You’ve heard the saying before: “Keep you friends close and your enemies closer!” And while you might hope that you only have people that love you and want the best for you in your circle, sometimes we can ignore the signs that we’ve got a friend who likes to bring negative energy or drama into our lives. They’re not outright trifling, instead, they just do a few things that make you scratch your head–like the following on this list. A frenemy doesn’t immediately need to be expunged from your life, but I would definitely keep an eye on them–or better yet, confront them about their sometimes shady behavior and see where you go from there.
Stingy with the “hookup”
And we’re not talking money (that is unless you loan them money all the time and they can’t do the same). The frenemy is actually stingy with resources and help that most friends wouldn’t mind offering. For instance, you have a colleague who is looking for an assistant, and you know that your friend, recently laid off or unhappy, is looking for a new opportunity. While it might not be your first thought, it should be a thought to hook your girl up with the contact, right? Well, the frenemy has all of that in her Barney bag but doesn’t feel like sharing. Sharing is caring! But a frenemy doesn’t want you to find yourself doing more or better than them. If you even have to ask if they can slide you someone’s email or to talk to someone who could help you get where you hope to be, then that should send off some warning signals and flares in your mind.
They need to know everything about you and only you…
The frenemy seems to be a private individual. When you find out things are going on in their life, you hear it from a third party or they tell you later than they tell everyone else and might even give an excuse as to why they did so in such a tardy manner. But the craziest thing of it is that they seem to feel the need to know everything that’s going on with you. Your success, your failure, who you’re “talking to,” and what you’re up to. What’s that about? Maybe it’s done to be critical, maybe they’re just nosey, or maybe, just maybe… they’re looking to one up you.
Mimic or try very hard to do better than you
Ever have that friend who seems to have an unspoken beef with everything you accomplish or do and wants to do the same or better? Yeah, girl, that’s probably a frenemy. Your “girlfriend” is on a some Single White Female doing-the-absolute-most-stuff and is trying to get the style you’ve got, the friends you made outside of her, and can’t seem to let you be happy basking in the realm of a major feat, relationship, or whatever, without trying to compare her success to your own. Seems like ‘ol girl isn’t trying to see you on top of the world, even if only for a few moments.
Lack of support emotionally
You know when you tell someone something that is really eating at you, and instead of seeming compassionate or having some deep, clutch advice for you when you need it, they have a random reaction you didn’t see coming? Whether it’s making you look irrational about your worries, blaming you for drama you didn’t think you caused or just being indifferent, the way they come at you is often puzzling. They don’t always have to sing “Lean on me” or something like that when you’re feeling down, but if they don’t seem to care for real (and you’re not one who complains all the time about everything), or they find some sort of entertainment or amusement out of your issues…I think we all know that’s not right.
Bad communication of course
You might have a frenemy on your hands if small disagreements turn into huge issues with her. I’m talking so huge in her mind that she stops talking to you for an extended period of time and starts talking bad about you to other people, possibly even to some of the friends in your circle. I think a strong friendship, like most relationships, thrives on good communication. And while you might have your ups and downs, you shouldn’t feel like a friend will throw you under the bus everytime they don’t get their way and talk about you behind your back whenever there’s a misunderstanding.
You realize the need to keep them at an arm’s length
While you have your friends that you confide in, call during dreary moments and check up on often, you might have a frenemy on your hands if she’s the one you like to hang out with just occasionally. In simple terms, you like to deal with her in small doses. She’s great to party with or shop with–you know, the fun surface stuff. But when it comes to trusting her with all the ins and outs of your issues, that’s not happening. She hasn’t proven herself to be the most down-to-ride girlfriend, but she’s cool in other ways. It’s like your party friends versus your real friends. You know who to call for a good time, but you also know who to call when you need someone to stand by you–NOT her.
They like to play with your feelings, but want to play sensitive too…
Think of the Sheree and Marlo Hampton fight on Real Housewives of Atlanta in a way (although we know they didn’t get along at all). A frenemy is good at leaving you out of the loop or not inviting you to certain things in the hope of being the center of attention with no problems. However, when they’re not the first person you think to call to go out for dinner or to come to an event with you, their feelings get hurt! Talk about dramatic. How can you be picky in inviting a person to things and then have a conniption fit when they so something similar, but don’t do it out of spite like some folks? Yeah girl, keep an eye on that one. She’s crazy.
More on Madame Noire!
