DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and sort of going with a guy who is 17. When we first met, he was dating another girl, but he would call me every night. Eventually he asked me if I would go out with him if he stopped seeing this girl. I said yes, so he called this girl and told her goodbye. The next day we started dating.

When Ken broke up with Melanie, they agreed to still date once in a while. I also agreed to this arrangement. Well, everything was going smoothly (they only dated about once a month) until Melanie told Ken that she didn't want to see him anymore because she wanted to date Gary. This really bothered Ken and he told her that he would only date her if she would take him back. He was really surprised when Melanie told him that it was over and she didn't want to date him again — ever.

Now whenever I'm with Ken all he talks about is Melanie and how much he misses her. He says he really likes me, but he never shows it. Do you think I should give him time to find himself, or should I just tell him to get lost and stay lost? — Karla, Columbus, Ohio.

KARLA: It seems that Ken is in really sad shape. What he wants most of all is whatever he can't have. When he was dating Melanie, he was calling you every day, and when he was dating you, he still longed for Melanie. But now that she has dumped him, she's the only one that he can think about.

First of all, tell Ken that he has to stop talking about Melanie every time he goes out with you. If he can't do this, then he's a lost cause and you should not waste another minute of your time with him. The funny thing is that the joke is on him because if you do break up with him, he'll probably beg you to stay with him. But don't do it.

I ENJOY THE THRILL OF THE HUNT

DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and everyone always says I'm cute and have a cute figure. I've always liked boys and I go after them. But my problem is that I chase them until I catch them, but after that I don't really want them anymore. It seems like I only like the "thrill of the hunt"! Is this normal? — Nameless, Tulsa, Okla.

NAMELESS: It's a fairly common behavior, so I guess that makes it normal. Dating, after all, is often referred to as a game. For most people, it's more than a game as well, but for you, apparently, it's not.

If you're enjoying yourself and not hurting the guys you drop so capriciously, then what's the harm? Flirting is fun for you. All it says to me is that you're not yet ready for a serious relationship, which, for a 16-year-old, is indeed perfectly normal.

However, one of these days you're going to bag your quarry and decide that he's a keeper. Let's hope he's not playing the same game!

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.