Dear Prudence,
I have a boyfriend but I may have said I was dating someone for a stupid reason and he might get mad at me. This isn’t a big deal, but I’m worried it will turn into one. Lately, my boyfriend and I have been growing distant, and I’m doing everything I can to make him not lose interest.
Today at school, I saw a kid in a younger grade with a box full of cupcakes. I begged him for one, but after several refusals, I accepted that he wasn’t going to give me any, and sat down behind him (we were all waiting for dismissal). Then a group of popular boys came and also started begging him for one. He agreed to give them each one because he knew who they were. After they left, two of the popular boys who were not there before came over and tried to convince him that they were the best friends of the previous boy’s group. One of them (let’s call him Liam) I know a tiny bit because he had lunch detention almost every day, he sat at a lone desk for lunch right next to where I usually sit, and he has kind of been flirting with me ever since his girlfriend broke up with him three weeks ago.
So back to the boy with cupcakes. I wasn’t paying close attention when I suddenly heard Liam yell, “That’s my girlfriend, bro, we’re dating please give me and my girlfriend a cupcake!” And I looked up to see him pointing and smiling at me! I started laughing and didn’t correct him immediately because I was so in shock and thought that there would be a chance to get a cupcake (I was really desperate). Then the kid with the cupcakes said, “Propose to her!” and then Liam said to me, “Will you marry me?” My dumb self said, “Sure if I get a cupcake!” The boy then gave us each a cupcake as promised, and after I took a bite I said, “The engagements off Liam, you’re single again, sorry.” He looked really disappointed, but just then I was dismissed and we got lost in the crowd. I don’t think Liam knows I have a boyfriend because I have no classes with him so we never talk. The thing about this whole situation is there were people everywhere listening to this conversation, including all those popular boys (who are friends with my boyfriend) and a girl who has tried to break us up several times and LOVES to spread rumors. I’m afraid if he hears about this situation he will be mad, disappointed, and heartbroken. What should I do?
—Fearful Girlfriend