Long Distance Friendships

As orientation days for colleges approach the distance between my friends and I is becoming more real. After I go off to college I wont see these wonderful people whom I've created these amazing memories with until winter break. They say that after high school you end up losing touch and distancing yourself from your high school friends (I don't know who these "they" are but they seem to think they know everything about everyone). I don't think that's true for my friends and I, or at least I hope not. See, the thing about my group of friends is that we can be away from each other for days, weeks, even months, but the second we're back together it's as if we hadn't been away from each other at all. I don't care what these know-it-alls "they" say, I wont forget my girls.

So in honor of these amazing friendships I have created I'm going to dedicate this post to my girls. Each and every one of them. This is what I'm going to come back to look at when I'm feeling homesick and missing them. So enjoy.

There's our Geo, she's so sassy that she gives my sass a run for its money. One time, when we were tutoring at school we had the job of calling rude, overly-dramatic parents of the children who did not show up to tutoring. Long story short, Geo got in trouble for getting sassy with one of the parents. The parent complained and called the secretary to tell her that "the Fernandez girl was so rude" to her. So obviously, the girls and I stood up for our fellow sass monster and told the secretary that Geo would NEVER be rude to anyone (which she wouldn't, Geo is one of the sweetest girls I have ever met, sweet but sassy, like a sour-patch kid). That's just the way Geo is, she isn't going to beat around the bush, she's going to tell it how it is. I think that's why we get along so well, because I'm the same way. Way to be assertive babe! The first memory I have of Geo is waiting outside in the front of the school for our rides. I remember totally butchering her name, which is something that isn't new to Geo, everyone gets it wrong - at least the first time. Pretty much I had an entire conversation with her, all the while calling her "Georgina" instead of her actual name - "Geordina". But Geo is the sweetest, she never once corrected me. I only realized my mistake until I heard a guy call out "see ya Geordina" as she was hopping into her car. But our true friendship began when I sat next to her in our AP U.S. History class (APUSH). If she could stand me during the first class period on Mondays, she could stand me at any time. So our friendship blossomed. I was surprised at how easily I was able to talk to Geo about anything and everything. She is the wit that whips us all in check. Love ya baby girl!

I love my Geo. Come into my bosom, child.

This was on her birthday. We clearly have no idea how to take pictures. This was the best one we got, and you still can only see our smiles. That's all that matters anyway - the joy. One of the most elaborate birthday surprises we have done so far. We had a scavenger hunt for her and ended the night with a movie at the drive in.

I can't get over Geo's smile! She's so dang beautiful!

Within our little group, we have even smaller groups. Usually there's two of us that has a special bond with one another. For Geo, it's Lily. They're like two peas in a pod. They're so different, but yet they seem to balance each other out. Our sweet, sweet Lily. Now this girl is something else. I used to think she was so innocent, but oh, OH she is far from it. She is absolutely not the shy, innocent girl you think she would be. But whether Lily is doing some outrageously weird thing that she thinks "is no big deal" or whether she is arguing with Nancy, we love her nonetheless. She has so much spirit in her. So much love to give. Lily is one of those people who you meet and automatically know you can trust. She always means well - I don't care what anyone else says. She is like our little baby. We all have this protection over her. We're like her armor. We will defend her from anyone, so watch it boys! I actually don't remember how I met Lily, she just sort of - happened, and I welcomed her right in with open arms!

This is my absolute FAVORITE picture of Lily. It's just perfect. There's so much perfect in this picture.

Our Lils. She's so much fun.

Now, I think Lily looks absolutely beautiful in this picture. It captures her unique personality along with her beauty. I don't think anyone will ever be good enough for her. But whoever does end up taking her heart better treasure the heck out of it because it is so, so special. And if you don't treasure it, future guy, I will personally kick your ugly butt.

This picture captures how much I love those two girls.

