Juniors Laura Elder and Paige Graves have been best friends for five years, ever since they shared a woods class together in the middle school.

“I didn’t really think that we would be as close as we are now when we first met,” Elder said. “We always joked around about having our sweet 16 together, and it actually happened.”

Though the two have been friends for so long, they have been able to maintain a stable friendship with barely ever fighting.

“We don’t ever really have any problems to resolve,” Elder said. “We never fight.”

Their relationship stands strong by holding down a stable ground rule of trusting each other with everything.

“We just ask each other straight up what the problem is,” Graves said. “That way, we don’t get into any fights over something unnecessary.”

The girls say that they share a special bond that makes their friendship stand out from others.

“We are very similar,” Elder said. “We can just read each other’s minds because we don’t even have to say anything before we start laughing and know we are laughing about the same thing.”

Elder and Graves can see each other remaining close far into the future.

“I can see ourselves being best friends when were about 90,” Graves said, “eating hot Cheetos and drinking Slushies like we do now.”

A friendship like theirs is not something that can be found every day, but they never take that for granted.

“Paige is not just a best friend to me, she is more like a sister,” Elder said. “I know I can talk to her about everything, and we can relate to each other, and the other one will always be understanding.”

The feeling between Elder and Graves is obviously mutual, and it is a friendship that means a lot to both of them.

“Seeing Laura can always brighten up my day,” Graves said. “She’s more than just my best friend; she’s my other half.”