You rise and don't shine at an unreasonable hour because, as a single girl, there's not much to look forward to on Valentine's Day.

On the bright side, you don't have to slave away in the kitchen cooking breakfast in bed for anyone.

But that also means you don't have anyone to cook you a fancy breakfast. Packaged food it is.

Things could be worse. Pop-Tarts still taste pretty darn good at 11 a.m., so you tell yourself that you don’t need a man to enjoy the day.

You walk to your afternoon class seeing people with heart-shaped balloons and bouquets of roses, but you act completely unfazed.

Sure, it’s sad that you aren’t receiving any gifts, but it also means you're not spending a bunch of money on a significant other.

Even when you seclude yourself in your room, you can't seem to escape the onslaught of public displays of affection. Facebook is the worst culprit, with its never-ending feed of lovey-dovey relationship statuses.

But as much as you try to play the "happily single" role, there is a part of you that's like:

And your loneliness hits you like a ton of bricks.

But your bitterness toward the couple-centric holiday eases up when one of your best friends surprises you with a Valentine's gift.

Because as much as you wanted to hate today, her kind gesture gives you a tornado of mixed emotions.

The twisted look on your face makes her say,

To which you reply,

The two of you decide to make the best of things by planning a girls' night later with your other single friends.

But really, the occasion is just an excuse to consume an unhealthy amount of chocolate...

...as well as gossip and vent about your respective boy problems...

...and drink wine from a box, like the classy ladies you are.

It sounds like a winning game plan to everyone in attendance.

After an evening with great company and indulgent food, you decide that spending Valentine's Day as a single woman isn't all that bad.

But you warn your friends that your opinion may change when the chocolate runs out.

We all need a little guidance now and then, so whether you’re stressed about a fling gone wrong, a recently wrecked relationship or how to handle a stage-five clinger, Real Live College Guy Dale is here to help you navigate the college dating scene.

My boyfriend and I have been dating for over four years now, and he won't go any further with me. He always talks about how he wants to stay with me for a long time and settle down, but if he does, why won't he step it up? We've hit third base (I only ever gave, never received), and it’s just come to a standstill. He's afraid of our relationship changing, but I don't think it will. Can you try explaining his reasoning, or is there any way I can change his mind? –Sick of Being Patient in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania,

Take a seat and get comfortable, because I currently find myself in the awkward position of having to deliver some not-so-awesome news.

If you find yourself at a standstill after four years of being together, I think maybe you need to take a break… or just break up completely.

Talk is cheap. It’s nice to hear someone say they want to be with you forever, but that only goes so far when you’ve been together for so long. And four years? That’s a good chunk of time. When it comes to stepping it up and settling down with someone, you’re usually looking for actual, tangible progress. You’re looking for proof that this person wants to be with you, and words don’t really constitute as proof these days.

Your sex life — or apparent lack thereof — isn’t and shouldn’t be your main concern. A fair amount of couples wait until marriage to round the bases. That said, while it isn’t a main concern, the fact that he hasn’t done much of anything to, err, “return the favor” tells me that he doesn’t care about your satisfaction as much as he does his own, and that’s selfish. If he’s so reluctant to do things like that for you in bed, I think it’s safe to assume that he’ll be just as reluctant when you go all the way.

I’m not sure I understand his viewpoint on your relationship changing. Relationships change all the time. People mature and develop new interests constantly, and if a relationship stays the same over a long period of time, it becomes stagnant. Stagnancy isn’t healthy. In order for a couple to grow together, there needs to be development.

But, for whatever reason, things are at a standstill. Maybe it’s a lack of passion, maybe it’s a lack of communication, maybe you two are growing apart or maybe it’s a mixture of all these things. That’s totally normal, especially in college. People and their interests change over time, so I can’t guarantee that he feels the same way about you now as he did when you two first started dating.

I can explain different possibilities behind his thought process until sunrise, but as far as telling you how to actually change his mind? You need to communicate your concerns with him. Otherwise the two of you are going to continue living in a relatively passionless relationship until the pressure reaches a boiling point. By then, someone’s heart is going to get broken. Right now, it sounds like both of you are bored with the relationship, and it sounds like only one of you is willing to make the effort to fix it. You have to talk it out with him.

That’s the only way to find out what he’s thinking and why he’s thinking that way. Tell him you need to see more action on his part. Tell him that you feel unappreciated or unsatisfied. Tell him that there’s a clear lack of passion in your relationship, and see if you two can come up with a way to fire things up again.

Here’s the thing, though: If he feeds you the same lines as he’s done in the past, you need to decide if that’s something you can settle with. Since you’re asking me? I wouldn’t. If you hear the same story, drop him. People can talk the talk all day long, but this guy needs to walk the walk. He needs to prove his worth. You need to decide how much BS you can put up with, and after four years, I really wouldn’t blame you if you decided to move on from a passionless relationship.

Dear College Guys,

If your girlfriend has told you how lame and cheesy and commercialized Valentine’s Day is, we promise you she is doing exactly what she did that time you ran into each other in the dining hall after hooking up for the first time: playing it cool. This is the one time we will go on the record for saying this: do not listen to her. Because if you don’t do anything special for her on February 14th, she will take it as a measure of how much you care about the relationship and, by extension, her… (Read: You will be in Taylor Swift We-Are-Never-Ever-Getting-Back-Together kind of trouble.)

Maybe some of you are already cringing, since you equate Valentine’s Day with having someone read Twilight to you, cover to cover. I have three words for you: get over it. I mean, my gosh, we sat through three games of Black Ops with you screaming “Press A!” at us the whole time. Chill out: no one’s asking you to pull a Sweet Home Alabama and rent out Tiffany’s. And only 30 percent of us want you to belt Adele’s “I Won’t Go” in the middle of our dorm courtyard.

What do we want? We want John-Tucker-Must-Die players turned Romeos outside our balconies. We want Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You, serenading us in the stadium bleachers in front of our entire team. We want Ryan Gosling outside our door (shirtless) saying, “Hey girl, I’ve got a hot air balloon and a bottle of champagne waiting for us outside.” Take notes from Madonna, boys, and express yourselves. Write a letter, sing a song, send a blimp. You don’t have to be Prince Charming. You just have to be yourself… but more charming.

Those of you who are thinking about how there’s no balcony outside your girlfriend’s window, how Heath Ledger was way more bad*** as the Joker, or how you can’t afford a hot air balloon, you really needed to read this letter. Use your heads. What does your girlfriend like? What does she always talk about? How and where did you two meet? What kinds of things does she never, ever throw away? You want to know what all this brainstorming adds up to? Romance. Not mass-produced teddy bears with little white “I <3 you” t-shirts romance, but Beyoncé-Drunk-in-Love romance.

So, gentlemen, show up outside of her least favorite class with a bouquet of flowers, make her a soundtrack of all the songs you associate with her, tag her in your Facebook statuses. Suck it up for one day because you’re crazy about her. We promise you can go back to Black Ops tomorrow.

Love,
Her Campus

You finally got the courage to talk to that cute guy from your class, and one night at the bar, he made a move. You’re both having fun, but you decide to keep it casual without any real commitment. When your friends ask about him, you respond that you’re “hanging out” and nothing more, and you feel confident in this answer… until February rolls around. That’s when you realize that fun and flirty has the potential to get really awkward.

Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate love and friendship, but it’s more commonly known as the Hallmark holiday to get romantic with your SO or drink wine with your best friends. It can be fun whether you’re single or taken, but can be tricky for those of us whose relationship statuses aren’t so clearly defined. If you’re casually seeing someone, Valentine’s Day can get awkward. Here’s HC’s guide for how to handle your casual hook-up on February 14.

You’re not official, so you don’t have to do anything special

The biggest source of your anxiety probably comes from wondering if you have to do something special with your casual hook-up on Valentine’s Day. There’s definitely pressure to be romantic on February 14, but if you’re not official, the experts say celebrating Valentine’s Day together isn’t required.

