Making friends isn't as easy as it seems when you're growing up. When you meet that one person you seem to just clique, it's almost like you've found "your person". These friendships sometimes take a while to grow, but sometimes seem to happen so fast, it's like it's too good to be true. We all have that one friend that we feel like we couldn't live without. Most likely, all those friendship developed from several awkward phases you didn't even realize you were going through. But the reason you and that person get along so well is because you're just alike and most likely did the same things to each other while taking one step closer to becoming the best friends ever. Here are the 20 steps to friendship.
1. The Awkwardly Trying To Become Friends Phase
A follow on Twitter leads to a casual text, to a casual hangout, to eventually having a friend you never knew you'd have, but sometimes it starts with the awkward "hey, let's hang out soon" chat.
2. The Nice Phase
This phase is around the time you text all the time and feel bad not responding to every message.
3. The “Text Me Back!!!!” Phase
Eventually, the nice phase passes and you end up talking to this person every day and night. When you don't respond right away, you receive another message and another and another until you do respond because during that short time period you didn't reply, they felt like they had no one else to talk to.
4. The "OMG, Am I Being Annoying?" Phase
5. The Snapchat Phase
We all have that one friend who snapchats every day and has 100+ day streak with multiple people. Although, along with snapping this person every day, you seem to appear on their story more than food does… and that's saying something! Sometimes people ask you "Who is that girl always on your snapstory?"
6. The Multiple Conversations In One Conversation Phase
During this time you guys are talking so much, you always have something to say! If someone tried to read your text messages they would be so lost. There seems to be some sort of pattern that only they understand. Multiple conversations in one conversation.
7. The "Couple" Phase
It seems as though you spend more time or talk with this friend more than you do with potential bae.
8. The "My Friends Know You But Have Never Met You" phase
Whether it's from appearing in their snapstories, commenting on every one of their Instagram posts or even being in almost all of them the other friends know of this person and tend to hear their name a lot … but have never met them. Kind of weird, isn't it?
9. The Reminder Phase
"Do you remember my old passcode?" "Where did I put that one shirt I wore yesterday" "hey don't forget, you have practice tomorrow at 6 p.m.," "what's my favorite color?" "Do you remember my garage code?"
10. The No Holding Back Phase
This phase normally comes around when you start having meaningful conversations about your life. You're not afraid to say how you feel or what you're thinking to this person, no matter who or what it's about.
11. The "We" Phase
Sometimes it seems as though everything is with each other so you began to have the same taste in clothes, opinions, and people... therefore you may hear “We don’t like that,” “we are going to the mall on Saturday,” "I thought we didn't like that person?"
12. The "Type For Me" phase
OK, things are getting serious now. You guys spend so much time together you know how to respond to any text depending on who it’s from for each other. Whether its between sending screen shots back and fourth to each other from a different conversation or just handing them your phone and having them type out the message, trusting they won't say something outrageously stupid. You always have each others' backs when it comes to giving a helping hand (or finger).
13. The "What Should I Do?" Phase
You come to this person with "life crisis" situations as if they know the answer to everything! They are normally one of the few people who know all of the nitty gritty details about your situation so you depend on them to make the decision for you.
14. The Inside Joke Phase
Your conversations with each other are a big jumble of inside jokes and people around you normally have no idea why you’re dying laughing and think you two are just crazy.
15. The Fight Phase
A fight with your best friend isn't a normal fight, it's probably about something like a shirt or Starbucks. No one will really understand whats going on. Normally it's over by the end of the day and you two are back to being best friends.
16. The No Conversation Is Off-Limits Phase
Literally talk about anything and everything.
17. The "I'm Here" phase
Wether you come over to pick up something, bring them some ice cream or see their new dog all you do is send them a text reading "I'm here, come outside".
18. The What's Mine is Yours Phase
Conversations normally start out with something like this, "hey, can I come and look in your closet for an outfit to wear tomorrow?"
19. The "I like your parents more than you" Phase
At this point, it’s almost like they come over to see your parents rather than to see you and you do the same with their parent. Sometimes, even an occasional “Hey, your mom told me to come by tonight because I haven’t been over in so long.”
20. The Don't Know What You'd Do Without Them Phase
This phase normally doesn't pass, but as of now you couldn't be happier for the first time you started texting. Congrats, you have made a friend that will hopefully stay in your life forever.
