Dear Kristi,

What advice would you give someone who is graduating and heading out into the “real world?”

— Outta Here

Dear Outta Here,

Dear Kristi,

Dear Kristi,

Dear Kristi,

This week I didn’t need anyone to write to me asking about Valentine’s Day. I’m pretty clueless on the subject and I have my own question that needs answered.

I haven’t been a fan of Valentine’s Day since I was a kid. I’m talking about hating the day of love even as an eight year old. I didn’t like the concept of having to make everyone in your class a Valentine. I didn’t like half of them, so why did they need a little pink lie from me?

Dear Kristi,

I had recently been seeing this guy for about two months. He usually went out with me and my friends, but then he wanted me to meet his friends, too. I did my best to make a good impression on them, but they all acted like jerks the whole time and I was miserable. Since that night, the guy hasn’t called me or anything. I know it was nothing I did because I acted the same around them as I did around my guy, and he was happy up until that point. Why are guys so dependent on what their friends think? Are they all like that?

— Sick of Guys

Dear Kristi,

While I was at home for Christmas break, I messed up pretty bad. At a party one night I ended up running into my ex-boyfriend and we started talking and just being friendly. A few hours and drinks later, it got too friendly. We ended up having sex in his car. The problem is, I have a boyfriend. We haven’t been together all that long but I really like him. I don’t know if I should keep it a secret and just look at it as a drunken mistake, or tell him the truth and hope for the best. I’m confused because I’d like to move on and work it out but at the same time I’m doubting our relationship because I don’t think I would have cheated if it mattered that much. What do I do?

Dear Kristi,

I have the biggest problem ever. I’ve been best friends with this guy for years now. But now, after all this time, my feelings for him are stronger and different. He has a girlfriend, who I get along great with, and I would never want to hurt either one of them. But I feel right about him and me together, like it’s supposed to be that way. What do I do? How do I bring it out into the open without causing any conflict or making things weird? Should I just forget that I ever realized this?

— A Very Good Friend

Dear Kristi,

There’s this guy I used to hang out and hook up with. But now we have this crazy thing going on. One day we’ll be really close and the next he’ll act mean and bipolar and tell me I’m clingy. I can’t get rid of him. I want to move on but every time I try to, he comes back and acts sweetly and I fall right back in. I know he’s not really worth it, but I can’t stop thinking about him. What do I do?

— Casually Clung

Dear Kristi,

I’m still in school, but my boyfriend isn’t. He has a good job, though. I understand that this job is good for him as well as for our future, but sometimes I feel like he puts me on the back burner. I know that when he comes home, he’s tired, but I’d even be content sitting with him on the couch just relaxing. I don’t want him to feel like I’m nagging, but I want him to know that while I completely support him and his choices, I still need some of him and his time, too. How can I talk to him about this? And better yet, how can I put some spice back into our relationship just to remind him that I’m around?

— Ignored Girlfriend