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It started with her eating less and pushing food around on her plate at lunch. Then she started skipping lunch altogether, telling our group that she had to study or needed to catch up on her homework. Something just wasn’t right.

She began looking a little thinner, but nothing to be concerned about. People would ask if she lost weight, which would make her entire day. But to her friends, it was concerning.

Suddenly, she was skipping class or stopped coming to school altogether. When she did show up, she was wearing huge sweatshirts and jackets even when it was hot out. She wouldn’t return phone calls and would lash out when I asked what was going on with her. I knew I had to do something about it.

I went to my school’s guidance counselor to ask what I should do. I explained that my friend had been skipping lunch and was looking less than healthy. The counselor told me that unfortunately, the only thing I could do was to just be there for her. She said if I was really that concerned, then I should talk to her parents but that I should be prepared that my friend probably would blame me.

It turned out that another friend had already tried that. And her parents, unfortunately, were in complete denial about the whole thing. They ended up confronting her, but she freaked out. When she found out that we had brought it to their attention, she abandoned us as her friends even though we were trying to help.

A few weeks later, my friend ended up being taken to the hospital because her body was rejecting food. She was sent to rehab for pretty much the remainder of the school year. As hard as it was to see what happened to her, we were all so glad that she was getting the help she needed.

She made it through and now she’s back to her healthy self. Our friendship, however, didn’t quite make it. Every time I’ve seen her since then, we’re cordial and nice to each other. But we’re not friends anymore. It hurts because as her friends, we wanted to help her. I wish that our friendship had survived, but I’m so glad that she’s healthy and thriving. She seems really happy, and that’s honestly all I can ask for.

Have you ever had a friend who struggled with an eating disorder or addiction? What did you do? Tell us in the comments!
 
This post is written in partnership with Simon & Schuster and Letting Ana Go.
 

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Anyway, I’m kicking myself for not getting his number because I would have gotten the ball rolling by now. It’s complete torture waiting for your crush to text you. I keep checking my phone every five seconds to see if I have a text. I even turned it off and back on because I thought there might be something wrong with my signal because I’m being that girl.

I’m fully aware that I need to chill out. Really, if we hit it off as well as I thought we did (I have friends who can vouch for that too!) then he will text me. Right? Right.

So here are 6 things you should NOT do when you’re waiting for your crush to text you.

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Don't Compulsively "Like" Everything He Does

Seriously, take your finger off the like button. Don't double tap that Instagram pic. Avoid RTing every funny thing he tweets. Just be normal, and don't abuse social media.

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Don't Shut Yourself Off

Just because you have it bad for your crush doesn't mean someone else isn't interested! While you're waiting around for your crush to get it together, don't shut yourself off to other people!

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Don't Harass His Friends

Don't start bothering his friends to give you info about if your crush likes you or not. Have normal interactions!

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Don't Try To Run Into Him

If you run into him naturally, great! But don't try to run into him on purpose, especially in places where you wouldn't normally be.

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Stop Checking The Phone

You will drive yourself crazy, like me. Put the phone down and go do stuff. If he texts you, it'll still be there when you get back.

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Don't Stalk Him

Do yourself a favor and stop looking at his Facebook profile. Stop re-watching his Vines over and over. Just relax and try not to cyber-stalk so much.

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What do you do when you’re waiting for your crush to text you? Have you done any of the above? Tell us in the comments!
 

And here’s how you can stop thinking about your crush

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jasmiine23 said:

“I met this guy last March. We went out on a few dates and then had sex within a couple weeks of meeting. (I wasn’t looking for anything because I had just ended w someone). About 2 weeks later, I went home for summer break but we kept in contact.

When I got back, we still had sex but the dates stopped. I started to want more, but I never directly said it. I dropped hints saying things like, “lets go out some time.” Etc. He said ok, but we never did. We’d have sex & he’d leave right after he showered. One night he fell asleep & I woke up in the mid of the night & I guess maybe he thought I was gonna ask him to leave so he rushed out. I wasn’t though. I basically think he might be either a jerk or scared of rejection. I get the most mixed signals.

We were getting anywhere so I tried to end the friendship completely. But he kept contacting me so that failed. Then a few months ago I got into a relationship & I called it off. He texted me 3 weeks ago & I told him I just didn’t want to be friends anymore. But last night, he called me (which was a major shock to me. He only used to text me & that bothered me) & said he missed me, etc. It’s crazy because I’m single now & I was thinking about him the entire week before he called.”

Got something to add to this convo? Then go for it, girl! Let us know what you think right here.

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Should you come out if you go to an all-girls’ school?

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Source: Disney Wikia

She doesn’t want to just do what society thinks she should. So he takes matters into her own hands and decides to do what she wants with her life. Even if that means finding a witch and turning her mom into a bear. Regardless, Merida is all about doing what makes you happy!

