does he like me or am I just being silly?

[Lucy]

hi my name is Lucy and I am 13 years old. I think this guy likes me in my class but I'm not sure. You could say he is one of the cooler kids. He is everyone of my class and even in my form. Before I started thinking this we used to talk a lot and we were friends. However now it's a bit awkward. First I started noticing when I caught him staring at me. He does it a lot. We also have this awkward eye contact were I look at him and he looks at me. My best friend told me that we suit and she always smiles at him then looks at me as if to say 'you like her' but I am not sure if he does. You could say I kinda like him too. But when I text him on Facebook or snap chat him he doesn't reply he only reads it which makes me really confused. I would like him to like me because I do like him back. He might know that I like him because my friends have heard him talking about me. We used to talk a lot but we dont at all and it's really awkward but I really don't want it to be!! So does he like me? Thanks!!!!

[Uncle Gary]

Hello, Lucy!

My guess is that he does. You have already thrown down the gauntlet (if you are unfamiliar with that term, it basically means that you have starting things going and now it's his turn to respond) so perhaps the next best thing to do would be for you to ask him--face to face, mind you, since you have already texted him--if he has received your messages. There's nothing wrong with your being vocally curious. The boy in your post probably likes you but doesn't know quite how to respond; not everyone at 13 or 14 has gained enough social skills to express themselves without feeling self-conscious about it. Then, too, you and he have been friends for awhile and he is comfortable being with you at that level; the "friendzone" is a relatively safe place to occupy, as opposed to getting kind of deep with a girl. He can share things with you as his friend but what to say to you in some other role? Your friends want to be helpful in prodding you to pursue the matter more but, really, the ball is in his court now. You have done all of the communicating so far; it would be nice if he would at least give you an idea of what he is thinking--of whether or not he is willing to see you as a girlfriend. So, don't depend entirely on your texting or snap-chatting to get him to break the ice; as yet he hasn't--or won't--walk the extra mile. Just ask him: "So, do you plan on keeping me hanging in the air forever?" Some boys need to be jarred into the realization that girls who are interested in them won't simply go away when they are shrugged off as being insignificant--that girls deserve the respect of getting an idea of where they stand.