<table> </table> At their first meeting, <strong>Jessie Maxwell</strong> knocked <strong>Rachel Carter</strong> off her feet. It was October 1996, and the two were trying out for the girls basketball team at Shawnee Mission North High School.</p><p>&#8220;I plowed into her by accident and then helped her up,&#8221; Jessie recalls. &#8220;We became best friends.&#8221;</p><p>Jessie was 14, and Rachel was 15. Both made the team and played basketball throughout high school. They hung out together and worked together, refurbishing lockers at school</p><p>&#8220;We had a lot of fun,&#8221; Rachel says. &#8220;We shared a lot of the same interests and got along well.&#8221;</p><p>But there was more to the friendship than either of them was willing to admit. From early on, Rachel understood that she had emotional and romantic feelings for Jessie. But Rachel never mentioned these feelings to anyone.</p><p>One night, in the summer of 1999, Jessie and Rachel went to the movies together. When Jessie got home, she thought, &#8220;I am in love with my best friend.&#8221;</p><p>It took her some time and soul searching to decide what to do about her feelings.</p><p>&#8220;Being gay in high school is not easy,&#8221; Jessie says. &#8220;It&#8217;s very secretive, and you don&#8217;t know how people will react. Rachel and I both were coming to terms with ourselves without talking to each other.&#8221;</p><p>One night later that summer they had a long conversation and realized they were deeply in love.</p><p>&#8220;I was so relieved she was feeling the same way,&#8221; Rachel says.</p><p>They began dating after Rachel graduated. They went to the same small college in Iowa and roomed together. After college, they moved back to Kansas City and bought a house together.</p><p>Every so often they talked about getting married, but they were too busy to focus on making arrangements.</p><p>One hot day in July 2005, Jessie came home after spending a long day helping her sister paint a bedroom. The first thing she noticed when she walked into the house was the unfolded laundry. The second thing was a line of votive candles leading up the stairs.</p><p>She went upstairs and there was a beautiful dinner, music and Rachel.</p><p>&#8220;Will you marry me?&#8221; Rachel said, holding out a ring.</p><p>After many joyous tears, Jessie answered yes. They had a marriage ceremony in October 2007.</p><p>Today they live in Kansas City, and own and operate Puddles to Ponds, a company that builds ponds and designs, installs and maintains water features.</p><p>&#8220;Everything about Jessie is amazing,&#8221; Rachel says. &#8220;She is always there for me. I am so grateful we found each other.&#8221;