LIFE

Dear Carol,

My best friend just got a boyfriend, and she keeps telling me to tell my crush I like him. I’m in eighth grade, and I’m pretty and athletic and funny. My crush is on the track team, and I love making him laugh. We’re friends, but if I date him and we break up, I don’t want our friendship to disappear. I feel pressured and I don’t know what to do.

- Peer Pressured

Dear Peer Pressured,

Arrrghh, peer pressure strikes again! Don’t let someone else dictate the speed or tone of your relationships. Since you love making this boy laugh, he may already know that you like him (and he may like you, too). That would be great. But there’s no compelling reason for you to spell it out and force him to respond, especially since talking and flirting is already fun. If at some point you do want to hint about going out, you can say, “I’m thinking I might go to that holiday dance.” Or “My best friend and her BF are going to a Christmas movie.” My point? You can hint “Ask me out?” without shouting “Ask Me Out!” As for your bestie, tell her: “I’m happy you have a BF, but I’m not in a hurry, so don’t pressure me, please, because it bums me out.”

Carol Weston is the author of 16 books including Speed of Life (about a girl who writes to an advice columnist). More at carolweston.com and on Instagram @carolwestonnyc.

In need of more crush advice? Read more Dear Carol below:
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by GL | 12/13/2023