Submitted on Saturday, December 29, 2007
By Molly, 14, from Vermont:

I have a pretty good guy friend who I like as more than a friend. His best friend knew I liked him. Sometime during the last week before winter break, my crush/friend found out how I feel about him. I haven't talked to him about my liking him, although we've been keeping in regular contact over the break through email. But, the emails have been getting much shorter and less personal (i.e. he used to tease me all the time and they used to be very long but now they are very impersonal and only a few sentences long). I know for sure he knows I like him. When we go back to school right after new year's, what should I do? Should I sit with him in the classes I have with him like I always do, or should I ignore him? Should I ask him to talk about it? Please help me! I don't want to lose my friend!

VictorM's advice:

No, do not talk to him about it. Do nothing difference when you go back to school. Sit with him and act as if nothing has changed.

What's going on with the shorter, less personal emails is he doesn't want to lead you on, so he's pulled back. We can gather from this that he's not interested in anything more than friendship with you, for now anyway. Actually, the thought of something serious with a girl can be downright scary to boys your age.

Continue to be his friend and do not bring up any topics other than what you normally would talk about as a friend. Once he sees you're not about to go "when are we getting married?" on him, he's bound to relax and resume being friendly again.