Could YOU stay cool if you heard that someone was talking behind your back?
Make a detour. Do something else. Put off talking until you feel calm. Even a few minutes can help. If possible, put off dealing with it until tomorrow. "Blow it off. Do something to get your mind off being mad. Go home and read a favorite magazine, watch TV, exercise, play a video game."
Could YOU stay cool if you heard that someone was talking behind your back?
Talk to trusted adults or older siblings about ways to work it out without fighting. Make a plan.
The next day at school, see if you can find a third party who can help. Say "We can't solve this. Let's ask a friend, older teen, or adult for help working this out." Try to come up with a solution that works for everyone, where both people give and get.
