Men and women can be friends. It can happen. I have a close male friend who is nothing more than well, a friend, or sometimes as close as a brother. But sometimes, romantic feelings develop.
How does that happen?
Think about it. Your female friend knows you more than any other woman. She knows your disgusting habits and other hallmarks of shame, but she sticks around. She is more likely to understand you.
Because the two of you know each other beyond physical looks, sometimes a romantic interest is sparked. Suddenly, she is looking at you differently. As for you, you start wondering if you have managed to cross the friend zone. You also have to question yourself if you like it this way.
If you feel the mood has somehow changed between you, perhaps you want to discover the signs she likes you more than a friend. After all, you want to know if you are imagining things or not.
Sign 1: Things Get a Little Awkward
Did you use to banter like there is no tomorrow? Was there nothing sacred between the two of you? Perhaps she teases you mercilessly, just like any of your guy friends.
Well, somehow, that stopped. Now, there are some gaps in the conversation. It is as if she is feeling a little more uncertain around you. Something changed in your friendship.
Possible reasons for her change in her behavior are some personal issues on her end.
If this is not the case, then your friendship must have gone through a transformation. It is time to pay close attention.
The awkwardness that you two may be feeling may be sexual tension.
Sign 2: She Flirts with You – Unknowingly or Knowingly
At the other end of the spectrum may be a good friend who is suddenly flirting with you.
After all, you know this woman. She is your friend, and not a romantic interest, not really and maybe not until now.
So, you will know if twirling her hair at you while she gives you a big grin is a flirting sign or your friend just being extra goofy.
This is not just any girl that you are trying to read. She is a good friend that you already know.
Sign 3: Her Body Language Says So
If your friend is not yet ready to reveal her true feelings, her body language signs may clue you in.
Her body is always directed towards you. You probably would reason out that it may not be a flirty move, but rather a clue that this woman likes you as her male friend. She is very comfortable with you.
However, body language is not just about what you are seeing right in front of you at the given moment. It would be best if you also compare it to her baseline. How does she usually behave in front of you? I
There is a good chance she likes you more than a friend when the baseline has been broken as a barrier.
Has she broken the touch barrier? If she has, then she is definitely interested. You would know it if her physical touch lingers. If you also like her back, you may even feel an almost electric current passing between the two of you.
Sign 4: She Responds to Your Body Language
It is not enough for you to check her body language. You also check your own. How do you behave around her? Perhaps you are sending some signals that she is responding to.
If she likes you more than a friend, she will mirror your movements. Experiment with your stance and the direction in which you turn. See if she does the same. If she romantically likes you, she will follow your lead. It is like a dance. But there is no music, just a vibration coming from her to you, and vice versa.
Hey, maybe you are the one who first left the friend zone. She sees this and realizes that something has changed, and for some reason, she also likes it. What is the biggest difference between a close friendship and a romantic relationship, anyway? Well, there are the butterflies in your stomach, for one. Then, there is the physical aspect.
When her touch gives you an extra quiver, and you seem to be doing the same to her, the sexual tension is palpable. It may be time to recognize every subtle hint.
Sign 5: She is Your #1 Fan on Social Media
Well, you know she may still be your #1 fan if you two are best of friends.
Maybe you have been friends since forever. You probably even grew up together.
This may or may not be a big sign that she likes you more than a friend. However, please pay attention to whether there is a sense of possessiveness in which she refers to you on social media.
Does it almost feel like everyone has to pass through her to get to you?
Sign 6: She is Jealous of other Female Friends or Crushes
When you talk about other women, she gets flustered or even angry. Every girl that you talk about seems to have a flaw that she cannot get past.
If she were your good friend, she would have teased you with other girls so easily. Nowadays, it seemed almost painful for her to talk about other women around you.
Try talking about an obviously beautiful woman and check her reaction.
She will not want you to be around that woman if she likes you more than a friend. Otherwise, she would have gushed about that other woman already.
Sign 7: Your Jokes are Suddenly the Funniest Ever
One of the big signs a female friend has feelings for you is when she laughs at your every joke. If she were just a pal, she would have laughed at you for being the lamest ever.
Yes, that friend of yours would not be afraid to offend you. The one who has some romantic feelings for you, on the other hand, would like you to feel good about yourself.
Sign 8: Her Interest in Your Life has Become More Intense
So, she suddenly asks you a personal question she would not normally ask. Your friendship used to be all laughter and light – nothing goes on below the surface.
Nowadays, though, each conversation becomes more poring.
It is as if she wants to see your very soul.
She is probably also investigating herself, confused with how things had suddenly changed. She wants to discover why she is falling for her male friend and worth it.
Sign 9: It is in the Way that She Glows when She is with You
A great sign that this girl is in love with you can be seen in how she glows. She looks flushed and quietly overjoyed when she sees you.
Your gal pal would have just nodded at you, pleased but not too much. She would have been happy to hang out, but she would not be too bothered if you did not show up.
