Ted and Lily have been friends since their freshmen year of college. Lily was dating Ted's roommate and future best friend, Marshall Eriksen. During their college years, the three would hang out with each other on a regular basis, and based on flashbacks, it seems that they spent a lot of time getting high together. Ted was even present when Lily lost her virginity to Marshall. After knowing each other for years, Ted and Lily have become very close, for example, the two have both learned how to tell when the other is lying. The two have a tradition that when they're mad at each other, one of them buys the other a beer to make up. Her engagement to Marshall is what sparks Ted to start looking for a wife. For the majority of the first season, the two's friendship is strong, until Lily breaks