So, I can't get anyone to follow me. Anytime I try to get someone to follow me, they say I already have someone with me. Easy way out of the problem is finding the last person I had following me and telling them to stop. Problem is... I've never told anyone to follow me. I'm not that far into the game, so I'd remember specifically if I had a follower at one point. Any easy way (in-game menu, ~ commands) of looking up who your follower is?

Speaking of followers, Faendal died in a dungeon, so i went back scavenged my things, and set up his sword and shield outside of whiterun
and Lydia will never be as cool as him :/

Wait an hour. If you accidentally asked someone to hire you, they'll be with you after you wait and you can tell them to take a hike. If nobody shows up, it's probably a bug.