When it comes to feminism in the princess world, Merida wins hands down.
 
Click through to learn 10 tips from her!

What should you do if you like your brother’s friend?

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And I saw a penis.

A guy sexted me a picture of his penis. Like he looked down and thought, “She would really like this,” took a picture and hit the send button.

Well, I did not. It’s not that I don’t like penises. I’m not scared of them, and they don’t offend me. I just don’t want pictures of them on reserve in my phone! I don’t want to open a text to be confronted with that!

Now, I’m not against sending steamy texts and talking dirty. That’s all gravy. You text what you want. But you have to be sure the person you’re talking to is down for that. A guy has never sent me a picture of his junk before. Never. Not even boyfriends. I really didn’t know what to do.

I deleted the picture immediately and responded with “Um, I’m not really into that.” And left it alone. I think I may have deflated his ego a bit, but I don’t care. It’s not like we were sexting and it escalated into pictures. No. I was completely unsuspecting.

Everyone likes different things. I am just one of those people who does not like getting pictures of penises. It doesn’t do anything for me, and I’d prefer to not have nude pictures hanging out (pun intended) in my phone.

I could tell he was trying to steer the conversation back to normal, but I don’t think I’ll be talking to him anymore. I mean, what are you supposed to do in that situation?

Have you ever had a guy surprise you with a picture of his penis? How did you respond? Do you like getting penis pictures? Tell us in the comments!
 

Speaking of pictures, your Snapchat photos are getting leaked!

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The thing is, now when I break up with someone, it’s done. I’m someone who needs to cut off contact or else I end up diving into this on-and-off cycle. After having two very long on-and-off relationships, I just can’t do it again. It’s too difficult.

But this guy wanted to be friends and still act buddy-buddy. Which was fine until I realized that I just can’t do that. Why, you ask? Maybe because I’m surrounded by social media and am getting bombarded by him ALL THE TIME.

I love social media, I really do. I just don’t want to see the guy that I want to be with all up on my Instagram and Twitter feeds when I’m trying to get over him. I was doing okay for a while because we weren’t talking that much anymore. But little by little, we’re communicating more. Or rather, he’s “communicating” with me.

He sends me Snapchats of things he’s doing and tweets at me, but then doesn’t want to have an actual conversation. And I’m here like “Helloooo why are you doing this to me?!” It’s like he knows when I’m about to get over him and then he’s all NO JK COME BACK. It’s really frustrating.

Back in the day when all of this social media didn’t exist, I found it much easier to avoid contact with people. I know I could easily unfollow him or unfriend him or whatever, but it seems really harsh to do that. He didn’t particularly do anything like one of my exes that I had to block from Facebook. The timing just wasn’t right. We don’t have ill feelings toward each other.

I just miss his face. And it’s really hard to move on and want to give other guys a chance when I’m seeing his face pop up on my phone because he won’t let me go. I really don’t know what to do.

Should I just remove him from all social media accounts? Should I talk to him about it? If I talk to him, how do I even bring it up? I feel so confused in my brain, heart and feels. HELP ME! Tell me what you think I should do in the comments!
 

At least I don’t regret hooking up with him

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With all that said, I’ve had my fair share of drama at concerts, and the most frustrating incidents are usually the most easily avoidable. After attending so many shows, and a lot of trial and error, I’ve figured out what is needed to have the most hassle-free concert experience ever. This advice is definitely valuable whether you’re a seasoned concert-goer or you’re attending your first gig sometime soon. So here’s what I wish I knew before my first concert.

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Have A Game Plan

Just deciding that you and your friends are going to go to a concert together isn't enough of a plan. Know ahead of time when you'll arrive, if you want to stand in the pit vs. the balcony, etc. If you and your friends differ, you have to come to a compromise unless you want to be grumpy throughout the show.

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Charge Everything

Please, charge your phone to full battery before you head off to the show. It is really inconvenient and stressful to have a dead battery at a show, especially if you need to make phone calls, texts, or take photos. Here's my advice if you're bringing your smartphone: Set your phone to airplane mode whenever you can. You'll save a lot of battery life. Also, if you're bringing a digital camera make sure that battery is check to make sure that you have enough space left on your SD card.

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Pack Light

Don't bring your everyday purse that is probably filled to the brim with your bulky wallet, scraps of paper and that old candy bar that you could have sworn you already ate. Take only what you need and put it in a smaller purse. My essentials include my phone, ID, money/credit card, lipstick and a camera.

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Forgo A Coat

Even if it is cold on the day of the show, only bring a lightweight jacket at the very most. Once you're inside the venue it is going to get really hot, especially if you're standing in the pit. The last thing you want is to have to carry around your big ol' coat while you're trying to rock out.

