Dear Dish-It, My Crush Doesn't Like Me

Advice for Teens

Dear Dish-It, is here to whisper "ttyl after I've thought about this some more".

Dear Dish-It,

I'm just another junior high kid with girl issues, but I would really like your advice. There's a girl that is so beautiful and she's nice and is a great person to talk to. One of her closest friends told me she liked me - and the girl just kinda smiled and looked away. Then I noticed she started talking to me more and we began hanging out around school a lot. Do you think she might be interested in me? Also, I'm really shy and scared to have a girlfriend after a massive failure I recently had - but I feel that I'm really ready finally. I'm really shy, how do I go about asking her out? (I'm a bit paranoid, I mean, I would like to get to know her better.)
ElBonzi

Dear ElBonzi,

Have you ever heard the expression "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again?" Well, that applies to your situation right now. See, you talk about being shy cuz of a "massive failure" - is it a past relationship? I'm thinkin' it's something like that because you're letting it affect your crush on this new hottie. Don't! Stop lettin' a previous, "massive failure" influence your chance with someone you think is so perfect. And does this chickie like you? Umm.... yeah! What do you want her to do? Rent a billboard? Hire a sky-writer? Ask her out already!

Dear Dish-It,

I like this kid and he does not like me. I told my friend because I thought she could help, but she only made it worse! She went up to the kid and said she would pay him to go out with me - and the boy still said no. Four weeks later, the boy I liked asked me out and I turned him down because I had a BF at the time.
constanton

Dear constanton,

Whoa! Low blow! Your friend may have thought she was helping you out, but we both know it was a terrible thing to do. How in the world did she think you'd be psyched if she "bought" the dude? I hope you explained to her how dumb an idea that was and how embarrassing and humiliating it was for you. I mean, it's bad enough the hottie told ya he wasn't interested then, he has to turn down a cash payment - ugh! It's a great thing you turned down the hottie later when he decided to like you - not just cuz you had a BF (which is a good, moral call on your part) but also because you deserve better.

Dear Dish-It,

Well, I have a lot of problems and one of them is my friends. I have 2 friends, they have nothing better to do than tease other people, bet, say bad words and play childish things. When I went to the guidance counselor she said that it looks like that they have a friendship full of dumb games, I'm not like my friends. I'm shy, quiet and I never say bad words, what should I do?
catzella

Dear catzella,

Get new friends - fast! See, the thing is, you're gonna end up with a rep - and not a good one - by association. Just hanging with these loud-mouthed, swearing, bratty peeps is gonna make everyone think you're the same sorta person - whether a swear comes outta your mouth or not. It's just the way things work, fair or not. Besides, you obviously don't enjoy their behavior - judging by this letter - so why not find some people you do enjoy hangin' with? At first it may be a little lonely - if you don't already know peeps who don't trash-talk and cause problems - but eventually you'll have a ton of new peeps that don't embarrass you. Good luck!

So, ya gotta burnin' question? Need some love directions? Thinkin' 'bout stuff like depression, sex,how ya feel 'bout YOURSELF (that's called "self-esteem"), boyfriends, girlfriends, losin' old friends, bullyin' or peer pressure, but too scared to ask the parents? Don't be scared to .