[Dark-and-Twisty]

All right. So I'm 20 years old and single. I've had a few guys interested me over the course of my college career, but none that I've liked back. I'm typically shy, and I'm often friend-zoned. I've been in love with my best friend for about a year now, and he knows how I feel about him. He's still here for me, though, and he's been trying to help me out.

Anyway I decided to try my hand at online dating last week, despite being told not to by my mother. She basically said she would never approve of a guy I met online because that automatically means "he's a creep." Whatever, I'm 20-years-old and I don't live with my mother. I'm inclined to make my decisions. Just to be safe, though, I told several of my friends what I was doing. After all, I have several friends who also online date.

I met this guy last Friday and gave him my number. I didn't want to drag on the whole online conversation, because as far as I'm concerned, it's really no different than giving a guy your number in a bar. We texted for a week and we seemed to have a lot in common. He's a virgin and so am I, but he appears to be HIGHLY sheltered. I was sheltered when I came to college, but I would say...I'm fairly sex-educated. I have guy friends who are virgins or were virgins when I met them, and they know/knew a lot more than he does... it worries me a bit. I kind of get the feeling he doesn't get out much, if at all.

Anyway, that's not really the only thing that makes me a little leery. We had our date on Thursday, and he showed up wearing a T-shirt like 3x too big for him. Here I am, dressed to my best, and he was dressed like a thug! My best friend was there with me when I met him, and let's just say I talked to my friend for 4 hours after the date.

I've talked to various people, and I've been told to just dump him, but my friend has warned me not to break his heart. He keeps texting me, and he's said stuff like, "I hope I'm still your future boyfriend!" Umm, dude, you just met me, who are you to even think that?

I kind of want to hang on to him just a little longer so I can educate him how to behave appropriately in social situations. That's just my nature, I feel bad for people and I want to help them. I wouldn't mind being his friend, but I don't want to date him. If anything, I want to invite him to hang out with my friends. But... at the same time, I don't want to break his heart, and I certainly don't want him to get his hopes up, if they already aren't too up.

I feel like I'm turning into a heart breaker! I've already broke three other guys' hearts since coming to college. That's not a lot, I suppose, compared to some girls, but I don't have guys flaunting all over me.

My mom tells me if I keep shoving the ones interested in me away I'm just going to end up alone. And that's what I'm afraid of.

I mean, we talked for several hours on the phone without problem, but when we met in person it was just awkward! Mainly it was due to lack of physical attraction on my end, and the way he was dressed!

I mean, I realize attraction can grow over time, like I wasn't insanely attracted to my best friend when I first met him. I thought he was cute, but I didn't start having "those" feelings for him until 8 months later.

Sorry this is so long, what should I do?