At age 15, I was raped by my boyfriend. So I guess my story's a little different than everyone else's.

I mean, of course I regret it. But at the same time, it's taught me a lot -- for instance, now I am a lot less trusting when it comes to guys. That doesn't mean I don't trust them at all, just that I am more wary of what people are capable of. I've taken self defense classes and I know that if something like this happens again, I'll know how to protect myself.

Still, I don't consider the rape losing my virginity, because I believe your "virginity" is something that you share with someone you care about, and it can't be stolen from you unwillingly.

As far as "giving away" my virginity... that wasn't until I was 18. Not because I was a prude, I just hadn't had a lot of luck with guys after my rape and failed relationship. I don't regret losing my virginity to him -- partially because we're still together a year and a half later. Even if we weren't though, I wouldn't regret it because I love him, and I loved him when I chose to have sex with him. Plus, I've always learned to never regret something that once made you smile. =]

Yes, you should still use sunblock because even if you're not getting sunburnt, your skin is still getting the effects from the sun. If you don't burn, though, you don't have to use a high SPF -- 15 or 20 should be fine, and you'll still tan. =]

Well, if all you're doing is , then it's wrong. You need to make it like this:

[img src="linktopicture"] except the [] will be . You almost had it.

Well, you need to talk to both Annie AND her mom.

First, tell Annie that it is an extreme inconvenience to wait for her while she wastes time. You should tell her she has two choices: either she runs the full two miles, or she leaves when you're ready to leave. Tell her that as much as you like having the company [even if you don't], you can't sit around for half an hour or more, while she's wasting time.

If you want, you can help her come up with a program to help her get up to "par" when it comes to running. Maybe she can start by powerwalking one mile a day -- that would take her about 20 minutes. Then she can work up to running half a mile, powerwalking another. Then she'll be running a whole mile, and so on -- working up by a half mile [or quarter mile].

If she still continues to do it the way she is, then you need to talk to her mom. Just tell her something like, "I love that Annie wants to run with me, but I think it would be really great if you could take her to the park a few times a week until she gets more comfortable running and is able to get it done in a reasonable amount of time. I know she can do it, but she's going to need to work her way up to it, and my mom and I have other errands to run after I'm done running, so it's a little inconvenient to sit there for an hour while Annie walks."

If her mom has a huge problem or if Annie persists in taking forever to walk/run, then just tell her mom you guys won't be taking her any more. It's not your problem if her mom is mean to her -- it's a tough situation, but if Annie wants to get her mom off her back about this, she'll suck it up and run.

This site should help you out a lot:

http://www.divorcesupport.com/divorce/California-Divorce-Laws-436.html

Well, there are two ways you can think about it:

Set number one will look more 'teenager' ish, and will allow you to have more color in your room, through the accessories, because of the stripes.

Set number two will look more 'grownup' if that's what you're looking for. And you'll be able to keep it a little longer because as you get older, it'll still be suitable for your age. Not to mention it's more calming.

I think that you're probably looking for something more fun and 'teen'-ish, so I'd go for the first one.

[But like I said, if you want something more mature and calming, definitely disregard this vote and choose the first.]

There are three.

The band TLC, which, unless you're over the age of 13 probably don't know, stands for T-Boz, Left-Eye, and Chilli -- the names of the girls in the band. [PS; RIP Lisa 'Left-Eye' Lopes]

TLC could also stand for 'Tender Loving Care'.

Or, if you're talking about the TV channel, then it stands for 'The Learning Channel'.

Okay... let me get this straight. Guy #1 liked you, and wanted to 'wait for you' for whatever reason. Then you started dating Guy #2, and now Guy #1 is jealous and says you lied and led him on. Right? Alrighty.

Basically, you don't seem like a complete idiot, and if you don't think you were leading this guy on [intentionally or not], then you probably weren't. Guys tend to think that anything that makes them like you more [even if it's a freakin' hairstyle or something] leads them on. So if you say you didn't do anything like that, then I don't think you did.

That being said, you need to talk to the guy that says you lied. Tell him straight up, "Look. I really do want to be your friend, but I don't have romantic feelings for you. I can't date someone I don't like that way, and even though you're a great guy, I just don't feel that way for you. I hope you understand that I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, but I want to make it perfectly clear that I don't like you. If you think I lied to you, I'm sorry, and if you think I led you on, I'm sorry, but I never meant to." Then go from there. If he wants to be your friend, great. If he can't accept you as a friend, then I think you need to drop him like a hot potato because he obviously doesn't want you to be happy.

As far as Guy #2 goes -- your boyfriend. You should explain the entire situation to him as well, just so that he's in the know and whatnot. If you make it clear to him as well that you don't like the other guy, then everything should be fine and dandy.

