4 A.M. Friends [Squee!]
By Christina, age 16, Louisiana
Sweet Designs Featured Writer
When people think of best friends, they often envision various sorts of activities always involving a number of persons together. When I think of best friends, I think of late night IM sessions always involving a type of fandom ... or just random ridiculous conversations. When I think of best friends, I think of Kristina.
It started nearly three years ago, sometime in 2004. Whereas neither of us can remember the real date, we remember the time, the person who introduced us, and our method of communication: MSN Messenger.
For a couple years already I had been role playing with a close friend who resided in Iowa. I was thirteen years old and had just begun to write, and role playing was - still is - just about my favorite hobby. It was live RP, done straight over Instant Messenger, and often then included the Backstreet Boys. Whenever I occasionally asked what she was doing otherwise, she'd often respond, "RP'n with the other Tina."
For a while I didn't care. I was like, "Hmm okay, have fun with that." But eventually I got curious and asked her to introduce the two of us. The rest was pretty much history.
We all spent about two years together - Kristina in Miami (and then New Jersey), Tiffany in Iowa, and me, down here in Louisiana. I had a few friends here around town I was close to, plus one who could never be replaced and still cannot, but for a while I concentrated on the three T's: Tina, Tiffany, and Tina. It wasn't that hard, and to be honest, consumed most if not all of my time. Some of my current friends were upset, but nevertheless I soon learned that they didn't matter, and the ones who did didn't mind. And in case you're wondering ... yeah, I got that from the quote. :)
In time both Tina and I lost contact with Tiffany and grew closer to each other. In August of 2005, around 12:00 AM the night before I began my first day of high school, we spent thirty quirky minutes in the parking lot of Petro's in Hammond, LA. This was the first time we had ever met in person, and until now, the last. We exchanged bracelets, took a picture, and then she was on her way.
Being two years older than me (nearly eighteen as I type), her first college semester began at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT. Now, whereas this takes her two more states away from me, it brings us closer in so many ways. Not only will she have the freedom to visit - given the money is available - she'll also have the freedom to be online more frequently and for longer lengths of time. You could not ask for anything else to make either of us more bubbly.
I won't begin to go into the hardships we each suffered during our friendship, nor will I elaborate more on our personal lives. I just want everyone to know that, albeit this isn't an online relationship in some type of "romancey"* manner, it's something that has changed my life, and it was all because of the internet.
*ignore the fact that isn't a word, eh?
I've gained many close friends and have had many heartbreaks due to the thing we call the computer, but nothing can replace what I've gotten from it over the long run. I roll my eyes nearly every time someone brings up that "nothing is serious online" because, in reality, the internet is just as real as the real thing.
Mph and as we like to think, we're as close to the real thing as the real thing can be. The moment I actually figure out what this means will be a glorious one and, for all of you best friends out there, keep it up. There's nothing better. :)
Current Friendship Status
We Dream Of: Owning an apartment together with a dog named Herr Drums Damnit, along with someone very close to me named Kimberly; Meeting Tokio Hotel; Meeting BSB; Meeting Gale Harold, Randy Harrison, or ... well ... we want to meet quite a few people.
We Both Love: The band Brand New; indulging in fan fiction; writing fan fiction; reading anything; role playing; Tiffany :)
We Both Hate: When the internet goes down. Hah, I don't think I've ever cursed more colorfully.
Current Fandom: Tokio Hotel ;)
We Spend Hours On: The phone. Thank God for Cingular (or should I now say AT&T?)
Something Kristina Loves That I Hate: Chocolate.
Something I Love That Kristina Hates: Potatoes.
Kristina Wants To Be: A vet.
I Want To Be: A journalist.
Kristina's Fan Fiction Kink: Fluff.
My Fan Fiction Kink: Slash, preferably Kaulitzcest. :)
Kristina's Life Motto: Live, Laugh, Love.
My Life Motto: Just let loose.
I want to remind you that it was at least a year that I'd known her before we began talking on the phone. I should know very well that it doesn't take much for a person to lie to you, so always be on guard - if not for your safety, then for your heart. There are too many ways to be really hurt.
"It's the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that matter." - Anonymous
