Helllooo everyone! I hope my first story was helpful and you learned something. Again, if you have any direct problems you want me to address, comment below. I will do my best to respond as soon as I can and post them just as quickly. If you have a question, I will keep your identity to myself and respond accordingly.

I have noticed several new relationships this year, so I figured I might as well talk about how you should act when in a relationship (since we are high school students and tend to struggle in this part of it).

First of all, when you enter a relationship, you better expect to give that person a large portion of your time and attention. The whole reason you start a relationship is because you want to spend quality time with them. It should not be because you just want a date to a dance or a girl to hang on your arm or just someone to hook up with. You should be in that relationship because you want to be with that person and dedicate yourself to them.

Second, when you start a relationship it is very, very important to spend time together. Go on dates, do a couples night out. Just do things together. If you don’t put in the effort when you start the fire, it is going to be really hard to keep the flames ignited. At the same time you don’t want to spend too much time together. Time alone is important, and do not forget to spend time with your friends. Friends are forever; that person might not be.

Third, (this is mostly for the guys) unless it is discussed otherwise, the guy pays for the majority of the dates. This includes when the guy asks a girl to a dance or out to a movie. Guys these days need to take the initiative and be the gentleman. Guys: This is where being old-fashioned never goes out of style. Hold the door open for her, walk her to her front door or at least make sure she makes it inside. Do not be that jerk who lets the door slam in her face or just runs away the second she gets out of the car. It is unbelievably rude. 

Fourth, you want to be a team. Working well together is an essential part of a relationship, even if you don’t plan to be together forever. And as with any team, you must trust each other. You have to trust the other to not break your heart and to not stab you in the back. It is also important to be honest with each other. No good relationship is built on lies.

Finally, be able to laugh with each other. Usually your new relationship will be with your best friend. If you can’t laugh and have fun together … well, that isn’t a proper relationship. You want to be with someone who makes you unbelievably happy. If that isn’t how you feel when you are with your significant other … you might want to consider ending the relationship. Happiness, even if it is only a high school relationship, is always key. Those who play together, stay together.

And for funsies here are some date ideas (it goes from the ones you can do in Powell to those that take some driving):

• Go to a coffee shop – there is Uncommon Grounds and Gestalt Studios in Powell (Gestalt Studios also has painting for $10 any day of the week)
• Hang out and watch your favorite movies together – great if you love cuddling, and the movies can range from westerns to sci-fi to Disney. (don’t start with a horror movie unless you are both connoisseurs of them)
• Movie theater – lots of good movies coming out
• Cook something to together – make some yummy foods you both love (also a great way to learn their likes and dislikes)
• Dinner – Don’t do fast food. Just don’t.
• Virtual Reality – there is a virtual reality place next to Uncommon Grounds ($20 per room)
• Play video games together – the games can range from Mario Kart to Halo to Wii sports. (unless you are both into gory video games I would stay away from those)
• Ice Skating – the rink in Powell isn’t open yet but will be soon and is very affordable. Cody’s Riley Arena is open right now
• Build a snow fort – may also want to start a snowball fight (depends on your relationship, though) Speaking of building forts … Blanket forts are really fun – if you want you can even get a laptop and watch movies in your fort
• Go support the Trappers/Panthers and watch a sports event – don’t forget to go all out!
• Star Gazing – most people only do this during the summer time, but I personally believe the stars look better in the winter time without the smoke in the way.
• Go sledding – don’t just go to Homesteader park go find a place with an actual hill and race to the bottom. (Wayfarer’s Chapel up on the North Fork is amazing in the winter.)
• Visit Red Lodge – they have an amazing candy store on Main Street and a great pizza place nearby, also has a good hill for sledding by the Animal Sanctuary this is also fun to go to, tons of neat animals
• Go to Billings – the possibilities are endless, go to the mall, eat at a good restaurant, go to the Reef, or go to the Trampoline Park
• Go for a drive up in the mountains – we are surrounded by nature; go enjoy it together