SHOULD SHE RISK IT?

Dear Jellybean,

So there's this guy and he seems like my kind of guy but I'm confused. I'm an A student and the best he prob gets is a high C if even that. I'm a bit of a goody two shoes most of the time and he practicly lives in detention. All my friends would flip if I liked him and his likewise. We fit in to way different crowds. I'm pretty popular and he's in with trouble makers and sluts. Plus, the teachers always find out about these things and I really think a couple would talk to me about it if they found out. I think he likes me because the other day he was flirting with me and I was flirting back. I even lied to my friends and said I didn't mean to and they still freaked out. I really like him but should I risk it?
-Confuzzled

Dear Confuzzled,

You say this guy seems like your type of guy... but I'm confused. Everything after that in your letter describes two people who have serious differences. You're a great student, he's not. You're a good girl, he's a bad boy, so much so that you think your teachers would instruct you not to date him. You hang out with different crowds. So, just what is it that you're supposed to have in common?

Maybe you're attracted to his looks, but looks don't make a relationship. Everything you know about this guy makes it sound like he's the opposite of who you should be dating. I'm sure he's got some nice qualities, if you like him, but that doesn't mean it's wise to date him.

Look - you've already started lying to your friends about him, and you're not even involved with him yet. What kind of trouble would you get in if you did date him? Maybe it's best to give this guy a pass, at least for now. In the best-case scenario, you'll become friends, he'll fall in love with you, and change completely in order to win your heart. I just have to tell you that, outside of fairy tales, that rarely happens. But we can always hope. In the meantime, look elsewhere romantically. It's in your best interest, as far as I can tell.