Me and my 'best' friend were invited to a big birthday bash for a distant friend last weekend and the turn of events has left me feeling a bit sad and puzzled as to the state of our friendship.to set the scene, This was a catered all day garden party with around 80 guests and acrobatic/ firework displays, a sit down meal and live music etc - so a big deal party, not just a quiet intimate do with a handful of people. I didn't know any of the guests apart from the birthday girl and her partner and a couple of her other friends, whereas the friend I attended with, pretty much knew everyone as they'd previously gone to uni or worked with each other at some point etc.
For full disclosure, I have been suffering from anxiety and depression in recent years and although I manage this well most times, it takes an enormous amount of strength to plow through these events and be sociable and outgoing and chatty with strangers. Best friend obviously knows my history and how social events can be overwhelming for me, so I asked her before the event if she wouldn't mind introducing me to others and not to leave me standing on my own. I don't need my hand holding, I'm quite capable of holding conversation and interacting and putting a ' game face 'on, but I need a little help with the ice breaking part. Well, this didn't happen at all!
As soon as we arrive at the party best friend does one, literally fleeing across the room to chat to her other mates and does the rounds of the room leaving me stood on my own. I understand she wants to connect with old friends so put it to one side and Rather than standing there alone, I pluck up the courage to introduce myself to the other guests. By the time of caught up to her again, I waited for her to introduce me to her circle, but she didn't and actually made no reference to knowing me at all. Instead, I introduced myself and at this point she said casually ' oh yeah, this is so-and-so' and back to carrying on her conversation. This set the tone for the entire day and night - I was not included in any of her conversations, she made no attempt to chat with me ( let alone see if I was coping ok), stood with her back to me, made no reference to our friendship to others (i.e fifteen years of friendship/ travelling together/ house sharing) and to cap it off, made plans for the next day for a boozy lunch, even though we were sharing a hotel room and had already planned a sight seeing trip. There was plenty of fun and laughter being had but for some reason, she didn't want to involve me in any of it. If you were an outsider looking in, you would literally think that we didn't know each other at all and were virtual strangers.
It's such strange behaviour - almost like she resented my presence and showed her contempt by icing me out and giving me the cold shoulder. Before now I would have thought we were the best of friends but I'm left questioning everything. Aibu?