A couple is fooling around. Suddenly one of them says it – “I love you.”

There’s a huge silence ... and a lot of awkwardness.

The two finally start kissing again and pretend nothing happened. The next day at school, neither person mentions it, but something is definitely different.

Tips for Handling L-O-V-E and Sex

• If someone says they love you, you don’t have to say it back or feel the same way (and the relationship can still work).
• Lying about loving someone to have sex is not a good idea.
• Lying about loving someone so that they like you is not a good idea.
• You don’t have to be in love to have sex – though you may choose to.
• Just because you are in love does not mean you have to have sex.
• You should never have to do something to prove that you love someone.
• You may want to rethink the relationship if you are feeling pressure to have sex or to say you love someone when you just aren’t feeling it.