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Don't Wear Anything Uncomfortable

Look, I've been known to forgo practicality for the sake of style many times in my life. But listen to me: A concert isn't the place to do that, especially if you're standing for a majority of it. This is particularly important in the case of footwear. Don't wear high heels that you know pinch your feet after a couple of hours, and don't wear open toe shoes. Wear a pair of shoes that you love but don't mind if they're stepped on and won't kill your feet. I usually wear my Docs or a pair of flats.

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Arrive Early

If you want to get a great spot, arrive early. How early will depend on the particular act that you're seeing, but at least make sure you know what time the doors open. Depending on the act and venue, you should either arrive at least an hour early. The earliest I've arrived for a show was 8 hours. Do what you can, just know that unless you're at a gig with assigned seats, the good spots are taken early.

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Buy Your Merch First

That's yours truly in that pic. I almost always buy merch at a gig, especially shirts. I try to buy them as soon as I get inside the venue (well, after my spot in the very front of the stage is saved!). Why? Because sizes run out and it is far more crowded around the merch table when the show ends. Just get it out of the way as early as possible so you don't have to worry about it later.

Bring Your Own Pen

If you want anything signed, please bring your own pen. Don't assume that another fan will have one, and definitely don't assume that the members of the band have one. And make sure there is plenty of ink!

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Be Patient If You Want To Meet The Band/Group/Singer After The Show

If you want to meet the band/group/singer after the show, you have to have some patience. And you'll likely have to wait outside. Once, I stood in freezing cold rain for nearly two hours in the middle of December to meet my favorite band, Arctic Monkeys, after their show. It was totally worth it. Don't worry about being the only person standing around; there will likely be other people waiting for the band too. Make some friends, mingle, etc.

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Know What You're Getting Into

Concerts are fun, but not if you're taken by some unpleasant surprises. Just use a little common sense. If you're seeing a very high energy group and you're not into getting pushed around, don't stand in front of the stage. If you're wearing a dress or skirt, know that it can ride up if people are pressed against you. If you decided to bring your expensive handbag, know that somebody can spill beer on it. Somebody will probably step on your foot at some point; don't freak out. Know that nobody has an obligation to move just because you're short...just remember little things like that and the concert will go smoothly

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What’s your favorite concert experience? Are you seeing anyone in concert soon? Do you prefer large venues or small ones; seated or non-seated? Tell us in the comments!

Comments Of The Week: All About Music!
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This week on the message boards, you girls are talking about what to do if your boyfriend isn’t great in bed because he only pays attention to himself so you end up faking it.

Let’s see what y’all had to say!

Nobody said:

It is a big deal, I’d seriously talk to him about it and tell him where you’re coming from. And I hate to say it but if he’s not willing to take the time to please you he really can’t be that great of a guy and care about you all that much (speaking from experience). Tell him something like “How would you feel if I got off all the time and you never did and when you got upset I just told you to go ‘masturbate’” and just see how it goes.

S0Exciited said:

My main advice to you is never fake it again. Your boyfriend is a selfish lover, and you aren’t making things any better by faking it and keeping your mouth shut. A silent lover is an unsatisfied one. Tell him he isn’t satisfying you because he’s not trying! He needs patience.

mandakim said:

If he can’t be bothered pleasuring you now, imagine how he’s going to be when/if you get married. Do you want to spend the rest of your life being literally used for his pleasure and him not giving a rats about yours?

He doesn’t need to “change a little”, he needs to “change a LOT” and needs to understand how important it is for BOTH of you to enjoy sex. It’s a two person activity. Make sure he knows that, and if he doesn’t care or cant be bothered changing, dump him! There a lot of guys out there who WILL care about your pleasure and make sure you both enjoy the experience.

It totally sucks when you aren’t having good sex with your boyfriend. But you absolutely need to speak up! Faking it is the worst thing you can do. He’s just going to keep doing the same thing since he thinks he’s getting it right!

If your sex life isn’t what you want it to be, you have to say something. You have to tell your partner what you want! You don’t have to tell your partner that they suck in bed, but just explain what you like and how you want things to be done. Let him know “I really like it when you do this,” or take a different approach and ask if y’all can try something new.

Sex is a two-way street. If your partner doesn’t know what you like in bed, there’s no way that they’ll be able to please you. Before you have sex again, sit your partner down and talk about it. Having an open dialogue about sex will also make things much better between you two.

Have you ever had a partner that was just no good? What did you do? Tell us in the comments!

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Am I going to be alone forever?

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Tattoos are a big deal! I mean, once you get one, it’s not coming off. Making the decision to get a tattoo requires a lot of thought. There are people who will get one on a whim, but most of the people I know that have done so often regret it.

I have three tattoos, and I knew I wanted each one for well over a year before I decided to get it done. That may seem like a long time, but I don’t regret any of them. I love all of my ink!

Since I’ve been around the block a few times, I kind of know what I’m doing. If you’re thinking about getting a tattoo, you should read through these steps first.

Click through for your complete guide to getting a tattoo!