When I was in middle school, I moved around a lot. By the time I made it to the third school in a year, I was more ready to curl up in a ball in the corner than to make new friends. Little did I know that six years later, one of the first people I met would be the one still by my side.

Dear Best Friend,

Wow, we've known each other for six years. I feel like that's such a long time, but I also feel like it's been so much longer. I know about your crazy family stories and you know about mine. We've had late night ice cream/snow cone runs. We've visited each other at work and made food drop-offs. We've had, I-will-drop-everything-and-come-to-you-now-because-you-need-me moments. We're inseparable. Even when we're separated.

Everyone seems to know the story of how we met because we've told it hundreds of times. A teacher introduced me to you as the new girl and you ran up to me and told me all about yourself, scaring the daylights of out me in the process. When telling my mom about the first day of school, I never would've thought that one of the girls I told her about that night would be in my senior prom pictures or holding my hand at graduation.

Part of the reason we are so close is because we do and love all of the same things. You've spent hours obsessing and stressing over all state music with me. All state camps, shows, rehearsals and choir parties wouldn't have been the same without Starbucks beforehand. We've made it through vomit-inducing soccer workouts together. I've fussed at you for not wearing your headgear, and you've laughed at my pain when I had to start wearing my own. We've crammed for physics tests, spent extra time at rehearsals studying for AP tests and laughed at Mr. Tran and his singing together.

But it hasn't always been sunshine and roses. We've gone through rough patches, and I'll be the first to admit to that. There have been days where you have driven me nuts, and I'm sure there's been plenty on your side. But at the end of the day, we know that we have each other's backs, and we will fight viciously for each other.

We've made it through so much. Bad soccer tryouts, the Jason, Ben, Jack, Phil, Daniel (just to name a few) situations, frenemies, injuries and just downright crappy days. And somehow we came out on the other side.

When it came time for college decisions, you helped pick me up when it didn't exactly go my way. And you were excited for me, even when I didn't pick to stay with you for the next four years.

When you called me this week and told me about your bad week, I dropped everything, bought a football ticket and grabbed my keys and drove the 100 miles between Dallas and Waco. I even found myself in the middle of the Baylor student section wearing a Baylor t-shirt while my team was on the field. (I only said Pony Up a few times!)

I love you because you've picked me up more times than I care to admit, and I have done the same for you. I love you because we have dumb videos of us acting delirious at two in the morning after football games and the word BOOB GLITTER meaning something to you.

Emily, I love you so, so much and just remember that it's only an hour and a half to Waco and I'm happy to make the drive for you, anytime.

Love,

Sarah