Ashleigh and Robert first crossed paths in class their freshman year at Lees McRae. They did not interact directly, but circled around each other in the same friend group. During the second semester, they officially met when Rob walked up to Ashleigh's table to say hello to her friend. Ashleigh pointed out the awkward looking drawing on the side of Rob's forehead, to which he replied he received the henna the night before at a party after he had passed out. Ashleigh was not impressed.

Ashleigh transferred back to LMC the second semester of her junior year. And from there, Rob and Ashleigh were inseparable. Rob graduated a year before Ashleigh, as her jaunt to Wilmington cost her a whole extra year of college. Even after having graduated, Rob made regular trips to Banner Elk during Ashleigh's last year, keeping their relationship alive and healthy.