fizgig and PunditLisa are onto something here. Why do you need to tell C anything? You made out a couple of times… at college… stuff like that happens, it doesn’t mean you’re betrothed. You don’t even know that L wants to go out with you yet.
Going up to someone you’ve had a little romantic contact with and saying out of the blue “I don’t want you” (in a nice way) is a bit presumptive and rude (and a downer). If she inquires about a relationship, you must say something, but if she doesn’t, let it alone.
Just keep your mouth shut, don’t play any more tonsil hockey with C, and see where stuff with L leads. If C inquires, tell the truth, if things with L get serious, let your FRIEND C know, just like any other friend.
I was C. (except, I think that he was lying about having been interested in the first place but still) It sucks.
Pretty much nothing you can say will make it not suck - but at least be polite about it, and it might suck less.
Whatever you do - no matter how drunk you get - never, ever fool around with C again, ever. At that point, it’s just deliberately mean.
I was C. (except, I think that he was lying about having been interested in the first place but still) It sucks.
Pretty much nothing you can say will make it not suck - but at least be polite about it, and it might suck less.
Whatever you do - no matter how drunk you get - never, ever fool around with C again, ever. At that point, it’s just deliberately mean.
What do we call her the rest of the year?
Seriously, though, I think you do need to tell C. Just not in a way that makes it seem like you had been dating for a while but rather in a way that says you respect her feelings.
Sit her down and say, “I’d really like to keep you as a friend, so this is kind of hard to say. I’ve been kind of messed up over M for a while, but I’ve gotten over that and I think I’m ready to date again. The problem is that I’m not sure where you and I stand from your perspective and right now I’m interested in another girl. Honestly, I have no idea if you thought there was something between us, and just in case you did, I wanted to tell you myself because I’d really like to keep our friendship. I didn’t want you to think I was deceiving you or trying to go behind your back. If you didn’t think there was something between us, well, I guess I just look like a fool right now! But I’m willing to risk that if it means I can help spare your feelings a little.”
Then again, I like the “sleep with her, push her away” angle.