So before I say anything, we're not dating. We're not officially together. We're both 16 and for reasons I can't mention on here, I'm not allowed to date yet. However, we both like each other. He lives on the other side of town and I only see him once every two weeks or so. We text every day. He calls me beautiful, says he'll always be there for me, he's just all around a very sweet guy. He's so understanding and he knows my boundaries and doesn't push them. He respects that I'm a Christian (he isn't) and he's okay with the fact that I won't get very physically involved with him.

However, he likes me much much more than I like him. Almost to the point of obsessively talking to me. He sends me sweet texts, lyrics to cute love songs, when I can't sleep at night he'll stay up talking to me, and he really cares for me. He is a wonderful guy.

I like him too, but I'm not so sure I like him as much as I did when I figured out my feelings for him were mutual. I think that I was just overexcited that the feelings were returned and I got lost in the moment. We haven't kissed or otherwise made any physical contact.

There are times I really really really like him, and times that I can't see him as more than a friend. There are also times I feel like I can't stand this affection anymore, that I just want this makeshift relationship to dissolve. I've come close to talking to him about it, but he likes me so much and he's been hurt in the past by other people, and it's like he's trusting me too much to keep this "relationship" intact. I want to keep it going. I do like him but I don't think I like him enough to be in a relationship with him.

The worst part is, he's hinting that he loves me. He asked me if I've ever been in love, and since I've never dated or been with a guy I told him no. In his good night texts to me, he'll say something cryptic and tell me there's a secret message hidden in his cryptic message. I keep telling him I have no idea what that message is, but I'm actually scared because I have figured it out. He's trying to say "I love you." It's very obvious. The problem -- I do not love him back. As a friend, yes, I do, but no more. The reason I act like I don't understand the message is that I don't want him to say he loves me and then have to tell him I don't feel the same way. I'm stalling and I know it's probably not the best thing to do.

I am friends with this guy and we were friends before we got "together." I want to go back to talking to each other like friends do, no more of this affectionate conversation or talk about kissing and stuff (we've discussed our physical boundaries). I just don't think I can take it anymore. I don't want to hurt him and I don't want to lose his friendship. I know I should've been more careful getting into it and I know I need to end it quickly before he gets even more attached.

What do I do? This has been happening for about a month now and I'm so scared of hurting him. If I hurt him I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Please help me.

So before I say anything, we're not dating. We're not officially together. We're both 16 and for reasons I can't mention on here, I'm not allowed to date yet. However, we both like each other. He lives on the other side of town and I only see him once every two weeks or so. We text every day. He calls me beautiful, says he'll always be there for me, he's just all around a very sweet guy. He's so understanding and he knows my boundaries and doesn't push them. He respects that I'm a Christian (he isn't) and he's okay with the fact that I won't get very physically involved with him.

However, he likes me much much more than I like him. Almost to the point of obsessively talking to me. He sends me sweet texts, lyrics to cute love songs, when I can't sleep at night he'll stay up talking to me, and he really cares for me. He is a wonderful guy.

I like him too, but I'm not so sure I like him as much as I did when I figured out my feelings for him were mutual. I think that I was just overexcited that the feelings were returned and I got lost in the moment. We haven't kissed or otherwise made any physical contact.

There are times I really really really like him, and times that I can't see him as more than a friend. There are also times I feel like I can't stand this affection anymore, that I just want this makeshift relationship to dissolve. I've come close to talking to him about it, but he likes me so much and he's been hurt in the past by other people, and it's like he's trusting me too much to keep this "relationship" intact. I want to keep it going. I do like him but I don't think I like him enough to be in a relationship with him.

The worst part is, he's hinting that he loves me. He asked me if I've ever been in love, and since I've never dated or been with a guy I told him no. In his good night texts to me, he'll say something cryptic and tell me there's a secret message hidden in his cryptic message. I keep telling him I have no idea what that message is, but I'm actually scared because I have figured it out. He's trying to say "I love you." It's very obvious. The problem -- I do not love him back. As a friend, yes, I do, but no more. The reason I act like I don't understand the message is that I don't want him to say he loves me and then have to tell him I don't feel the same way. I'm stalling and I know it's probably not the best thing to do.

I am friends with this guy and we were friends before we got "together." I want to go back to talking to each other like friends do, no more of this affectionate conversation or talk about kissing and stuff (we've discussed our physical boundaries). I just don't think I can take it anymore. I don't want to hurt him and I don't want to lose his friendship. I know I should've been more careful getting into it and I know I need to end it quickly before he gets even more attached.

What do I do? This has been happening for about a month now and I'm so scared of hurting him. If I hurt him I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Please help me.

I know that this is a tough situation for you. I don't know how you act around him or what you talk to him about, but it doesn't sounds like you have led him on at all, and you have been strong enough to set up appropriate boundaries. To be honest it sounds like he is infatuated with you big time, but you must understand that this is not your fault because it is true when people say "you can not help who you fall in love with".

I am a christian myself and I really admire that you are dealing with this situation in a mature way as you have set up boundaries to protect yourself from temptations. You really are a mighty women of God; I know that by keeping your focus on God and listening to him will help you to continue to make the correct decisions in life.

Now for the advice:
1) You need to tell him the truth. Remember that God always wants you to be truthful and to treat other as you would like to be treated. Just imagine being in his position; you would certainly want him to be truthful to you so you could forget about him and move on. I know you do not want to hurt him but if you continue to be a part of his life you will end up hurting him deeply.
2) You need to stop contact with him such as texting. Telling him the truth with hurt him, so stopping the contact will help him to forget about you and to move on. It is up to you if you want to be friends with him again in the future, but for now you must be strong and do the right thing.

Ultimately you must remember that one way or another he will be hurt; you can not avoid it. Stopping it now will hurt him less than if you continue to withhold the truth.

I wish you all the best. God bless :)

The worst thing you can do is exactly what you're doing; leading him on.

The second worst thing you can do is to let him down easy. In other words, to break-up with him but refrain from telling him the real reason for the break-up. This is often followed by expectations from him with the request, "let's just be friends" .

The best thing to do is to break up with him, tell him exactly why and come what may; no expectations. If you lose his friendship, so be it. That is the wager you made when you decided to date him.

Listen to this song, pay attention to the lyrics. Nada Surf - Popular (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNc45FTenhg)

The honest truth hurts, but not as much as keeping a LIE going.