Private: Oh my goodness, I actually can’t believe that I did tell you. And now it’s starting to feel entirely too real…I’ll try to follow with however you’re processing. You don’t have to feel sorry. I don’t feel guilted into anything. I don’t think I would’ve told you on my own especially anytime soon but like I said you’re my best friend. We should be able to tell each other everything and I feel like if you did ever feel anything like that for me you would’ve said something too. We deserve to have complete and total honesty between the both of us no matter how scary it is. And on the subject of being honest, no it wasn’t easy seeing you two start dating. But I was and am really happy for you two. That’s always been a constant no matter what I was feeling. You deserve to be happy with someone who’s not afraid to love you, you know? And Hadley deserves to have the greatest guy in Auradon as her boyfriend. You’re literally perfect for each other. So no matter what I was feeling before it’s not relevant anymore. And that part is a bit complicated with Hadley. I think it would be best if that’s something you talk about with her. This is…. completely new territory for the both of us. And I actually just feel so horrible for telling all of this to you while you’re literally in a relationship and… Wow I’m really just the worst friend ever. That’s so selfish of me! You don’t deserve to just have all of this put onto your shoulders! I thought I was doing what was best but despite intentions, it wasn’t a good thing to do. I mean my father is just notorious for selfish acts that got him placed on the isle in the first place…I mean I’m okay! In the general sense. I don’t think logically that I’d ever lose you but part of me is worried that things are going to change and I guess I’m just afraid of losing that. The friendship we have/used to have? This whole thing with Carter is almost just as confusing. I like him, I do. I’ve liked you for just a really long time and then I also ended up having a crush on Carter. He asked me to the Halloween party and we had fun but then suddenly it was like people (not him) were just saying we were together or a thing? And like I said I do like him and we even agreed that we can go on a date together. We seem to really understand each other which is really important. But it hadn’t even been one official date and everyone was talking about triple dates and how great we were together or how good he is for me…I just don’t want to seem like I don’t like him because I do! I must sound so confusing, I’ll just end it with that before I start talking in circles again.
Private: I can only imagine that it must feel crazy to reveal a secret like that. Do you want to talk more about how that feels for you? Uh, just to clarify, that’s not you asking if I’ve ever felt the same, is it? Because I’ll answer that, if you want me to, because like you said, honesty between friends, but I don’t know if that would do either of us any good. I’m so sorry that my dating Hadley has been hard. I feel really badly about how.... I don’t know, gushy I’ve been about it. I could’ve and should’ve been more thoughtful. But you being happy for us is really amazing of you, so thank you. You have no idea how much it means that you can still be happy for us, you’re incredible, Claudine. We don’t have to talk about me and Hadley right now, but I appreciate you saying that. You shouldn’t feel terrible about telling me, though. You’re not a bad friend, or selfish, or any of those things you just said -- you just shared your feelings with your best friend, and that’s not a bad thing. You didn’t say it to complicate things or upset anyone, and I want you to know that your feelings are not a burden, or a symptom of character flaws, or anything like that. I’m not mad at you for telling me; even if I were, it’s kind of my fault for accidentally guilting you, but anyway, you were just being brave, and honest, and you shouldn’t compare yourself to your father, now or ever, because you’re nothing like him. He’d never love his friends as much as you do; you have such a big heart, and that’s why I know things won’t change. Or, well, maybe they’ll be awkward for a little bit, but what’s a day or two of being awkward in the grand scheme of a long-lasting friendship, right? I still want to be friends, as much as we’ve ever been, as long as it’s still comfortable and good for you want to be friends. That’s good! You know, the thing about liking Carter. People around here do tend to kind of pair people up really fast and I’m guilty of that too, but you seemed kind of unenthused so I tried to calm down because I was wondering if the speed of things was overwhelming you, or if you didn’t like him that much but felt pressured into it, so I’m glad to hear that you do like him. I promise to stop talking about triple dates and all that stuff but finding someone that you feel understands you and that you do enjoy like that is just... don’t worry, you don’t sound like you don’t like him! And I’m really happy for you! I always hoped that you’d... well, I’m happy for you. You deserve to experience the good, loving feelings and know that you’re not a bad person for experiencing them because you’re one of the best people I’ve ever known, and I’ll support you and whoever helps make that a reality for you.