A classmate crush is tricky at the best of times. Be it red faces in the lunch hall or awkward dates at the cinema, managing puberty and blossoming romantic feelings is a bit of minefield. Now add to that the concern that you might be socially shamed for your choice of romantic interest. This is how many people feel, particularly if their dream beau happens to fall out of the mainstream 'boy meets girl' norm.
Case in point, a Reddit user, under the name of 'azure-skies-123' who asked the internet what to do about his schoolyard crush.
Twitter user Eric Francisco posted screenshots from the Reddit user's post with the caption, 'There is a 17yo boy on Reddit asking advice how to ask out a trans girl at school. It is absolutely heartwarming, and also he's a really good writer? '
The Reddit post is titled, 'There is a trans girl [17 F] in my [17 M] school that I can't get out of my mind. I have a massive crush on her but I'm also afraid of social suicide if I ask her out.'
Though the post has been removed now, the screenshots detail that the 17 year-old boy is super into this trans girl at his school. Aware that others are not as accepting as himself, he worries about coming forward with his feelings.
In romantic comedy gold standard writing he explains how her art is one of the most attractive things about her to him. They were paired up together in an art class to draw each other, 'It was like a Jack and Rose moment, except nobody was naked and neither of us died.'
Though his sister thinks he shouldn't go for it (because of high school drama) his younger brother wants him to, 'he says I should bring her flowers to school on Valentine's day because he bets no other guy has given her flowers before.' Too. Cute.
In the original post you can read some of the responses from other Reddit users, as well as azure-skies-123 himself, all giving useful information on how public he should be and exactly what flowers he should get her.
But possibly the best advice has to be from Laverne Cox, who took to Twitter to add her thoughts to the conversation.
Last week the actress wrote in response, 'Omg if I could advise this young man I would say that life is so much bigger than high school and if this young woman makes you as happy as it seems you must go towards that happiness. Love sets us free. Make her feel as special as she is & as you see her.#transisbeautiful'
We agree. And someone needs to buy the film rights to this love story ASAP.
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
