Ok here's the deal. I'm deeply in love with a mentor at my sixth form. I'm 18 in a few months, and she's around 25. I know what you guys might be thinking, I've heard everything everyone has said about this type of topic, but I think I would know if it was hormones or not. I've been in "hormonal love" plenty of times before, and this is completely different to what I have ever felt before in my life.

She and I have one-to-one sessions once every week, after sixth form hours. I think she might be sending signals, but I am not an expert in body language or facial expressions, but she always laughs at my stupid jokes,she always smiles at me, sometimes in a curt, polite manner, but sometimes she just smiles like she can't help herself.

I've complimented her once, about one of her features, and she smiled, and very softly said "Thank..you", and afterwards I could see her looking at me, and when I looked up at her, she looked down at her paper. It was on V-Day, so I wished her a happy Valentines day, and she laughed, but I left abruptly.

In my school building, we have a study center in the middle of the building, which has windows, and you can see in from the outside staircase. Sometimes when I go up or down the staircase, I catch her flicking her eyes towards me, but then I look away, even though I know she's still looking. She does so many other things that all imply that she may like me, like really like me, but there's too many things to write on here.

At this point I am so confused about what to think about everything, I am always angry and irritable, and I just can't get her out of my head. She's unlike any other woman/girl I have ever met, where it would be a fling and then maybe a relationship for a couple months, but that is all just based upon "hormones" and sexual pleasure.

But she is just driving me nuts, and I feel even more discontent now that we have a small holiday/break from sixth form, and I just feel lost because I can't see her or talk to her, and it genuinely feels like something is missing from inside of me.

And it's just making me insanely mad that I don't know how she feels about it and I have a thousand different questions zipping through my head all day, every day, like "Does she like me the way I like her?", "Is she just scared to react because I'm not 18 yet, but she knows I will be soon?", "Is she just scared of what might happen if anybody found out, If we do end up together?"...

I really need someone to lay down the bricks for me and just tell me what is going on, please, and PLEASE, I don't want any grief from anyone telling me that I'm way in over my head I KNOW I AM, and I don't need people telling me how wrong that is all the other BS that crops up with this topic. Just HELP me understand. Please.

I personally think that all those signals she is sending you could be that she is into you but maybe afraid of expressing her feelings since their could be some consequences to her actions. She is probably thinking at this moment you are too young to make a move just like you understand.Or maybe she sees you more like a younger brother or friend and she just laughs at your jokes and stares at you because she notices that you have a thing for her. Is really hard to say what is on her mind until you talk to her.Tell her what you feel about her she is the only one that can explain to you what she really feels and maybe explain if she is sending you wrong signals.Let her know that is not doing you any good not knowing if she feels something for you and if she doesn't ill suggest staying away from her and think small. Hope my advice helps you!

Agreed. The only way to know for sure is to ask her. Be prepared that she has no feelings whatsoever for you and may take this confession badly, so be ready to be mature about her reaction and take it in stride. Not everyone we madly love will end up madly in love with us (alas). As seen in so many tales of romance, right? Even if she does have feelings for you and is prepared to act on them (best case scenario), then starts the long and difficult path of building a relationship, which takes lots of compromise and time. Either way, best of luck to you! Please let us know what you decide.

Agreeing with the other two, tall her how you feel and expect to handle the situation whether the reply is good or bad.

And if it she is not feeling the same, expect things to be a little "awkward" if she continues to be your mentor, just accept whatever response she gives and move on.