Feeling a little left out

by Carol
(Canada)

Hello, I really appreciate this advice column. I'm not sure if this falls under the categories that you cover, but if so, thank you very much.

I have this one best friend who I have been good friends with for 6 years, lets call her Nancy,(by the way I am still in high school) and together we have gone through a few different groups of friends who we are still good friends with now.

People tell me that I'm a very funny and fun person, and they all tell me that they love me and I know they really like me as a friend.

I feel left out really easily, and it seems that whenever we meet a new friend and become closer with them they all favor her. It's happened with every person we have become friends with.

The rest about 5 of us who are very close, and between our newest friend and Nancy, they always leave me out. They are ALWAYS joking with each other and when they talk they only talk to each other and look at each other. I try and join in on the joking but its hard and I feel unwanted. I just feel not good enough, like not funny enough and not fun enough.

Am I just exaggerating or are they really excluding me? This has happened with many other friends with Nancy and I.

This is a typical case of feeling left out. Is this just a stupid high school thing, or will this last forever?