LIFE

Dear Carol,

I like this boy who goes to my school. I don’t know if he likes me back. I’m scared to just go up and ask him because he is pretty popular. I don’t want to get rejected and have the whole school know about it. What should I do?

- Should I Ask Him?

Dear Should I Ask Him?,

Trust your gut. It’s telling you not to ask him. If you did ask, this would force him to answer and would probably make things awkward, especially since you two don’t seem to be vibing ’round the clock. Also, when you put someone on the spot, they might say no even if they’re still trying to figure out how they feel. It’s wiser to get to know a crush and let them get to know you. Say hi, start a conversation, give a compliment, ask a question then really listen to the answer. Does he light up when you pay attention to him? If he does, hooray—though still no rush to label things. If he doesn’t? Oh well, at least you didn’t go public with private feelings. Now you can start to move on without a big scene.

Carol Weston is the author of 16 books including Speed of Life, her novel (and audiobook) about a 14-year-old girl who writes to an advice columnist. Learn more at carolweston.com, and follow her on Instagram @carolwestonnyc.

In need of some crush advice? Read more Dear Carol here:
💌 "Dear Carol, I want this boy to stop bothering me"
💌 "Dear Carol, Why is my crush sometimes mean to me?"
💌 "Dear Carol, How do I get my crush to date me?"

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by GL | 3/6/2024