More Than Friends Or Just Friends / Question
Published: December 10, 1999
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I like a boy, but I don't know how to tell him. What should I do?
Signed: How Do I Tell Him?
Dear How Do I Tell Him?,
Telling another person that you are interested in them in the "more than just friends" situation can be hard, but if you do not tell him you will never know how the other person feels and you may miss out on a good thing.
As a teenager, many of these types of experiences may be new to you. You may feel scared that he will not like you back or completely reject you. These are normal feelings; however, you need to be honest with yourself and decide if this possible relationship is important to you.
You may want to ask him to do something like go to a movie, a concert or a walk. This will take you away from a group of people and allow you time to get to know each other and maybe talk to him about your feelings. If he rejects you, it may hurt, but you will get over the situation and move on.
Many teenagers date and go through situations where they tell another person they are interested in him or her. Finding the right moment to tell someone you are interested is important and usually best done between the two of you, in a private situation, like talking on the phone or at recess (not in a group of friend or just talking in class). Talk to your friends about it and see how they did it. Each person has their own style on handling difficult communication situations, not just in the dating scene. You need to find the style that best works for you and learn how to become a good communicator.
If you feel you have an extremely hard time communicating both in the dating situation and in other aspects of your life, talk to a teacher, school nurse or guidance counselor. They may be able to help you with your concerns.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
While 93% of teenage women report that their first intercourse was voluntary, one-quarter of these young women report that it was unwanted. 
