my best friend

So, I met my best friend in September of 1994, freshman year of high school. We were in homeroom together, and as far as I can tell that was the only purpose homeroom actually served. Now we were not always best friends or even super close through out these years of knowing one another. We really didn't have any classes together and only saw one another during lunch and shared the same circle of friends. But there was something special about him. He was always an honest and sincere friend and in high school there isn't always a whole lot of honesty or sincerity when kids are trying to be popular or cool. College application rolled around and somehow I ended up with two application books to School of Visual Arts. As it turns out he ended up not having one and the idea of him not being able to apply to such a great school, with all his talent made me feel scared. I didn't want him to not go to the same school as me, and I think that was when I realized that this was a real friendship and not someone I would outgrow as I got farther and farther away from high school.
In SVA we had NOT a single class together and actually never even hang out but we did speak on the phone regularly. And after college I joined the army and he sent me post cards and emails while I was in Iraq. And my mother said he called her on occasion to see how I was. That is what a real friend does and though we were far apart I felt like these actions made us closer. When I eventually got out of the army and moved back to NYC began spending ALL my free time with him. Friendship takes work and distance and lack of free time is NOT an excuse to build a relationship with someone, but so many people seem to have excuses to give, instead of just a little of their hearts. I wish everyone could have a friend like mine and could be a friend like him, I hope I am as good a friend to him as he is to me.