“A gift would be nice, but definitely not necessary if you’re not in a defined relationship,” says Dr. Ish Major, psychiatrist and dating expert. “You’re not obligated to see each other, get together, go out or even hook up on that day. It’s not a ‘relationship,’ so it’s likely not exclusive.”

If you want to keep things strictly casual with your hook-up, consider doing something else on Valentine’s Day, whether it’s a chick-flick marathon with your girls or pampering yourself with a pedicure. You might be involved with someone, but you’re technically single, so show yourself some love instead!

Small gifts are okay to give

On some level you probably care about your casual hook-up, so if you want to get him or her something small, make sure it’s more funny than romantic.

“If you are not in an official relationship, but see something that reminds you of the person, it is a lovely gesture to give it to him or her,” says Jodi RR Smith, etiquette consultant and president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. “However, if you want to keep it casual, keep the gift on the light and funny side and under $20. When in doubt, a card is a great way to do something without it being too much.”

Dr. Ish encourages erring on the side of caution so you don’t send the wrong message. “Be careful [with gifts],” he says. “You don’t want to send the wrong message that could change the dynamics of what you have. It’s a balancing act.”

For example, instead of getting your casual hook-up a teddy bear holding a heart that says, “I love you,” give your hook-up some of his or her favorite candy or a funny card. You want to send the message that says, “I care about you” versus, “I’m madly in love with you.” A good rule of thumb: If you would feel uncomfortable getting the gift from your casual hook-up, don’t give it to him or her.

Giving gifts can get potentially awkward, especially if one person doesn’t reciprocate. If you decide to get your casual hook-up a small gift and you don’t receive one in return, don’t take it personally. “Remember the phrase: ‘Nice but not necessary,’” Dr. Ish says. “[The person] you’re hooking up with might be shy about giving gifts for Valentine’s Day because they don’t want to send a too strong of a message. It doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t care about you or think less of you; it just means they’re unsure of what, if anything, to do.”

On the flip side, if your casual hook-up gets you something for Valentine’s Day and you’re caught empty-handed, don’t freak out. Instead, stay calm and thank him or her sincerely. “Look him or her in the eye and say, ‘Thank you so much for thinking of me!’” Smith says. “Remember: A gift is not given with the expectation of getting.”

Don’t be afraid to talk about Valentine’s Day plans

The best way to avoid awkwardness on Valentine’s Day is to just have a conversation about it. You might feel uncomfortable bringing it up depending on how long you’ve been hooking up or how casual the relationship is, but if you don’t want to keep guessing, bring it up casually without adding any pressure.

“You can say, ‘Hey, I wasn’t planning or expecting anything but I just wanted to double-check. Are we doing anything for Valentine’s Day?’” Dr. Ish suggests. “Keep it casual; keep it light. But do ask. [There are always] expectations or lack thereof, so it’s better to talk about them early than letting the day come and having it turn into something awkward.”

Want something a little subtler? Instead of flat-out asking, make a joke about how over-the-top convenience stores get with the holiday or ask what he or she’s doing that weekend in general (Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year, so it won’t be super obvious what you’re getting at). It would get the conversation started so you can gauge how your hook-up feels about the holiday, and then you can decide to make plans or not!

Whether you want to do something for Valentine’s Day or not, talking to your casual hook-up can be a lot easier than trying to guess what will happen on February 14. As long as you’re clear about how you feel and your expectations for Valentine’s Day, you can avoid the awkwardness!

If you find yourself somewhere between “just friends” and “in a relationship” with someone, Valentine’s Day can be a tricky situation. Before you rush to define your casual relationship or end it, keep these tips in mind so you can successfully avoid any awkward encounters on February 14! 

Out of all 365 days in a year, Valentine’s Day is the one where you really don’t want to screw up. Your girlfriend has anxiously been waiting to nail down a Prince Charming (or at least a guy, in general) to wine and dine her on that special Hallmark day since basically forever. She wants that ah-mazing date planned that she can go back and brag about to her single friends. But just how do you make all that magic possible? Well, you can start by totally, definitely avoiding everything on oureight things not do for your girlfriend on Valentine’s Day. After that, the ball’s in your court—good luck, boys!

Plan a boys’ night and invite her to tag along

We get it; you like to bro out—eat wings, watch the big game, and scratch yourself, the usual. But, it’s Valentine’s Day, and you could have literally picked any other day to plan a guys’ night. Rearrange your schedule so that your girlfriend is your number one choice for the day. Once the clock strikes midnight, then you can go off and frolic with your boys. But for 24 hours, you’re all hers. Because let’s be honest, nothing says love and romance quite like an evening spent in front of the big screen with a couple of beers, some poker chips, and an endless trays of nachos. Joke.

Pass out

Whatever you do, please (seriously, we’re begging you) don’t fall asleep. Whether she makes you watch The Notebook for the hundredth time or you’ve had one too many champagne flutes (if you’re 21, of course), make it your ultimate V-Day goal to stay wide awake. Not only will your girlfriend be totally pissed that you couldn’t manage to remain conscious for the entirety of your date, but she may also take a lesson from the books and seek her revenge—a.k.a, looks like the 15th may be filled with a movie marathon of the world’s sappiest love stories and a full body wax… for you.

Dump her or cheat on her

Can’t it wait another day? You’ll literally scar her for life, and forever be known as the guy who stomped on her heart on Hallmark’s most romantic day, ever. Either get it done beforehand, or wait it out until after V-Day to call it quits. It’s just common courtesy.

Surprise her with… nothing!

Girls are complicated, to say the least. They’ll tell you they’re fine when in actuality they want to scream at you for hours on end. But what makes them even trickier? They’ll tell you no gifts, no presents, no surprises: “There’s nothing I really want. Don’t waste your time finding me the perfect present!” Although you may think you’re all clear, news flash, she’s lying. Show your girlfriend that even though she “begged” and “pleaded” for nothing on V-Day, you still made the effort to get her something.

Buy her lingerie without consulting her

Don’t do it because it lands you in an awkward situation. If you get a piece too big, she’ll take it the wrong way—does she look fatter than she thought? And if you get it too small? Well, talk about an uncomfortable situation while she tries to struggle and squeeze her way into it. If you want to spice things up, mention it to her, and hopefully, she’ll come sauntering into the bedroom wearing something hot that also totally fits—or give you pointers on what to get her.

Complain

All the lovey-dovey couples, romantic roses, and heart-warming acts of kindness are bound to get a little old come the end of the night. But, despite all the sappiness surrounding you, don’t complain about it. Don’t gag at the grand gestures, or roll your eyes at the sentimental gifts. You’re not the only one to be annoyed and overwhelmed by it, but don’t let your girlfriend see you sweat. She’s most likely jealous of all those other girls.

Don’t bring her to your usual restaurant

Plan something special, hello! Make your date something out of the ordinary and sweep her off her feet—she won’t know what’s coming and she’ll absolutely love it. But just a little hint: don’t bring her to a place where you have to eat with your hands. We’re all a fan of Medieval Times, crab joints and barbecue restaurants, but save those for a post V-Day celebration. A date that includes licking your hands or having to use a wet-nap? Yeah, no…

Bring along a third wheel

Just because your BFF may be flying solo for the night, doesn’t mean you should invite him to tag along. Not only will it totally crush the evening, but everyone will feel awkward, especially your girlfriend while you obsess over your best friend and his singleness.

Valentine’s Day approaches yet again, so out come the endless trail of roses and anything in the shape of a heart. We’re one stuffed animal away from cringing at the mere thought of it all, so here’s to nine things we can’t stand to see any longer on Valentine’s Day.

1. Heart-shaped boxes of assorted chocolates

As if the only way to celebrate V-day is with an expensive box of chocolates. That same $50 box that will be sold at 75 percent off the next day. So not worth it!   

2. Overpriced red roses

Red roses? For Valentine's Day? Groundbreaking.

3. Page-long, cheesy Facebook posts

Oh, how we just love seeing essays on social media about how your SO couldn’t be more perfect!

4. And the Facebook posts about how great the single life is

No need to justify your single status so overbearingly just to prove you're happy being valentine-less on V-Day...

5. Gigantic stuffed teddy bears

Seriously, how can you carry that around all day, and where is it going to fit in a cramped dorm room?

