DR. WALLACE: For the past four months, I've been going out with this guy. He's just about every girl's dream. He was captain of the football team, homecoming king and voted the senior guy with the best personality. He treats me great and even writes poems for me. He was dating another girl but broke up with her to start dating me. All my friends tell me I'm the luckiest girl in Texas. My parents really like him, too. They told me they are very happy that I am dating "such a nice boy."

Over the Christmas holidays, he and two of his friends went to look at some college campuses. My best friend and I went to several parties, and at one of them I met a guy from another high school who was very nice. I told him I was seeing another guy, and he said he would respect that but that if I ever stop seeing the guy to call him. He gave me his telephone number.

Believe it or not, I found myself thinking more about the guy I just met than my football captain. I discussed this with my best friend, and she told me I'm crazy. She considers him to be the perfect guy.

I've seen him twice since he returned from campus hunting, and things just aren't the same. Even he has noticed it and asked me what's wrong. I've told him I am having headaches.

What should I do? Follow my head and stay with the football captain, or follow my heart and go out with the guy I met at the party? Please hurry with your answer. — Nameless, Austin, Tex.

NAMELESS: This may be nothing more than a case of the grass being greener on the other side of the fence. The new guy is an enticing unknown, whereas the football guy is yours, and for that reason alone he's is less exciting.

Don't be in a hurry to break up with him. Keep going out with him for a month or so, and if your feelings about the boy from the party persist, tell Dream Guy and then call the other guy to say you're free to go out with him.

Chances are you're just not ready to be in a permanent relationship. There's nothing wrong with that. And you don't need to feel sorry for the football captain. He won't have any problem finding another girlfriend.

IT'S TIME TO END THE RELATIONSHIP

DR. WALLACE: I'm 17, and I'm a senior in high school. My boyfriend is in his first year of college at San Diego State University. I really like him, but I'm not 100 percent in love with him.

My problem is that I have been sitting at home every weekend watching television while my friends are all going out on dates and having a good time. When Jeff left for college, we both agreed that we wouldn't date anyone else.

I called him last weekend and told him that I still cared for him but that I thought we should both have a social life and date other people. I told him that we could still spend a lot of time together during holidays and summer break.

He was not happy about this. He said that he thought we were in a serious relationship and that we should not be going out with other people.

Now I feel really trapped. I told him I would think it over. I'd like to hear what you think I should do. — Tammy, Anaheim, Calif.

TAMMY: Trust your feelings. Your words to Jeff make perfect sense and bear repeating. Call him again, and let him know that you still care for him but that you are going to start dating others. Encourage him to do the same.

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. E-mail 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.