Lily has a twin sister, our crazy Nancy! They're fraternal twins, but I swear they looked like identical twins on their Junior yearbook pictures! So if I could describe Nancy I would say - Nancy just doesn't care. She will do whatever the heck she wants, whenever the heck she wants to. She doesn't worry about who's watching her or who will judge her, she just does whatever pleases her. And I say, way to go girl! She is definitely one very weird soul, but that's why we love her.

I'm telling y'all! IDENTICAL!

This is Nancy protecting her Geo from Lily's craziness! HA!

I'm telling y'all, she is something else...

And this was on THEIR birthday. Sometimes I forget they were born on the same day!

Oh yea, Nancy got crazy at prom night. Ew, I'm all sweaty!

And Nancy's other half is Vanessa. For me, the friendship with Vanessa has been pretty much all over the place. I met her freshman year. But I didn't talk to her much. (She said I used to intimidate her, which makes me sound like some evil ogre! HA! But I'm really not. Most of the time.) I've always thought Vanessa has had an attitude about her, an attitude that never stops! She will "discuss" a topic with you until she either convinces you or you give up. And by "discuss" I mean, she controls the discussion, that's her personality. When she believes in something, she STRONGLY believes in it. There is no in between for her. It's pretty black and white. Which I like about her, because if there's one thing I hate, it is people who cannot make up their mind on a certain topic. Vanessa definitely has some sass in her as well! What? I just have sassy friends, what can I say. My sass babes. She is not afraid to speak her mind, and if she decides to speak, you better listen or else she'll make you listen. Yea, you might say she's a bit assertive - or a lot assertive. She's extremely assertive. But she's the spice in our group! Oh, and let's not talk about her momma, her momma is one foxy lady let me tell you!

Did I forget to mention Vanessa is only a torso? HAHA! Weirdest picture I have of her.

This was in our GT English class were we would have those circle discussions I was telling y'all about. I say discussions, but it was pretty much just Vanessa and I arguing with freshmen.. I mean, discussing.

HAHA! Just kidding. Vanessa has legs. So this was on our "Hippie Day" Senior Week at school. Do we look hippie?

This was the night Vanessa grew her man balls. Definitely has more balls than any guy I know. Respect!

And last, but not least, is MY other half, Nay. So this girl and I have been friends pretty much since freshman year. But I'd say our friendship really became strong Junior year. And it only intensified Senior year. I love my ugly. I'm so sad that she's leaving to UT Austin this year. We'll be more than 2,000 miles apart! She left for 3 days for her orientation this week and I missed her so so so much! She knows how much I love her. Without her, I think I would have lost my mind this year. I kid you not, one night I had to do an all-nighter because I am an idiot and procrastinated so much, and guess what, she stayed up with me. She didn't have to stay up all night because she wasn't an idiot like I was and didn't procrastinate, but she did it anyway. I playfully told her at the ticket booth as we were waiting to pay for our AP tests, "hey bro, I'm staying up all night doing homework, wanna stay up with me?" to which she replied to "yea, sure". Just like that. Gosh, I love her. She does things like that. She's proven to me time and time again that when everyone else bails on me, she's always there to have my back. If I ever go to jail I can count on her to bail me out. And with the things we do together, I don't doubt that we will either get a restraining order or go to jail anytime now. Thanks for the laughs, the cries, and the love.

Nalleli is the type of girl who will stand on top of a paint can and fall in it in order to break into her house - when there's a ladder right next to her. That's my girl! Real smart.

And this was on HER birthday. Probably one of the most outrageous. We kidnapped two people.

Out of all the pictures I have of us, this is my favorite. Because it captures us so perfectly. We work hard, and play hard. And we do it side by side.

Thank you girls, thank you for all of the wonderful memories. I love you all.

And here are some more pictures of us, because we're awesome!

At our last pep rally! Everyone is so pretty!!

Dang, we clean up nice! Oh, Nancy..

Girls with sass.

Our first birthday celebration! We started a tradition!

We like black.

So many pretty faces! I can't take it!

More sass..

Better than the Oscars selfie..