Guys, My crush thinks I am a creep but has weird behavior like staring? (Long read by the way)?

[Anonymous]

I have a crush named Caleb, a sweet senior. I can’t date him because my parents won’t allow it and he doesn’t share my faith. I confided in a friend about my feelings, but she told him without my knowledge. When I found out he knew, I panicked and tried to communicate my feelings but ended up saying, “I’m dying inside,” which embarrassed me further.

After gifting him a gospel tract, he revealed he liked someone else, but I noticed him looking at me in class, making me question things. I wrote him a detailed letter about my feelings and struggles with social anxiety, hoping to clarify everything. His response was that he didn't like me romantically and was dating someone much older. He explained in the letter that he used to like the girls around me, but the relationships didn't work and that he does zone out a lot, but he never meant it to be taken wrong like that.

I initially responded to Caleb’s hurtful behavior by wishing him well, but after a few weeks of awkward encounters in choir and passing paths a lot at school since he has classes near me, I found out from a friend that he thought I was "creepy" and wanted me to back off. That frustrated me, and I told my friend to let him know that I would love to not be around him anymore because the situation felt really awkward.

Despite trying to move on and act normally, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Caleb was still looking at me in choir, which left me confused about whether he was interested or just zoning out. I pretend not to notice, and I ignore him, but he keeps looking at me. His behavior made it hard for me to feel relaxed around him, and I worried that if I acted naturally, he might misinterpret it as being creepy again.

I’m feeling really frustrated by his mixed signals and can’t help but wonder why he keeps staring at me when I’m just trying to focus on my music and friendships. I’ve tried to give him space, but now he’s being weird again, and I just want to understand what’s going on in his head.

[AnonAndrew]

Sorry to be the one to tell you, but you gotta let this go.

He's made it explicit to you that he's not interested.

He's not gonna think you're weird for acting normal. He probably thought you were weird for gifting him a gospel tract even though he's not a Christian (yes, it's a nice gesture, but it's not gonna be received as that by a crush), and writing him that letter after he already told you he liked someone else.

You already learned he wants you to "back off," so just do that.

I know it's hard to accept a rejection when you really like someone. We've all been young, and we've all been rejected.

But this constant turning over of his words and actions in your head, trying to squeeze some deeper meaning out of them that would indicate that he really does like you after all, is not helpful.

It's like a natural defense mechanism against the loss of hope and the hurt and sadness of the rejection, but it doesn't lead to anything good.

The best thing you can do is back off from him, don't talk to or about him, and just leave him alone as if you didn't even really know him.

Not what you want to hear, I know, but I'm afraid it's what you need to hear.

[RealMarek]

Just try to let this go. If he stares at you, so what? He’s consistent about not being interested in pursuing a relationship. Other men will come along and pique your interest before you know it.

[In_Trance]

Sum it up in one or two sentences

[Anonymous]

It happens.