You can if you both want to be. It's awkward and hard at first, but possible. I've been friends with all my exs since high school. You just have to watch how you act and what you say until you're over him

It might be really hard at first. You have both have a lot to get over even if he is the one who ended it. ending on positive terms is a bonus, but right now you should probably just enjoy a lot of time with your close friends! Remember that life is still fun when your single.

Sometimes. It depends on how you act around them. I was in the same situation with my first girlfriend. I thought something was missing and broke up with her to try with someone else. That someone else wanted only to be friends. My GF and I got back together. Before we did, we both tried "making it" with others. I did. She didn't (turns out he was gay). When I was gone one weekend, another guy made a pass at her, she thought I wouldn't care, and accepted. When I got home, I tried calling, then again the next day. She wasn't home. I found out later that day. For a while, she tried seeing both of us (who both proclaimed love for her), then decided on him. It took me a few months to "get over her", and in the meantime, many of our mutual "friends" had decided that I had "used her" (for two years). I drove a few that would still talk to me away by crying to them about it, and how much I wanted her back. ONE friend KNEW I was not "using" her, and stayed friends with me. The others, pretty much fell away. Oh... That girl I'd wanted to try with? She was the one I could go to when I really needed a hug. (Nothing else, damn it!) Until I met my first wife, I was a basket-case, and rather than drive away other friends, I tried staying away when she was going to be there. It worked until one night when I was with a bunch of them and she and HE showed up. I studiously ignored them. My future (at the time) wife noticed, and we left for a long drive and talk. I wasn't so much of a basket-case after we met. After a while, I could see my ex-gf without those "nervous breakdown", and sad feelings. I still felt friendly toward her, and was happy she was happy. I also found out who my TRUE friends from that group were. I DID have to make sure that I loved my first wife before we went too much farther, though. I didn't want to get involved in a "rebound relationship". I told you that to show you that I've been there, and done that. My point is that some of that group of friends will remain friends with you - understanding, or trying to, what you are going through - and some won't - They won't want to deal with it, or will side with him. Those that remain your friends are, far as I'm concerned, REAL friends. And you MAY not feel all that great until you find someone new, who wants to make you happy again. THIS is when you may be able to "be friends" with him again - closer than most, because you shared so much during your time together, but friends. (NOTE: SOME people can get over a relationship breakup easier than others. It may not take finding someone new, but being happy with your "lot" as far as he's concerned. If you can TRULY be happy that he's happy, whether it involves you or not, then you can be friends. Until then, it's going to be hard on you.) Here are some of the things I did to help me "get over" that first girlfriend before I met my first wife - http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/2762628 . Try them. Do all you can to NOT drive away members of the group of friends you have, now. You have to strengthen your resolve NOT to react, as best you can, when you are in a group with him and her. Even so, many will see how much it bothers you. Some will try to help, others won't. Don't let it bother you too much as far as they are concerned. It will be hard, but you can do it. Otherwise, you're going to need a whole new group of friends, and that's something you really don't want to do. Good luck. You can do it. ;-)