Friends and best friends. What divides the two?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a friend is defined as, “one that is not hostile.” If this is the true definition of a friend, then I’m certain that I have more friends than I could count.

But what is a best friend? Type “best friend” in the search bar and what comes up? Nothing. No concrete definition of what a best friend is exists.

A best friend is a person who stands by your side at all times no matter the circumstances. A best friend will not judge you for the stupid things you’ve done because they’re the ones doing it with you. Best friends won’t get mad at each other over petty things like acquaintances would. And most importantly, a best friend is someone who understands you completely.

My best friend fits under every single one of these categories. Becca Fletcher and I met in the sixth grade at Hellstern Middle School. Seeing as we were not hostile towards each other, we were friends. We did get mad at each other for the smallest things, and for the next three years, it was like that. We had fun for a while, then a fight. Over and over and over again.

Sophomore year things started to change. We were around each other a lot more and stopped fighting over the small things and even began overlooking the big things. With no fighting, and constantly being around one another, we understood how the other functioned. This is when we became best friends.

It’s now senior year. When I look back over all six years that I’ve known Becca, I realize how lucky I am to have a friendship like the one we have. Not everyone can say she has someone who can finish her sentences and who knows exactly what she is thinking.

To this day, I don’t knock and wait for someone to answer the door, I just walk into her house. We both cook dinner for her family, and we even went to visit our dream college together.

That thought-college-brings me to a stop. We aren’t going to be attending the same college. If she was just a friend, this wouldn’t be a problem, but we aren’t just friends. I’m used to seeing her and hanging out with her almost every weekend.

But even an obstacle as big as a different college doesn’t stop best friends. We’ve already made plans to meet up in a city once a month if possible to catch up.

This is what defines a best friend to me. She is a person who will never judge me, and we share a bond that will never fade across the miles. Consider your past and present friendships. Becca is my definition of a best friend…what’s yours?