Dear Best Friend,
In first grade, you were the new kid. Most of our class already knew each other from Kindergarten since we went to a small private school. I immediately thought you were annoying. My six year old self wouldn't even give you a chance, and I already hated you from the first day of school. I would continue to hate you until fourth grade. Eventually that elementary school hatred faded to middle school general disdain of your presence. I changed from private school to public school two years before you did, so we didn't have much contact except for CYO softball practices and games. Our friendship really began in eighth grade when you came to public school and we ended up in the same math class. Luckily, that was the start of our friendship.
Now that we're best friends, we can look back on the memories of me hating you. In fact, it's a constant joke now. We can laugh at the time my parents brought my little sister into school when she was a baby and she gave everyone a hug except you because she knew I didn't like you. Or that time when you told me you were worried someone was taking advantage of me for concert tickets and vacations and I didn't listen because I thought you were trying to get me to take you instead, but looking back now I really should have listened to you. My personal favorite is when you tried to bring me my homework in third grade because I was sick, and no one in my family answered the door because we were eating dinner and we thought you were a salesperson. Then, the next day I tried to get you to pay for the textbook that you said you put on my front porch that went missing. I found the book, but at the time it was just more fuel to my fiery hatred of you.
Who would have thought that you sitting next to me in math in eighth grade would lead us to where we are now. I needed help with my work, and I still need you to help me with my math homework in college. You have your own bed and toothbrush at my house, and your own key to get in when no one is home. You come over to hang out whenever. You call my mom "mom" like she's your mom too. My mom buys you special food and drinks when she goes grocery shopping for when you come over. You're the only person I let make fun of my little sister besides me. We went to every high school dance together, whether we had a date or not. You've gone to my dance performances and my recitals, and even though I never made it to one of your regattas you know I tried my hardest to be there and I was there supporting you in spirit. We talk each other out of doing stupid things like dying our hair weird colors or getting that ugly shirt, and we don't hurt each others feelings. We came up with stupid nicknames for each other, and even though I'm the only one that calls you Flounder, so many people call me Megs Bunts.
I love how we have memories of hating each other and memories of being best friends. I feel like that makes us have a stronger relationship because we can never hurt each others feelings. I'm thankful that something finally clicked because I don't know what I would do without you.
Love,
The Girl That Used To Hate You
