Dear Alex,
I suppose with this article I will begin with me apologizing — because this super extra, corny article is going to be online forever, and it is all about you. Then again, I know you love reassurance and being the center of attention, so maybe I don't feel so bad about linking you to some mushy article.
Alex, you know how I am. You know that I am easily convinced. I am so easily convinced that after you asked me four times, yes, I am in fact writing you this article.
You also know I am a little "mush," so of course I want to tell the world how much I love my best friend.
As if you don't know how much I love you already, here it is: an article all about you — an article about how I have never had a friend quite like you.
We have known each other since middle school.
It all started during our cringe-worthy days on Tumblr, where we followed each other. We both had quality blogs, and I aspired to have as many followers as you (and even if you didn't have a lot, it sure felt like it).
On weekends with our other friends, we would walk by each other's homes, unknowingly living right down the street from each other. We would send each other cute little texts and say, "OMG, walking by your house right now." And yet, somehow, I always ended up being too late to wave at you through the window.
Finally, after a couple of years of just randomly texting or passing by each other, we really began hanging out in sophomore year art class.
Here we created "skank gang," with our other best friends, and the rest is history.
Since sophomore year, I have had the time of my life being your friend.
You are my only exception when it comes to hanging out with people. Even on the days when I'm busy or want to be alone, I'm a sucker for time with you (mostly because you will come over anyway, even if I say no).
You are the number one person in this world that I trust. I could ask hundreds of people for advice and hear the same thing over and over, but I won't accept it until it comes from you.
You are also the first person I ever bonded over interests with. Before you, I had absolutely no one to listen to sad indie music or watch trashy reality TV with. No one shared my love for the "Real World" or the "The Challenge," not until I met you.
With you, there is no pressure to be something I am not. With you, I feel proud of the characteristics I was once insecure about.
With your help, I have become proud to be myself.
I am proud to be outspoken.
I am proud to always be opinionated and talkative.
I am proud to be a crazy reality TV show fan, despite people saying how terrible it is. I am proud to be a communication major because it's what I love, and who wouldn't want to write hundreds of essays on the Kardashians like we do?
A best friend should be someone who makes you feel confident and proud of yourself.
A best friend should be someone who supports your decisions, respects you and puts faith in you.
This is everything you have done for me.
So Alex, thank you for always being there for me, even while we are both away at school.
Thank you for calling me out on my bullshit and telling me when it is time to relax.
Thank you for always showing me a good time, whether it is during a 4 a.m. Denny's run, while laying in bed watching the "Real Housewives" for five hours straight or while having a makeshift beach day in a CVS aisle.
Thank you for always being excruciatingly honest and making even the bad times seem funny.
Thank you for giving me relationship advice all the time and including yourself on my dates.
Thank you for indulging in bad eating habits with me and eating your weight in Taco Bell with me.
Thank you for always reminding me of what I deserve and how I am going to get it.
Thank you for the endless advice.
Thank you for just being you.
You're hilarious, brilliant and a damn handsome man. I love you endlessly.