I am quite tired of my so called best friend. She never has anything nice to say about anyone, and will constantly criticize me in front of my face. She promptly SHOUTED, yes, shouted, in front of my friends face that she was a whore. And, she called a girl poor because of the clothes she was wearing and didn't own a beach house because 'all the rich people have them.' (she doesn't either, so that must make her a liar too.) I would like to stay friends who talk, but I don't want to be buddy-buddy with her. I don't want to hurt her feelings either because she would make my life horrible. How can I do this without hurting her?

A friend is one who have mutual respect for each other and in your case its not there.So its really good that you realised it.At the same time you don't want to hurt so try avoiding her and find another good friend although its difficult but try.

This girl is really hurting. Do you know if there are problems at home, maybe between her parents, or that one of them is struggling with alcoholism or depression? Something is definitely going on. She has to put others down so she feels better about herself.

Now, you realize you can't tell her all that and pry into her life. She will get meaner and maybe fall into a depression or have worse problems than she does now. We don't want that to happen.

Can you be a detective in order to find out what's going on in her life? If she has been your best friend, maybe there is a way.