6. “Roses are red, violets are blue…” cards and poems

The most overdone rhyme in V-Day history.  

7. The Notebook (well, make that any gushy love story)

We don’t need a reminder of this sort of nonexistent perfection on the one day dedicated to couples.

8. Little candy hearts

Does anyone actually think these taste good?

9. The down-in-the-dumps single people

We're tired of seeing the singles loathing themselves and V-Day just because they're SO-less today of all days. Since when did awesome, loving friends become less important than having a date? 

Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is almost here! These entertaining and unique e-cards from Someecards are the perfect way to express your love to that special someone.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Sometimes college guys get a bad rap. We hear stories all the time about players, guys who never respond to texts and those who only want to hook up.  To quote our girl Taylor Swift, aren’t there any guys out there who are more “Today Was a Fairytale” and less “I Knew You Were Trouble”?  But don’t worry, collegiettes; there are college guys out there who really appreciate the meaning of romance, and on the most amorous day of the year, they know how to pull out all the stops to give their girlfriends the romantic memories they deserve.  Read on for the five cutest things college guys have done for their girlfriends on Valentine’s Day.

“I had been dating a girl for a few months, but we agreed not to break the bank on each other. I still wanted to do something nice, so I let my creative side take over. Her favorite candy was Reese's, so I bought a big bag of the heart-shaped Reese's that come out around Valentine's Day and taped them (in their wrappers) to a piece of cardboard in the shape of a heart, then wrote a nice letter on the back of it for her. She loved it! I still got roses and took her to dinner, but I could've just done that on my low budget because she appreciated the thoughtfulness behind it so much.” - Patrick Bradley, Merrimack College

“My ex-boyfriend and I go to different schools.  Since he couldn't visit me on Valentine's Day last year, he surprised me with a package from Vermont Teddy Bear Factory.  He sent me a stuffed animal customized by him with a tag that said ‘Happy Valentine's Day’ in Spanish as I am a Spanish major.  Later in the day I was emailed that I got another package.  He sent me a tin of my favorite cookies.  It was all very thoughtful!” - Liz Bacharach, Bucknell University

“Last year, my boyfriend was studying abroad in Italy, but still managed to make Valentine's Day awesome. He got my friends and his friends together to send me on an elaborate scavenger hunt around campus, and I eventually ended back in my dorm room to find flowers, chocolates, a big stuffed dog and a really sweet letter from my boyfriend. It was adorable!” - Kristin Doherty, Drake University

“This was Valentine's Day 2011. I made a video with pictures of me and my girlfriend, Jenn, interspersed with quotes about love and whatnot to the tune of ‘Don't Make Me Wait’ by This World's Fair. Then I posted the video a couple of weeks before Valentine's Day and told all of her friends and family and my friends and family about it and to go and leave comments on it. Then Valentine's Day, I took her out to dinner at Makoto's Japanese Steakhouse in Boone up at App State and then afterwards gave her flowers and showed her the video. It was a huge success; she loved it.” - Matt Caulder, Appalachian State University

“The day before our very first Valentine’s Day together I was telling [my boyfriend], Brad, how it was kind of sad that it was on a school day where we both had labs/classes/meetings/etc. We usually studied together at night somewhere like the Union, his living room or the lobby of my dorm because that was the only time in our crazy schedules that we could be together, and that didn't sound too romantic. Well, the night before our first Valentine’s, I kept him well past midnight to try to spend more of the holiday together. He was a really good sport considering the sneaky plan he had up his sleeve. The next morning I expected to get a sweet text or even a phone call, but instead I awoke to [my roommate] telling me there was something at the door and then passing it up to my bunk. Brad had woken up insanely early, somehow got into [my] dorm, and left the sweetest surprise gift basket for me to find at my door full of all my favorite chocolates, red ribbon for a Valentine’s Day bow, a hand-cut heart shape and sweet love letter as well as two (COLD!) Diet Cokes! He had thought of everything even down to the tiniest detail. While it made for a terribly unhealthy breakfast, it left me with the brightest smile all day knowing how lucky I was to be surprised so sweetly by my valentine (and now, years later, fiancé!).” - Alex Bradsher, UNC-Chapel Hill

Whether you’re in a relationship with a new guy or have been together for months, Valentine’s Day can be a fun way to show your love and appreciation for your significant other. But before you plan the elaborate V-Day gift and dinner, check out what these guys had to say about Valentine’s Day! Here’s a hint: they’re (almost) as sappy as we are!

On Valentine’s Day as a legitimate holiday

Valentine’s Day is a commercial holiday—no doubt about it. But turns out guys aren’t as cynical as you’d expect. Some actually sort of like it!

“I think that it’s just another way for greeting card companies to benefit from couples spending money on gifts on each other. However, it’s kind of cool to have a special day for couples to celebrate (as long as they don’t overdo it with all the manufactured Valentine’s Day stuff.) – Ryan, a sophomore at University of Washington

“Why not have a day to celebrate love? I think the people who decry the commercial overtones are just miserable, even if they make good points. Let someone have a day to be extra happy.” – Luca, a sophomore at SUNY Geneseo

But then there are the cynics… So, collegiettes, when it comes to V-Day, guys are as across the board as we are.

“I’ve never really celebrated it so when that day comes, I don’t really care. So I guess to me, it’s not a holiday. Just like any other day.” – Morris, a sophomore at Johns Hopkins University

“No, I think Valentine’s Day is a made-up holiday by the chocolate/flower industries and restaurant owners to sell their products.” – Daniel, a senior at Columbia University

On giving and receiving gifts

Gift-giving for guys is rarely easy, especially on Valentine’s Day, since the typical fare (flower, chocolates, teddy bears) often seems cheesy and overly-sappy. The takeaway? Boys don’t necessarily expect gifts on this holiday, though most do plan on giving their significant others gifts. So don’t stress too much if you’re debating whether or not a gift is appropriate. Guys like effort (think homemade) and know money is often tight in college.

“I’d probably give her a gift. I don’t care that much. I’d prefer her gift to me to be not something tangible. I’d want my gift to be her to do something special. Something new in the sexual realm, for example.” – Morris

“No I really don't need a gift, I feel like this day is more about spending time with someone you love rather than gifts.” – Ryan

“Some couples like corny gifts. If that’s you, then sure, get a stuffed animal or some kind of trinket. Flowers are great, too. But, come on, expensive jewelry? I don’t know. Just because it’s Valentine’s Day? It seems more romantic to give a gift on a day that you find to be important as a couple.” – Andrew, a sophomore at Boston University

“I think it's best for you and him to set a monetary limit if you plan on exchanging V-Day gifts. This lessens the pressure on the guy especially, who is already probably dropping fat stacks on a fancy dinner. The gift should be tailored to what a guy is interested in or what his hobbies are. If he likes movies, buy him some DVDs or a subscription to Netflix. If he likes to party, pick out a nice bottle of liquor. If he follows sports, get him a jersey for his favorite team or tickets to a game. Try to pick out something that you can both enjoy and use to create a shared experience. Concert tickets for a musical artist you both enjoy, for example.” – Mike, a senior at Kent State University

On romantic dates

Most guys agree: going on a date seems to be the gold standard for Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s an intimate dinner, a classic dinner-and-a-movie or something a bit more unusual, guys typically like going on V-Day dates and will take the reins in planning them.

