Young Girl Finally Realizes Her Long-Time Friend Has Been Using Her, All Thanks To Reddit

Poor kiddo should have trusted her instincts sooner

Kylin

• Published in Interesting
• November 22, 2022

High school can be a tumultuous time for any teenager. It is the backbone of the transition from childhood to adulthood.

Besides learning standard subjects like mathematics, science, history, and more, it is where teenagers honed their skills of cooperation, collaboration, and how to interact with all sorts of different people. It’s a low-risk trial run of “real life,” where relationships of all flavors are experienced.

Many find their first loves in high school, and sometimes even lifelong friendships. More often, high schoolers discover the ebb and flow of relationships, with friendships or romantic partnerships starting just as quickly as they end.

If they’re lucky, it can also be a time when they learn the unfortunate fact that some people or relationships aren’t always good. That there are some people who only have their own interests in mind, and will do anything to get what they want.

Being able to identify when you’re being taken advantage of, or when a relationship should end is a crucial skill. A skill that can help prevent compounded hurt and loss in the future.

Recently, a 15-year-old girl turned to Reddit for some advice revolving around a five-year-long relationship with a friend of the same age. Keep scrolling to read about her problem and how Reddit helped support her in navigating a toxic friendship.

OP shares that while she comes from a wealthy family, her close friend does not, and regularly borrows money from OP without ever paying her back

Not cool, Amy, not cool.

Continuing on, OP explains that this is her last year at her current school before going off to boarding school

She introduces us to another friend, Abigail, whose family has been friends with OP's family presumably as long as they've been around. Their families go to theme parks together every year and since this is OP's last year in the state before going to boarding school, she and Abigail purchased express passes to use with their seasonal passes to their local fair.

Understandably, Amy wanted to join OP and Abigail since it would be the last time they could all go together

But to make things tricky, Amy's mom wouldn't be comfortable with them going to the theme park without an adult, so she would need to tag along for Amy to join in. While Amy (and her mom) weren't initially invited, OP was fine with her coming along to "make memories."

Seems innocent enough.

But not only did Amy invite herself (and her mom), she also expected OP to pay for their tickets

OP had to ask her parents for extra pocket money to pay for two single-day passes and sent a screenshot to Amy to verify the date for the passes. When Amy saw that she wasn't getting express passes like OP and Abigail had, she accused OP of being "cheap."

Thankfully, OP pushed back, since buying Amy AND her mom tickets were more than generous for a 15-year-old to do. But something like logic wasn't enough to deter Amy, who doubled down, demanding OP pay for her food and games if she was going to buy single passes.

Excuse me, what?

Apparently this isn't the first time Amy has done this to OP

That's NOT okay, baby.

OP decided that Amy totally crossed a line and told her that not only would she not be paying for her games and food, she wasn't invited at all anymore

Amy blew up, accusing OP of being a terrible friend and yelling and cursing at her.

Thankfully, Abigail was able to point out that OP was only standing up for herself, but OP was still left feeling unsure about whether or not she was right for not paying for Amy.

OP ended up doubling back to explain what her allowance is used to cover

Not that she needed to elaborate to justify anything about the situation.

Amy effed around and found out

And that's not on OP.

Many Redditors pointed out the obvious: Amy is using OP

It seems really obvious that Amy is using OP for her money.

A Good Friend wouldn't do that

Toxic friends come in all ages.

Time to cut her off

OP is at the perfect age to learn about cutting off toxic people.

Amy is completely out of line

Rude doesn't begin to cover it, tbh

Not to mention ungrateful and entitled

100%

Remember: OP is only 15, she was being generous buying them tickets in the first place

Really, *extremely* generous

One Redditor left a really great comment, with a childhood similar to Amy's

Yet, they were able to validate OP and how she seems conscientious of her and her family's privilege and has made obvious efforts to include Amy. Even though Amy has been taking advantage of OP's efforts.

OP seems to have a good head on her shoulders.

Does Amy's mom even know the full story?

Any reasonable adult wouldn't let a literal child pay for them to attend a theme park.

They gave some great advice on how to navigate the friendship in the future

I agree that their friendship has run its course.

OP should end this friendship ASAP

PLOT TWIST

Amy's mom doesn't even LIKE theme parks, and Amy had spun the story to her Mom that OP was paying so they had to go.

I really hope she does tell her the truth.

Amy is acting completely entiteld to OP's money

It's super rude, too.

Amy already owes OP money!

Enough is enough.

Amy needs to learn to deal with those feelings of disappointment

Disappointment can be a big part of life.

Maybe Amy is a good friend in other ways?

Maybe, maybe not.

"Leech" paints such a powerful picture

However, Amy comes across as more than just a leech.

Don't forget "brat."

OP doesn't owe Amy anything

As the saying goes...

Ultimately, how you act is what people are going to remember

It really sucks when you’re faced with the realization that a friendship you once treasured has run its course. Relationships don’t have to be romantic to be important or hurt when the time comes to end them.

Have you had a similar experience to OP where you realized a friend was using you? Or maybe you had a stint of being like Amy and manipulated a relationship for your benefit?

Let us know your experiences in the comments section below!

Kylin