One thing that has bothered me for the longest time is when a friend:

a. deliberately ignores me

or

b. acts like I don't exist.

For me, a friendship is based on truthfulness, personality, and common interests. In that order. To be honest, I couldn't care less if someone had none of the same interests as me as long as they were a genuinely good person. But of course, high school has an unwritten law that decrees "you're judged based on who your friends are", which is probably the most hypocritical thing I've ever come across.

It's like saying, "I love my friends... but only the ones that my other friends won't make fun of me for".

What I hate is how different some of my friends can be around different groups of people. Of course, I'm not saying that I act the same around everyone, because it's in our nature to adapt and please those around us; however, I don't compromise friendships just to get an approval. To be frank, I honestly don't care what others think of my choice of friends.

I guess I can understand why some of my friends deliberately choose to do a. or b. since 1. I'm not exactly at the top of the food chain and 2. I might be different than who they usually hang out with. But seriously, isn't high school about meeting new people and forming unexpected friendships? (Yes, it's cheesy, but I'd like maintain my high school friendships with my real friends.) To those people who are guilty of doing a and/or b (and you know who you are): with all due respect, grow a spine and be your own person.

Sometimes I consider dropping those friendships because they make me frustrated, but people change, and I guess I'm still waiting for those friends of mine to change. The bottom line is: if you're too embarrassed to hang out with me, then just spit it out; I probably already know how you feel.