It happens all the time. Two people have such a great friendship that it ends up growing into something more. This is not just something that happens in romantic movies, either.

Signs that you’re falling in love with your best friend

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out if you are in love with your best friend. However, you could also be so blinded by the friendship that you don’t even notice the signs that are right in front of you.
If you get nervous before you see them, fix your hair or clothes, check your breath when they are around, or catch yourself flustered after seeing how good they look on any given day, then you have fallen for them. If you start having feelings things that you have never felt around them before, it probably means you like *or even love* them.

What to do after falling in love with your best friend

Although it’s often your first reaction, panicking is the exact opposite of what you should do. You can’t freak out about something like this because it’s really not that big of a deal. You already love them in a friend way, so adding romantic love isn’t all that different.

However, there is a certain process that you should follow when you realize you are falling in love with your best friend. You can’t just hide it, but you can’t just blurt it out, either. Instead, try taking these 10 steps.

#1 Digest your feelings. Before you do anything else, take a moment to really think about how you truly feel. Are you just being emotional? Are you jumping to conclusions based on something ridiculous? Sit back for a week or so and just let your feelings develop and become clearer to ensure that this is really something you want to act upon.

#2 Talk to a different friend. Obviously, you don’t want to talk to the person with whom you are supposedly in love. So open up to your second best friend and get their opinion. This can give you an unbiased opinion as to whether or not your feelings are confused or real. And they can offer support and advice that might make a huge difference for you.

#3 Wait. Have you ever looked at someone a certain way one night when they are looking hot, and then you suddenly have feelings for them? But then the next day, they do something and you are like, “Yeah, that’s why I find you disgusting,” and POOF your feelings are gone? Well, it could be that type of feeling instead of actual love.
Let it sink in to see if your feelings are fleeting or if they stay pretty constant. You wouldn’t want to tell them that you have feelings for them only to realize a week later that they weren’t real.

#4 Determine if they have feelings for you. Now is the time to do some investigating and decoding of their body language. Find out if they like you, too. Chances are, there is some kind of chemistry between you two if you like them and they are your best friend.
If they are getting flirty, looking extra good around you, and even initiating more hangouts, they could be feeling the same way. Take your time determining this, though, and don’t jump to conclusions either way.

#5 Decide if you are going to tell them. You have to make a choice now. Are you going to tell them how you really feel, or do you want to hide it inside for… ever? I personally believe that you should tell them. After all, you never know what could potentially come of having this conversation.
However, if you feel that you want to protect yourself and keep things the way they are, just keep it to yourself. Be warned, though, if you do keep it to yourself and they get a boyfriend or girlfriend, it could be painful.

#6 Pick the right time to talk about it. This is a really heavy topic. You can’t expect them to sit and listen to it at a party or when they are really busy. The best time for this is just when the two of you are alone, spending time together like normal.
During a movie night, a walk, or even at dinner sometime are the best times to do this. Make sure they are in a good mood and are willing to listen to you fully.

#7 Keep an open mind. Not everything is going to go your way in life, and this may be one of those times. You have to have an open and calm mind when you tell them that you are in love with them. You should always be prepared for the worst… but also the best. Don’t forget to hear them out if they have anything to say about it.

#8 Don’t beat around the bush. If you are falling for your friend, don’t just tell them that you think they are attractive, and don’t leave little hints here and there. This will confuse them and will make them have a harder time understanding what is going on.
Just be honest with your friend and tell them the entire thing. When you realized it, why, what your expectations are, and where you might like to go from here if feelings were to be reciprocated.

#9 Don’t act any differently around them. They are your best friend. Yes, you are falling for them, but they know the real you, and that is the person they like. Don’t start acting differently around them just because you like them. Sure, you can wear more makeup, shave a little nicer, and put on some actual pants when you hang out, but never change how you act just because you are falling in love with your best friend.

#10 Realize that it doesn’t mean the friendship is over. When it happened to me, I was most terrified about whether or not it would ruin our friendship. However, that turned out to be an irrational fear that I didn’t need to have.
Realize that just because you are falling in love with your best friend, the friendship doesn’t have to be over. If anything, it just solidifies your relationship even more.

Falling in love with your best friend can be a very scary thing, believe me. But following this list of what to do after you realize your true feelings, you will manage the situation with ease.

Be careful of being friend zoned. It can awaken a dumb piper.