Go here:

http://www.region.peel.on.ca/health/hsexual/htmfiles/vcf.htm

It tells you everything you need to know about its accuracy -- it's not quite as effective as a condom, and as far as I know it will NOT protect against STD's, because it's simply a film that dissolves inside your vagina and releases spermicide. But if it's used with the birth control, you should be very protected and not have anything to worry about.

First of all, you'll have to get a pelvic exam no matter WHERE you go, whether it's Planned Parenthood or a gynecologist. No doctor would put you on the Pill without giving you an exam first, because they have to make sure everything's "in the right place" and you don't have any issues. Even 14-year-olds can get cervical cancer, and even if they've never had sex. And anyway, the Pill isn't always right for everyone. Some people have issues that would cause the Pill to make you VERY sick.

Second of all, if you're 14 years old and you're ready to have sex, that's fine. But you're not going to get birth control without parental consent anywhere, probably. At my local Planned Parenthood, you have to be 16 without parental consent. Not to mention the fact that if your mother is going to have a problem with it, you probably don't want to go against her wishes, because you're going to get yourself in a hell of a lot of trouble, one way or another.

This guy seems like the kind of jerk that thinks men are above women and own them. What an asshole.

To be honest, you're 14 and you have a lot of life ahead of you. You should spend your time with someone who treats you like you deserve to be treated, isn't selfish and demeaning, and truly cares about you [and shows it].

If this guy's only 14-ish and he's already acting this way, then two things are going to happen:

1] He's not going to change, and if he does, it's going to get worse, and
2] He'll begin to make YOU think that it's okay for him to act that way, and that's just taking you down with him.

Please, drop this guy.

Nope, everyone [well, I won't say everyone, but most women and even men] have bumps on their areolas. That's completely normal. If you're REALLY concerned about it though, you can ask your gynecologist next time you go [since they do breast exams and everything anyway].

I've never heard of a single guy that didn't like navel piercings.

On another note, I think you should go to a dermatologist's office to get it done. Most places will do it, you may have to call around though. They charge about the same as a piercing parlor, they tend to be cleaner and more stable, AND they'll numb your belly with Novocaine first so you won't feel a thing. That's where I got mine done, and there were no problems, no infection, no pain [just a little soreness after the Novocaine wore off].

Well, I think you need to tell your friend to back off. In a gentler way, of course.

It seems like the teacher is just trying to go above and beyond and be a good friend, NOT be a boyfriend.

The thing is, nothing could ever happen between these two, until your friend turns 18. It's completely illegal for them to have any form of relationship, even if they're not sleeping together. On another note, does she really want to bring that stigma to herself AND to the teacher, and risk him losing his job and reputation? I don't think so.

If she cares about this teacher, then she will value his reputation and let him live his life, without a romantic relationship with a student.

You should tell his wife. Even if you two are not that close, she deserves to know that her husband is cheating on her. Tell her straight up, exactly what happened and what was going on.

Yes, there's a chance she'll get defensive and not believe you, but if that happens, she'll find out eventually. It always comes out.

If she happens to get upset with YOU for telling her, just let her be upset and deal with the information in her own way. Even if she's mad to begin with, she'll appreciate it eventually.

I don't really know anything about wakeboarding because I'm just not into water sports, but I do know about chickening out!

You have to just force yourself to do it, just once. After you make yourself do it once, you'll be more willing to do it again.

Falls are going to happen. Injuries -- they might happen too. That all comes with the territory of a sport like that. But practice makes perfect, and you can't even practice if you don't even try it once.

About 4-5 business days, usually. Unless they're paying for the overnight or 2-day, which I doubt.

A chicken wrap is some chicken, maybe some lettuce, some sort of dressing, maybe cheese or even bacon and tomato. All wrapped up in a tortilla.

A chicken salad is a regular salad with chicken on it, OR it can be chicken mixed with mayo and seasonings, kinda like tuna.

"Fat pockets" insinuates someone that has a lot of money.

You spell TV (as in, short for TeleVision), TV. You were right on.

Have a nice day.

It's weed. =)

Don't smoke pot, mannnn. Drugs killlll.

You should go fill out a profile at FastWeb (http://www.fastweb.com)

It's great that you're trying to get a head start on your college search, and this site will help you a lot. Yes, it takes a while to fill out the profile, but they give you all sorts of information -- like what colleges have the majors you're looking at, what you have to do to get into those colleges, and they have great information on literally HUNDREDS of scholarships and internships.

Hey there. I'm Holly, and I'm 19. I've been through a lot in my life -- literally, if you can name it, I've probably dealt with it or know someone who has. Unfortunately, it sucks, but fortunately, it puts me in a great position to help people that need advice. Feel free to ask me anything about anything. =]

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