I don't know if this feeling is common among teenagers, or if I happen to be the exception to the rule. My best friend means the world to me; I would do anything for him. I have always felt like he was more than a friend to me. We once talked about a "relationship", but we have yet to act majorly on it. So far, it has been held back to just innocent flirting. He has had a couple of relationships recently. I want him to be happy, but I find my self getting excited when they don't work out. Now, that his latest relationship didn't work out, when I am with him my world just stops spinning. There is nothing else to worry about. We're all there is. He would be standing across the room, and it was like I could feel his arms around me. I feel like he must know how I feel because I don't think it can go unnoticed how my face gets brighter when he enters the room. I think once we start a relationship together, we will be unstoppable. I can see myself with him for the rest of my life. There is no one else that I could have ever honestly said that about other than him. He makes me happy in a way no one else can ever even come close to.
Are these feelings of affection normal for a teenage girl to possess? Do you think I can honestly know who I am going to spend the rest of my life with, or am I just an over-excited young woman who doesn't actually know what it is she wants?
Any advice on whether I'm just a childish girl making wishes that won't ever come true, or if I might actually be feeling reality will be extremely appreciated.
Also, if you have any advice on how to pursue a relationship with my best friend, I would be greatly appreciative.

What you are feeling is quite normal, but you need to slow down a little. You have deep feelings for him, but he seems like he is not sure what he feels.You can pursue your feelings and maybe it will work out for you, or maybe it won't. The greatest things in life sometimes take time and are well worth the wait.Sometimes, it takes a while, but we find what we were searching for was there all the time and we just didn't see it!

Well, the first thing that popped into my mind while reading this was how mature you seem to be. You seem to really know and recognize yourself and the fact that these feelings could be your hormones running wild or they could be real. That is such a good question and the maturity that I see is being able to even ask the question itself.
Wow, being a teenager I think is the hardest thing. Everyone always tells you, 'enjoy your teenage years, they are the best years of your life' yeah, right.
However, with the insight that you have, I can see this being a really good relationship for you. You seem to truly have feelings for this person..some good, true, down to earth feelings. From what you describe, it seems like the friendship could move smoothly into a relationship. I love the way you describe how you 'light up' when he walks into a room. I think you should go for it.
Now, having said that, (you knew there would be a catch, right? ) I made the choice when I was a teenager to marry the first and only person I have ever been with. I am feeling like that was a mistake. I never dated and did the things that most teenagers do. I missed that and feel like I would have had a much better life if I had.
So, when you talk about spending the rest of your life with him, that brings up some red flags. It's normal to think of life long commitments when you are thinking of someone you care so much about...but don't limit yourself. There is a lot of life out there. Take your time, go slowly and enjoy life and most of all HAVE FUN!!

Please keep us posted on what happens! And good luck.

[This message was edited by puppyblues on 01-06-03 at 01:34 AM.]

The best love relationships start as friends. There is less pressure to be acceptable (lie, inflate oneself, hide things). Friendship is a great basis. It also lets the relationship grow at a slower non forced paced. It does take two however. It seems that he would be feeling somewhat pressured as of yet. Guys are slower to mature. Letting him know he is the one for you has the plus that he will know how great a relationship is available and the downside is that he may think of you as a fallback option if you do not date or at least flirt with others. If you flirt with someone else does he get a bit jealous?

I would advise you to date around. I went through school with maybe five or six dates. I was always busy doing other things with growing up on a farm and having a huge family of my own. I had lots of guy friends but, none of them were boy friends. Now I find it hard to date at 25. So I say if you really care about each other and all it will be there when you are both ready.

First of all...Thank you everyone who has given me advice. It is all very appreciated.

I'll give a little background information about the situation. We are both Seniors in high school, he's about to turn 18 in a few days, and I'll be 18 this summer. We both plan on going to the same college and we are the only ones that we know that are going there. So next year, we will be depending on each other a whole lot more than we already are. Puppy, you don't have to worry. I'm not going to limit myself just yet. I have no plans to get married yet. I'm hoping to find the one, but not to get married until I'm out, or at least close to being out, of college.

Today in my psychology class, our teacher was telling us about her own marriage. She and her husband got married right out of high school, 38 years ago. She told us about how successful her marriage has been and how she loves him more and more each day. She said that the most important thing about her marriage was that they were best friends first. She said because he had already accepted her for the way she was as a friend, that she didn't have to worry about what he thought of her once they started dating and fell in love. While she was talking, my heart just stopped, I'm not really sure what I felt, but it was definately something that I've never felt before. All my emotions were running together. It was like my hope that the same can happen to me, the fear that it won't, the love I have for him, and every other emotion in me were all mixed together. He was sitting right beside me and while she was talking, he seemed to be really focused on what she was saying, too.

Well, I don't know what's going to happen yet, but I'll try to keep you posted, and if you have any additional advice at all, I would love to hear it. Thank you all very much!!

Friendship can be a great basis for a relationship, but you have to be very careful. Not all relationships last, especially those in high school -no matter how mature and grown up you are. If you become involved and it doesn't work out, it could ruin your friendship.
Something to keep in mind, though: never love someone that you don't also like.

Be careful. Not all friendships are meant to be dates. Think hard before you make this decision. Think about it for AT LEAST a week. I find it more useful to have guy friends who will stick around for a long time, who you can depend on and who would never want to hurt you, than to have a boyfriend that would love and then stab you in the back. Because think about it... even girls can't always trust their best friends 3 days a month! Even IF you start out as friends, be careful. People can change.

Just a warning from me, the teenage worrier who has way too many hurt friends, hurt relatives, and hurt self.

I have never dated a guy who I have not been friends with first. My current boyfriend and I have been together for almost a year and a half, and we have a great relationship, because on top of being attracted to each other, we genuinely like being around each other. But be careful. There's definitely something to be said for keeping a friendship intact. If you can both agree to do that, then you should be just fine. Talk it over with him and be honest. Good luck and let us know what happens!