I (20F) have feelings for my friend (17F)
I (20 F) met this person (17F) about a month or so ago through her following me on instagram. we have a lot of mutuals and I guess she found me through her recommended. We started texting and hanging out. We have a lot in common like similar interests in media,hobbies and certain life events/struggles.
Our hangouts were completely ordinary at first. but I noticed her sense of humor is pretty implicative at times.
Lately she has been flirting with me and has expressed attraction towards me. And I feel attracted to her too. We live in a place where the age of consent is 17.
I think some context on what kind of people we both are would be good. I am someone who was kicked out at 18 with no legal documents or income. I was raised very dependent on my mom, but I have gained some capability and independence since being kicked out. After a while of couch surfing I currently stay with a family member, and do work for them around the house. I’m searching for another part time job and I want to go to college next year in January (I did one single semester but being semi homeless made it hard to continue). I would also like to move out but I am not sure when I’ll be able to do that.
She is a senior in highschool and lives with her mom. She is working 2 jobs and is saving up to move out in a year due to the unhealthy and oppressive environment in her home.
A tiny side note cause I don’t want to speak much on sex but I do think it’s worth noting she is much more experienced than I am sexually.
I really like/admire her and not just through the lens of attraction. I enjoy being around her and I really admire certain traits she has. She is so confident, outgoing, and composed when handling herself in public which are traits I kind of lack. She’s one of the first people in a while that makes me feel normal. She feels beneficial to my life and I would not want to lose her as a friend over this.
We’ve spoken about our attraction to each other and she feels that it’s not weird and says it’s consensual. she has been validating of my concerns but is firm on the stance that it’s okay.
I know she’d be looking for something not totally serious which would be okay with me but I also would be happy being her friend. I don’t want our dynamic to be weird if I tell her I don’t want to do anything romantically or sexually.
I also don’t want to be a creep or a groomer at all. I want to do the right thing.