How to tell if you're in love

[Deverfro]

Simple one, I have no idea what this feels like, and I can't help but doubt the feeling I do have.

Over the past few months I've gotten close with someone, and I know that we mean a lot to each other because we discuss feelings and stuff very openly, more so than I do with anyone else. There are some complications if anything were to happen between us, but I just need to understand these feelings.

Some other info:

-We talk everyday
-Hang out most weekends
-I think about her a lot, often first thing in the morning
-And any other girl I try and ask out, or get close to just seem like a distraction
-She's told me things she's never told anyone else

Help me people, I'm lost here

 

[L. Declis]

Ah, young love.

There is the old saying; if you have to ask, you're not in love.

Can I hazard a guess? This is your first major girlfriend?

This sounds like infatuation. And it sounds like you need to ask her out sooner rather than later, or you're going to get hurt. The longer you wait, the more likely someone else will ask her out, or she will lose interest in you as a romantic partner.

While hanging out and talking every day is good, it's important to have other people. Don't let your life become about just one person, it will stunt your growth (especially in university, where there are so many interesting people).
The part about "other girls" being a distraction tells me this is not proper mature love, but the more rushed, passionate teenage kind (Yes, I know your birthday is in '93).
As for telling you things she's never told anyone else, this honestly means she trusts you, but doesn't mean she loves you romantically. You also tell best friends (or random people on the internet) things you'll never tell anyone else.

My advice is this; decide if you want to date her or not. Ask her out. Sooner rather than later. You don't need to get roses and take her to a fancy resturant; just do something fun together, and when you walk her home, ask. Don't get all "nice guy" over her, just be a man and ask.
If she says "yes", I still highly suggest you have other friends and do other things. No one wants someone who utterly loves them and only them, it sounds great in yandere mangas, but in real life, it's unhealthy for both people involved.
If she says "no", respect her boundaries and decide for yourself if you want to continue a painful friendship for a while, or maybe take a break and come back when you've resolved them, or perhaps simply decide it's not worth it.