Advice

I think you should make try be a tiny bit less happy with them or you could just be like can we take a break? I still wanna be friends but i’m just expand my surroundings (idk how to phrase mb) ╮(￣▽￣)╭

ghost them online (never reply or open texts), go different paths at school, hang out with other people at school and ignore them while in the group, pick up a new solo hobby that they can’t participate in so you WILL be busy and have an excuse.

or as the other person said say “can we take a break?” no contact until you contact them. emphasize it’s not their fault it’s you. if they’re not so codependent on you they can do this and it will fuck with them in the head at first but they’ll slowly heal on their own.

Rip off the band aid and just be real with them. Don't waste their time. Being "gentle" about this stuff just hurts more in the long run.

Just tell it to them straight it'll hurt a bit and you'll feel like an ass for some time but it's the most effective way and tbh telling them the truth is way better than just ghosting or ignoring them

Necessary context also. After meeting for the first time a few years back at a camp, and also catching feelings for her back then, I pulled a dick move and ignored her for almost a year while she kept texting me regularly. I apologized and explained the reason 2 years ago over text. We recently got in slight contact in summer and then she moved to my school. (Not bc of me)

I understand yours and others' points here, but I'm physically unable to handle the level of confrontation. I can not even imagine the awkwardness in her voice after i say that my feelings for her make me feel like I'm in agony.

That's like the textbook definition of being a dick

Then don't,you don't have to confront her just tell her over text and go on with your life, you're not obligated to have people you don't want in your life and if you just tell it to her as it is she'll just have to accept it just don't be an asshole about it all

idk if ur social enough for this route but this is what ive done in the past (this may be a bit dick like but they've never known)

find other people. a larger group (only marginally im talking like 5 or 6 people) and see if they click with any of them and then slowly start moving away from them and try push them together

this is preschool level shite im sorru

feign innocence and u don’t look like one.

again it’s really hard to find a way to not be a dick and not tell the truth