Every connection a person makes is worthy of being written about, published and shared with others. A love story begins from the moment two people lock eyes with each other and exchange their first words. According to cinematic tropes, each couple has their own “meet-cute.” A meet-cute is a movie term for the first encounter between two characters. Essentially, it’s the moment they both realize the other person exists. While they’re usually romantic, all connections⏤platonic or not⏤are entertaining nonetheless.
Every person walking down the street or around the halls of school has had a meet-cute with someone at some point in time. While fall is generally considered a lonely season, the halls of Huntington Beach High School (HBHS) are littered with untold stories of autumnal meet-cutes, whether they were on campus or not. No one could have guessed that fall would foster such an endearing story for HBHS sophomore, Victoria Santana, and Portola High School (PHS) sophomore, Jabez Lee. Not to mention the unexpected meet-cutes blossoming right from the halls of HBHS. HBHS’ Academy of the Performing Arts (APA) orientations elicit adorable meet-cutes as seen by APA seniors, Ianina Kotova and Ian Kensler. Sharing a similar story, HBHS sophomore, Unity Rivera, and HBHS freshman, Lenka Harper also met during an APA orientation. Here are the stories of how these students fell in love during the fall.
The Double Date
It was late fall of 2024: Halloween decorations had been tucked away and slowly but surely, the fridge’s stock of Thanksgiving leftovers ran dry. The world anticipated Christmas time and the new winter season. Santana was unaware of Lee’s existence until her friend mentioned a casual outing with her own boyfriend, asking Santana if she would go out with one of his friends for a double date.
“The first question I asked was, ‘How tall is he?’ and my friend said 5’8″ so I said yes,” Santana said.
Lee and Santana began talking and found they had a lot in common, which allowed them to warm up to each other quickly.
“I could just talk to her about anything,” Lee said. “If I’m feeling sad, she can lift me up and if I’m feeling happy, she can match my energy.”
This introduction, more or less, laid the foundation for the future of their relationship. Santana and Lee walked away from the double date with a newfound love.
A Dynamic Duo
APA seniors, Ianina Kotova and Ian Kensler, fatefully encountered in their freshman year of high school during the early fall school semester.
The two met at the APA Freshman Orientation for their technical theater department. They became best friends through their sophomore year in high school in the same technical theater class, which they participate in to this day.
“Our first conversation was about the type of music that we like to listen to, and once we found a common thread it spiraled from there,” Kotova said.
The two are now inseparable, even earning a recognition award for being a “dynamic duo” in their technical theater department. “We turned everything in set building into a two person job,” said Kotova.
The dynamic pair prove to be one of the many adorable meet-cutes fall fostered. What began as an unknowing friendship blossomed into an inseparable relationship.
An Unexpected Orientation
HBHS sophomore, Unity Rivera, and HBHS freshman, Lenka Harper, began their story in the very halls of HBHS.
Rivera and Harper spotted each other at a distance, both attending HBHS’ APA new student orientation in late summer, expecting solely to prepare for the upcoming fall school year.
“I thought she was really cool and I was so nervous,” said Rivera, recalling her first impression of Harper.
They exchanged information in late summer, but it wasn’t until fall that the two began getting close. Now in a happy relationship, Rivera and Harper are prime examples of the unknown meet-cutes hidden, and with the help of the APA orientation, a simple connection blossomed into something more.
The halls of HBHS still linger with the untold meet-cutes of many other couples. Whether an endless game of eye-tag at a school orientation or support for another friend, meet-cutes are everywhere for everyone.
