Megan and Hanna met in August 2020 when Megan was assigned as Hanna's Peer Advising Fellow to mentor her through her first year of college. Their social circles began overlapping, and when Hanna became a Peer Advising Fellow alongside Megan the next summer, they became close friends. Later, Megan joined Alpha Phi, which was Hanna's sorority, and they became sisters, too.

Indy and Jared met as co-workers in the Minnesota Senate, where long hours seemed short due to their various discussions on niche historical and political topics. Indy has always been there for Jared, from drives to the airport, to Jared's short-lived political campaign. Indy is Jared's right-hand man and the Henry Cabot Lodge to Jared's Theodore Roosevelt.

Tegan and Hanna have been friends since sixth grade when Hanna transferred to a new school and found a new circle of friends. United by their shared interest in leaving North Dakota and ambitious dreams of law and business, they became good friends throughout high school. Despite being in MA and AZ for the last four years, their friendship has remained steadfast and strong.

Chris and Jared met in college and while they only had one year in-person together, they made one year feel like much longer. From random three hour drives to Chick-Fil-A, to 3am conversations at work in the middle of January, the darkest nights of the year felt so much brighter. Despite the miles apart, they've maintained regular contact and have felt their friendship grow.

Dora and Hanna were immediate friends when they were assigned to be suitemates during their first-year of college during COVID-19 and quickly bonded over a shared interest in deep conversations, thoughtful reflections, and late-night bubble tea runs. Their friendship has flourished in college, but has thrived in the in-between periods as well. With their differences in academic interests, they have learned a lot from each other.

Tryston and Jared met during their first year of high school in Oceanside, California at Speech & Debate. While they didn't always agree on religious and political topics, they always had friendly and fruitful conversations. Though Jared has not been back to California as often as he would like, each trip back, they get the same meal at the same restaurant they've been visiting for seven years.

Kylie and Hanna have been friends since they danced together in Kindred Just For Kix, where they discovered an unusual connection: they're related (sort of)! Even though they are only third cousins, these two can chat, tease, and laugh like first cousins. The two could not be more different in their interests, but they treasure their friendship regardless.

Brian and Jared also met at Speech & Debate in Oceanside, California and have always had passionate discussions on religion and politics. They've bonded over their shared Roman Catholic faith and have nurtured each other's theological beliefs. Much like Tryston, Brian has made room in his schedule on short notice to meet the two at the Village Pie Shoppe where they all have Fish and Chips.

Kalli and Hanna have been friends since the day Hanna was born - literally. While Hanna didn't have a sister, she grew up so close to Kalli that for years, you could have sworn that they were related. From childhood best friends, to possible sister-in-laws (sorry, Kalli, #Janna wasn't meant to be), and now, bridesmaids in each other's weddings, this is a friendship that is bound to last a lifetime.

Seth and Jared are old friends and grew up together in Oceanside, California, and saw each other so often that they felt more like brothers. They met as Boy Scouts in middle school and became Eagle Scouts together later in life. From traveling the world together, to camping locally, Jared's greatest adventures have been shared with Seth.

Lucy-Mei and Hanna have spent two decades of their lives not seeing the other for 10 months out of the year, and then seeing so much of each other in 2 months that it made up for the rest of the time. As long-distance-first-cousins, Hanna first studied the French language as a way to feel closer to Lucy-Mei. Though they see less of each other now than they did in their childhoods, they have an unbreakable cousin-bond.

Justin and Jared met in law school at the University of St. Thomas and Justin was one of Jared's first friends in law school. The two grew closer over the two years and worked together as Murphy Scholars which helped their friendship flourish. While starting a new chapter in his life, Jared was so grateful for Justin's support and friendship and is excited for all that the future will bring for their friendship.

Chloe and Hanna have known each other since Chloe was born, when Hanna was ecstatic to have a new "first cousin once removed." Hanna has had so much fun watching Chloe grow up, and looks fondly back when she was a nanny for Chloe and her brother, Bryce, and they read unicorn books together every day. Chloe, if you're reading this, I did promise you that one day you would know how to read!

Jared and Bryce have only met on a few occasions, but Jared has heard so much about Bryce over the years from Hanna, especially when she was a nanny for him and his sister, Chloe, for a summer. Jared remembers Hanna recounting how kind, smart, and considerate Bryce was and how wonderful it had been to watch him grow up. Jared is excited to be gaining Bryce as another "first cousin once removed" once him and Hanna are married,