My friends keep leaving me out, but don’t like it if I do the same to them

It sounds as if your friend is projecting her own unhappiness on to you. Don’t keep apologising, because that just feeds into her need for control

I’m 17 and have just gone into my final year at school. Since I started secondary school, I’ve had pretty much the same friendship group: B, C and D.

My best friend (B) and I have always been quiet and hesitant about doing anything where it’s just the two of us, for fear of leaving the other two out. However, this past year we have been consistently ignored by C and D, and decided to do the things we want to do and not wait for approval. We can be friends independently of the others while still being friends with them too.