DR. WALLACE: I'm 18 and so is Lori, my so-called girlfriend. We had been going steady for a year, but we broke up two days before we graduated. Our first nine months were super, but we had lots of problems the last three. The last straw was when she screamed out loud in front of my friends that I was a "stupid idiot." Losing my temper, I slapped her face and pulled her hair.

I've tried calling her, but she won't answer the phone and her mother keeps telling me to stop calling because Lori doesn't want to see me anymore. I realize that I made a mistake, and I want to get back with her. What can I do to get her back? —Nameless, Merrillville, Ind.

NAMELESS: Stop calling Lori. Send her a card and, in a few well-chosen words, tell her you are sorry for your unacceptable behavior and ask her to forgive you. End by asking her to call you, but don't hold your breath until she does. Your behavior might be in the unforgivable category. Had she contacted the police, you could be writing to me from behind bars.

THE ISSUE IS YOU AND YOUR BOYFRIEND

DR. WALLACE: Carly and I have been close friends for many years. Recently she broke up with her boyfriend because she got tired of him.

Last week she told me I had better hang onto my boyfriend tightly because she was thinking of taking him away from me. She said she was only fooling, but I'm not so sure she was.

Last night she and another friend met Matt and me at the mall, and she really made a play for him, telling him he was handsome and such a good athlete. I almost threw up on the spot listening to her.

Now I'm convinced she's out to steal Matt away from me. Please tell me what I can do to insulate Matt from her clutches. Please don't tell me to drop Carly as a friend. That would only make matters worse. I like Matt very much, and I'm pretty sure he feels the same about me. At least he says he does. —Denise, Knoxville, Tenn.

DENISE: There's nothing like a "close friend" to make you feel insecure. If you really have a friendship with her, ask her for your sake, to stay away from Matt. If she ignores you, she really isn't your friend, so dropping her as one isn't even an option.

Meanwhile, the next time you go out, tell Matt your fears about Carly. Let him know that you care for him very much and hope he feels the same way about you. Chances are, Matt will laugh about Carly and reassure you that you're his one and only.

If his response falls somewhat short of that, perhaps things aren't going all that well between you.

In either case, the issue isn't Carly, but about you and Matt. If the two of you are solid, she won't be a threat.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.