Dear Hookup,

I'm a sophomore in Santa Fe, and I've had the same best friend for around four years. She broke up with her boyfriend of only a month a couple weeks ago and doesn't seem that upset. Lately, her ex-boyfriend has been texting me and we've been talking. I know I shouldn't, but I'm starting to like him. They were never that serious but I'm still scared to tell her. I'm afraid she'll get mad, and I don't want to lose her as a friend. On the other hand, I really like this guy. What should I do?

— Confused Love Triangle



Dear CLT,

First of all, you need to tell your friend. You can't sneak around and wait for her to find out. That will be the fastest way to ruin your friendship. Also, you've been friends for four years, how long have you known this guy? If he can move on from your best friend straight to you, maybe he's not the kind of guy you want to be with. So, if you really like this guy, tell your friend and make sure you are sensitive to her feelings, remember she was your friend first. Otherwise, is it really worth it?

— Jasmine Summers



Hey CLT,

It's pretty common for a guy to do something like this after he's broken up with a friend like yours. Since you're her best friend, he obviously knows you and feels comfortable with you. That said, Jasmine is right. Whatever you do, you have to tell your friend and weigh your options. If you really like this guy and your friend does seem OK with it, definitely go for it. But this is only if your friend is positive. She obviously has a much bigger part in your life than this guy will. And as always, there are plenty of other guys out there that your friend hasn't dated (we hope) and this may seem like a good idea now, but a month down the line you could be saying "What was I thinking?" Friends are much more important than maybe-relationships.

— Sean Savage



Jasmine and Sean are aliases for two GenNext staff writers. They are not relationship experts. They offer advice to teens on anything from friendships to romantic relationships. Reach them at thehookup_gennext@yahoo.com.