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The original was posted on /r/AmItheAsshole by /u/Ok-Pipe1745 on 2023-09-15 11:30:04.

My BFF Summer (16f) and I (16f) have BFFs since we were 2 and in the same daycare together. We’ve been inseparable ever since. When we were about 8 Summer’s mom took us to get these really cute friendship bracelets. They’re real jewelry, not the kid kind. They were a little big for us back then but we did grow into them perfectly.

When I was 10 my dad got remarried and my stepmom came with her own daughter, Elizabeth, who is the same age as me. I don’t dislike Elizabeth. We get along fine. But we’re not super close either. She wants us to be and she’s expressed jealousy toward Summer for years.

Elizabeth doesn’t have many friends and I don’t think any of her friends are actually close. They’ll hang out sometimes but they are never there for each other and they don’t hang out all that often or act much like friends in general. I think that might be why Elizabeth has so much focus on us being sisters.

I don’t mind being around Elizabeth but she and I could never be as close as me and Summer. Summer was there when my mom died and I was there when Summer’s brother died. We have pretty much our whole lives with history together and I don’t remember a time where I didn’t know Summer.

The jealousy got worse last year when my asthma got really bad. Since then I have been in and out of school and Elizabeth thought it meant I would spend way more time with her than summer. But Summer comes over still.

The friendship bracelet stuff really kicked off last week though. I’m out of school for a while because we’re trying to get my asthma under control and Elizabeth’s grandparents are staying with us (my stepmom’s parents). Elizabeth had told her grandparents we were BFFs so when they saw the bracelet they assumed it was one to represent the two of us. Elizabeth was like I shouldn’t wear it all the time and she said I should have a friendship bracelet with her instead of with Summer. I told her Summer is my BFF though and we’ve had these since we were little kids. Elizabeth said she doesn’t care and she said it’s wrong for me to wear it when I know how she feels.

My stepmom spoke to Elizabeth after one outburst a few days ago was heard by everyone at home. She told her that I’m allowed to have a best friend and she should focus on her own friendships.

My dad checked in on me and tried to figure out if a compromise might be possible where Elizabeth and I have our own thing. But we’re not close enough for that and I told him so. He then asked me if it was possible some of the reason I don’t feel very strongly toward her is because of his and my stepmom’s rocky relationship and I said I wasn’t sure but maybe. For clarification on that; he and my stepmom fight a lot and they broke up twice in their 6 year marriage. I’d be surprised if they stay married long term.

Elizabeth still says I’m wrong to wear the bracelet when it bothers hers, especially at home.

AITA?