Lauren and I became best friends our freshman year of high school when we were in the musical Starmites together! Despite my early dislike of her for stealing my middle school boyfriend, I got to know her through our shared love of music and theater. She quickly changed my mind about her and I knew she'd always be my right-hand woman, no matter where life takes us.

Thomas is Ben's best friend.

Melissa and I became friends in 4th grade when we were in girl scouts together. We became besties sometime in late middle school/high school. There are so many memories it's hard to pin down that moment I knew we'd be friends forever.

Lucas is another one of Ben's best friends.

Nicole has known me since my birth. As my elder cousin of a year and a few months, she has always been a role model badass for me to learn from. Most of our lives we have not lived less than 5 hours from each other; however, that changed when I moved a mere 45 min away from Nicole so that I could earn my Master's degree from the University of Kansas. Our shared love of family and quality time, as well as our therapist mindsets, has helped us make up for all the lost time and allowed us to become frousins (friend-cousins).

Matt is also Ben's best friend.

Kayla and I have known each other since Mrs. Mickle's 3rd grade class. We were also in girl scouts together and have survived all the ups and downs of childhood and growing up. No matter where we've lived and the friends we have made in common or not, Kayla has remained one of those friends upon whom I can rely no matter the circumstance.

Miles also happens to be one of Ben's best friends.