I’m so, so, so, so sorry that happened to you.

It’s OK. I don’t want it to be something that I hide. It isn’t something girls should have stigma about or feel like we have to hide, because it’s something that someone did to us. We didn’t ask for it. It’s not a shameful thing. But it was weird—I was already a feminist when it happened, and even for me, it was hard to come to the decision to report it, because so many people were telling me I shouldn’t.

But Sabrina wasn’t telling you that.

Yeah. She was my main support at that time.

I’m so glad you found her.

Me too, seriously.

Did you tell your parents?

I told my mom the night before I reported it. She was really supportive, and she shared her own stories about that kind of thing happening.

Aah, I love her.

I know, me too!

Yay, good moms! All right, let us move on to happier subjects, like your band.

Yeah! Our band! Target Audience, my favorite band in the world!

Do you think Sabrina’s parents will make good on this kind-of promise they made, that if she gets a good report card she can be in the band?

Um, I feel like maybe? But there’s gonna be a lot of struggle and a lot of drama. I feel like there’s a really big struggle coming up, that’s definitely going to happen: We’re going to want to play shows soon, and whether or not we can is gonna come down to what her parents feel or think.

What is something that you know about Sabrina that you wish everyone knew?

OK, this is a huge problem that I know bothers her. She’s kind of like an idol at our school—like, everyone is always like, “She’s so cool, she’s my woman crush.” But no one ever actually listens to what she has to say! They take everything that comes out of her mouth as either a joke or something to be idolized. No one pays attention to what she really thinks. So I wish everyone knew how cool she really is, inside, and that she has a lot of opinions and ideas.

Is there something she sees in you that you didn’t realize before?

Yes, absolutely. This was super important to my development as an artist. I have always taken pictures and always liked taking pictures, but I never considered photography, like, “my artwork” or anything. So one time I made a Facebook post of a bunch of pictures [I had taken that day] and she said, “These are great. You’re gonna be the next Annie Leibovitz!” I was like, Whoa! I had been taking candid shots of my friends hanging out and stuff, really casual, and those didn’t feel like something I could own. Like, I couldn’t call them “my artwork.” I didn’t feel like I could own those moments, you know?

Do you have a Tumblr or anything, where we can see more of your work?

Yeah! It’s art-is-art-is-art-is…

Oh my god, how many of these are there gonna be?

[Laughs] This is the last one! -art, that’s it.

Is there anything that you have changed about yourself to be a better friend to Sabrina?

Totally. Before Sabrina, I had a best friend, but I was kind of a selfish friend to her. I never really gave much to that relationship. I never was particularly sensitive towards her except when she asked me to. But with Sabrina, I’m really different. I’m completely selfless for her. OK, not completely—let’s not go that far! [Laughs] But I’m way more in tune with what she needs and what I need to do for her. And I feel motivated to do those things. I feel like she’s completely worth that effort. Like, I don’t want to lose her.

Aww! You guys are so cute! What makes her better than other people? Why is she your best friend?

She has really solid opinions, and she’s really open to other people’s opinions. And she’s open to learning from other people. She’s not afraid to admit that she might be wrong. And she not only dresses cool, she also knows so many cool things, and she motivates everyone around her. And, you know what? She doesn’t participate in girl-girl hate—the types of behaviors that are programmed into girls that are meant to harm us, like body-image stuff, or competing against other girls. Sabrina likes to spread knowledge in a very loving way.

What does she share knowledge about?

Anything she knows! Like, she knows how to play guitar; she’ll teach you. She knows how to play drums; she’ll teach you. She’ll teach you about Riot Grrrl, she’ll teach you about whatever book she’s reading. She’s down, if you just get to know her and ask.

She said the exact same thing about you. That you have no girl hate and you’re just open and generous.

We’re the same person. I don’t think we’d exist without each other.

She said that too!

Oh my god. [Laughs] It’s true. I would not exist without her. I would probably be really miserable. I mean, it’s not a dependent relationship; we’re both individuals that are just very in love with interacting with each other. We’re the same person, but individually, and I think that’s amazing.

Aww! You found your other half.

Totally! Your other half doesn’t have to be romantic! Platonic love all the way. People act like romance or sex is the be-all end-all, and that’s really not what it’s about.

Well, you’re both adorable and cool and beautiful. Thank you so much for doing this.

I mean, I obviously didn’t really intentionally make this happen, but I’m so glad it happened!

Me too! ♦
To nominate your own Friend Crush, send an email, telling us what makes her the coolest person in the ding-dong world, to [email protected]. Please include both of your names and ages and a big, clear picture of each of you. Thank you!