Why do lads get embarrassed and try to change their emotions if they like a girl but their friends are taking the mick?
Lads do all sorts of odd things on account of their friends.
Risking limbs in stupid skateboard stunts, setting fire to farts, strangling frogs (admittedly this is not so common). It's all because we're very bothered about what our mates think. Our crew is our security. Without it we are nothing, or at least that's what we fear. So we always seek their approval.
We might still do highly lame stuff, it's just that we won't tell anyone. So if we cuddle our mum or a teddy in bed or watch Love Actually and have a bit of a cry*, we'll keep it to ourselves. Same goes if we start fancying a chick our mates don't rate.
Parading a wizard new girlfriend is essentially the same as showing off the latest cool phone or an expensive new pair of trainers. It makes us look like The Man. But if we're not positive our mates will think she's brill, we fear the opposite reaction.
It might not even be that she's butters. Maybe our crew just don't want us to have a bird - simply because it means we'll hang about less with them. So they'll take the mick regardless.
Having said all that, if a lad really likes you, he'll have to stop worrying about his childish mates. If he can't, you might have to win them over yourself.
Which is easy, just set fire to one of your farts.
*Just want to clarify, I've never done this.
Please remember: Kev is not an expert, he is just a boy and sometimes quite a silly boy. The main thing to remember when it comes to lads and relationships is to expect respect as the absolute minimum. Find out more about a Women's Aid campaign of the same name.
Previous letters: