I get it -- long-distance anything sucks and is hard. Even when it's for school and for the best, and you genuinely enjoy your new life, you've still got friends back home that support you no matter what and that you've been with through things your new friends won't ever know you from. (Puberty, anyone?) So here are some pop, rock, and R&B songs from the early days that totally go along with what you're feeling about your friends, some way or somehow. Trust me. I know.

Separation

"All I Have" by J. Lo ft. LL Cool J

Admittedly, it's about moving on after a breakup, but in this case it's more about a forced breakup without the, well, breaking up. You begin to think about who you are without your friend, and it's kind of bleak, but you have to keep soldiering forward.

See Them Making New Friends

"Move Along" by the All-American Rejects

This song is as much about you as it is about them -- they're moving along, and so should you. But "all you gotta keep is strong" and, with effort, your friendship won't take hits for the distance. Just because people are friends with other people doesn't mean they're not your friend anymore.

A Drop in Communication

"Invisible" by Ashlee Simpson

So you haven't thought about them in a while, which you feel bad about -- after all, you were so close! And you see them having fun on social media, doing stuff, whatever people do -- but not talking to you. Invisible is a good fit for this situation because, well, you feel a little invisible. But that's OK because long-distance friendship is hard. Think of this as a wake-up call to text your friend back home, or the one studying abroad, or whomever.

Realization You Haven’t Thought About Them for a While

"Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash

It's OK. Life gets busy and sometimes you can barely spend a thought on yourself, much less people far, far away. If they're truly your friend, they'll understand too, but you might come to a precipice where you think about the effort and work that maintaining a long-distance friendship takes. But the thing about friendship is that it goes both ways -- so when you're at this stage, reach out to your friend and see what happens then! It's perfectly OK to let some people go, but if they're busy too, then you shouldn't separate just because you've grown apart! (And this isn't an early 2000s song. Forgive me. It's too awesome not to have in here, and also too fitting.)

Texting Every Day

"These Words" by Natasha Bedingfield

Getting back into the swing of things is glorious and wonderful, a great high unlike any other -- it's back to talking a million miles a minute, reminiscing and learning new things, sharing things and bringing up inside jokes.

Reunion

"Survivor" by Destiny's Child

Why this song, you may ask. Isn't it about being better after a breakup? Well, yeah. You made it through the distance and the separation and all the trials that brought, and yet you still made it back together! So you know you can do it, and you can do it again, even though seeing your friend is really, really great and like a breath of fresh air. Don't give up! Don't stop! Your friendship is a survivor and so are you!

Hanging Out Again

"You're Beautiful" by James Blunt

Hanging out again is great -- you're no longer restricted to letters, texts, calls, or even Skype, whatever you did to keep in touch because you can do things together! You can go places! You appreciate your friend more than ever when they're by your side. But it's also bittersweet, like this song, because separation will come again, eventually.

Leaving

"Bad Day" by Daniel Powter

Yeah, it sucks. It's a bad day -- but it's also a good one because you'll be going back to your new friends and new places, with new experiences to gather and share with your long-distance friend next time you meet. Just like this song, there's good and bad and happy and sad.

Starting It All Over Again

"... Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears

How could I not include some Britney? This song goes through the wringer of emotions -- loneliness, regret, wishing to go back in time, all that jazz that happens after a breakup. You're just hit with the feels about your friend. But they're probably going through the same thing, so hit them up! (Not, uh, literally, since that's bad, and also you're far away. Call. Use the phone, as the term was.)