“If I went on a Valentine's date I would probably do something small, like go see a movie and probably have dinner afterwards. Also probably like a walk afterwards too.” – Ryan

“Despite knowing that Valentine's Day is a big scam, I still enjoy using it as an opportunity to show my significant other that I love her and bring some excitement into our love life. A romantic dinner is a must. However, if we were to watch a movie it would probably be at home rather than a theater. Would want to spend as much ‘alone time’ with my significant other as possible.” – Daniel

“I’d want something very causal for Valentine’s Day. We’d spend the afternoon taking a walk somewhere if the weather’s not too bad, maybe catch a movie, and then grab dinner at a place that both of us would be excited to eat at before we spend the night at whichever dorm/apartment/house is more comfortable.” – Andrew

“If you're in a relationship with someone you should want to go on a romantic date on Valentine's Day and treat your woman right. While plans should be more aimed toward what the female would want to do, there should be some compromise. Dinner and a movie seems like a win-win for all involved.” – Mike

“Last year I made dinner and we danced to a mix CD. In general, I’d probably want to do something weird, something different, not usually considered a date. Or, I’d be more than happy holing ourselves up and watching movies while cuddling the entire day.” - Luca

On spending V-Day single

Like us, single guys also tend to get a little envious on Valentine’s Day. But most don’t care. So if you’re single, take a cue from these guys and ignore the handholding on the quad! Check out these tips for having a great V-Day regardless of your relationship status!

“It doesn't really sadden me too much because I am not actively looking for a girlfriend but it kind of makes me jealous seeing all the couples out and about.” – Ryan

“I’ve done it, and it’s fine. It doesn’t suck. Yes, I’d rather be with someone, but if you remember that it’s just February 14, it helps to go through the day like any other one. Maybe I’d watch a romantic comedy on TV if I were really bummed out. But hopefully I’ll have something more to do this year than that. “ – Andrew

“When you're single on Valentine's Day, you often feel like you're the only one without a date. That's so far from the truth! In college, there's definitely more people single than in a relationship. This fact should give you comfort. It's not a big deal if you don't have an official girlfriend or boyfriend. If you're afraid of being lonely, you can go out with a group of single friends... or even just talk to your mom or dad on the phone. Single or not, there's still plenty of ways to feel the love on Valentine's Day. Couples aren't the only ones who get to have fun.” – Mike

On their ideal Valentine’s Day

Now here’s the fun stuff: we asked guys across the country to describe their ideal V-Day—the who, what, where and when. Here’s what they had to say.

“Probably with somebody I love dearly and we would go away from all the other Valentine’s Day stuff and spend time just together. But in a very romantic setting. Like a waterfall or something exotic.” – Morris

“I would like to do a morning hike here in Washington. Maybe go to Gasworks Park afterwards and have a little picnic. After that we go see a movie afterwards and it wouldn't be like a rom-com. Maybe a dinner somewhere and then we go walk around, enjoying the night and looking at stars. With who? No one in particular, but Anne Hathaway would be nice!” – Ryan

“Take a day off from work, perfect weather, tropical island, beach, beach view suite with Jacuzzi, meal from Michelin-starred restaurant (as well as being lactose free), with the love of my life. Hey, it never hurts to think big right?” – Daniel

“Somewhere offbeat: we visit every coffee shop within an X mile radius and try their espresso shots. Then we get lost in the woods somewhere. Perhaps go shopping with the express goal of buying one thing for the other that they wouldn't wear otherwise. Then make dinner together, something big and involved. Finish with a movie, or maybe instead finish with learning a song together.” – Luca

“Flirtatious texts throughout the day. Dinner at an upscale restaurant in the evening. Next, a movie (either at the theaters or at home). Perhaps some drinks. And then after that, hopefully we just get it on.” – Mike

So there you have it, collegiettes! Don’t stress on this romantic holiday. Ask your guy about date ideas, plan something fun together and just enjoy the day!

It’s so hard to come up with a plan for Valentine’s Day that doesn’t lean too far on the side of “we’re just friends hanging out” but doesn’t overstep the “we’re remaking a scene from a Hallmark movie” line. Here are a few V-Day ideas that are just the right amount of romantic.

Go ice-skating

Get all bundled up and bring along thermoses of hot chocolate to enjoy after hanging onto each other for dear life for a few laps around the rink.

Go on a picnic

But instead of braving the frigid February weather, lay down a blanket in your living room. Light some candles, cook a great meal and enjoy your indoor adventure!  

Create a playlist

Since no one actually makes mixtapes anymore, create a playlist of songs that remind you of your sweetheart and put it on a flash drive. Bonus points if it’s a cute flash drive like this heart-shaped one!

Write out your feelings

Instead of texting him your deepest sentiments, write them out in a poem or a love letter. He’ll love knowing that you care about him enough to actually sit down and pen your feelings for him, and it’s something he can keep for a long time.

Pamper each other

Pick up some oil and candles, put on that Valentine’s Day playlist you made, then have a romantic night in giving each other sensual massages. It will make for a night he’ll never forget!

Have a movie night

Pick out a cute romantic comedy, make some popcorn and cuddle up on the couch together for amovie night!Low-key nights like this are low-pressure, and the casually romantic atmosphere will remind him why he’s so comfortable with you. Besides, if the movie’s bad, you can always just make out instead!

Surprise him with something special

Since you probably won't spring for a dozen red roses, buya dozen red balloons instead! Leave a tiny note to the bottom of each string with a romantic verse or a reason why you love him.

If none of these ideas seem like the “right move” for you and your guy, check out more creativeV-Day date ideas and romantic gifts to find one that works for you!

So there’s this guy friend that you sorta kinda maybe have a crush on.

You feel like you couldn’t make your feelings any more obvious to him…

…but he is still totally clueless.

So you're super surprised when he asks you to come over on Valentine’s Day...

...but then it all makes sense when you go over to his place and he greets you like one of his buddies.

You're bummed out that he apparently still thinks of you as a friend, because it feels like you've been waiting a century for him to make a move.

He invites you in for a beer and turns on the game (it's almost frustrating how comfortable you two are around each other!)...

…and the two of you hang out like you have a million times before, because you're "like brother and sister," as he so devastatingly put it.

In an attempt to escape the friend zone, you scoot closer to him on the couch and try to be sexy.

But you end up looking more like this:

You haven’t quite nailed the flirting thing yet, so you settle with high-fiving him every time your team scores.

As he continues watching the game, you reminisce on any memory with him that could have been mistaken as the beginning of a relationship (like two minutes ago, when you guys shared a high five).

And whenever he gives you a genuine compliment, you overanalyze it and think there may be a spark.

But then you compare it with how he actually flirts with other girls...

...and you realize you're holding on to a hopeless dream.

And the most annoying thing is that you know how good of a couple you two would be!

He asks you if you want another beer, but you decline and instead say:

To which he responds with the worst reply ever:

Second attempt to escape from the friend zone: FAILED.

He tells you that you're the funniest friend he has, and you sit in his living room like:

You decide that this Valentine's Day is not a lucky one for you. But it's whatever, because you really value his friendship and will deal with being just friends...

...but it doesn't hurt to keep trying. Third time's the charm?

You can’t get over his beautiful eyes, athletic build or gorgeous smile. All you want to do is talk to him all the time and make him realize that you’re perfect for each other. That’s right: you have a crush and you’re falling hard.

We’ve been reading about flirting tips since middle school, and while having the confidence to express interest in someone is admirable, sometimes we get carried away. By coming on too strongly, you risk hurting chances with our crush instead of helping them! Here are four ways that you scare off our potential love interests and how to come off a little more subtly.

1. You bombard him with texts, messages, emails, etc.

You know your crush has a test today, so you shoot him a text wishing him luck. But then you see something on campus that reminds you of him, so obviously you send him a funny Snapchat. And then, your professor says something ridiculous in class so you decide to chat him on Facebook, even though he’s sitting a few seats away from you. And then you text him again, so he knows to check his Facebook chat. By the middle of the day, he has about 12 notifications blowing up his phone… all from you.

With the dozens of ways to stay connected, it’s tempting to want to keep constant communication with your crush. But over-communication, even across different platforms, can come off as smothering.

“It’s really common for collegiettes to over-text,” says Laurie Davis, founder of eFlirt, an online dating service. “Staying in communication is great, but checking in too often can be a turnoff.”

While it’s great that you want to get to know your crush and talk throughout the day, over-communicating might overwhelm your love interest. So instead of sending a FB message followed by a quick phone call, choose one form of communication for the day. “Make sure you’re not always the first one to text,” Davis says. “And stick to one platform. For example, texting and Snapchatting can seem like overload for your crush.”

