Navigating the Social Minefield: A High Schooler's Dilemma with a Former Friend

A high school student seeks advice on how to distance themselves from a former friend, Ruby, who has exhibited troubling behavior. The student has a new friend, Sammie, who is also friends with Ruby, but they only hang out with Sammie when Ruby is not present. The student wants to avoid conflict and hurting Ruby's feelings but does not want any association with Ruby's bad actions. The advice is to continue being polite, non-committal, and avoidant, and to not let themselves be drawn into Ruby's attempts to renew the friendship. The student is also cautioned about potential friendship drama with Sammie and reminded of the challenges of navigating high school social dynamics.