DR. WALLACE: A girl down my block and I have known each other for over six years, and for the past four years, we have been best friends and hung around together at school and at home. We've shared our fair share of secrets with each other and have enjoyed a lot of fun times together.

About halfway through last school year, before COVID-19 arrived, she started hanging around a very popular crowd. And when she was around that crowd, she never acknowledged our friendship at all. She would walk right past me at school like I was a stranger. She acted like I didn't even exist. But then later, when we were at home, it was like old times.

Now in these times of COVID-19, she tries to get me to spend more and more of my time with her. But my mother does not approve of this. My mom says I should tell her goodbye and find some new friends. What do you think? I like this girl very much, but I'm puzzled why she seems to have two different personalities for her two different sets of friends. — Puzzled Friend, via email

PUZZLED FRIEND: As long as you like this girl, I see no reason not to do things with her away from school when you each have free time to connect.

But recognize that your relationship has changed. She's a friend, but no longer a best friend or one who will likely share special secrets with you.

I do suggest that you take your mother's advice and make some new friends. This does not mean you can't remain friends with your neighborhood friend, but ask yourself if you would ever treat her like she has treated you. Would you ever walk by her like she didn't exist?

If you are active and involved with new people, eventually you'll find a new best friend. I'm sure of it. This girl from your neighborhood can then slide down your list of friends to a friendly acquaintance, where she now belongs.

I WANT TO BE MORE THAN FRIENDS WITH HIM

DR. WALLACE: A certain guy and I have been "best friends" for almost five years now. I have liked him very much the entire time, but I've never told him my feelings, even though I have had many opportunities to do so. It's just that I don't want to risk losing his friendship by coming on too strong. But now the time has come that I want us to be more than just good friends. We are both 17, and a lot has changed since we were 12-year-old pals who went bike riding and fishing together at the stream near our neighborhood.

Sometimes, I get the feeling that he feels the same way about me, but I'm not positive, so I don't say anything. And besides, I'm the girl, and he's the boy, so I don't know if it's my place to bring anything like this up. But it does seem like we have become a lot closer in the past year.

I do know that I love him, and I hate the idea of him ending up dating another girl steadily. We both have been slow to go on any dates with anyone, especially since our social lives have been stunted by COVID-19.

I really do want to tell him how I feel, but I worry I'll risk the chance of losing a great, long-standing friend. What should I do? I'd feel so totally stupid if I told him I loved him and he didn't feel the same way about me. — Nervous Best Friend, via email

NERVOUS BEST FRIEND: I think he's likely to go out with you. He probably hasn't asked you for a date yet because he's afraid he might be losing a good friend if he said something to you and you didn't answer him back the very same way ... sound familiar?

So, by all means, take initiative, and ask him out. Don't mention being in love with him at this point. Simply say something along the lines of: "You know, before we each end up dating other people steadily, shouldn't we at least try one formal date out together? What's the worst that can happen? After all, we know we can always fall back to being great friends, right?"

From there, allow your actions and not words to show your feelings for him. Go very slowly, but do be sure to raise the question about dating each other, and make him feel comfortable about the subject. You both owe it to yourselves and to each other!

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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