A lot of times we say that guys are the ones who send mixed messages, but as your letter illustrates, that sort of behavior is not limited to one gender. The good news here is that you realize you behaved badly, and that you hurt a good friend's feelings, one that might have turned into something more if you hadn't done that. But do you know why you blew hot and cold with him? Before you can make things right between you, you need to figure out what caused your actions in the first place. Are you feeling down, as you mentioned? Maybe there's someone you can talk to, like a school counselor, clergyperson, or trusted adult in your life. Or, did you just take him for granted because he was clearly treating you well and there wasn't a challenge? Maybe you were nervous that something might happen between you and you pushed him away because of that.

After you figure out why you acted the way you did, you need to apologize. The best way to handle it would be to talk to him privately. If you aren't up for a face-to-face conversation, you could send him a letter or e-mail explaining yourself and telling him you're sorry. He sounds like a good guy, so hopefully he'll forgive you; after all, we all make mistakes. But he may not, and you will just have to respect his feelings, even if it's hard and you're bummed. Next time around you will know to be more careful with someone else's feelings. Good luck!

—Andrea Pyros