DR. WALLACE: A girl I've known for a really long time was my very best friend. For all of the years I've known her she was very sweet and kind. But now things have changed. She is rude and bossy and is trying to control my life. She gets upset with me over the smallest things. Besides all this, she has been telling lies about me to some of my other friends. Whenever I ask her about this problem, she denies it. She even has started ignoring me when we are at school, but when we're on our way home from school she is sweet as can be.

I just can't understand this. What should I do? I was hoping that she would revert back to the "good old-days," but so far, she hasn't and I'm not sure she will. Help! — Disappointed, Santa Fe, N.M.

DISAPPOINTED: It's time to sever the "very best friend" relationship with this girl. She is no longer a best friend. There could be many reasons why her personality has changed, but don't hang around with her just to find out what they are.

Don't bother telling her that you'll be spending less time with her — just do it. Actively cultivate other friendships and pretty much stop worrying about what she is up to. You needn't rule her out of your life completely, but when you do see her, it will more likely be on your own terms.

MAKE SURE YOUR FRIEND REPAYS YOU

DR. WALLACE: About two weeks ago, a close friend of mine and I went out for a pizza after a basketball game. When it came time to pay for her share, she said she'd forgotten her money and would pay me later. Luckily, I had some extra money, but she still hasn't paid me.

Then a couple of days ago she played the same game again, but this time I didn't have enough money to pay for her share. When that happened, she started crying, so the manager said he would give us the pizza "on the house," and I didn't have to pay either. But the whole thing made me very embarrassed.

When I told my dad what happened, he and I returned to the pizza place, thanked the manager and paid for the pizza. I know my friend will not pay me back for the first time, and she also thinks she got a free pizza this time.

Do you think I should tell her that my dad paid for the pizza and that she owes me for her share of both pizzas, or should I just forget about it and chalk it up to experience? I do not plan to go out for food with her any more unless I know she has the money. — Kelly, Springfield, Mass.

KELLY: Tell your friend that your father paid for the last pizza, but that she still owes you for the first pizza. Then ask her when she's planning to pay you back, and make sure she does.

YOU LOST FAIR AND SQUARE

DR. WALLACE: My friend Mindy and I both like the same boy. We decided to flip a coin to see who would be the one to pursue him since it would be silly for both of us to go after him. We flipped and I called heads and the coin came up tails, so I let Mindy go after him.

This all started last week and, so far, she hasn't caught him. How long do you think it's fair to let her go after him before I get to have a turn to pursue him? —Nameless, Wheeling, W.Va.

NAMELESS: You lost fair and square, so I think Mindy should have a full 30 days to land her prize. Then it's your turn, that is, unless Zach, Josh or Matt has caught your eye by that time.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Eugene Kim