High School Sweethearts Still in Love Years Later

For some, the crushes they found in the halls at East Hampton High School were much more than just puppy love.

Twelve years after the former Nicole Shields, an Amagansett native, and Pete Grimes, who is from Montauk, first started dating, they are settled down in Springs with their 21-month old daughter, Lindsey.

Their two families had known each other for years, but it wasn't until they all happened to be on a vacation at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire during the school winter break in 2000 that Nicole and Pete really got to know each other. She was a freshman and Pete was a sophomore.

"The spark continued when we returned home," Nicole said, "and a couple of weeks after we got home we officially started dating and that was Feb. 28, 2000, and we have been happily together ever since."

Pete graduated in 2002, followed by Nicole one year later. The couple got engaged in 2005, and they married in a wedding, locally, in 2008, the same year they built a home in Springs.

"Life just continues to get better for us everyday," Nicole said. "I can't believe we've been together for 13 years this month — time flies. We've had an amazing journey thus far and really try to appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them together," she said. "He truly is an amazing husband and a wonderful father. I'm so lucky to have him in my life. I couldn't be happier."

Patch put a call out on Facebook and got a number of responses from residents who, like Nicole and Pete, who were high school sweethearts and ended up happily ever-after.

Here are some of their responses:

Jamie Smith said, "I graduated in 2002 and my husband 2003. We have been together since he was 16 and I was 17. We got married in 2006. We are both 28 living in upstate ny and have 2 children (my daughter 4 & my son 2) we own a home and I'm currently a stay at home mom until both of my children are on school."

Amy L Dunn said, "My husband and I started going together my sophmore, his junior year (1992). This August will be our 10 year wedding anniversary, we have a 14 year old son named Devon (after the area in Amagansett where my moms family is from) We live in North Carolina and loving life."

Linda Adams Stoddard wrote, "My husband and I both gratuated from East Hampton High School back in 1968 and 1971 , married in 1972 , have 2 children and 3 grandchildren and celebrated our 40th Anniversary this past April....Live in Springs ..Come from a long line of Bonackers !!!"

Allison Lupo said, "Tony and I have been together since I was a freshman and he was a senior. Married in 1983 and still going strong. This September we will be married 30 yrs. Yay!"

Did you marry your high school sweetheart? Tell us your love story below.