Dear Miss Emily:

Okay,  i've been with my girlfriend for two years. I'm  16 and i've been talking to this other girl whoI'm friends with, and I think im starting to have feelings for her. I don't know what to do. I love my girlfriend but ugh -- please advise.

-----------------------------Miss Emily's advice----------------------------

 Welcome to the real world! Temptation is going to rear its ugly head when you're in a relationship, but it's up to you to decide what you're going to do about it. If you truly do love your girlfriend, resist this temptation and limit contact with this other girl. But often this is a red flag that, at your age, you want to have more experience -- and a committed relationship, for two years, may have simply run its course.  I'm sure your girlfriend is perfectly wonderful -- but to maintain a long-term relationship, you have to think down the road into he future. Ask yourself, where am I headed? What do I want to experience in my life before I settle down to any one girl? If you think your feelings tend to lean toward having your freedom to explore other relationships, don't hang on to this one out of some misplaced loyalty. She doesn't deserve that. Sometimes loving someone is enough to maintain, forever. You're too young to think about that concept, anyway, and it's even hard for adults to wrap their heads around it!  Of course your girlfriend will be hurt if you break up with her, but try to openly communicate your feelings. You shouldn't deny them, and you only prolong the inevitable if you do.