(A little backstory)
I (17F) have known this girl (16F) since sophomore year. She was new to the school, and we only started to talk because so many people said we looked alike. It started off fun at first, it was all giggles and never a dull moment between us, but we were more acquaintances at the start. On the days we did talk it was nice, but most times it was just hi and bye. The impression I got from her was always pretty and kind, so when I found out we were classmates our junior year I was happy. I thought we would be having fun y'know, just joking around and leaning on each other when classes got hard. Let me tell you, that was not the case.
When we got close everything changed, so much to the point where I was regretting even meeting her. I want to start off by saying how she's very self centered, instead of caring about her books all she cares about is how she looks. Don't get me wrong, nothing is wrong with being obsessed with yourself but there's a limit. She's talking about her looks 24/7 and is always trying to seek validation by asking "Do I look good?" EVERY. SECOND. OF. THE. DAY! She knows damn well she looks good. This is just a mild (but annoying issue), but I had to mention it. And I can't forget about how sensitive she is (That's coming from me, a sensitive person), she always takes things to heart. She thinks that everyone's purpose is to attack her when they're trying to joke with her, yet they have no ill intentions.
This causes her to get in a lot of arguments (A LOT) and she'll complain to me about it and doesn't stop to think that she's the issue. She complains a lot about not being liked in the class and being "bullied". The class did like her at one point but started to dislike her after noticing how she wants to start problem for no reason. If they try to be friendly or joke around, she takes that as a personal attack, she starts getting snarky, it causes an argument and therefore they won't want to be around her. It is very understandable. What makes it worse is that she doesn't know how to talk to people, she would be so rude sometimes. In my head when I see it I think "So you're allowed to tell people stuff, but if they were to tell you something you would yell how it's bullying and be sad". I kid you not a dude was riding on his bike this one time and she told him how she hope he falls .. YES! TOLD HIM! A random child. If she doesn't like something she sees she would be projecting her voice, looking at and talking about the person just so they could hear her.
The friendship is also very draining as well. She's always talking about sad shit everyday, the words "I just feel like ..." has basically become trauma to me because of how much she says it. Everyday it's always about something, yet she never stops to think about what she did wrong. It's really draining to have someone complain to you every single day, because of their own actions. And it's always about herself, she doesn't care about anyone but herself. It is a one sided "friendship" basically. Here and there she would be like "Sooooooo. How are you?" Just so it can seem like she's interested, I could not even be talking for long before she's basically like "Anyways, let's talk about me". My other friends and I would literally be having a regular conversation, then she would interrupt to talk about herself. And if no one is paying attention, instead of her talking the hint she would just talk about the same thing over and over again until we acknowledge it.
She acts like just because she's sad the whole world has to bend for her. The amount of times this girl had me out of class just to cry and talk about herself is insane. Something is always wrong with her. I went from feeling pity to feeling annoyed, as much as that may sound bad. Sometimes I wonder if those tears are even real, or if she's just doing it to provoke sympathy. I think it's the second option most times, she's always feeling sad in the most important moments. When we have tests or just when we're supposed to do work, she would cry out of nowhere. It could also be for attention. She would stop her entire life just because of a minor inconvenience, making me wonder how she will survive in adult life (We're graduating next month). Is she going to call her work saying she can't make it because she's feeling down (Reason: Someone jokingly calling her toe big). I'm not even joking, most times it's really because of small issues like that. My classmates can't stand her and they make it known. A time she got into a full blown argument with someone because they said "Stop it, the teacher is trying to teach". She made a scene, yelling in the class and telling the person "So I'm the only one you're telling things to?" And she went off. After that she got really angry and told me something around the lines of "B****es be weird. They always want to start problems with me". And just never shut up about it (Yes ... she can't let shit go to save her life. I would still be hearing about the same shit that happened a week ago AND new drama on top of that)
(End of backstory)
Although I have more to say, I am coming for advice so I'll just stop here. I know what you're wondering ... "Why don't you just be honest with her". I tried .. I really did, but she literally burst out crying when I told her I didn't want to be friends with her. I even talked to her about feeling like she was using me for work (I didn't tell y'all about that one) and the friendship being draining (This was really hard. I couldn't say too much or else her feelings would get hurt even more). She took me to the counselor, we had a deep talk and I was trying to explain myself but they were putting words in my mouth and speaking for me. I really didn't feel like trying to explain myself because they wouldn't get it anyways so I just kept quiet and acted like that was how I felt. They told me I just needed space from her for a little, so I just accepted it because I was so tired of the situation. A little while later she just came back to talk to me like everything was fine and the cycle has repeated over again. Although I talked to her about telling me information in bulk she still continues to do it to this day.
It was really hard for me to build the courage to end our friendship, especially since she always told me how she loves me, she doesn't know what she would do without me and I'm her only friend. I know it probably is a manipulation tactic to keep me to stay, I am aware. But I would feel bad, it was like a weight had lifted off of my shoulders when I did it the first time just so everything could relapse.
So ... what's your advice for me? How could I possibly end this friendship? I tried but it didn't work, what should I do?