Looking back to seven years ago, I never would've thought that I would have gained such an amazing person like I have today. Unlike other friendships that start with a simple compliment or casually talking to the girls sitting next to you in class, my best friend and I absolutely HATED each other before we got to share laughs and sleepovers. She swears to this day that I bullied her (which I've stopped denying), and she's the absolute last person I ever would have thought I would now be calling sissy. We've come to thank our seventh grade bus driver Barbara for making us sit together because we were being bad. One bus ride later, we couldn't get enough of each other.

I quickly learned that the things she did before that had irritated me were the very things that made us get along so well. Our personalities are so in sync — from our taste in music to always knowing exactly what the other is thinking — it's crazy. But at what point does that person go from best friend to family status?

It's always the one friend you spend literally every weekend with. Next thing you know, you find yourself texting them about your problems rather than anyone else because they know the whole story, and they're the only one who can give you sane advice. You know their coffee order, their school schedule, where they always park for school, and their top three favorite bands. Of course don't forget you're now allowed to walk in their house without so much as a "hi" and go straight to the fridge.

All of these little things start to add up and next thing you know when people ask who your best friend is, you always answer with, "She's basically my sister." It got to the point where if I was going somewhere people just expected her to be with me. Invitations went from personal to "...and of course she can come, too!" The dynamic duo is an understatement.

So to start my many thank yous, first and foremost thank you for giving me a second family. I call your mom "mom" and your sister "sis" as though I have been part of your family all my life. Knowing I have a second family means knowing I always have a place to go whenever times get tough and you're not here. Though I hate that you left to California, I thank you for being brave and following your heart in knowing what was best for you. I thank you for being the advice-giving, fashion-styling, selfie-choosing, tea-making, movie-watching, music-listening, supporting and beautiful soul-having best friend that anyone could have ever asked for.

Thank you for being a sister.