I think I've gained some wisdom from high school that I didn't know about and that I should have followed -- twice.
Before it gets serious:
1) Be picky
2) Be picky
3) Be picky
A) If you like someone but they don't feel the same way, they might call you their little sibling. My conclusion: it's a condescending thing to do, especially if this person calls multiple people their little siblings. (Try reading up on sexual narcissism, basically an inferiority complex where the individual surrounds themselves with many of the opposite sex to assure themselves of their beauty/confidence/sex appeal.)
B) If you were crazy like me in high school, you'd still try to hang around the person even though they've got a love life. You'd try to ignore rude comments by the new couple, such as, "Oh baby you're being so horrible to me. Janet you can have him."
C) You might hang out with them even more because you want to try really hard to prove yourself above jealousy and/or subconsciously hope to be the person's rebound once they're single again.
D) To enhance your chances of being their rebound, you might try to "help" them hook up with different people or give them (or their S.O.) relationship advice. I was in denial of this while I did it.
E) When they actually do (if at all) break up, the person you liked in high school might retake you on your original offer and start to flirt with you. If you're as stupid as I was a year ago, you'd consider dating them before deciding it would be too awkward. You'd also begin to realize how shallow they were to begin with. If you're a complete idiot, however, you'd actually agree to finally be their rebound, mission accomplished. If you do, you can expect to be dumped for someone better looking/richer in the near future.
Wisdom gained from this:
A) If you think you're dating someone (like my high school self) who's hoping to be a rebound, don't wait patiently to be dumped. Just set them free, even if they don't realize their crush yet.
B) Early symptoms of a significant other or potential date who likes someone very close to them (I'm guilty of almost all of these):
--They try very hard to get the other person to break up with their significant other, ostensibly to get them a better significant other.
--They need this person's approval to date you. (A friend of mine had this happen to her, but not to me.)
--They subconsciously make sure you stick around to fill up the wait before their crush is finally single.
C) Late symptoms:
--The person you suspect to be their crush does break up with their significant other and begins showing envy towards your relationship.
--Your own significant other slowly stops calling you as often as they did during the infatuation phase. It's also a natural occurrence in a healthy relationship, only in this case they don't return your calls either and also avoid you.
D) If you see these symptoms:
Again, don't be angry. Just set them free so you're free sooner to look for someone with no one else on their mind, so you don't get hurt, nor do you have to watch the whole painful process hurt others as well.
Before it gets serious:
1) Be picky
2) Be picky
3) Be picky
A) If you like someone but they don't feel the same way, they might call you their little sibling. My conclusion: it's a condescending thing to do, especially if this person calls multiple people their little siblings. (Try reading up on sexual narcissism, basically an inferiority complex where the individual surrounds themselves with many of the opposite sex to assure themselves of their beauty/confidence/sex appeal.)
B) If you were crazy like me in high school, you'd still try to hang around the person even though they've got a love life. You'd try to ignore rude comments by the new couple, such as, "Oh baby you're being so horrible to me. Janet you can have him."
C) You might hang out with them even more because you want to try really hard to prove yourself above jealousy and/or subconsciously hope to be the person's rebound once they're single again.
D) To enhance your chances of being their rebound, you might try to "help" them hook up with different people or give them (or their S.O.) relationship advice. I was in denial of this while I did it.
E) When they actually do (if at all) break up, the person you liked in high school might retake you on your original offer and start to flirt with you. If you're as stupid as I was a year ago, you'd consider dating them before deciding it would be too awkward. You'd also begin to realize how shallow they were to begin with. If you're a complete idiot, however, you'd actually agree to finally be their rebound, mission accomplished. If you do, you can expect to be dumped for someone better looking/richer in the near future.
Wisdom gained from this:
A) If you think you're dating someone (like my high school self) who's hoping to be a rebound, don't wait patiently to be dumped. Just set them free, even if they don't realize their crush yet.
B) Early symptoms of a significant other or potential date who likes someone very close to them (I'm guilty of almost all of these):
--They try very hard to get the other person to break up with their significant other, ostensibly to get them a better significant other.
--They need this person's approval to date you. (A friend of mine had this happen to her, but not to me.)
--They subconsciously make sure you stick around to fill up the wait before their crush is finally single.
C) Late symptoms:
--The person you suspect to be their crush does break up with their significant other and begins showing envy towards your relationship.
--Your own significant other slowly stops calling you as often as they did during the infatuation phase. It's also a natural occurrence in a healthy relationship, only in this case they don't return your calls either and also avoid you.
D) If you see these symptoms:
Again, don't be angry. Just set them free so you're free sooner to look for someone with no one else on their mind, so you don't get hurt, nor do you have to watch the whole painful process hurt others as well.