Reaching out a few times with subtle messages will convey that you have some interest, but it won’t make you seem clingy. “Flirting is all about nuance,” Davis explains. “Digitally, you can do this by using emoticons more often – like winky faces [are more subtle than] hearts!” And if you find yourself always texting first, give your crush a chance to initiate the conversation first next time. It’s a good way to find out if your feelings are mutual! It’s totally okay to text your crush first sometimes (taking some initiative is a good thing!), but just make sure you’re not always the first one to reach out.

2. You involve your friends

Your friend knows his friend, and when you’re all out at a party, your friend badgers him about your crush and his feelings – while you watch from across the room, of course. Then it becomes a game of “he said she said,” and before you know it, your entire friend group is involved playing matchmaker.

Of course, we’re going to talk to our besties about our crushes, but that doesn’t mean that they have to get involved. No matter if they know our crush or his friends, your crush will eventually figure out that you’re trying to find out more about him via your friends. Awkward!

“It’s natural to want to gush to your friends,” Davis says. “But try not to put them in the middle. This is college, not middle school. No passing notes necessary.”

Instead of having your bestie pass along a message to his friend that you hope will reach your crush, be direct yourself. If you wan to talk to your crush at a party, start a casual conversation. You’ll realize quickly if he’s into it or not.

“If you prod him a few times and he doesn’t [seem like he wants to hang] as much, he may not be as into you as you think,” Davis says.

So save the gossiping for roomie wine nights and skip the go-between, mixed messages between friends. You can show interest all by yourself! 

3. You’re constantly running into him or her “by accident”

You know that he gets out of class around 11:30, so you make sure you’re walking by as soon as he walks out the door. During your lunch break, you accidentally run into him in the dining hall and then again when he’s getting coffee. And, surprise! You see him at the gym later on and you can’t help but think, “What a coincidence!”

Let’s be real, we’ve all done it at least once: stalking our crushes in the most non-creepy way possible. While it’s nice to unintentionally run into your crush, once you start planning your day around where he or she will be, your crush will probably be a little freaked out that you keep finding each other. 

“Once you’ve creeped someone out, you’re out of the game!” says Adam LoDolce, a dating confidence expert. “[Avoid] following them on Facebook and then creepily showing up to the same party. The best thing to do is give some space.”

If you’re running into your crush multiple times a day or consistently seeking them out every single day for a week or two, considering backing off. Instead of planning feigned coincidental meetings, see if you actually run into them accidentally! Focus on seeing other friends, and once you’ve given your crush a little more space (about a week), contact them again. Your crush will probably feel less overwhelmed, giving you a fresh start to pursue him or her!

4. You’re overly flirty

When he sends a “What’s up?” text, you immediately respond with “Nothing much, sexy ;).” And when you see him at the bar later, you seductively drag him to the dance floor when all he wanted to do was say quickly say hello. We all love to flirt, but there’s a difference between flirty and aggressive.

“Be subtle,” LoDolce says. “It’s a powerful way to show interest.” Instead of immediately turning a casual texting conversation into something suggestive, actually talk to your crush and include a couple of smiley faces here and there. If you’re talking in person, smile a lot and maybe tease him a little to see if you get a response.

“In person, try touching his arm when he makes you laugh and see how he responds,” Davis suggests. “Angle your body towards him more and make eye contact.” 

When you’re subtle and not overbearing with your flirting, you can judge if your crush is into you or not. Keep him guessing instead of laying it all out there. Flirting doesn’t have to be over the top; sometimes the simplest gestures send the biggest messages.

Crushes are exciting, but sometimes we get a little too enthusiastic about them... Okay, try a lot enthusiastic. Instead of improving your chances with your love interest, you might be hurting them by coming off too strongly. Just keep these tips in mind and remember that a little subtlety can go a long way!

Valentine's Day is all candy hearts, Cupid and PDA - at least, if you ask taken people (and really, aren't they the worst kind?). Let's get real: Valentine's Day is WAY more than nomming on chocolates and asking yourself how you got so lucky to be in love. Want the real story? Ask a single girl. These are the true stages of Valentine's Day, as told by single ladies (the ones who really get what's going on here).

1. Spring semester starts off so well — you're finally back on campus with the girls, single and *~~loving it~~*

2. Seriously, there's never been a better time to be single in the history of ever.You don't even realize you're being lulled into a false sense of security.

3. And then suddenly you start seeing pink and red hearts in CVS, and the Internet is blowing up about #ValentinesDay.

Are we really going to do this now?

4. You're really good at hiding your thoughts on the matter.

JK, you couldn't keep quiet if your life depended on it.

5. At first your confidence pumps into overdrive. Who needs love anyway? You've got your friends, Nutella and, most importantly, Netflix.

6. ...But then you realize everyone is making plans for the big day. Best of all? They won't stop talking about it.

7. When they do finally take a breath, they ask you how you're feeling.

And you're like, I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was coming down with a serious case of Single-itis. Thanks for checking on me every five minutes, guys! Super helpful!

8. Even worse, your roommate's boyfriend is feeling all the feels.

No. No. PLEASE don't go on all night...

...He does, though. Obviously.

9. You start to question everything.Will you be single forever? Is it a bad sign that you love looking at cat pictures? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!

10. Why does this holiday even exist?!

11. You decide it's time to take action. It's Friday night, and time is running out - the hunt for Mr. Valentine is on.

12. There are like 50 bajillion PDA couples in your way all night.

Don't they know this bar is for singles only?!

13. FINALLY, you spot some seriously gorgeous man candy across the room. Now that's the V-Day candy you were looking for!

14. ...But then he speaks.

Oh, right - that's why you wanted to be single in the first place, duh.

15. The big day arrives. Valentine's Day is here!

Singles Awareness Day has never been so real.

16. But wait — it's not too late to celebrate Galentine's Day! Okay so that was supposed to be yesterday, but you were busy hunting valentines, obviously.

17. What's so wrong with friends, Nutella and Netflix anyway? TBH that sounds WAY better than romance, candlelight and uncomfortably tight date dresses.

18. You and your fellow single besties proceed to watch chick flick after chick flick.

Why didn't you think of this before?!

19. You're also defying all stereotypes by not eating Ben & Jerry's, so you're definitely in the clear... LOL JK you've eaten a whole pint #sorrynotsorry.

20. You remember that tomorrow is just another day — a day when you can look at cat pictures again without feeling an impending sense of doom. And they're so freaking cute!

THEY'RE JUST SO FLUFFY WHY COULDN'T THEY BE YOUR VALENTINES?!

21. And then the realization hits: It'll be another year before happy couples can show off again. Tomorrow, your single lady reign begins again!

Remember the good old days when Valentine’s Day was all about bringing candy to your elementary school classroom and exchanging Disney Princess-themed cards? There was no pressure, no stress, and no expectations—just a sugar rush that rivaled the one you had on Halloween. But fast-forward ten years and (if you’re a single collegiette) the holiday becomes a dreaded day of self-pitying, eating chocolate that your imaginary boyfriend bought you, and glaring at that couple holding hands. Lucky for you, it doesn't have to be that way this year. If the only spooning you’ll be doing this Valentine’s Day is into a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, read on to find out how to spend the holiday of love solo—and enjoy it!

Pamper yourself

Who says you need a king to make you feel like a queen? Follow in the footsteps of Tom Haverford on Parks and Recreation and Treat Yo Self by primping and indulging in all your guilty pleasures. Get a manicure. Make a DIY facemask and listen to your favorite Pandora station while it sinks in. Moisturize away all the damage that winter has done to your skin. Deep condition your hair. Finally take the time to shave your legs—especially if you can’t even remember the last time you did (…uh, summer?). Get that Frappuccino at Starbucks that you usually pass on.  Do whatever you want to do because this Valentine’s Day you can have your cake and eat it too—and go back for another slice.

Have a movie marathon. . . 