This time around, though, she even looks transformed. She changes into a beautiful woman, instead of just that pretty girl you share your hobbies with.
Sign 10: She insists on Talking About Her Crushes
If she cannot get any subtle hint through, she may try a different tactic. Your gal pal may try to make you feel jealous. Well, she will attempt this. After all, if you are not interested, what can she do?
She would then talk about a few guys or even one particular one that you both know. It seems that your friend is willing to try all strategies to gauge your feelings. Heck, she may not even know why she is doing it.
Sign 11: It’s in the Lips….or Her Eyes
Look at her beyond the awkwardness between you. Is she licking her lips more often when you are around? Is that a new brand of lip gloss that she is wearing?
Look into her eyes during a conversation. When you see her pupils dilate, it means that she likes what she sees. She must be happy around you – or even aroused.
Sign 12: Eye Contact has Become Awkward
Because of all that has been going on, eye contact has become awkward between the two of you. You try to shake it away, but it is not possible. There is something that her eyes are telling you.
It is also possible that she no longer wants to look you in the eye. Your friend knows that you will see something there – something that was not there before.
Sign 13: Her Mastery of Everything About You is Noticeable
Your friend is now an expert on everything about you. She remembers conversations you had several weeks ago and perhaps even recalls what sweater you wore days ago.
This new talent shows just how intently she has been watching you and listening to you.
This is a sure sign that you are very close to her heart. Even siblings do not always have this type of devotion.
It is starting to get obvious that she no longer views you as just that guy friend.
Sign 14: She Employs the Help of a “Bridge”
Your friend will not want to lose you. That is what may happen if she falls for you and you do not feel the same way. So, she will not want to tell you how she feels directly. She cannot even ask you if you feel the same way.
So, she may ask a mutual friend to act as a “bridge” between the two of you. Suddenly, you may hear seemingly innocent ways of getting that personal question out: do you like her more than a friend?
Perhaps you do. Now, you have to examine every little thing that you have said and done when together. Are there signs coming from both sides?
Sign 15: The Playful Teasing is no Longer Mean
Friends tease each other like siblings. The teasing can get mean. It does not mean that you and your friends do not like each other. It is just the way friendship operates most of the time.
Then, what if one day the teasing stops?
Before you suspect that she has a romantic interest in you, ask her what is up with her. Is she depressed? Did something happen at home?
A behavior change can mean those things, as well. So, do not think that your investigations into her life and behavior are nothing but a means to flatter yourself. If you truly care as a friend or something more, you would want to know.
You may find out that during the course of your examination, it is you who is falling head over heels for her. After all, aren’t you reading this article?
She must mean something to you.
Even if you do not love her romantically and desperately, you may actually love her as a friend. Find a way to help her if she is in distress.
However, if the teasing has stopped and she still seems jolly around you, then you must start wondering if the two of you need to talk or if you can go on ignoring the signs.
Sign 16: She will ignore You at Times – and All of a Sudden
Your friend will know if she has a chance with you.
If she suspects that you only think of her as a friend or even a sister, she may start keeping her distance.
Every girl wants to be loved the way she wants to be loved. If she cannot have that anymore, she may want to leave or else get hurt.
There may be times when she looks like she is happier with a mutual friend. With you, she can sometimes almost feel indifferent or even angry.
You may notice that she may even try to make you angry at her.
It can be sad if you don’t love her back, and she has chosen to give up on the friendship, as well. However, not all choices are yours to make. This is especially true if you are left hanging, not really knowing what is going on with her.
Sign 17: She may give Hints that She likes you More than a Friend
Your friend may have gotten tired of hiding her romantic feelings. Her flirting may not have made any dent in you. So, she may have made up her mind to go all out, lose you, or forever live in the torturous knowledge that she loves you and you don’t even know it.
As best friends, you have shared most secrets, until now. The biggest sign that she cares for you may not be clear until she practically tells you her secret.
Why?
Well, you don’t romantically think of her if you are not sure she feels like that for you. Perhaps you are afraid to lose your friendship. Or, maybe you are also afraid that it is only you falling in love.
So, what should you do?
After having gone through the signs above, you may have realized that she is in love with you. Sometimes, you don’t have to be a relationship expert. You can feel it. Feelings can be so complicated. You must experience them to be able to talk about what they feel like.
Now that you have confirmed the signs your female friend likes you more than a friend, what is your next move?
If you also like her more than a friend (or even love her!), talk to her. Reveal your feelings. Tell her that you are willing to accept the consequences of the confession if you have read her wrong. Tell her that you are willing to remain friends if that is what she wants.
If you cannot get past the friend zone, however, talk to her anyway. Have a heart-to-heart conversation. Ask her if there is something that she wants to tell you – a problem, anything. Tell her you are willing to be there no matter what.
Remember, though, that you cannot force anything. You can only meet her halfway if she is willing to take the next step. Be a friend no matter what. Friends can become lovers one day. It may be sooner than you think, but if not – you are still there for her.
