Near or Far, Close or Together

I just wanted to write about something I know very well. That would be how I feel. But I'm not just going to write about any thing. No. I'm going to write about someone. Not just someone but my greatest friend. Her name is Aubrey Juden.

I met Aubrey a while ago at my friend's church. We were just little so nothing really happened seeing that she was a friend of a friend. Then, she came back into my life when I needed her the most.
 Freshman year of High School was... different. All of my best friends from middle school were finding out about the "real" kind of partying. That left my weekends pretty empty. They knew I wouldn't drink with them and I didn't want to be around it either. Then Aubrey and I found each other. She was in my math class and I'm pretty sure was the only normal one in there with me. So of course we gravitated towards each other. I remember our first joke with each other was something about one of us being the designated driver and the other the designated passenger. Meaning we werent drinking alcohol. We hung out nearly every single day. Dressed up like crazy for the last day of school, watched an insane amount of movies, ate wings until we couldn't no mo. Her family was my second family. They were so good to me and so fun to be around. Never made me feel unwelcome and always had a safe, warm and loving environment to go to when I was bored of my house.
 Aubrey and I did everything together. Including state basketball. Her older brother's friends were on the team so we wanted to go watch and support them. We had so much fun. (Aubrey, three words : Area Of  Refuge) Gah I'm an IDIOT! haha We had movie nights in her theater room that her awesome dad made and set up with REAL movie theater chairs. We would show up to school accidentally wearing the same thing. I remember Aubrey saying " Go Home and Change RIGHT NOW!" haha
  We would be really mature and drive around guys houses that we liked at the time. Creepy? yes but we didn't care because we were best friends. One night we were going to go pick up a sign that i ran over with my car a couple days earlier. We felt the need to dress all in black complete with war paint. When we got to where the sign was supposed to be, it wasn't there. But we didn't want to go home and dress up for nothing. Then we remembered, The boys had a game the next day. we bought tons of shaving cream and soap and DESTROYED their cars. Then we went to Perkins and probably had chocolate chip pancakes. those were our fave! we ended up looking a little something like this:

"You are so DUNZO"

I could go on FOREVER about Aubrey and all the fun we've had. But my favorite story that I play back in my head quite often wasn't so much about having fun. It was about being a true friend and makes me realize I've never had a better friend than Aubrey.
 In high school I played volleyball. My freshman year I made the team and had quite a bit of playing time so it came as a huge shock when I didn't make the sophomore team the following year. It was rough for me because I had never not made anything before. Everything I tried out for, I got. So this was a huge reality check for me.
 Summer going into Junior year I worked my BUTT off. I had a volleyball camp every week. I was determined to get back on that team. Aubrey kept saying how it was ok that she didn't get to hang out with me because she knew it was going to pay off for me in the end. I was going to be happy and have fun and she would be able to go to my games. She knew I was going to make the team. Well a week before tryouts I broke down. I didn't want to try out anymore. I was scared the other girls would wonder why I was there. I was scared they would make fun of me or talk behind my back. Then Aubrey said something I will always remember. "Jordan, you have to try out. I will not let you throw all your hard work away. I will even try out with you. All the girls won't have time to laugh at you. They will be busy looking at me and wondering why the heck I am there." ( If anyone knows Aubrey you know she can be a tad uncoordinated. Love you Aubz!) This gave me the strength to go. I ended up making the team. Aubrey came to my games and was always there to support me.
 Ever since, I have always considered Aubrey my best friend. We've had our highs and lows. Our falling outs and reunions but I know I can always count on her. She will always be first one in line and no matter how long we go without talking, I know we are always going to be best friends and I am thankful for that.
Aubrey has shown me what a true friend is and has been an example to me. I hope someday I can repay her for all she has done for me.