Mineola couple lasts from sixth grade to senior prom

Erin Meehan and Chris Keyes have avoided one senior rite of passage: The angst of finding a prom date.

“We always thought we’d be going to the prom together,” explained Meehan, shortly after she and Keyes — her date to the 2017 Mineola High School senior prom -- arrived at the North Ritz Club in Syosset, where the event was taking place Thursday. “We did talk about it a lot.”

When Meehan says “a lot,” it’s in reference to the length of their relationship, as the two have been dating since the sixth grade, which meant many years of looking forward to their prom.

But did they always believe they would make it through all those years of dating to end up at this moment?

“Oh yeah,” Keyes said with a smile. “We would have been friends even if [they had broken up], but we never had any doubts.”

Meehan, 18, and Keyes, 17, both agree their path together has been pretty easy.

“It’s about communication … that’s how we stayed together no matter what,” Keyes said, adding, “We talk every single day … we always have.”

SEE PHOTOSLI goes to the prom 2019: The last dance

The two both admit it’s sad to see their years at Mineola High School come to a close, but as far as they’re concerned, their relationship will continue.

“I’m going to the University of Rhode Island and he’s going to the University of Hartford, and that’s only an hour and a half apart,” Meehan said, before Keyes finished her thought.

“And we’ll be talking on the phone and seeing each other. We’re keeping it going, absolutely.”