I've been reading this thread for a while and I've realized that most of you are far too young to be stressing out over these things. Aren't most of you in high school? Most of the issues described here all revolve around one fatal flaw: young people are selfish. We all are, don't try to deny it, it just comes part of the package of being young. It's just as well, I doubt any of you here are in these relationships hoping for it to last for years. If you are then I wish you the best. But since most of you are in high school, do you really think that your bf/gf are thinking totally selflessly. I know I didn't when I dated, and it's clear that neither are most of you; and that's fine. You are at a point in your life where you have very few responsibilities, maturation comes when those responsibilites grow.
I say "expect nothing" because I mean just that, expect nothing. Expectations come with time and habit, which in situations like these amounts to the order of many months, years possibly. If you give your bf/gf a gift out of the kindness of you heart, good for you; but unless they practice the same thing regularly, then they won't reciprocate. That's not a reflection on either of you, but its just a measure of longevity. After a year or so, you may find the two of you going out regularly, exchanging random little trinkets every now and then, and begin treating each other as a constant factor in each other's lives.
For those of you who have your eye on someone special, talk to them. You don't have to waltz up to them and ask them out, just find a common interest and start talking. If you want to date someone, figure out what you are looking for. If you just want to get into a relationship just to "give it a shot", I guarantee that it will not last very long unless you both decide that it is something worth pursuing. If you want to be dating someone for years to come, then figure out if they want the same.
Also, be wary of the distinction between Love and Lust. Both are powerful emotions that often feel the same upon first glance. An easy, but lengthy way to distinguish to two is to wait it out. Feelings of Lust will always give way to the next flavor of the week, Love is a bit stronger and will last longer. Be careful though, Love is not permanent, it is a fleeting emotion that requires constant nurture to keep alive and fresh. Every couple of months or so do something big romantically. Gestures like these are good way to keep things alive and prevent falling into a rut.
