It's okay to say no

Hey girls! So here you go, story number two. So there was this boy named Landon. Landon and I had known each other for a long time (We were winter formal dates freshman year), but we had just started becoming good friends over the last month or so (of our senior year). We started flirting a little, but I, being the unobservant girl I am, didn't really think much of it. Then one night when we were walking out to our cars, he kissed me. Yikes! This was my newly-found really good friend, I didn't have feelings for him like this! He left and I called my best friend, Casey. She told me that Landon had been talking to the other boys and he really liked me and wanted to be my boyfriend and on and on. I realized then and there that I had to talk to him about it. I talked to him later that night and he said he had a fantastic time that night. I agreed. I then went on to say that I think he is a fantastic guy, but I really believe that we are much better as friends than boyfriend/girlfriend. The timing wasn't right and I couldn't be the girl he needed to be as his girlfriend. And what did he do? He agreed! He said that he valued our friendship so much more so we were just going to leave it at that. Now, our friendship has never been better.

Okay, so this is an extreme situation. I told you I've had a lot of boys. However, I still think it proves the point that it is possible to be friends with someone who had a crush on you and it is always better to tell him it wouldn't work than to fake it. Oh I've got a story about faking it, too, but I'll save that one for later.

So what do you do? A boy has a crush on you and you don't feel the same way. If he asks you to a dance, consider it. Even if you don't have feelings for him like that, you could still have a ton of fun. If it's a total no-no, tell him that you won't be able to go to the dance with him. But if you make an excuse to get out of it ("My mom won't let me go," "My dad doesn't believe in dates," etc.) make sure you follow through and don't go!

If he just flirts with you a lot and asks you to hang out. Say no to the hanging out, preferably with a handy excuse. Also, when you talk to him, throw in words like "bud" and "pal" and maybe even talk about the boy you have a crush on or at least who you think is cute.

If he asks you to be his girlfriend always say no. Nothing is worse than faking it. In middle school a boy named Anthony had a huge crush on me. I didn't feel the same at all. He asked me out and I was caught so off-guard that I said yes! Bad plan. Needless to say, we went on one date (with a friend) and I came up with a convenient excuse to break up with him within 5 days. He still introduces me to people as his ex-girlfriend though. Yuck.

Now, no one wants to hurt anybody else's feelings. But truthfully the longer you let the boy have hope, the more it will hurt.

Good luck girls!

Everyone's big sis,
Chelsea