Whether you are spending your summer in the motherland that is Champaign, or you elected to change up your surroundings, it is easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment. 

It’s hard to think that the hard 10 you met double fisting natty lights at a bonfire has stuck around all summer and you don’t hate him yet. The tricky thing about summer is that it is a breeding ground for love. When you are surrounded by hot bodies, no homework and have your mimosa goggles on, it is easy to fall into the mental trap of trying to define what “this” is. Every spur of the moment romance deserves evaluation on a case-by-case basis but here are some tips to distinguish whether you should pursue your summer fling or chalk it up to the game. 

I’m sick and tired of the laissez-fair, casual hookup crime that most of us are guilty of committing. After seeing someone consistently upwards of two months, you sit on a throne of lies, if the thought of a relationship did not cross your mind. It's okay. We are human, and we have emotions. I am totally guilty of treating “getting feelings” like a death sentence because sometimes it might as well be. No one goes into summer with the intention of falling in love, but sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants. Before you run for the hills and change your name, entertain the idea. 

You and Stifler might have intended that your summer-long Cape Cod rendezvous was just a fling, but you don’t want to let your potential soul mate get washed away. If you happen to be sitting across from your hottie at Sunday brunch and slowly start to realize that he is a hilarious, polite, Libertarian bundle of preppy perfection, communicate. He might think you’re the moon to his shine. The worst thing you can do, in this situation, is pretend like the very real attraction between you two is not real, and sweep it under your bed. No one wants to come back to school and realize, mid-September, once you’ve been sucked into the depths of Red Lion and everyone seems lackluster, that they were in love with their summer fling. 

What’s the worst thing that can happen? Yes, he could hurl himself off of the side of your yacht and you could never see him again, or you might have found someone to change that, “it’s complicated: with pizza,” relationship status on your Facebook. Work up the courage to have that conversation and don't be afraid of the answer. 

If you have been lucky enough to find someone whose company you truly enjoy, and even look forward to, why throw that away? The single life in college is alluring, but sometimes all it takes is one summer to realize that relationships are not plagues and distance is not an obstacle when you really love someone.