I've heard about this and read about this not long ago that states that two friends, or even a group of friends, usually have unequal feelings about the other. Not romantic feelings, although that can happen, but just how close one may feel to the other. It appears that in a lot of cases, there is always someone who feels closer to another friend than that friend does back. Not necessarily a bad thing, perfectly normal, but I've read about it and even seen it as an outsider and dealt with it myself too.

I used to think that if one friend considered someone else a best friend, the feeling would be mutual between both friends. Now, I know that isn't always the case. It seems like it is more likely that one person may consider someone a close or even best friend, while the other person may only see them as a casual friend or even an acquaintance. I can see how this can cause a rift and feelings of rejection. In some cases, this could even cause the one who is feeling rejected to label a supposed friend as toxic or fake. That can be the case in some cases, but not always.

I've come to learn that in most cases, feelings between two people are usually not the same. I've even had that happen to me, I would call someone a good friend only to find out that person didn't feel the same way. The person would only see me as a casual friend or acquaintance. It happens to everyone. That's why now I am very careful about who I label as a close friend, or even a friend in general. I make sure that the person sees me as a friend as well before assuming we are friends, rather than assuming we are friends right off the bat only to feel rejected later on. I've seen people talk bad about someone who they consider a friend, labeling them as toxic, fake, and accusing them of other ridiculous stuff. And after hearing what is happening, I'll realize that it is a case where one person just simply doesn't feel as close as the other does, resulting in resentment.

I think it is a safer approach when it comes to meeting others, still putting yourself out there to make friends, taking things slowly, but know that not everyone will feel the same way or may not feel as close to you as you may do to them. This approach can lessen the chances of feeling rejected and falsely labeling someone as toxic or fake when all it is that someone just simply doesn't see you as a close friend or doesn't see you as a friend at all. I'm sure we've all been in that position too where someone may call you a close friend or just a friend in general, and you don't feel the same way. It creates feelings of awkwardness too since you don't want to hurt the person, but at the same time, don't really feel interested in pursuing a friendship with them on the same level as they want.