Emma, 19, asks:

Hey! Remember me? I'm back again. I stopped asking my boyfriend about what was happening when school started again. BUT HE BROKE UP WITH ME! No explanation whatsoever, he's even avoiding me. The thing about it is, he was fine and flirty ten minutes before this happened. He said he had felt weird around me for some time. Funny how during that time he continued to fool around with me and treat me like his girlfriend (really well actually). According to his friends he still likes me.

Today we worked a food stand together at an outdoor festival, and I did my best to ignore him (not avoid mind you-or cold shoulder...just steering clear to save myself too much pain). He kept touching my back, and I kept catching him staring at me. He still hasn't explained himself, and I really want him back (I don't know why?)....Can you help me? Or is it a lost cause?

VictorM's advice:

Emma, from Chicago, the one with the 17 year old boyfriend, right? I warned you in my last reply that "no matter what he says today, things could change tomorrow." And so now, they have.

You said last time: "I don't think he would be letting things get as serious as they are if he didn't really like me back." You were right, just your timing was off a bit. He stopped it because it was getting too serious. All along you wanted something far more serious than he was ready for. He was smart enough to recognize it.

The acting like you're still his girlfriend, touching your back, and looking at you are acts of sympathy, not romance. He knows you're hurting and he's doing what he thinks will ease the blow, not realizing it just makes things worse.

His friends are probably right the he likes you, as in he thinks you're a nice girl and he wishes you nothing but the best, but he's moved on as far as a romantic partnership with you is concerned. Basically, he likes you, just not enough.

He behaved honorably. It's not easy breaking up with someone you like, but he showed the courage to do it. So let him be. He's going back to the simpler life of high school sophomores and juniors, where he belongs. You're off to college where you'll have a lot more in common with the boys there. And there will be plenty of them. So toss the pacifier in the trash and spend your energies looking ahead, not looking back.

College can be boat loads of fun; prepare yourself to a world of possibilities and excitement.