Hey Cherie!

I have a really big problem. I am a girl in 11th grade, and I broke up with my boyfriend of six months, Hector, at the end of the summer. Actually, he broke up with me and didn't really give me a reason. He just said he didn't want to be boyfriend and girlfriend anymore. At first I thought it was because he might be interested in my friend Korina, but he hasn't asked her out and he hasn't found another girlfriend, either.

My problem is that I am still obsessed with Hector. I mean, I can't get over him; I think about him all the time. I look at his MySpace and Facebook profiles and read all the e-mails and instant messages from when we were going out. I am not interested in any other guy, only Hector. I know that he is the love of my life, and I think the reason he doesn't have another girlfriend is because he is still into me.

Do you think that is possible? My friend Korina says he broke up with me because his feelings for me scared him. Do you think Korina is right? What should I do? Am I being stupid here?

— Still Loving Hector

Hey, Still!

I wish I knew. How's that for an honest answer? You need to talk to Hector to find out. Or even — I do not usually advocate this, but it might be too embarrassing for you — to have Korina talk to him.

But I'm warning you: The reason could be that he is not into you, and there's only one person who still thinks there's hope for this relationship. Guess who that is? Yep, you got it. This will leave you the problem of how to get over Hector if you must move on.

I'll take reader responses here, but I have always been in favor of a three-part approach. Part one: Blackout. Part two: “As if” acting. Part three: Repeat parts one and two.

The blackout means wiping out all those old conversations and e-mails from your computer, blocking his MySpace (or even access to MySpace, Korina can help), and getting into something else — anything else! — that's not harmful or illegal. Want to learn how to play drums? Now is the time. As for the “as if,” what good does it do to let the world see you bummed out? Even if you don't feel upbeat, act it. You'd be surprised how much mind follows body.

Readers, any other suggestions for Still? I'm all ears.

Hey, Cherie!

Do you think it's OK to wear makeup to church? I never did until I got to ninth grade, but now I want to wear it. Not a lot — just some blush, eyeliner and lipstick. My mom doesn't, and she's giving me a lot of grief.

— Makeup Essential

Hey, Makeup!

If you were my daughter, and your dress was appropriate, I don't think I'd have an issue with minimal makeup. Of course, I barely go out of the house without it on, but that's just me.

Main thing: You're in church to either worship or to support other people who are there to worship, not to hit on the cute guy in the fifth pew. Well, maybe you can talk to him afterward at the refreshments. Chastely!

Cherie Bennett is a best-selling author of books for teens and young adults. Visit her website at www.cheriebennett.com. To find out more about Cherie Bennett and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.