I am going to toot my own horn for a second. I am a damn good friend. Yes, I have had my moments of poor attitude, lying, or drama, but we all have. Overall, I like to think I am loyal, generous, selfless, caring, and a fun spirit to be around. My phone is full of messages and pictures with friends, and you can check my Instagram tags out too. Sometimes being a friend means waking up at 2 in the morning to go pick up your friend's drunk ass, or it may mean grabbing a few drinks and praying the birth control worked. (Those are a few unfortunate situations.) But one crowd I have always been able to make friends with are "the guys". You know, those guys that everyone wants to date, and they are the cool crowd you watch in interest and slight disgust from afar? And the key to me making friends with them is basically falling in love with them myself and them finding out but "friend-zoning" me instead of taking me out. Then I act like casually hanging out with them and talking about their new girlfriend doesn't kind of kill me inside. Really, the friend-zone is my zone. It's slightly painful, but you really just have to make the best of it.

The other day I went to the mall with my best guy friend in the world. It's one of those relationships where we fight like siblings, tell each other things no one else knows, and may have had a few physical experiences together that probably shouldn't have happened. I was in love with him for six straight years. At the mall, I helped him shop for his girlfriend. I listened to her interests, stalked her on social media, and listened to cute stories about them. Truthfully, I am in a good place with him. It's been about 9 months since I have drunkenly confessed feelings for him, and I honestly just see him as a brother now. It took a while to get to that place but I made it. Most girls would say I lost and accepted defeat. However, I think I won. I have a loyal friend who gives the best guy advice because he is a guy. I have a bro I can kick back with while having a beer. I can make perverted jokes and burp without TOO MUCH judgement. I have finally stopped trying to impress him, and I am now myself around him. He's also given me tough skin because he can be a little too blunt. Strangely, I wouldn't trade our relationship for the world.

And to all the girls stressing about being in the friend-zone, just embrace it. It can suck. I know. You have to push aside feelings. It can bring tears. But I know that at any time, I have about 10 guys I can text or call and they have my back. I have a handful of guys that are basically my big brothers who will threaten to kick anyone's butt or will give me the advice my girl friends were too scared to give me. Honestly, guy friends are the first to slap you in the face but the first to pick you back up after you face reality. I can confidently say being thrown in the friend-zone so many times has made me a better person with a strong group of support. And I am hoping one day, it will make me a even better girlfriend to some guy.