Relationships are hard and when a friendship begins to be a romance, this can be a hard and tricky change for you and your partner. When you have a friendship that is on the line, dating your friend that you have known for years can be one of the best things ever, but it can also be the scariest things ever.
Deciding if you are going to date might be the hardest thing. You might be worried that they will not return your feelings or that you will lose your best friend in the process.
Even though none of us know the future, some people believe that it is possible to date a friend but if they do not return your love, you can still salvage the friendship.
There are always going to be challenges in dating and this can be even more challenging when you are dating a friend. Sometimes, some believe that when you want to fall in love, nothing is better than being more than friends.
Pros and Cons of Dating a Friend
Before you tell your friend that you love them, you have to figure out all of the outcomes that could happen. You might feel that being romantically involved with your friend is not worth it because it could end with hard feelings.
Or if you decide to pursue it, make sure that you are accepting of the different outcomes that could happen and you take a chance that they might not like you beyond a friend.
Signs They are Interested
You can tell if someone is interested or has feelings for you and even if you think someone is attracted to you, make sure that you are making the right decision before you make a move.
If you have been friends with someone for a long time, make sure that your partner is really interested in you.
Here are some signs that he might be into you:
- They want to spend more time with you than with their friends.
- They are intimate in their details.
- They want to meet the family.
- They get jealous of other people.
- They flirt.
- They touch or make eye contact.
Pressure
Telling your crush your feelings can cause them to be caught off guard and can cause there to be pressure. Make sure that you are going to stay friends no matter what. If you are going to try to take things to the next level, tell your friend that you just want to share what you are feeling and you do not expect them to feel the same.
Your friend deserves to have time to think things over. Give them time and space to figure out what they want and do not be mad at them if they tell you no.
Turned Down
One of the worst things that can happen is if your crush does not feel the same about you. Maybe they will tell you that they just want to be friends and they just love hanging out.
Potential
There are going to be challenges in all relationships and friends first couples might have more hurdles.
Being a great friend can mean that there are strong feelings but if you like them and they are mutual in their feelings, they can date and there might be romance involved. The problem is, what if attraction is missing and what if you later realize that you are not in love with them, but you just wanted to be with them because you enjoyed them.
Breakups are hard and breaking up with someone that was a close friend can feel like you have lost everything. It can be harder and more emotional. When you realize you do not love them, it can break their heart and be one of the hardest things you ever have to say.
It is possible to stay friends after a breakup but once you were friends and you dated, things will never be the same and it will be hard to keep the friendship together after you break up.
If he or she begins to date someone new, this an make it even harder because they have to share the hard relationship part with each other, and it will feel like you have lost a friend and a lover.
Best Case
On the other side, if your friend becomes your partner and you end up having a long-term relationship, what could be better.
Going from friends to romance can have great benefits such as you always being honest with each other, the trust that comes with being friends and learning to see each other in different lights. You already know them as your friend and now you get to know them more.