Dear TEENage,

Being 13 is harder than I thought it would be. I imagined that at this age, I’d be having the time of my life. However, everything is falling apart.

Well, not everything, but it feels like everything.

Ever since the first grade, my best friend and I have been inseparable. “Beavis and Butthead”, that’s what everyone called us, up until now.

I recently turned 13 and got my first crush. After introducing them, she told me that she didn’t like him. I became angry, we exchanged some harmful words and the long and short of it is that we aren’t friends anymore.

I was the one who told her that I didn’t want to be her friend and it’s really hard to maintain that. She knows me better than anyone else does and I miss her. I know I was wrong… sigh. I just don’t know where to go from here. Help please.

Lost Friend

Dear Lost Friend,

Everyone’s entitled to mistakes, so don’t beat up yourself too much. However, try not to let anymore time pass as your friendship may be ticking away as it is.

Use lunch time as your opportunity to sit down and talk it out. You’ve been friends for long, thus, add a little spice to your making up.

You know what it is that she likes, whether it is chocolate, a sweet or a biscuit. It doesn’t have to be something expensive, or food-related, and should never be read as a bribe, but something to throw her off her feet and make her smile a little at the surprise.

Express your remorse at blowing your cool and tell her exactly how you felt when she expressed a dislike for your crush. Don’t mince words. Get everything out there so that there’s nothing to cloud your friendship. Without a doubt, she’ll talk up in an effort to explain what she did. Give her the chance to speak and listen to her. That’ll show that you respect her and whatever it is that she has to say.

Hopefully, both of you will learn from what you did wrong. In the case that your friend did not judge your crush based on personal reasons, you must note that a person who thinks straight and talks straight is one you should want as your friend.

If she has plausible reasons as to why she dislikes your crush, then accept them for what they are.

Word of advice: Don’t let bruised ego lead you to rejecting someone who cares enough about you to tell you the truth. A true friend is one who warns you before you do something bad, even though you may not like it, instead of saying, ” I knew that was going to happen, but I just never wanted to be the one to say it”.

Try not to let anything get between your friendship. Aim for it to be so strong that regardless of who tries to trample upon it, it remains intact. For true friendship is priceless.

TEENage Advice Team