...But ditch all the classic Rom-coms that will remind you that you’re Forever Alone. Instead, opt for comedies. Invite over your other single friends, make some popcorn, sit back and relax, and laugh until your stomach hurts (or maybe that’s from all the chocolate…whoops). There’s nothing wrong with re-watching a movie you’ve seen a hundred times, like Mean Girls, Superbad, Bridesmaids, or Wedding Crashers (or maybe re-watch The 40 Year Old Virgin to remind yourself that things could be worse). Looking for something more recent that you never got around to seeing in theatres? Try Boyhood or The Skeleton Twins. Don’t have enough time for a movie marathon, or even just one movie? Watch an episode of your favorite TV show!

Teach yourself the “Single Ladies” dance

Bonus points if you dance along to the video wearing a black leotard and heels. Even better if you dance alongside your other single ladies!

Host a potluck dinner

While your wifed-up friends are having candlelit dinners with their significant others, you can host a delicious potluck dinner. Whether you live in an apartment, house, or dorm room, invite friends over for a potluck dinner. Designate different people to bring an appetizer, main dish, dessert, or drinks. If your crew is lacking cooking skills or kitchen access, check out this list of meals you can make in the microwave for easy, convenient ideas. Or, snag food from the dining hall or different restaurants on campus and pretend you made it. Bon appétit!

Read up

When was the last time you’ve read? Not a textbook, or an article for class, or your Facebook newsfeed, but a book you actually want to read. Reading for pleasure is hard to fit into a busy schedule, but it can be so relaxing—and it can take your mind off of the roses and teddy bears and candy hearts invading your day. Deena*, a sophomore at the University of Michigan, renewed her love of reading over winter break with Gone Girl, a recently published novel by Gillian Flynn. “I could not put it down. I highly recommend it,” she says. Whether it’s a new bestseller, a Chelsea Handler book, a raunchy Fifty Shades Of Grey-esque story, or even a magazine, pick up something to read. Even if it’s just for the 20 minutes you would be spending scrolling through Instagram, it’ll make you feel better. 

Indulge in some retail therapy

You don't even have to buy anything; window-shopping or online browsing is therapy too. Spring is right around the corner, so get a head start on planning how you want to update your wardrobe. Check out this article on the timeless rules of style for ideas! 

Work it out

Just because you’re single doesn't mean you shouldn't get any action on Valentine’s Day… in the gym, that is. “Exercising is a great way to blow off steam, clear your mind, and feel good about yourself,” says Cate*, a sophomore at the University of Michigan. “If I’m ever in a bad mood or stressed, I go on a run and always feel better after.” Try something fun you’ve never done before, like Zumba. Don’t feel like trekking to the gym? You can work out in your room. And if you equate exercise with torture or are just feeling super sluggish, something low-impact and relaxing like yoga can do the trick.

 Do something nice for someone 

The holiday is all about celebrating love, so you might as well use it as an opportunity to show the people in your life that you care about them. Even if it’s something small, like calling your Grandma who you haven’t talked to in weeks, or treating your friend to fro-yo, you’ll feel good about it and so will they—it’s a win-win! You could even find a volunteering or community service event on campus that day and get a group of friends together to go help out. 

Have a girls’ night out

Nice restaurant, frat party, your favorite bar, concert, dance club, student-produced play—your options are endless. However you and your friends like to have fun, make the most of Valentine’s Night by dressing up and going out. Try a new place you’ve been meaning to go to, or look online to find out if anything exciting is going on around campus or in the area. You may even get some free drinks out of it; single guys get lonely on this holiday too! Wherever you go, make sure to make a reservation in advance if possible!

In the words of Sam Adams (the rapper, not the beer), “Single doesn't mean I’m looking for somebody.” College isn’t about getting an MRS. degree. You have your whole life to find love—take the time you have now to discover yourself, have new experiences, grow and be independent, and make amazing friends. Recognizing all the reasons you love flying solo will remind you that it’s nothing to mope about.

However you choose to celebrate, make this Valentine’s Day a good one.  When you think about how great being single in college really is, you’ll be digging into that Ben & Jerry’s in celebration, not self-pity.

How will you be spending your single Valentine’s Day?

Figuring out how to tell a good friend who’s interested in you that you’re, well, not interested is notoriously tricky. It’s like trying to straighten the hair on the back of your head — time-consuming, awkward and impossible without the right tools (in this case, tact and patience rather than a flat iron and a mirror).

The good news is that it can be done. To learn how exactly to nicely reject your friend without losing the friendship, we talked to Dr. Michelle Golland, a clinical psychologist who specializes in relationships, and Beatty Cohan, a psychotherapist.

1.  Don’t give your friend hope

You don’t want to make your friend feel bad (duh), so you may be tempted to fudge the truth justttt a tad. It’s easier to say, “I like someone else,” or, “I’m not ready to date right now,” or, “Let me think about it” than something along the lines of, “It’s not going to happen.”

Those first three responses are cop-outs and, worse, they put a little spark of optimism in your poor friend’s little heart that will flicker there until finally you extinguish it with the truth that  “it’s not going to happen.”

Dr. Golland recommends saving yourself the trouble of re-rejecting your friend and saving him or her the pain of false hope. “Trouble, anger, unhappiness and frustration all come from not being clear,” she says. “If you think keeping someone in perpetual hope when you know the [real] answer is kind, you’re so wrong.”

Her go-to response would be: “I appreciate that and I’m glad you told me, but I’m not interested in that kind of relationship with you. I love being your friend.”

Don’t be mean — just honest and straightforward.

“You shouldn’t make him or her feel stupid or even crazy for considering there could be something between you two or for putting his or her heart out on the line,” says Malone Ryan, a sophomore at John Carroll University. “I would act flattered and really appreciative of the interest but make it clear that you don't feel the same way.”

2. Ask your friend how he or she is feeling

After you gently break it to your friend that a 13 Going on 30 friends-falling-in-love scenario isn’t going to happen, you’ll obviously be wondering what he or she is thinking. Figuring it out is simple: Dr. Golland advises just asking, “‘How do you feel?’ or, ‘What are you thinking?’”

According to her, there are three categories of responses.

“One, he’s totally fine with it, and he says that: ‘Oh, that’s what I thought, I just wanted to let you know.’ He’s resilient,” she explains. “That’s the best scenario.”

She says the opposite extreme is that he’s not okay — he’s upset and sad. “That’s the worst-case scenario,” she says. “He might say he doesn’t want to be friends.” This reaction is understandable. After all, you just rejected him, and even if you did it nicely, it will still sting. Nonetheless, Dr. Golland says you shouldn’t feel guilty. “When you’re truthful, you’re not responsible for the reaction,” she says.

The middle of the spectrum is someone who pretends to accept your decision but stills tries to pursue you. “He’ll say, ‘I’m totally cool with being friends with you, thank you for being direct,’ and then you’re all out at a party, and he’ll get angry when you’re talking to someone else,” Dr. Golland says.

You’ll need to reiterate that you don’t want a romantic relationship. It may even be necessary to set more boundaries, she says, such as explaining you can’t go to parties with him unless he treats you as a friend. Hopefully, he’ll come around.

3. Give your friend some space

No matter how your friend reacts, you need to give him or her space. We know that it sucks you can’t pick it up right where you left off, but ultimately, hanging out will only make it harder for him or her to process your rejection and move on.

Dr. Golland says figuring out the appropriate time for which you should give your friend space depends on how often you usually spend time together.

“If you see each other every day, I’d give it a week,” she says. “If you saw her once a week, twice a week, you’d want to extend that.”

Be careful not to stay away from your friend so long that he or she assumes you’re trying to end the friendship. A good rule of thumb is to think about the longest period of time you’ve ever not seen each other — say, 14 days — and make sure your “space” period doesn’t extend past that.

During this mini-break, don’t ask your friend to hang out. While you don’t want to cut off all communication, you shouldn’t text him or her too much either. If he or she asks you to get together, you can say yes, but be honest and straightforward: Ask, “Are you sure you’re ready to hang out again?”

4. Set some clear boundaries for yourself

Admit it: Knowing someone is into you is pretty ego-boosting. It makes you feel more powerful and confident.

Your friend flirts, you flirt back; next thing you know, you’re unnecessarily touching her, sending her winky faces in your texts or even kissing her. If you’re interested, this is fine, but if you’re still not — if you’re just playing with her feelings because you can — this behavior is emotionally manipulative and completely unfair to your friend.

