The critics always say, "date your best friend." Lots of relationships nowadays started out as a friendship, or they developed into a deeper friendship after you started dating. Based on my experiences, those that were best friends as well as boyfriend and girlfriend had some of the strongest relationships. Being in a relationship with your best friend doesn't have to full of drama or fear of the future. It's actually a lot of fun. Here are the signs that the person you're in a relationship with is actually your best friend.

1. When you come home from work or school to find them chilling on your couch, and sometimes you aren't entirely sure how they got there.

2. When some of your biggest fights are over what is acceptable on your shared Spotify.

3. You've started so many Netflix shows together, but never pass season one before starting the next show.

4. Willing to indulge in their nerdy side, whether it's a date searching through the library or playing the newest video game (okay, maybe not willing at first, but you got there).

5. They are the first person you call with good news or bad news.

6. They know your Starbucks order better than you know the multiplication tables.

7. New adventure opportunity, who are you going to call? Not the Ghostbusters, that's for sure.

8. You can have real life conversations with them, with words other than how much you adore each other (yes, that's cute too).

9. Your enemies are their enemies, and most of the time, they dislike them more than you do.

10. You are 100 percent supportive of each other, even though sometimes it might mean supporting each other from a distance (two claps for military and college long-distance relationships. You are the real MVP).

11. Is it my shirt, is it their shirt? No one knows, and no one cares. It's beautiful.

12.You know each other's strange obsessions, ranging from Zelda to 1960s cartoons. And you buy them anything in relation just because you know it will make the other happy.

13. You take the most attractive and the ugliest pictures of each other, and then wrestling occurs to decide if they are deleted.

14. You know exactly what the other person needs if they are sick, angry, upset, or any other emotion. And most of the time, this involves either food, cuddling, or both.

15. No matter how big or small the insecurity, flaw, or weird habit, you aren't afraid to be completely real and vulnerable with each other.

16. You build each other up and never tear each other down.

17. You make each other laugh so hard that you cry.