When I was in middle school and beginning to establish my online/social media presence, there was nothing my friends and I loved more than tagging each other in cheesy pictures and having hour-long wall-to-walls filled with cliché quotes we lifted from brainyquote.com about how we were ~<3 bEsT fRiEnDs <3~. Years later, I still have all the love in the world for my OG #RideOrDies, but I've gotten to thinking about the moments-- especially with my friends at college-- that serve as clear indicators that the line between friendship and nap-in-the-same bed, pee-in-the-same-stall-at-the-bar *best* friendship has been crossed:
1. The moment you stop needing words to communicate.
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2. When you graduate from sharing homework and lab notes to the more important things like Netflix accounts and bottles of wine.
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3. The moment you realize you love all the same things.
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4. The moment they offer to tell off/maim/kill someone for you.
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5. When you both understand and abide by an unspoken no-judgment rule.
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6. When they start hating someone just because you do, no questions asked.
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7. And they hate them more aggressively than you do.
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8. When they remember your exact coffee order AND surprise you with it.
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9. They ask you to approve all of their instas before they post, especially the ones you're in.
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And you do the same.
10. And the second you post a picture, they automatically throw you the comment and like.
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*Important note: they are NOT a true friend if they comment and don't like it. Commenting without the accompanying like is pretty much grounds for a restraining order, actually.
11. They watch you carefully when you're out to make sure you don't text/call an ex.
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12. Pigging out on junk food together turns into not only a favorite pastime, but also a point of pride.
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13. The first time you barge into their room without even thinking about knocking.
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14. When you officially establish that you have a song.
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15. And when it comes on, you pretty much lose your sh*t together.
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16. When they take the place of a significant other in your life.
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17. The moment you realize you've had someone in mind the entire time you were reading this.
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Go forth and share this with your best friends! And no matter what, never let them go. If they can keep you from sending a risky text AND remember your venti four-pump non-fat iced chai latte with light ice and one Equal, they're keepers.