“We all flirt and it can be fun, but you need to think about what those double messages can be doing to the other person,” Cohan says. “Especially if you consider this other person to be your friend. Friends don’t hurt friends.”

She says you should be mindful of your behavior and give yourself strict boundaries.

Besides just being the right thing to do, not leading your friend on also protects you. Dr. Golland explains that even if you think you’re “in control,” over time the situation will run away from you.

“It’ll come back and bite you in the a**,” she says. “Your friend will eventually get angry and might try to hurt you. You’ll also develop a bad reputation!”

5. Try to reestablish your old routine

After you’ve been clear and direct with your friend, given him some time to recover and set behavioral guidelines for yourself, it’s time to “restart” the relationship.

You have to decide whether or not you’ll feel comfortable hanging out alone with your friend. If pre-confession, you guys were together so often you finished each other’s sentences, only hanging out with him in groups would suck. So if he says he’s comfortable with your decision and won’t keep pursuing a relationship, doing stuff one-on-one should be fine.

“Take your cues from the other person,” Cohan says. “The relationship has now changed, so one or more of you may not be okay with returning to how the friendship was before.”

If you used to see this friend solely at group events, hanging out with him alone implies you’re interested and might lead him to think your “I’m just into you as a friend” response wasn’t genuine. In this case, the only “solo” involved with your interactions should be the guitar solo in the Two Door Cinema Club song you guys are listening to with your friends.

6. Don’t discuss the situation with mutual friends

In a perfect world, you wouldn’t gossip at all about what happened. But in a perfect world, a friend you’re not interested in wouldn’t fall for you, and the celebrity of your dreams would be waiting in your bedroom with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and a smile. We don’t live in that world — so because you’ll probably want to analyze the situation with your friends, at least choose those friends wisely.

Dr. Golland says you “absolutely shouldn’t” debrief with mutual friends.

“It’s embarrassing for your friend, because you rejected him or her,” she says.

Instead, pick someone who’s not in your friend group — or better yet, your state! Call your friends from high school and tell them the deal. Give your mom all the juicy details you’re dying to reveal.

Your best friend may count as a mutual friend, in which scenario, all bets are off. Dr. Golland advises to make sure he or she is really trustworthy, however, since it’s potentially hurtful info if it gets around.

7. Don’t hide your interest in someone else (but don’t rub it in, either)

Both experts adamantly agree that if you develop feelings for another person, you don’t have to hide those feelings from the friend that confessed to you.

“You’re not going to be able to protect the other person, and it isn’t your job to protect the other person,” Cohan says. “You’ve been clear; you’ve been honest.”

She continues, “Hopefully, you are going to eventually choose somebody and it will be the other person’s responsibility to deal with his or her feelings about seeing you with a new partner.”

That doesn’t mean, however, that you need to be obnoxious about your new guy or girl.

Kasia Jaworski, a senior at Villanova University, who’s dealt with this before, says she is open but tries not to go overboard with how much she shares.

“I’ve also been careful not to go into too much of my love life (unless he specifically asks and even then, I spare the details) and again, I don’t bring up the topic of us not working out unless he wants to talk about it or ask questions,” she says.

When your friend says he or she likes you, your first response (after some mental cursing) is probably, “Ugh, things will never be the same again.” But you can go back to your awesome, purely platonic friendship. We promise. It won’t be easy, but hey, neither was your Calc. midterm, and you rocked that, right? Good luck, collegiettes!

Ahh, Valentine’s Day, every hopeless romantic's favorite holiday. Well, err, then again, maybe not if you are single like yours truly.

In fact, and perhaps to some readers’ disbelief, I have never gone on a Valentine’s Day date. Of the few girlfriends/flings in my dating career none of them were in action on February 14.

But please don't feel sorry for me, think of the money I've saved on chocolate and flowers!

And speaking of those cliched Valentine’s items, I would suggest staying away from the old boring date ideas. Save dinner and a drive-in movie for another night. If it's Valentine’s Day, do something that you rarely or never get to do together. Without further ado, here are five creative dates that would surely win over any guy.

1. A ride in a horse-drawn carriage

Yeah I know it isn't super creative in the sense we've seen it in tons of romantic films, but how many people have actually gotten to do it? How many boyfriends out there have actually set it up for their girlfriend?

A horse-drawn carriage is only one of the most romantic outings ever. Cuddling up together in the warm seat while looking up at the stars and taking a ride around the park? Storybook!

2. Go out on the lake in a paddle boat

Again, it's been seen in the movies but how many of us have gotten a chance to go out on one of those pedal boats? It's a fun activity to share with your significant other and relax on a beautiful portion of open water. Heck, you can even make it a picnic out on the lake and bring some sandwiches. Depending on where you call home, you may want to make this a lunch date so you aren't too cold!

3. Outdoor skating

Okay, I may be biased on this one being a hockey player and all, but skating is awesome fun and incredibly romantic. That said, anyone can go to the local rink and skate, but to change things up, hopefully there is an outdoor rink from the holiday season still up and running. And for those in the far north, you can go out on a natural frozen pond! I would be so jealous because I have never gotten to skate on a real frozen body of water!

4. Hockey Game

Speaking of the fastest game in the world, it would only be the most awesome thing ever if I had a girlfriend take me to see my favorite hockey team! While it is a date that may not be overly creative (who hasn't thought about a sports venue date), having the girl treat the guy is a nice Sadie-Hawkins-esque change of pace!

You know your man will appreciate being taken to one of his favorite places on the planet! And it's V-Day! Maybe just maybe you will get on the "Kiss-cam"! How romantic!

5. Skiing/Log Cabin snuggle fest

For us college students, a day on the slopes may not be the easiest on our wallets but there is just something about the snow and romance. Take a day off of school and head up to the mountains for a nice day of exercise with your special someone. And when it's late afternoon and the skiing is winding down, nothing is better than returning to a good old-fashioned mountain cabin. Take off that ski, girl, get a nice (two person perhaps) shower in and then snuggle up by the fire and put on a movie? Priceless.

If you’ve ever tried to Google “Valentine’s Day quotes” to find something heartfelt to write inside of a card, then you know that most of the cheesy lines a search engine spits at you about “true love” are gag-worthy. Here are a few sweet nothings you can scribble in a love letter to your valentine that won’t make him or her feel incredibly awkward.

If you're "just talking"

You’re not dating yet, so you don’t want to come on too strong—use one of these cheesy pick-up lines to make your valentine smile.

1. “If you were a Transformer, you’d be Optimus FINE.”

2. “On a scale of one to 10, I’d give you a nine—and I’m the one you need!”

3. “Are you a banana? Because I find you a-peel-ing.”

4. “If I could rearrange the alphabet, I’d put U and I together.”

5. “Are you a kleptomaniac? Because you just stole my heart.”

6. “Good thing I brought my library card, because I’m checkin’ you out.”

7. “If you were on paper, you’d be what they call ‘fine print!’”

8. “Do you have a Band-Aid? Because I skinned my knee when I fell for you.” 

If you’re dating

You're together, and you're not seeing other people. You’re having a great time together, and you care about each other a lot—but you haven’t said the “L” word yet. Stick to these lines to show him or her how you feel without saying more than you mean to.

9. “You should be kissed, and often, by someone who knows how.” –Gone with the Wind

10. “A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.” –Ingrid Bergman (Put this on the front of a card, then on the inside write, “Writing anything in here would be superfluous.”)

11. “You have bewitched me, body and soul.” –Mr. Darcy, Pride & Prejudice

12. “Your lips are like wine, and I want to get drunk.”  –William Shakespeare

13. “i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)”  –E.E. Cummings

14. “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”  –Audrey Hepburn

15. “Yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen.”  –Sir Elton John

16. “I belong with you and you belong with me—you’re my sweetheart.” –The Lumineers

17. “Maybe I think you’re cute and funny. Maybe I wanna do what bunnies do with you, if you know what I mean.”  –Ingrid Michaelson

18. “You are a work of art.” –Morrissey

19. “You, just like heaven.” –The Cure

If you're in love

Your relationship is solid, and you’ve exchanged "I love you's." Here’s how to tell your sweetie just how in love with him or her you are!

