Ways Teen Guy/Girls SHOW Affection

My characters always want to touch each other. Whether that's holding hands, kissing, or even just very, very lightly stroking their hand with a pinkie while they're sitting next to each other.

One picking up the other in a car even when it's out of their way or otherwise inconvenient. Lingering around after school waiting for their club/band/meeting to finish. Putting up with the other person's idiot friends. Remembering to bring their favorite food or drink to them. Excessive interest in their uninteresting hobbies and activities. Bringing them an offering of something they are incredibly nerdy-obsessive about. Waiting for them outside of class. Gathering intel on them from other people. Playing guitar and singing for the other person (fictional dudes always seem to be doing this for their ladies, but if a lady did it for her guy that would pretty hot I reckon).

They talk to each other all the time without realizing they do. Definitely second the vote of waiting around before/after class or bringing a favorite snack or drink. Whenever they're talking to their other friends, they can't help but bring up a funny anecdote involving the future-significant-other.

Befriending the persons best friend. Stumbling over words when they're with the other person. Listening to the other persons favorite bands, watching their favorite movies/shows.

I agree with the lingering afterschool to wait for them thing.
Also, having special/inside jokes/things that they do together. For example, a uh *clears throat* FRIEND of mine and a guy my FRIEND liked used to walk home together, and every day the guy would help her pick out a rock (my friend collects rocks) to bring home, and it ended up being a really special thing for MY FRIEND and this guy she liked. One time he even told her it'd be weird if she did this with someone else. Don't ask me how I know this. I read her diary or something.

I ALSO agree with the listening to favorite bands thing, even if they don't particularly enjoy the music.

Offering to share food or sit by the LI is a good one too. Just subtle things like that.

Hope I helped!

My male character always tries to hold the female character. However my female shows her affections by insulting/hitting the male character. :/

Stating the obvious: it's going to depend on the individual characters involved.

I always baked the guy I was into at the time cookies. I knew people that would buy gifts, and still other people that would carve their crushes' name in their ankle (I wish I were kidding, and these girls went through a lot of crushes ...). Then there are people that don't show their affection very well at all. Of course, this was all about ten years ago, so it might be as simple as sending texts now.

But for a character, give them something that stands out. As cheesy as what's-his-face standing outside Molly Ringwald's bedroom window with the boom box in Sixteen Candles looks now, it works.

Ok i'll tell you things from my real life personal experience with myself and from what friends told me.

girl- its going to sound corney but it really happens, nervously giggling and constantly laughing at all the stupid jokes the guy says

Guy- here is one that is and way to my shock a big thing guys do... Tickle... why? Its and "innocent" excuse to touch a girl and get close to them.

KateSmash said:

But for a character, give them something that stands out. As cheesy as what's-his-face standing outside Molly Ringwald's bedroom window with the boom box in Sixteen Candles looks now, it works.

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Geek that I am, I have to say that it's Say Anything, not Sixteen Candles, one of the only teen movies Molly Ringwald wasn't in during the 80's. Cameron Crowe directed it. John Cusack was the dude.

thebloodfiend said:

Geek that I am, I have to say that it's Say Anything, not Sixteen Candles, one of the only teen movies Molly Ringwald wasn't in during the 80's. Cameron Crowe directed it. John Cusack was the dude.

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I stand corrected. But y'all get my point.

thebloodfiend said:

Geek that I am, I have to say that it's Say Anything, not Sixteen Candles, one of the only teen movies Molly Ringwald wasn't in during the 80's. Cameron Crowe directed it. John Cusack was the dude.

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I was 18 when this came out. Le sigh. Loved it. I love the friend singing all the songs to Joe too.

Joe liiieees- He lies-

Sorry for the diversion.

One more for waiting until the other one finishes some activity, such as a club, or taking a test in class, or on the way to the cafeteria or lingering after school so they can walk home together.

For touching, I'd say tickling, poking, etc are pretty common.

Teasing is another big one. Like, constantly. That or a lot of lame jokes the other one laughs at anyway.

