Oh right, where friendship is just like, you cry together and lie down in a bedroom side by side and talk about boys and just, like, support each other or whatever…

Yeah, and while that stuff is true, there are so many more things that happen. Like, you’re not always gonna agree. You’re not always gonna get along. You might hate them at the moment that they’re crying, and you want to say, “You’re crying over such a stupid thing,” but you need to suck up your ego and comfort them instead.

That’s a really beautiful lesson you’re talking about. It’s not like you just loooove them all the time. Sometimes you’re scared of them, sometimes you’re feeling vulnerable, sometimes they’re annoying…

Exactly. And you have to learn to be a friend even when that’s what’s happening.

What makes Caressa a better friend than anyone else?

She will go out of her way to make sure that you’re OK. She genuinely wants the best for me. There is no girl hate in her. When there’s something good out there, she wants it for other people before she wants it for herself. She’s so open-minded; you can talk to her about anything, and she’ll always find a way to take your side and make you feel better, but she’ll also give you insight into the other side, so you can question yourself and become a better person.

That is so lovely! Finally, and I don’t know if this is ending on a down note, but imagine your life right now if you hadn’t met Caressa. What would be different?

[Laughs] I’ve thought about this so many times. If I hadn’t met Caressa, I can’t imagine how little self-respect I would have. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have anything about myself that was interesting. I feel like we’re the same person, and, like, in order for one of us to exist, the other person has to exist.

Oh my god, I’m gonna cry! I’m gonna call her now; is there anything you think I should ask her about?

Not really. I think we feel the same about a lot of things. You should just talk to her and get her side of everything.

OK.

This must be a really weird job for you!

[Laughs]

Like, this interview…

This is actually one of my favorite parts of my job, these interviews. What seems weird about it?

I mean, first you talk to me about my entire story with this girl and you learn everything about her, and then you go talk to her—and you might be anxious, like, Is she gonna confirm these things? Is this story true? Like, what if she tells you a totally different story?

[Laughs] I would welcome it, actually! It wouldn’t be anxiety provoking; it would be awesome if she totally disagreed with everything you said, because it would be a first. That has never happened before. So it never feels like an investigation to find out the different sides of, like, a Rashomon of friendship. It is always confirmed.

That’s really cool.

Well, I’m in love with both of you already, even though I haven’t talked to her yet. I’m glad that Tavi broke the rules of Snapcat.

[Laughs] I’m really glad too.

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ANAHEED: I have to say, I’m a little scared to talk to you, because Sabrina told me how intimidating you are.

CARESSA [crusher]: Aww! She’s so cute. I am an intimidating person. I try not to be! But, yeah, I know I’m intimidating.

What do you think makes you intimidating?

I guess it’s just because there’s no bullshit with me. I don’t have to smile all the time, and I never feel like I have to act a certain way. And I have resting bitchface—that’s fine.

[Laughs] As I think you know, this is the first time we’ve done a Friend Crush that didn’t originate with an email from a person.

Yeah, I figured.

Sabrina was telling me you guys were watching together as Tavi was screenshotting the snaps you sent her. What did you think was happening?

Um, exactly this. I was like, “Oh, they’re probably gonna ask me to do a Friend Crush.”

Did you really think that?

Yeah. I knew it!

What made you send us those pictures in the first place?

I think I just couldn’t think of anything [else] to do with them, and they were so amazing, in my opinion—like, I like my pictures—and Sabrina’s so pretty, so I was like, “I have to do something with these—Rookie would probably like them.”

What made you approach her that one day after dance class?

Back then, I was kind of meek, and I didn’t have a lot of friends, and I’d just had a breakup with my first boyfriend. And for the weeks prior to that [day] I was telling my friends, “Oh man, this girl is so cool, I gotta talk to her.” So then that day I was just like, “Your clothes are really cool!” I had a Velvet Underground pin on, and she was like, “I like your pin!” That’s our origin story!

What took you from acquaintances to really close friends?

She and I started playing music together, and we ended up really vibing in terms of who we are and our beliefs. So I guess music really brought us together.

Sabrina told me that when you guys started hanging out, you were dealing with something hard—she didn’t say what it was, because she was respecting your privacy, and I do too, so just let me know if you don’t want to say anything about this. But she said your friends weren’t super supportive of you during that time. Was it that breakup you mentioned?

No. I got sexually assaulted.

Oh, honey. I’m so sorry.

It’s OK.

Did you report it?

I ended up reporting it after three months. The police took my report and they tried to take [the guy] to juvie hall, but juvie hall said they were only taking “violent offenders” at the time. So I ended up having to still go to school with him.

Jesus Christ. He didn’t get expelled or suspended or anything?

No, he just kept going to our school.

Oh my god. So what happened with your friends?

I think their general attitude was, like, “Why report it? What do you gain from doing that?”

ARGGGH!!

Yeah! It was so frustrating.