Maybe you met on the playground in first grade, or maybe you all found each other in high school. Either way when you have your first real friend group, you’ll never forget them. It’s usually a group of people you never thought would all be friends, but fate brought you together and now you’re stuck with each other. But, this initial friend group isn’t like what you see on most TV shows. Here’s what you can actually expect:

1. There’s no getting rid of them

Once you have them around, they’ll never leave. But then again, why would you want them to? They’ll blow up your phone, come to your house and never leave you alone. But that also means they will always be there for you. Through break-ups, successes, failures, panic attacks and everything else, they’ll stick by your side and try to help. Pro Tip: You might as well put that messenger group chat on silent right now.

2. You’ll become more like each other

You’ll pick up each other’s phrases and mannerisms. After a few years you won’t even remember who came up with what expression or what began one of the longest inside jokes. You’ll make each other watch your favorite shows and movies and listen to your favorite songs. Pretty soon it’s like you’ll be one single entity and people will have a group name for you all. (Like my friend group, also known as L.E.S.B.I.A.N.)

3. You’ll hate each other

Isn’t it true that the more you see of people, the more terrible things you notice about them? Well with your friends it definitely will be. Sometimes even the way one of you breathes will get someone else mad. You’re not always going to get along. Let’s be real, you probably won’t get along most of the time, but you’ll still love each other all the same.

4. But only you’re allowed to hate each other

If anyone even thinks of hurting or bothering one of you, the rest will not stand for it. Yeah, it’s funny if someone is annoying you a bit or getting a rise out of you, but if they take it to far, forget about it. Personally offending you or really doing something wrong is only accepted by other group members, everyone else needs to know their place.

5. College will change things

After high school, things change. You’ll still be friends of course, but some more effort is required. If your friend group is like mine, not everyone is going to the same college. You all have different aspirations and need something specific. Some of you left your hometown, some are still commuting from home. You’re all busy. You have work, and classes, and clubs and new friends that you see more often. It’s harder to keep tabs on each other’s daily lives, but you make sure as soon as something big happens, you tell them first.

6. When you’re together again, it’s like you were never apart

Going home for fall break after my first semester, my friends and I went to our favorite local diner. It was like I hadn’t even left for nearly two months. The best thing about your first friend group is you’ll always pick up right where you left off. There’s no awkward silences, no feeling like things have changed, just the feeling of being back home.

Your first friend group is special. There will be more and they will be awesome, but nothing compares to that very first set of friends, gathered together in Pennrose causing a scene. Personal thanks to my first and best friend group. I’m looking forward to many more terrible years with you all.