I’ve name changed for this but it’s probably quite outing anyway.
I have a bunch of close friends from high school and we still see each other regularly, not as much as we used to but still a fair amount. A couple of weeks ago we were having a (socially distantanced) picnic in the park when we saw another woman sat on a bench who we used to go to school with but didn’t really like.
This woman looked kind of sad so I suggested asking her to join us but I got a very firm no from the others, except one but she didn’t want to go against the group. As we were getting up to leave my dd ran off to pick some flowers so I was the last one to leave. By now the woman had noticed me and half waved very timidly. We had to walk by her to leave the park so I went over and said hi. Turns out she has had a rough time lately, she’s lost her mum recently and is going through a messy divorce. I gave her my number and we texted a few times since then.
Today we met up at a cafe in town, we were sitting at a table outside when two of my friends walked past, they didn’t say anything at the time but gave me The look of shame and sure enough just now we had an argument about it.
I know I’ve rambled but here’s my actual aibu. This woman was a complete bitch in school especially to one of my friends, the one I would consider to be my best friend but I feel she really has changed. If I had to pick I would obviously side with my best friend and not see this woman again. I know I said and did somethings when I was younger that I wish I could take back, I think everybody has regrets about how they behaved at one point or another. It has been almost 10 years since we finished school so is it time my friend let it go or should I not see this woman again?