text: how can i get my "friends" to back off? you know how it is when you're a teenager, and some people mature a lot faster than others. so last year i had this group of friends who i rode the bus to school with. we were all pretty close and they all loved me. then that summer i went on vacation to florida, and when i came back i realized how immature my friends are compared to me. i started to break away from them until eventually i figured that i really don't want to be friends with these people anymore. the problem is that they all live on my street within a few yards of me, and mostly, they just don't get it. it's like they can't grasp the concept that i'm leaving their little group. all they do is ask me why i don't talk to them and do stuff with them anymore. it's not like i hate these people, i just don't want to be around them. how can i tell them nicely that i just want them to back off? that can be tricky, especially if you were good friends with any of them. the best thing to do is to just be honest.  tell them that you have changed, and your interests have changed, and you just do not feel that you have anything in common with them anymore.  let them know that you do not have anything against them, you just need to be on your own for a while, you want to meet othet people and explore other options.  good luck.