Q - Dear Annabelle, My boyfriend says he Īloves meā and wants to spend the rest of his life with me but then when he doesn't want to be with me he acts like I don't mean anything to him. I know that he doesn't mean what he is saying but it really hurts. Like when he promises to be back in an hour or two but he stays out most of the night. I don't know what to do now. Does he love me or not? Every time I ask him he says he does and one day we will marry. A - Dear Keiza, Gee, I remember being 15.......and how important all this seemed.....! It IS important to you right now........but, in the overall length of your life, itās going to be more of a Īlearning experienceā. (Life is just FULL of those pesky things!) Now, unless you and he are one couple in a gazillion, thereās no way this is going to lead to marriage, so, with odds like that, you may as well take your best shot at relaxing a bit. During adolescence, both girls AND boys are beginning to separate from their families and attach to each other.....thatās the Ībasic human designā. That you are too young to Īattachā permanently is the case now, so, theābest thingā is to realize that this is Īpracticeā..........(and if YOU Īpracticeā being clinging and demanding, this might not be in your best interests.) Guys LIKE to be protective and nurturing too, thatās ONE of the reasons they have girlfriends, (no itās not ALL Ījust sexā)........but if you try to put a rope around him, heāll go where he can work out HIS Īteen-age angstā with girls whoāre easy to be with, as well as being bright and funny.....and have the inner strength to be THEIR best selves and let HIM develop into his Ībest selfā. All these years...the next 10 or so, are about growing and developing into an adult human being, not about foreclosing options and pairing up too soon Īcause you donāt want someone to Īget awayā. Itās hard, I know. I wish someone had told ME these things when I was 15.......feelings are new, delicate, and untried. Just remember, your Ījobā during these years is to learn, not only your lessons in school, but how to interact with other young people and with the world at large. Those who learn all the Īlessonsā best are the ones who are most successful. Iāve just returned from my ..........well, I wonāt say which,...high school reunion and I was amazed at how some Īkidsā are STILL Īstuckā in the early years. Kezia, life really DOES have Īstagesā and, if you take the care and the time to learn as you go along, you get to Īprogressā to the next stage........if you refuse to learn or rush through things too quickly, well, you get Īstuckā and then end up not having as wonderful a life as you would have had if you tended to the things that MAY seem boring now, but which will pay off greatly later.......THATāS when you get to enjoy the lovely things.......when youāve listened.......and learned...the Īlessonsā. (Go read the ĪRules For Being Humanā). Take time to develop.....do it slowly and in the proper order.....life is wonderful so donāt rush....believe it or not, thereās time.....for everything. - Annabelle