Livi,
I’ve been hanging out with the same group of people for the majority of my high school life, and whenever we all hang out there is a pretty even guy to girl ratio. Lately, two “couples” have formed from our friendship group, causing awkwardness for the rest of our friends. Whenever we’re just at someone’s house watching a movie they’re always cuddling and expect to sit next to each other when we eat or are sitting somewhere. I know they’re still our friends, but it annoys the rest of us and is ruining the group dynamic. It makes the single people feel incredibly awkward and when I want to hang out with my friends I don’t want to be surrounded by people that are all over each other. I love my friends, but I wish they would all just go back to being friends for the sake of the group. How do I tell them that their dating is making the whole group uncomfortable and that if they ever were to break up it would ruin our whole friendship group?
Third wheel
Dear Third wheel,
While in high school many students begin to experiment with dating, and a lot of relationships start out between two friends. It makes sense that if two people hang out a lot as friends and feel comfortable with one another that they may end up seeing each other as more than friends. You can’t blame for your friends for falling for each other, it’s simply teenage hormones. What you can ask your friends to do, however, is tone down the flirting and cuddling. When with your usual group of friends they should act as friends and save the couple stuff for when they’re alone. Just politely explain to them how you value their friendships and would prefer not to be around them while they’re flirting.
Love, Livi
Have a problem? E-mail Livi at:
