I walk down the hallway with a male by my side, and people assume that we are dating or that we are together. “Have you seen them together? They’re so ca-yute!” or “Oh my gosh, that’s scandalous! He was dating Kimmie last year!” The rumors are endless. But, what happens when a good friendship in fact turns into more?

Picture this: a perfectly rainy day, movie playing, popcorn in hand, and cuddling with your boy friend. Yes, your boy SLASH friend; your best friend of the opposite gender, whom you trust and love. Remember last month after that nasty break-up, and your boy SLASH friend came over and let you ugly-cry until snot filled his t-shirt? Or maybe the time when it was raining, and your boy SLASH friend lifted you into his arms, so that you didn’t get your favorite shoes dirty?

When you start to catch feelings for your best friend of the opposite gender, they might feel the same. However, a common problem is the fact that once in a while, people do not admit those feelings due to a lack of communication.

Most of us lack the courage to express our true feelings because of the possible rejection and even the potential loss of a friend. A best friend is a person whom you can tell anything to and the worst possible occurrence is keeping your feelings away in fear of rejection.

[vision_pullquote style=”3″ align=””] A best friendship that turns into a relationship has great potential because of the fact that you both have known each other for a while. [/vision_pullquote]

However, once you transition from boy SLASH friend to boyfriend and, the relationship suddenly includes stress. I’m not saying that the relationship isn’t still comfortable, but it now requires a little more effort.

Although this may take more energy, it means that you now care more about this person and how they look at you. Impressions are the first stage in a relationship, due to the fact that you get to know each other on a more personal level. Instead of being just friends, there is now a more relationship-based factor to your partnership.

Is your makeup good? Is your hair clean? Are your eyebrows in good shape? Oh my, do you smell good? You better be smelling good!

So what if you have to take a little extra time doing your hair just to look good for your “best friend?” A best friendship that turns into a relationship has great potential because of the fact that you both have known each other for a while.

In short, it is completely okay to admit unsaid feelings toward a person that you have been close with for a long time. This will give you the opportunity to have a potentially long-lasting and successful relationship.

“When love beckons to you, follow him.”