Q: A few months ago, I told a girl who I was good friends with that I liked her. She turned me down, but she promised me that this wouldn’t affect our friendship. But ever since then, we haven’t interacted as much as we used to. I never expected for things to go back to the way they were, but I didn’t think it would be this different. I told her about my concerns and she said that she wasn’t treating me differently and that she was just stressed. How do I get our friendship back on track?

First things first, it’s going to take some time to get your friendship back on track and the process to get there is going to be more than a little awkward. But once you accept that, and BOTH of you want to go back to the way things were before, restoring your friendship should be completely possible. You said that you voiced your concerns to your friend(that’s great! I mean no one would get anywhere without communication.) and that she said she was “just stressed.” Depending on the truth of her answer, your actions could go two different ways. The first case is if she’s actually telling the truth. If this girl that you like really is just stressed, and that’s the reason you guys aren’t talking as much, I would just wait it out. I mean it’s still going to be awkward any way you go. You can’t avoid that. But if the reason you guys aren’t interacting has more to do with her personal stress rather than the whole rejection thing, then things are going to get better soon. However, if this girl’s reason for putting some distance between you guys are your feelings, then things will have to go differently. In the beginning, prepare to take some time away from each other. Don’t completely disconnect, but know that a majorly awkward event has just happened and that the BOTH of you need some time to think and recuperate. I know that this period of space isn’t necessarily what you want, but it’s going to be vital to restoring a healthy friendship. Once both of you feel ready, don’t be afraid to take the first step. Make sure that she knows that you’re there for her in her times of need, and to support her. And when you’re with her, it may be hard but you’ll have to hide any remaining feelings. If restoring this friendship is really what you want, then you’ll have to fake it till you make it. After something like this, your relationship can’t help but be altered, no matter what each of you promises. But a big, grand gesture to symbolize your everlasting friendship won’t work. In fact, it might make things worse. I would just recommend that you stay by her side and support her through anything that happens (even if there’s another person that she happens to like). Trying to hide your feelings will be difficult, but the friendship that you gain back from this will make it worth it. And who knows? Maybe this whole incident will just draw you two together and maybe your relationship will come out even stronger.