I’m 17F and my friend, who I’ll call Emily, is also 17F. We both are in the same year at school and have been friends for years. We rarely fall out, but have drifted apart in the past months/years. This was partly due to me, as I realized she lied to me multiple times in the past, and didn’t want to be as close to her anymore.

Even though we aren’t close, she still does tease me every so often, sometimes taking her “banter” too far in my opinion, but always ends her jokes with something like “we love you really”. I kept my mouth shut as I hate conflict, and honestly, I didn’t care that much because I had better things to do in my life.

Recently, I faced a loss that shook me to my core. We lost our family dog, who I loved more than anything, grew up alongside, faced everything with, and always had by my side even in tough times at home. It was completely unexpected, and brutal. She was only eight years old, as well, and none of us could have predicted what would happen to her.

In the first few days after my dog had passed, I talked to some of my close friends for comfort. These people were there for me, and helped me so much, I couldn’t thank them enough. The rest of my friends, including Emily, I am not as close to, so didn’t vent to, and I told everyone in general not to make a fuss or treat me any differently, not wanting to be the center of attention as it makes me uncomfortable.

Most ignored me, which I didn’t mind as I didn’t feel too social anyway. Emily was one of the people that ignored me, and didn’t ask me how I was, or speak to me at all.

When Emily did speak to me, I was shocked to hear what she said. She made fun of my lack of a boyfriend to someone else, while I was in the room. I found this strange because she has never had one either. I pointed out the fact that I have been on dates, (they didn’t end well, guy ghosted me and went on the dates we planned together with another girl).

After I mentioned the dates, Emily smugly smiled at me, and asked sarcastically “And how did that end?”, looking really pleased. I went silent, shaking my head because I was so confused and hurt.

Over the weekend, I had to deal with a few things at home regarding the loss of my dog, and started feeling very angry. I messaged Emily in a calm tone, saying she had hurt me, and that I didn’t need reminding of the ways in which I was alone right now, not days after I had lost my dog.

Emily ignored the messages, coming to me in person back at school. I apologized first for my sudden outburst, expecting an apology in return. But instead, she chuckled and agreed that I should be apologizing to her, and claimed that other people had been teasing me too (they were in a friendship-banter kind of way, nothing as serious as teasing my relationship status), and that I was wrong to lash out at only her.

Emily also said that I had asked her not to treat me any differently, so really all she was doing was “what I asked”. AITA?