I remember when I first met you. Remember, we were playing some mingling game our freshman year of high school? Remember, I just walked up to you and started talking to you, like we had been friends for years? I don’t know if I told you this, but I was so nervous. I thought you wouldn’t want to be friends with someone like me.

I remember being put in the same AG group together. I was so excited, and I know you were too. We quickly became friends, and I couldn’t be more thankful. We’ve done so much together, like concerts and canobie and going to Hersey Park with your family. You’ve been there for me when I was at my lowest and I was there for you. Your family has practically adopted me as one of their own, and I can’t thank them enough.

Even though you haven’t approved of all my choices I’ve made in the 5 years we’ve known each other, you haven’t left my side for that whole time. Even when I was stupid and made mistakes that hurt our friendship, you still stayed and we fixed what I had broken.

I can’t thank you enough.

We’ve become so close over the years, and I have never been able to say that about anyone I have been friends with. You know everything about me, and you’re the first one I text if I’m having boy problems, having a bad day or if I just need a laugh. I’ve leaned on you so much, and somehow I haven’t scared you away. You inspire me to be the best I can be every day, because after all, you are the captain of the ship.

Remember senior year, when we hated what our little school on a hill had become, but we still tried to make the most of it? Remember Psychology with Mr. Gwilliam, when we watched the breakfast club and you and I could do all the lines by ourselves because we had seen it so often? Remember when we made Meme magnets for him our freshman year for Christmas? Remember when I accepted Framingham State’s admission offer and we realized how far away Framingham is from each other? Because I do.

I remember this past summer when we started talking about college and I finally broke down, unable to pretend that everything was going to be alright and that I wouldn’t miss you as much as I actually was going to. You were the first person to offer comfort, before Kyle could even register what was going on. You knew what I needed before I did and I love you for it. I wish I could bring you with me to school, instead of the text messages we send and the snapchat videos we record of ourselves, saying how much we miss each other.

I love you like a sister, and to be honest, you’re the closest to a sister I’m ever going to get. We have shared so much together, and made so many memories over the past 5 years. Like when we had a 1 am rave down on the Cape that only lasted 20 minutes before we started having a heart to heart with glow sticks and Skrillex in the background.

We may not see each other every day, or text each other every day, but that’s okay, because at the end of the day, I know that no one can replace you. You’re the Jack Barakat to my Alex Gaskarth. You’re the first person I’ve met that loves Thwates pies as much as I do, outside my family of course. You’re my best friend and I wouldn’t trade you for all the pizza rolls in the world.