Also going to agree on them suddenly "liking" the same things as the other one: bands, tv shows, activities, sports teams if they're into that.

Gathering intel through friends or harmless spying. Being in the same places even if they shouldn't have a reason to be there, such as walking them to class even if it's not on the way to their own, or just "happening" to be on an errand that passes by somewhere the other person is. Altering routes to meet up more often.

They talk to each other more than they realize, especially on Facebook/substitute or IM if it's contemp. Seconding Mandiloo's comment about constant anecdotes. Seriously, I have heard people bring up the other person with only the slightest connection to the rest of the conversation. Singing and playing instruments is a bit corny and cliche, but it's still pretty common, especially joking or teasing using a real song or a made-up one.

Giving the other person stuff at the slightest hint of interest. Offering to loan them music or dvds, or video games(if they play games). Loaning someone something is a guarantee of further contact that seems completely natural. And if the other person likes them, they will often accept even if they don't really want it.

Developing weird habits/activities: the mentioned rock thing, goofy "tours" of various interests, such as bridges or secret sidewalks/paths; nicknames: funny ones and especially dumb ones, because if they didn't get along with each other, they wouldn't put up with it; and inside jokes is another big one, the dumber, the better.

Also, trying to be friends with the other persons friends is something I've seen a lot. And it makes tons of sense, since it means they'll have more time around the other person.

There's a lot of other stuff, of course, but that's the big general categories I can think of.

KateSmash said:

Stating the obvious: it's going to depend on the individual characters involved.

I always baked the guy I was into at the time cookies. I knew people that would buy gifts, and still other people that would carve their crushes' name in their ankle (I wish I were kidding, and these girls went through a lot of crushes ...). Then there are people that don't show their affection very well at all. Of course, this was all about ten years ago, so it might be as simple as sending texts now.

But for a character, give them something that stands out. As cheesy as what's-his-face standing outside Molly Ringwald's bedroom window with the boom box in Sixteen Candles looks now, it works.

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OMG I so knew people who would carve initials into their ankles...it was a big thing when I was in high school. Which was also ten years ago, ha! I never did it, when I was asked I was like...something that involves physical pain? Count me OUT

My characters sometimes show affection by helping one another with a chore. They live together, because they're a very new foster brother/sister pair. Whatever one has to do, the other will help.

Aubie said:

OMG I so knew people who would carve initials into their ankles...it was a big thing when I was in high school. Which was also ten years ago, ha! I never did it, when I was asked I was like...something that involves physical pain? Count me OUT

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Wait, what?! I have never even heard of this. Although, I graduated from HS two years ago, so it might have been before my time. Or else it's not a US thing?

I'm in Alabama, so it was in the US. I don't know where KateSmash is from It was around the late nineties, first year or so of the 2000's. I thought it was super disgusting, and I was in no way willing to physically hurt myself for a boy.

Aubie, That would explain a lot because I missed that. I can totally see it though, considering the era.

Showing affection: gotta say finding any excuse to be around the other person, doing little things for them like maybe their homework, going places with their guy/girl that they wouldn't normally go, buying them gifts for no particular reason, writing a song for the other person (especially if they're in a band!). There are plenty of other stuff, I'm sure.

Aubie said:

I'm in Alabama, so it was in the US. I don't know where KateSmash is from It was around the late nineties, first year or so of the 2000's. I thought it was super disgusting, and I was in no way willing to physically hurt myself for a boy.

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Same, except I was in Upstate New York then. I didn't encounter it after my family moved to North Carolina in 2001, though. Then again, my second high school was huge (whereas the first was pretty small), so it very well could have happened there too and I just had more sane friends.

Finding little ways to touch each other all the time. Holding hands a lot but also linking pinkies, touching each other's arms or waists. I always tuck my hand into my boyfriend's back pocket. Tickling, giggling, kisses on the temple or forehead. Giving up his seat on a bus for her and holding her hand, carrying her books if they're heavy, kissing her hand. There are a lot of ways, but mostly in my experience it's always touching in some way.

They have little in-jokes and stupid things they call each other.