She's the Queen of the Backhand Compliment, the Princess of Precocious.
Her moods dictate you, her remarks drain you. While you hang out together all the time, doing so leaves you drained, tired and resigned.
Meet your Frenemy.

"She is such a b****! Don't ever mention her again."While Jessica, 21, may say that about ex-bestie Pamela now, it was a different story altogether five years ago - before Pamela became the Frenemy.It began well: they both became friends after finding out they had loads in common. Jessica was very taken by Pamela's caustic humour, charming ways and self-confidence, and they were practically joined at the hip through college.

Then university happened, and suddenly Pamela's caustic wit became unkind. Every assignment in which they did in class had to be Pamela's 'work of art'. Every examination was a competition to see who scored higher, and if Pamela wasn't top-dog, Jessica would suffer some snide remark about how much 'help' she had.

Every chance she could get, Pamela would release veiled insults in the form of backhanded compliments: "Wow, I didn't know cheap shoes could look so nice!" or "Oh, you're so smart. I suppose you have to get something right sooner or later!" And Pamela's charming ways? Put to good (or rather, bad) use by stealing Jessica's boyfriend away. Like the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing, the frenemy (a blend of the words Friend and Enemy) is your true foe, cloaked silently beneath the cover of a friend.

According to HuffingtonPost.com, the frenemy is likely to be that friend who is, for some reason, filled with ambivalence and jealousy. While envy is merely the feeling of 'I want what you have', jealousy takes on something more sinister. Jealousy actually wants to see you a hollow shell of your former self, and as such, the backhand compliments, put-downs and veiled insults come to play - even as she is smiling and buying you drinks.

So, even though Pamela appeared to be a friend in the strictest sense - hanging out, going shopping, and chatting for hours on the phone - she was also a Frenemy, one who would chip away at Jessica's confidence and self-esteem until there was nothing left.Identifying them is not easy, but keep your eyes peeled for these signs and you'll be able to tell if she's your friend... or your frenemy.

#1: She never makes the plansMovie outing? You're going to do all the work, hunny. You'll be buying the tickets, you'll be paying for the popcorn, and you'll be arranging the outing. She never lifts a finger to initiate any get-togethers. You're always the one asking her out. If she doesn't reciprocate once in a while, it shows that she just wants to feel in control, and have the pleasure of rejecting or accepting you at whim.

#2: You know everything and nothing about her.Her latest argument with her boyfriend? Her gripes with her other friends? Her hatred for her boss? You know all of that. Yet you don't even know who her siblings are, nor were you ever introduced to her parents, or what primary school she attended. You know everything... and nothing. You are her dumping ground for moans, whines and complaints... nothing more.

#3: Judge and JuryYou constantly feel like she is judging you, and saving nuggets of gossip about you to be spread to others in her social circle. Whatever you do, she is making some verdict on you and your lifestyle. She is critical, and always 'suggesting' ways you can improve yourself.

#4: It's All About HerNo matter what it is, her latest drama must always take centre stage. Don't you dare upstage her - you are, after all, only a supporting act in her own private Planet.When you encounter a frenemy like this, there are only two ways to deal with it, says Dr Irene Levine from HuffingtonPost.com: one, leave the relationship immediately, and two, have a straight-talk to tell her how much she upsets you. 

Slowly let the frenemy-ship fade away into oblivion if the first option is the only way you see out of this. But if you choose to go for option two, it may or may not improve the situation but at least you would have been honest. Talk it out, but be warned: watch out for fireworks.