Myjellybean.com

Dear Confused Friend,

Unless your friend has done something illegal, or is in danger (like you fear she's getting addicted to drugs or alcohol, or puts herself in situations where she is likely to be physically hurt), I don't think telling her parents is the best idea.

There may be only two and a half years of difference between your ages, but those are two and a half big years. There is a huge difference between thirteen or fourteen, and sixteen years old. Your friend is testing her indepedence, and going through a stage that a lot of girls go through. She'll probably phase right out of it, too, although that might not happen for another couple of years.

If you are not comfortable with her activities, I think it's important that you be honest about that, with yourself and her. However, try your best not to judge her. It's not your place to do so, and even though you may worry about your friend, it is her life, and she is entitled to make her own choices. (At the very most, her parents can tell her what to do - but you shouldn't try to).

Nobody wants to be friends with someone who judges them, either. So here's the thing. If you want to keep your friendship with this girl, make plans with her that involve only you two, and stuff you still enjoy doing together. Make daytime dates for weekends, to see a movie, hang out and make cookies, or whatever fun girl things you can still share. If she starts talking about the stuff she does that freaks you out, tell her, "I love you, and I just get worried when you tell me these things. Maybe we should agree not to talk about all that, so I don't worry, and you don't feel judged."

Good luck. Not all friendships can survive when each person is at a very different stage in their life, but it is definitely worth trying to keep thie relationship, since it's been in your life so long.