We’ve all been caught having feelings for that really cute friend. More likely than not, we’ve decided not to pursue it for fear that things like comfortably hanging out with each other will no longer be possible.
But some of us were brave enough to attempt it and failed because we really had no idea what we were doing. So we decided to arm you with the tools you’ll need in case it ever happens again.
1. Test the waters by flirting
Is he into you? How do you know if he likes you as much as you like him? The best way to find out if your friendship can escape the friendzone and morph into a relationship is to test the waters.
You can take your time with getting more flirty and seeing if they seem to return the flirting and if they’re flirting with just you instead of generally flirting with everyone.
2. Make sure you have the right kind of friendship for a relationship
There’s a huge difference between your friend and someone who’s just really fun to hang out with for a good time. Consider the quality of your friendship before transitioning to a relationship. Do you feel safe and secure in that friendship, or is it an exciting, emotional ride?
3. Be honest about why you want to date them
There should be some element of sexual attraction or romantic desire but it shouldn’t be limited to that alone. Shared goals and interests are also important when considering whether or not to date your friend.
It’s important to be honest with yourself as much as possible as to the real reason for wanting to date your friend.
4. Be ready to completely take the plunge
Wavering a little is perfectly normal if you both value your friendship and really don’t want to mess it up. But consistently worrying about the state of your friendship with every new step you take in your romantic development is not a good sign
Yes, you are taking a risk on your friendship by dating. Yes, depending on if and how you break up, you may not be friends in the end. But if you can’t stop focusing on the potential future turmoil, you should rethink moving along.
5. Expect that things – including sex – might be really awkward at first.
If your relationship starts easily without any awkwardness then great for you. But it’s definitely not the standard to hold yourselves to. If you hold those beliefs, you might take any sort of stumbling as a sign that it’s a problem and the relationship isn’t worth pursuing, rather than recognizing little points of awkwardness and stumbling as something you can work on.
