'My best friend and I are in love with the same girl'

I am a 16-year-old boy in love with a girl. We were in the same school and know each other well, and she is also a part of my circle of friends. We go out together often. I love her, and I think she has some feelings for me, too. We used to get along quite well, until another guy, who happens to be one of my best friends, admitted to liking her. I am confused. He can ruin this love story. What do I do? - Shubham W

I was madly in love with someone at 16 too. I no longer remember her name though, or what she looked like. The thing about the age you're at is that your hormones will prompt you to fall madly in love with a lot of people over the next couple of years. With the benefit of hindsight, I would like to tell you to forge strong relationships with friends, because they are the ones you have for life. If this girl likes you and reciprocates your feelings, that's great. She will tell you how she feels eventually, or you can simply tell her first and see how she reacts. If she doesn't, you really will find a way to move on faster than you think. Also, don't let this 'love story' distract you from the more important aspects of your life at the moment - like getting an education, for instance.

My girlfriend says I embarrass her around her friends by telling them things about our relationship that they have no business knowing. Should I stop meeting them?

I think your girlfriend is being perfectly reasonable. They are her friends, and she knows what their boundaries are better than you do. Why not ask her to tell you what you can and can't talk about, and behave like an adult instead of overreacting and not meeting them at all? Assuming they are an important part of her life, why deny yourself of their company altogether?