Auntie SparkNotes: Fresh Meat!

Dear Auntie,

This is my first time writing to you so pardon if this sounds a little awkward. That's me in a nutshell, but that's beside the point. Let's lay out the details: I'm a senior girl in high school, I've never had a real boyfriend, and I really, really want one. I'm in the drama club at my school, and simply love it.

I like the people there more than the performing- we're like a family. Every year we get new freshmen and I welcome them with open arms. It's normally 90% girls who join. But this year, a LOT of freshmen boys came in. And there's this one. He is probably the cutest kid I've ever met. We have the EXACT same personality, and have pretty much everything in common. Not to mention he's good looking. At first our friendship was innocent, but now it's starting to get flirty. When I told some of my friends that I might possibly like him, they start telling me that it's really creepy for a 17 year old girl to like a 14 year old boy. I can see where they are coming from, but it just puts a damper on my spirits. Am I really a creeper for liking this kid? And do I really like him, or is it just that I really want a boyfriend?

Before I answer your question, Sparkler, I just need a bit more information—your answers to a three-question, scientifically-based quiz to determine general creepiness. So, tell me:

1. Are you using your older-girl status to pressure or coerce this guy into doing things he's not comfortable with?
2. Have you continued to flirt with him despite obvious signals on his part that he'd rather not have your attention?
3. Are you currently standing outside his window, wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and nothing else, playing a ukelele, and singing "Are You Lonesome Tonight"?

And if your answers to the above questions are no, no, and no? Then no, darling, you're not a creeper. And as for your friends' assertion that you are... well, let's just say that I often wonder what sort of magical, marvelous things might happen if, for just one day, people were physically prevented from making judgmental, deflating, and dismissive remarks about relationships that are none of their god damn business.

Basically, there's nothing wrong with your feelings, or with a three-year age difference in a high school relationship, or with noticing the attractive qualities of a younger guy. And since you're noticing just one guy, and since you haven't been chasing the male population at large in your quest for a man of your own, I think you can safely assume that you're not just desperately latching onto the nearest boyfriendable option; you dig this particular guy, particularly, because you think he's neat. (And while yes, the domain of freshman-age boys contains a fair number of maturity-challenged weirdies who still think it's hilarious to drink milk through your nostrils, it also contains Cody Simpson, so let's not pretend like there's no precedent for hotness there.)

Of course, there still is—for whatever reason—a weird social stigma attached to the younger guy/older girl combination, even though nobody seems to mind it when the sexes are reversed. So while I can firmly assert that there's nothing wrong with your feelings, I can't promise you that your classmates won't give you a hard time about them. But y'know what? Who cares. You are your own master, you're enjoying a nascent crush, and your relationship (should it become one) will only be news for as long as it takes for something more interesting to come along. So if you think you can handle it? Go for it. Happy weekend!

Got some experience with a big crushy age difference? Weigh in! And to get advice from Auntie, email her at advice@sparknotes.com.