Page 50 - Girl's Life (August - September 2019)

Dear

Carol

BY CAROL WESTON

Dear Can I Date Her Ex?,
Sounds like you and he are already having
fun getting close without crossing any
lines, so enjoy your friendship as it is in
the present. As for what’s ahead, some CAN I DATE
say that all’s fair in love and war, but I HER EX?
think you’re right to be mindful of the
triangle here. Maybe your friend will start My best friend just broke up
dating someone else? Or you’ll bravely with her boyfriend. I have
ask if she’ll forgive you if you and he start always had a tiny crush on
dating (and she’ll thank you for asking)? By him because he is my best
the way, if he had broken up with her, this
might be trickier and more gut-wrenching. guy friend. We have been
talking a lot now and I think
FRIENDSHIP TROUBLES I am starting to like him
During the past year, my friend has more and more, but I can’t
changed. She’s gone vegan and is like him! What kind of friend
obsessed with this one guy. She’s am I if I go after my best
becoming really self-centered, and it
seems like I’m the only one keeping friend’s ex-boyfriend?
up the friendship, and it makes me
sad. She doesn’t know that I feel all
these things.
EMBARRASSED Dear Embarrassed,

Dear Friendship Troubles, The other day in art class, I was going Forgive yourself. Accidents happen, and
It’s time to speak up. Try starting with, to slide my bag across the floor but everyone messes up. You didn’t mean to
do it and you apologized and you were
“Let’s talk about...” or, “I want to tell you instead I sort of accidentally tossed forgiven. So you’ve suffered enough. It
about….” or, “This weekend I…” or even, it, causing it to land on someone’s
“I don’t mind hearing all about your crush, artwork and break it. A few other was an honest mistake and I’m sure you
but I get frustrated when you don’t seem people saw it, and so did the teacher learned to be extra careful—with big
to want to hear about my feelings.” You (thankfully, he wasn’t mad at me). bags and in general. So, deep breath and
also can try to start conversations about It was awful. I yelled, “I didn’t mean onward, and I swear your stomach will
music, books, art, TV, sports, news. In to do that!” and apologized to the untwist. If there’s something extra nice
short, you’re right that it’s not fair or person who made the artwork. She you can do for that artist, do it.
good for a friendship when one person forgave me, but I can’t get over this
does all the yakking. I hope you can help twisted feeling in my stomach. It’s TWEENAGE TROUBLES JEREMYISWILD/GETTY IMAGES
her change and I hope you can get closer killing me. I feel really bad for break- I’m 11 and recently got my first
with other girls. ing a beautiful piece of art. period. From a 1 to 10 scale, I’d rate

46 GL AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2019