Q - Dear Annabelle, I've got this really good guy friend...Well sort of good,I mean...sometimes he's really nice and sweet to me and we can talk for hours. This is normally when one of us is dating someone. But then other times, normally when we're not dating other people, he gets like really distant and almost, not quite, cold towards me. Like it's ok if we are alone when I have a boyfriend or he has a girlfriend, but if we don't he won't be near me, alone, he gets like all jittery and tells me he has to go, or says that he's bored like its my fault that he's bored, that kinda hurts. He has a girlfriend now (probably short-term) and he's back to trying to be my best friend, but I've gotten sick of his hot-cold manner, and I've been acting kind of distant, because I know that once he breaks up with this girl, he's gonna go right back to being a stranger and it really hurts me, I don't want it to happen again. Well, the questions I want to ask are: why does he act like this and what in the world do I do? I don't want hurt again. Can you help me? I would be eternally grateful. Thanks. A - Dear Blaze, At 16, LOTS of things about guys can be confusing. Now, first Iām going to say that I have no idea why your friend acts like this. Then, Iām going to say that itās my GUESS that itās YOU he really likes -- and he may not even KNOW it. Guys are weird, (sometimes). Girls are weird, (sometimes). Life is weird, (sometimes).............but often predictable. Now, back in, (what we more, ahem, Īseasonedā folk like to call the Īolden daysā).......when a young man liked a young lady, he often demonstrated that, (disguised), affection by dipping her pigtails in the inkwell of his desk. (Keep in mind that in the aforesaid Īolden daysā, desks at school HAD inkwells because students used quill pens or, at the very least, pens that did not carry their own ink). I do appreciate your eternal gratitude, however, keep in mind that I MAY be wrong here and he really IS just weird. Youāre young and your feelings are tender and easily hurt, as well as easily elated. About the best thing you can do during this turbulent time is enjoy the ride as best you can and hope to come through the adolescent experiences with some measure of sense of self intact......a GOOD sense of self. Know two things, everyone, (as far as I know), is going through it for the first time, ......and your endocrine system is giving you a real roller coaster ride here. You might also keep in mind that Iāve NEVER heard of ANYone who wanted to take this ride again.........ever! Try at least to enjoy the trip.............it can be a memorable one....just ask any screenwriter! Now, what to do? Just continue to be your own sweet self......continue to develop into the best person you can be. He does seem to find that attractive........and no matter what happens, youāll come out ahead. - Annabelle