Ah, friendship, the life’s quirk that enables people to connect with others in a deeper manner than just exchanging hello’s. A best friend is someone who is similar to, and yet so unlike, you. Two people bond in this type of relationship because they complement each other, where one is weak the other is strong, and vice versa.

It is no wonder that a girl gets attracted to her BF’s best guy pal, or that a guy gets drawn to his GF’s sultry best friend. The couple and the friend spend lots of ‘just hanging out’ moments together, and when trouble arises, the closest chum is there as a shoulder to cry on. For a girl dealing with a boyfriend’s vibrant personality and the equally dramatic fights that go with it, his fun but reserved best friend may seem like a nice, safe haven.

A and B are best pals, then A enters a relationship with C. The couple bickers and C connects with B to discuss A further. In the instant closeness that follows, C falls for B and sleeps with him.

So what happens? Did the girl become the dynamite that blew up a friendship between the two guys? If the friendship wasn’t strong in the first place, maybe yes. However, we have to consider that these guys did not become best pals for no reason. They shared years of dealing with career, family and relationship issues, and that occasional good-natured prank that misfired. They’ve covered each other’s back for a long time before you, the girl in question, even came into their lives.

For a time, one friend may resent the relationship, and stay away. Then, because of the bond that made them best pals in the first place, both will discover that they can’t live without each other. Reuniting between best friends means that one has accepted the situation, or has reached a compromise with his best bud. A word of warning for girls who enter this messy, emotional turf: you face the risk of being ‘just another adventure that we shared’ to these guys, or a lifetime of dealing with an ex who comes to watch sports with your partner every weekend.

That said, a girl who cultivates a good relationship with both guys and doesn’t plan on marrying either of the two, can benefit because she gets a package deal of two guys who are both attracted to her and are ok about it. This obviously creates unlimited opportunities for a threesome better emotional growth.