward to meeting her in, what, three weeks or so? I PROMISE I won't go all fangirl off the bat.
Marc: Yeah, as we'll arrive at Mitchell (International Airport) on the 19th. So just call to chat?
Amanda: Actually, I have a dilemma that you, being a guy and straight, might be able to help me resolve.
Marc: I'll do my best.
Amanda: It's time.
Marc: As in time time?
Amanda: Yes. We'll have been together seven years come Valentine's Day and I want to celebrate it with the ultimate ask.
Marc: Not counting the three-plus years you knew each other before that, between Meir and Riverside.
Amanda: I have NO CLUE what to get her for an engagement ring. Think you can pop into a couple of jewelry stores while you're out and send me back a few pics of rings you think Michelle might like?
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Under The Radar: A Redshirt Diary
FanfictionSarah Fuller was a goalkeeper on the Vanderbilt University women's soccer team, but is best-known for being the first woman to play in and score in a Power Five Football Bowl Subdivision game. Having finished her degree with two years of eligibility...
