When friends can't accept that you've CHANGED?

I think Ned is afraid of you changing, or he could also be jealous of it. I lived that experience with two of my friends, and I'm still having trouble gripping it, to the point where I've almost grown out of that friendship. It's really not up to other people, including Ned, what you do with your life, it's up to YOU. Be yourself around him when you do end up around him, if he doesn't like it, confront him about it, tell him that change is okay, and if he doesn't like it, show him the door again. His expectations shouldn't affect your actions.