My boyfriend and I have been dating for over a year and a half. I'm not going to be one of those girlfriends that sits here and says that "I love him so much!" and so on and so forth. Yes, I love him, but that's irrelevant right now. Okay, so my problem is this: I rarely get to see him. Every time I try to make plans to see him, he doesn't help me. It's as if he doesn't care if I see him one way or another. Also, every night, he tells me this: I love and miss you. He never actually says, "I love you." He's never even said it in person. We've kissed once, but I'm not complaining about that. I just don't feel like he's being sincere in what he tells me anymore. His phone is always getting lost or dying when I try to talk to him. I can see him almost every other Sunday. The problem is that he's always practicing. He won't even stop for a few minutes just to spend time with me.

Here's the kicker to the whole thing, though. I think I'm starting to like someone else. I still really like him. In fact, I love my boyfriend, but the guy I like actually goes to my high school. I can see him every day, and he listens to everything I have to say. I need a lot of support through my life because of my past. When I first started dating him, he was really supportive, and he listened to everything. Now, he couldn't care less, or at least it feels like it. I know that people change, but I can't help but feel like I said or did something to deserve this. I just want to know why this is all happening to me. He knows everything. So does the guy I like. I seriously cry myself to sleep every night trying to figure my life out. I'm so confused. Please, did I do something from what you can tell?

It's not that. I'm not breaking up with him so there won't be any "letting him down easy." Thanks, but no thanks. Honestly, I am in love with who he is, but I am still IN love with him. Being in love with him requires that I love who he is, right? Anyway, I wasn't really asking what I should do about the situation. I know that I need to talk to him. Everyone I talk to about this tells me that I should just let him go. I can't. He's been there for me through so much. Besides, why would I let him go without talking to him? He's not a mind reader so he can't just tell what I'm thinking and he can't tell what's wrong unless I say something. I just wanted to know if this was a phase that all couples go through. Do all couples go through a phase when they just want to be left alone but they don't want to let go of each other? That's all I want to know. I'm not trying to sound rude about any of this, but it's just how I feel.

I've also decided that I really only like the other guy for listening to me. He and I really couldn't work as a couple. I never actually considered us as a couple anyway, but I've learned that I get crushes on other guys for listening to me when I need someone to talk to. It's not a real crush. I know that probably sounds bad, but..

Anyone, thanks for your opinions.

I broke it off. He'll be going to college on the opposite coast and I know that we'll end up breaking up anyway. I don't want to end on a bad note or suffer through the heartache for more than I have to. I found out that the other guy has liked me for two years. He waited. He's still waiting. He's tried asking out five girls within he past two years, but they've all said no. He even told me he only kind of liked them. The thing that almost put me in tears? He waited two years for me. It's been really hard for him to not say anything for the past two weeks since we've had band camp together. He's agreed to wait a little while longer for me so that I can cope with my recent break up. He's a great guy. They both are, but one relationship is healthier than another.