So, there’s this guy in my class. We’ve known one another for a while and it’s become pretty clear that we’re both interested in one another. That’s where the problems start. Every single time we try to get together, something goes wrong. Either I’m busy or he’s busy or one of us runs über late. What should I do? Cassandra, junior

Carly: Do you legitimately want to hang out with this guy, or are you just making excuses for not seeing him? Assuming that your interest in him is real, do you think he feels the same about you? Sometimes, it’s just hard to make things work with busy, conflicting schedules. It’s easy to use busy schedules as an excuse. Either way, it looks as if it’s not going to work out.

Find someone with a more compatible schedule, but don’t totally give up on this busy boy if you don’t want to. Keep this in mind, though—if you can’t even meet up for one night, then how would a relationship make any progress?

Elliot: Cassandra, I’m going to move forward with the assumption that both you and this guy are genuinely interested in one another. Carly poses some good points, but considering and typing potential actions for any number of potential scenarios would leave me with carpal tunnel and you without any real answers. Now, I’m going to propose two things. First and foremost, I’m going to suggest that you and this guy plan something so far in advance that it couldn’t possibly conflict with either of your schedules.

But be warned, this will force you both to be patient. Now, if you think your collective flame could burn out by then, I’d suggest a second possibility: let something go. In the din of such hyper-scheduled lives, a lot of us college students lose sight of what we actually care about. Try to free up some time in your schedule for this guy. It’d probably do you some good.

I got HPV from my ex-boyfriend. How am I supposed to tell someone that I’m hooking up with that I have it? Should I even bother if I’m not in a relationship with him? Laura, sophomore

Carly: Yes, you should absolutely tell someone that you have HPV, no matter if it’s a long-term relationship or a one-night stand. Obviously it’s not an easy subject to bring up, but this guy deserves to know. Wouldn’t you want to know if the guy you’re sleeping with has an STI? What if he had unprotected sex with you while aware that he has HPV—or something worse?

I understand that you want to save yourself from embarrassment, but being honest is actually the least embarrassing thing you could do now. From now on, you need to be honest with any sexual partner. Tell the guy flat out that you have HPV and you need to use a condom. Some guys are going to be OK with it and others won’t—that’s their right. No matter the reactions, at least you did the right thing.

Elliot: Laura, you’ve got to be kidding. Of course you tell the guy! Sure, I’m assuming you didn’t know your boyfriend at the time had HPV when you contracted it. That absolutely sucks for you. But staying quiet as you pass it forward to some unsuspecting guy makes you just as bad as the guy who gave it to you in the first place. Carly’s right. You always need to consider the Golden Rule in situations that deal with such intimate matters. So before you hop in bed with someone, I hope you’d be at least courteous enough as to be honest with him.