Previously in this day we are living through I discovered how hypocritical some of my friends can be. It all started, innocently enough, with a trip to the cinema…
Upon arriving at the cinema I encountered two friends (one of whom happening to be my best friend, Janey) of mine who were arriving for the very same purpose I was, to watch a film and catch-up with people I had not seen in a relatively long time.
Laughing and joking around, we approached the door, only for my other best friend, Simone (who had already arrived) to throw herself at it, jabbering quite excitedly. Passing onto the threshold, we approached some of our once-close friends (time and change were the perpetrators of why we had unfortunately drifted apart over the last few months, only managing to remain close to a very select few, select through their choice, not my preference). We engaged the friends who were already there in conversation, chatting and generally having some well-managed merriment when Simone loudly asked me about plans we had previously made but were not yet final concerning hanging out after the film had finished, right in front of everyone else there. Without wishing to appear rude and exclude the others I brushed off the question just as a distraction arrived in the form of a controversial person.
*Background: The 2 friends I had arrived with had previously been close to this person but had become disillusioned after certain circumstances had arisen between them. Everyone else there was blissfully unaware of this, but knew of the tension between them and preferred the a fore mentioned person to the two I had arrived with*
Without even a lukewarm greeting in our direction, the new arrival (name of Mel) swanned over to our group whereupon everyone swarmed around her like bees to pollen and the three of us were apparently subconsciously but nevertheless effectively excluded from their conversation.
One more person needed to arrive, however, before we were allowed to enter the screen and reach our blissful seats (we had been standing up for a while as the person apparently had no concept of punctuality). This information I gleaned from Simone after all but yelling across the chasm that had opened up between our loose little huddle and their closely packed swarm, earning glares of disapproval from some for interrupting their conversation.
Seeing as we didn’t know the person that needed to arrive (I had not even known this person existed before being told they were the reason we were waiting so long) we said we’d go to the screen and get seats relatively near the front. As the soundtrack to the last advert faded, we heard a familiar but unwelcome giggle from near the back and turning around we saw the rest of the friends we had arrived with settling along the back row.
After the film had ended, the three of us got up to talk to everyone and leave the screen with them, only to find ourselves alone in a deserted screen, with nothing but discarded drinks bottles and popcorn scantily scattered across the floor.
Lurking in the corridor, we sneakily spied them in the lobby, laughing together in a close-knit formation. They appeared unaware that more of their original group had yet to join them and we seriously considered waltzing into another screen without a second thought, but after sticking our heads round the door we decided against it as we didn’t want to sit through a bunch of advertisements.
Rejoining them back in the lobby, we found ourselves having a very interesting conversation with their backs and entertained ourselves with our own presence rather than merely hanging on Mel’s every word. We did not do this for long as Simone once again brought up the subject of hanging out later, and once again in front of the two friends that I had arrived and watched the film with. I could feel the waves of annoyance rolling off Janey at the rudeness and lack of subtlety in the delivery of my invitation and determined to keep the peace, I turned the offer down with a half-baked and hastily-thought-up excuse.
*Background: Janey feels excluded from their social group, despite having known some of them since primary school. After arguments and betrayals had happened between them, she feels Mel is to blame for this. Simone is unaware she is unconsciously pushing Jane out of the group and thinks Janey she is acting cold and unfriendly and it is her own fault she is excluded. I have myself been in a similar situation and empathise with Janey. Simone frequently begs me to understand things from Mel’s point of view yet refuses to listen to me whenever I attempt to say anything in Janey’s defense.*
Janey, our friend and I left the cinema shortly after. I had paused to wave half-heartily in everyone else’s direction, the other two gave unenthusiastic goodbyes. As we walked away we heard goodbyes accusingly thrown in our direction and turned to see glares flung at our backs almost as if to demand why we had not bade them farewell before attempting to leave without a word.
This situation that happened not 5 hours ago prompted me to set up this blog and write the above account. It disgusts me that Simone can be so hypocritical by preaching to me about Janey’s attitude towards them whilst being one of the main people fueling her behaviour and causing her to be very upset about her once-friends, no matter how unaware she is and how innocent she thinks she is. If you have read this far then thank you and I encourage you to try and include all of your friends in your socialising because I would hate for you to be acting like Simone and not try to rectify it.
Needless to say, all names have been changed for anonymity.
