A pungent popcorn smell was everywhere. I honestly don't know how you can burn it, but it's possible. I opened the door with my roommate at the time and looked curiously around for the source. There she was, door wide open with the burning product. If the smoke got to the alarms they would go off, so she and I grabbed perfume and ran up and down the halls trying to mask the scent, while hoping that small, open dorm window would suck the smoke out.

That's how I met Brooklyn. She doesn't like that name, but that's her name formally. Brook. She was just across the hall and I wasn't ready to make new friends. She had an inviting smile and a gorgeous laugh. I thought, "Why not? This is college, you've got to get yourself out there."

We started to hang out throughout the semester, while our friends around us started to grow and define themselves. She's a bubbly person, someone who is always ready to go. Someone who understands when to stay and when to go. The one quality that I absolutely love about her is her heart.

Brook does this thing where she loves and loves till there isn't anything left to love. She's a lover, not a fighter. She gets burned by these people who don't deserve her love, but calms her storm inside just to play nice. I love texts like this on my phone, "CAAAssSSeYYy," just so she can find out when we're meeting up. Brook is an extraordinary person who puts 100 percent into everything. I

enjoy all the Netflix and naps we have together and the 1am McDonald's runs. I couldn't live without the last minute trips or looking up the insane idea we have pop into our heads, but I love every single moment all the same. Brook is wonderful and I wouldn't trade her for the world. Gosh, I'm so lucky to have met someone who is like me.

-Cassandra

In my defense, all I did was put my trust in the popcorn button on my roommate's new microwave. It did the burning, not me! I was extremely shy at the beginning of the year, and even more painfully awkward than I already am. So, although I was embarrassed to have burnt my popcorn the first weekend, it turned out pretty well for me!

On that fateful day, I didn't know I'd meet someone who would turn out to understand me so well, lend me her art supplies whenever a new idea comes to mind, be down for some cuddles when my other friends aren't, or do a MyMathLab assignment for me just because she feels like being extra nice.

In my 18 years of life, I've never met someone who is so much like me. Someone who feels an abundance of emotions (sometimes we think we feel too many), and gets the fact that sometimes life just doesn't make sense and that's okay, someone who's been to the point where they can't get out of bed either, but moved past it. We can have heartfelt conversations full of laughter, confusing questions, and tears (sometimes).

Cassandra never tries to make the conversation a lecture, but is supportive all the while knowing she is open to disagree and discuss. It's conversations like those that have made me realize how protective of me and my heart that she is, but she never does it to the point of suffocation. Even running in separate friend groups, we make time for each other. She's good at balancing our friendship like that! Cassey is down for pretty much any shenanigan, which is what I look for in a friend. Between floor-hopping (see description below), shout-singing "Hello" by Adele in the elevator, going to Starbucks even when we know we should save our money for chicken nuggets instead, and watching Netflix all afternoon, we always enjoy each other's presence.

I'm so happy to have met this chicken nugget.

-Brooklyn

Here's to hoping and praying that you come across your missing puzzle piece, your other-friend-half. When you find that person, you won't even know you were looking for them! We definitely weren't.

*Floor-hopping (v): The act of exploring the dormitory complex, looking for acquaintances or fun things to get into.