20. “Love me tender; love me sweet. Never let me go.”  –Elvis

21. “I love you more than I could ever promise because you take me the way I am.” –Ingrid Michaelson

22. “I never knew that I could love someone the way that I love you.” –Ben Rector

23. “Your love is better than chocolate. Better than anything else that I’ve tried.” –Sarah McLachlan

24. “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” –Pride and Prejudice

25. “Home is wherever I’m with you.” –Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

26. “There are not enough days in forever to allow me to fully express the depth of my love for you.” –Steve Maraboli

27. “Love is a many splendored thing. Love lifts us up where we belong. All you need is love!” –Moulin Rouge

We all need a little guidance now and then, so whether you’re stressed about a fling gone wrong, a recently wrecked relationship or how to handle a stage-five clinger, Real Live College Guy Dale is here to help you navigate the college dating scene.

I’ve been hooking up casually with a really good guy friend for three years now. It’s kind of been talked about that at one point we had feelings for each other, but now we are both away at school in different cities. We still hook up when we see each other (sometimes drunk and sometimes sober). We have a lot in common and always have a blast together. We have been friends since high school and we are in the same friend group, so we never want to ruin our friendship by jumping into a relationship. We are both completely drama-free, but sometimes it feels like he is just using me to hook up. I have been reserved about my feelings because I don't want to ruin our friendship, and if he just wants to be friends, that would be okay with me. But he is the kind of guy that ultimately I would date. How can I tell if he is the right guy at the wrong time or just the wrong guy at the right time?–Friend or Foe at Fordham

Fordham,

It sounds like you’re both just using each other to hook up, at least for right now. As a guy, it seems unfair to me that you would willingly be in a casual sex “relationship” and then say it feels like he’s using you. Let’s not kid ourselves: You’re using him, too.

But now there are feelings involved. You think you can just be friends with him, but far too often I’ve seen “friendships” (casual hookups) fall apart when feelings aren’t reciprocated. If he doesn’t want to date you, things are going to get awkward. He may not want to have sex with you anymore, you may not want to have sex with him and now you guys can’t hang out anymore because – ugh – where’s the fun in that?

If he’s the guy you ultimately see yourself dating, you need to ‘fess up. You two apparently have a great physical connection already, and you have the benefit of already being friends. This all comes down to communication. How do you find out if he just wants to be friends? How can you tell if he likes you? You ask him.

Don’t play cat and mouse, and do your best to not be nervous. The next time you two are about to hook up, put the brakes on and have that talk. To your surprise, he may have actually been waiting to see how you felt about getting into a relationship because he wants the same thing. I could understand his reluctance to ask, though, given the distance. Distance isn’t an easy thing to cope with, regardless of the level of your relationship (friendship, hook-up, significant other, etc.).

On the flipside, there’s the chance that he might not want a relationship with you. If that’s the case, you have to decide if you’re willing to continue hooking up with him. Is the physical benefit worth the emotional distress? These are things you need to consider. I don’t feel as though this is the bridge you’ll have to cross, but I want you to be prepared either way.

Right guy, wrong time? Wrong guy, right time? Why does it have to be one or the other? Maybe he’s the right guy at the right time and one of you just needs to grab the reins and take charge. 

We all need a little guidance now and then, so whether you’re stressed about a fling gone wrong, a recently wrecked relationship or how to handle a stage-five clinger, Real Live College Guy Dale is here to help you navigate the college dating scene.

I feel like I should kick myself for asking this... Should I trust and give chances to my boyfriend whom I've caught in lies numerous times, even though the lies were silly things? For example: One of his lady friends gave him an old Kindle of hers, and instead of just telling me that, he told me his sister gave it to him. Then, while visiting another friend, my boyfriend told him the truth right in front of me as if he'd forgotten I was right next to him. Another time, I was expecting him to come hang out, and he called to tell me he was having lunch with his dad and would be late, but later his dad called and he was still out visiting family in Tennessee. When I confronted him about this (calm and cool) he said he just wanted to sleep longer.

I'm trying to be mature and work things out with him, but it's like talking to a wall. He takes it like an attack, and I only simply asked him why, as calm and understanding as I can manage. –Suspicious at Syracuse

Syracuse,

When I was a kid, I would always get in trouble for telling my mom little white lies. I knew it was bad to lie, but I just didn’t want to face the consequences of my actions. What does any of that have to do with your situation?

You haven’t given your boyfriend any consequences. You have, from what I can tell, allowed him to continue lying to you. By now, he knows he can do it. By now, he probably knows he’ll get caught too. You haven’t put your foot down and given him an ultimatum, so this has made him arrogant.

And that’s what all of this boils down to: You need to decide for yourself how much of his BS you’re willing to take. He obviously feels guilty enough to hide little things from you, and he hasn’t really given you any reason to believe that he isn’t hiding something bigger from you.

You’ve let him get away with lying for too long. You’ve been calm and understanding too long. Buck up and put your foot down. If he doesn’t respect you – which, I hate to say, it sounds like he doesn’t – then he’s not going to be honest with you. Your boyfriend honestly sounds like a shady guy, and I wouldn’t blame you for deciding that you’ve put up with his lies for too long already as is.

You need to do what’s best for you, and being with a guy that doesn’t have the common courtesy to tell you the truth about little things isn’t the kind of guy you need to be with.

There's a pretty commonly known stereotype that Valentine's Day divides the female population in half. You're either the annoyingly happy girl in a relationship who just can't wait to get the roses she told her boyfriend to send, or you're the girl throwing the "I Hate Valentine's Day" party.

Somewhere in the middle of those personalities, though - somewhere between wishing you had someone to spend the day with and also wishing you didn't care - there's a hopeless romantic who can't decide if Valentine's Day is the best or the worst thing ever (sound familiar?). Here's Jessica Day's take on 15 things that happen to these gals on the most romantic (or miserable?) day of the year.

1. It's slightly embarrassing, but you actually think Valentine's Day is kind of cute.

Okay, really cute.

2. Since you're not dating anyone, you catch yourself imagining what it would be like to date each guy you make eye contact with on campus.

Is he thinking what I'm thinking? Is this fate? Is he the - oh, nope, there's his girlfriend. Moving on.

3. All day, you're totally torn between trying to see the best in the holiday...

People are in love!! This is cute!! I am actively trying not to cry!!

4. ...And joining all of the other singles in abhorring it.

If you can't beat them, hate on them.

5. You're trying to enjoy being single, but every social media feed is blowing up with couples.

It's cool. It's totally cool. You Insta'ed a pic of your cat, which is honestly better than a boyfriend anyways.

Honestly.

Right?

6. You vow to stay off social media - as it will only make you miserable - and settle for cute YouTube videos.

OMG, who is chopping onions????

7. You know there are a few guys who could potentially be your Valentine...

Ex-boyfriend? Bad idea. That one senior you hooked up with freshman year? Oh, he's married now. Oh. Okay.

8. ...But then you start to question your whole idea of if "that special person" is even real. Is this even a thing?

Disney movies lied. WHERE IS MY PRINCE CHARMING??

9. You cry at least once at some point during the day. Even if it's just a little bit. Even if it's in the shower.

*Alone, but with a cat.

10. Your friends in relationships won't stop talking about what their boyfriends planned for their V-Day date.

Seriously, what makes her think you are the person to tell this to?

11. By the end of the day, you've heard so much love talk that you're starting to wonder why you thought this was cute. Like, ever.

There IS such a thing as death by too many #ManCrushEveryday Instagrams and Tweets. There is.

12. It makes you angry to know that, if YOU were the one in the relationship, things would be so different.

YOU would only talk about your (super perfect) flower arrangement to your mom, not your single lady friends. Because you care.

13. For now, though, you'll have to settle for staying single and enjoying the pool of hotties to look at.

Taken or not, they're always fun to look at.

14. Besides, you'll always have your true Valentine...

Pinot.