We all know how it starts; first you're acquaintances, then you're friends, and then somehow you become best friends. Although we know how it starts, we almost forget how it escalated so quickly and we forget the in-between mess that got us to where we are today. We exclude the drunken nights (probably because we forgot them) where we found out we're soul mates, and we especially exclude the awkward in-between stages.

Stage 1: The drunken bathroom encounter

You're drunk and you're about to break the seal, but then you bump into each other, take selfies, and then say "omg we're going to be best friends!!" as you're exchanging names and numbers

Stage 2: The first hangout (SOBER)

This is also known as the "awkward" stage. You barely know each other and you're trying to figure out if y'all are best friend material.

Stage 3: The inseparable stage

By now you've both already realized that y'all are each other's Serena and Blair drunk and sober and now you've reached the inseparable stage aka the "honeymoon" stage of y'alls friendship. You refer to each other as "bae" and you always choose each other over your actual baes.

Stage 4: The clingy "you better answer my dang texts" stage

By this point you both already know that y'all are both psychopaths so it's completely understandable to text each other at least 10 times in order for them to finally reply...completely normal not even mad about it.

Stage 5: The blunt stage

"Do I look fat in this dress?" "Yes you honestly look terrible, you'd look much better in this. You're welcome." You will never receive more truth than from your best friend.

Stage 6: There are no boundaries stage

You've finally reached the point in your friendship where there are zero boundaries in conversations.. this can range anywhere from poop to...I'm not going to finish the rest of this sentence.

Stage 7: There is no such thing as secrets stage

You know when your one friend tells you not to tell anyone the secret that they just told you and you promise not to tell a single soul? Yeah well that "not a single soul" doesn't apply to your best friend

Stage 8: The "Hi I'm the creator of all the texts messages you've received" stage

Because who actually types up their text messages to their bae when you have your best friend to do it?? (Sorry not sorry bae.)

Stage 9: "I'm in your house and you're not home yet" stage

"OK I'll be home in 10 minutes, I'll text you when I'm home to come over" "Well I'm already here so..."

Stage 10: The sister stage

This is the point in your friendship where it's acceptable to fight and say stuff you don't mean that you would also never say to anyone else...but it's OK because y'all are pretty much sisters by now.

Stage 11 (the best stage of all): The moment you realize that y'all will forever be best friends (sorry it's so cheesy)

There comes a point in your friendship when you've gone through all of these stages and you still love each other no matter what and that's when you know y'all are never leaving each other's side.