Freshman year of college I had a roommate who’s first question after our parents left was if I wanted to go to Coldstone. We talked about ex boyfriends and our drunkest nights in high school like we knew each other for years. She’s pulled me out of parties when I’m too drunk, brought me Panera when I’m too hungover to see the sun, and as college went on we gathered a bigger group of people just like us. People who like Mexican food, black out on a Tuesday night, or drink a 1.5 liter bottle of wine while casually Netflixing. A summer away from them made me realize my school family might just be my soulmates.

Did you all think of different friends as you read that? We all have a few people that we can’t imagine life without for obvious reasons, as well as some under appreciated habits.

They Allow You To Bitch About Boys Who’ve Wronged You

Whether it’s the boy you met on Spring Break who called you his dream girl and never called again or your douchey high school boyfriend, they’ve listened to you complain about it for a period of time way longer than what is acceptable. Without them, the amount of drunk phone calls you’d send out would be 6 times higher.

They Know Your Taco Bell Order

This is possibly the most underrated sign of friendship. It means they listen to you all the time and probably actually care what your saying, even if it’s half english yelled through an intercom. Cause think about it, how much would it suck if your friends didn’t know exactly how you like your fajita’s at 2 a.m.? Especially when your laying in the backseat crying, laughing, too drunk to speak, etc.

They Have Your iPhone Password

For all of us that would rather tattoo our social security number to our foreheads than let anyone see what’s in our phone, this is basically a marriage proposal. From the hidden texts, facebook messages, pictures, and phone calls, anyone looking through your phone has to already unconditionally love you.

They Know and Match Your Alcohol Preferences 

Oh, no more Corona’s? They’ll come in with Bud Light Lime bottles cause cans gross both of you out. You texted them saying that the guy from last night is in your Econ class and now you have to teach yourself what a demand curve is. Thank God one of these bitches has to have extra Moscato somewhere in their apartments.

Being Pantless Around Them is the Normal

In fact, you might have seen them naked more times than you’ve seen yourself. Their house is your house, in the fact that taking your shirt off the minute you get inside just to relax in your sports bra doesn’t even get a weird side glance anymore.

No Matter How Long You Were Apart, Reunions Look The Same

The minute you walk out the doors of work or class you’re on the phone asking what they’re doing and if they want to get food (drinks) somewhere. That is, if you weren’t already furiously typing plans in your group chat behind your desk or in the bathroom. Seeing any of their faces is enough to brighten up your day. Whether it’s four hours, four days, four weeks, or four months, you always have stories to catch up on.

You’ve Become a Package Deal

The most obvious one. People just start texting one of you and figure it will get relayed through a chain of group messages. When you shows up without the others, the first question everyone has is if they’re alright. “Yeah, she just decided to do Edward 40-hands by herself last night and hasn’t come back from the dead yet.”

Impulse Buys Are Never Dumb

“Do it for the story” is the rallying call of your friends. Whether it’s concert tickets, road trips, or Target splurges, the money is almost always worth it with someone next to you. If it’s not an inflatable children’s pool to store your beer in, it’s a floating palm tree cooler for the three days a semester you get to go to the pool, or $20 tickets to a One Direction concert. When your bank account is empty at the end of the week, it’s kind of nice to have someone in the same boat. And it’s a little less weird carrying an inflatable Hello Kitty baby pool out of the store when someone else is helping.

Telepathy is Your Own Secret Language

That look you give them never changes. but it’s meanings are endless. Only people who have seen you at your best and loved you at your worst can read an eyebrow twitch and know whether your pissed, happy, or concerned about the lack of alcohol at the party.

They Endorse Your Awful Decisions

Anyone can laugh at your funny drunk stories, pick you up when your drunk, or know you don’t like any sauce with your 10 piece chicken nugget. What makes your group of friends the best? Their willingness to let you egg a cheater’s car. Or the non-questioning you get when you lay on your couch drinking from a bag of wine for three hours on a Monday. The worst parts of you are made better by the best parts of them. Because you’d do anything for them and they’d do the same. And in the end, aren’t we all just a big screwed up family?