Better to be feared than loved???

Maybe, except when it gets in the way of the love of others.

I've been hanging out with a new group of people, mostly guys, THANK GOD!, but there is that obligitory girl in the group. And... I don't get along with girls. Mind you, I was getting along with her just fine until something happened with one of the guys that was a complete accident on my part. She doesn't know the whole story, but she's very protective of Atlas in particular. And even though he and I have talked about this, because it happened between the TWO OF US, she took offense and hasn't let know. Of course in person it's all play nice, but there's definitely a power struggle going on. Mary gets to be included in the group automatically because she's one of the guys' girlfriends. I'm just Mary's friend. No matter how much of a nice person I am or how many good intentions I may have, this girl does not like me. And she has no intention of changing that opinion at all.

So It's a girl power struggle. I'm encroaching on territory that was hers. I'm encroaching on a guy she's super-protective of. I'm the invader. The guys don't get it, Mary understands it for the most part, but I only can really understand - I was there 3 years ago. Sometimes I forget that there is such a big difference between 20 and (nearly) 23. True, she deals with different life stuff that I won't even go near for five more years at least. But I've dealt with other relationship issues in the last four years. I've dealt with a lot of personal change and growth. I used to be the power play girl.

It is still very evident she doesn't like me. And, now that I'm closer to Atlas - and in some ways I feel like I might be pushing him away - it makes a difference. Because, if I want to continue my friendship with Atlas, I have to talk to her.

But her powerplay games will eventually come to an end. I'm leaving in 54 days. I would like the next 54 days to be pleasant. I would like to keep my new group of friends.