INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When the two of you are comfortable, it might be okay to drop a few hints that you are interested in becoming more than an ordinary friend. Notes work. Texts work, but a handwritten note is best. that way he'll have a keepsake from you.  Ask him to hold your backpack or carry your books to the next class. See what he does. Ask him to a dance. Sadie-Hawkins dance, if you have one, would be the perfect opportunity: The girl is supposed to ask the guy. Flirt with him. There are a bunch of ways to flirt with him: Flirt with your eyes. Lock his eyes with yours and smile at him sweetly. Hold his eyes a little longer than normal. Flirt with touch. Gently touch his shoulder with your hand when you talk with him. Flirt with words. Tell him that he's good at sports, or compliment him on his new haircut. He'll be thrilled that you noticed. Hold his hand. This should make it really clear to him you are interested. Hug him more tightly than a friend hug, and maybe just a little more often. Some guys your own age might not get the hint. Girls do usually reach puberty earlier than guys, so girls usually reach that level of emotional maturity earlier as well. Be casual about it: "Hey, I realized I didn't have your phone number." Establishing a friendship outside of school or extracurriculars will be important.  Wait for him to call you. You don't want to come on too strong by talking too much once he does; not everyone enjoys talking on the phone quite as much as others do, so it's a good idea to match his pace, especially if he seems a little reluctant to talk for a long time. Text him kind of regularly, just for simple conversation. Don't make it pointless, however, because a lot of guys don't like small-talk. Flirt with him with texts (Facebook, IM, and emails will also work). Say something like "I didn't know you'd singlehandedly destroy the football team on Friday. Nice work!" Guys will often let you know if he's interested in you or not without putting any words to it. There will be a part of you that will be able to tell by instinct. Be on the lookout for signs that he's nervous around you. It could mean he likes you. Does he: Sweat or blush when he talks to you? It could be his body saying that he's into you. Look at you and then look away when you catch him staring? He can't get enough of your looks, and he's day-dreaming. Constantly hang around you, but not with you? It could be we wants to look at and be around you, but doesn't want you to know. If he's hugging or holding hands with you, then you're golden. He likes you. But here are some other signs in case you're not completely sure.  Do his pupils dilate when he looks at you? Sometimes his eyes will change color slightly. Does he touch you, offer to give you piggybacks, or bump into you randomly? He could want to get any excuse to touch you because he likes you. Gulp loudly or stumble around with his words? His heart is pumping hard and he's worried about messing up. Don't trust too many other minute-by-minute changes to his anatomy. Some of those changes, even the more obvious ones, are completely random in very young men for several years. Remember, it's better to have tried and failed than to never try in the first place. Wait for the right moment. You'll pretty much know when the time comes.  If you are ready to ask him out don't say it in front of a group or something or he might say no. Be calm, cool and collected while you're asking him. Make eye contact with him and remember to smile. Be confident. It's really hard to ask him, but you're up for the challenge, aren't you? Ask him if he wants to go to the movies or grab a bite to eat. You don't have to call it a date for it to be a date. Yes, it will feel bad for a time. No, it won't last forever. Remind yourself of all that you have to offer. There will be plenty of other guys.  If he says "no," just smile and walk away with your emotions covered up. Try not to be awkward around him or mean to him. Staying classy might cause him to reconsider.

SUMMARY: Start dropping hints. Don't get down if he doesn't respond. Ask for his phone number. Be patient. Be aware of more obvious signs that he likes you. Tell him, if he still doesn't get the hint. Try not to sweat it, if he's not interested.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you assume you know what best friends' roles are, you could get disappointed and frustrated. Best friends are the most valuable friends you have, but they can't help or support you in every aspect of your life. Do not expect them to always be there, or expect them to say the thing you want to hear. If you set expectations for your best friends that are too high, it will only leave you disappointed and defeated.  Be your own caretaker. This comes back to being your own best friend and taking care of yourself. If you take care of yourself, you'll never put your friend in a position where they have to come in and rescue you. If you never put your friend in this position, you'll never be disappointed. Remember that no one is perfect - not even your best friend. Everyone has their own faults, and they need to work through it. Don't be mean to your friend about their faults, but help them work through it while asking for help on your own as well. However, when gently letting your friend know, understand that your friend has feelings, and it's best to only focus on the faults that are the biggest threat to your friendship. Know what faults to ignore/let go of and what faults to help your friend solve. Sometimes, you need to let your friend solve their faults without your help, unless they ask for your assistance. Constant nagging will make your friend feel stressed and angry, and they may be unwilling to improve your friendship if you're putting pressure on it. It's natural to stop having chemistry with a certain person. If you grow apart, for whatever reason, just be happy for the good times, and know how lucky you were to have that great person be a part of your life.  If neither of you make an effort to get together, or if you get into fights with them for no reason, then maybe you weren't meant to be best friends. It's not anyone's fault. Maybe you two are too much alike. Who knows? You might just need a break from one another for a few weeks. Always treat your friend with respect, even if you grow apart. Don't be angry with them, it's truly not worth keeping all that anger locked up inside. Be courteous, kind, and respectful if you have a falling apart. You never know when things might change. If your best friend picks another friend over you, try to be friends with their friend too. Maybe you guys can be a group of friends! Everyone is always looking for new friends. But never, ever leave the old one; your loyalty is what the other person expects and counts on every day.

SUMMARY:
Avoid expectations. Understand that best friends sometimes grow apart. Let your friend have other friends, too.