What does young love mean today? Five couples kiss and tell...
Niamh & Finn, 17 & 18
Do you think that learning about relationships in school is useful?
Niamh: "I suppose so, but you only really learn from experience. I didn't listen to my mum when she said, 'Wait for him to call you' – but it was valuable advice."
Finn: "Yes – having an understanding of how your actions affect your partner is useful."
Can you ever be too young to fall in love?
N: "No ... Two people from my school started going out when they were 13 and they are now married with a kid."
F: "You're never too young!"
What's the nicest thing that your partner has ever done for you?
N: "When I was ill, he came round every day after college and brought weird fruits and watched telly with me." F: "She cleaned my room when I went to college and gave me back rubs when I felt bad."
Do you want to get married when you're older?
N: "Yeah, I'd love to know that I want to be with someone for ever, and that they feel the same way."
F: "Yes."
How long did you wait before you said the words "I love you"?
N: "Erm ... about a month. I think the reason that it sometimes takes so long is because you're scared that they won't say it back."
F: "Not that long; it just happened."
What scares you about being in a relationship?
N: "Loving the other person more than they love me."
F: "It means you are vulnerable."
Describe love in one word
N: "Strength."
F: "Yearning."
What is the best thing about being in a relationship? And what's the worst?
N: "Best: having someone to be there and kiss you when you need it. Worst: jealousy."
F: "The best thing is having someone that you will protect no matter what because you know that she would do the same for you."
Should you ever change for someone?
N: "Yes, as long as you're being true to yourself."
F: "If you truly care about them, then you will change naturally."
Sophie & Shay, 15 & 18
How did you meet?
Shay: "A friend introduced us in town one night."
How long have you been together?
Sophie: "Just over 15 months."
What is the best thing about being together? And what's the worst?
Sophie: "The worst thing is when we have small disagreements, but other than that I love being in this relationship."
Shay: "When we get along we get along really nicely and always have a laugh ... the worst is when we argue."
Do you believe in true love and soulmates?
Sophie: "Very much so."
Shay: "Yep – and I have found my soulmate."
What do you like most about being in a relationship? And what do you hate?
Sophie: "I love being in a relationship – especially this one. We're going a long way."
Shay: "I love everything about being in a relationship, there's nothing to hate."
How do you spend your time together?
Shay: "Watching DVDs, going to the cinema, going out for dinner, visiting family and friends – we tend to do quite a lot together actually."
What is the difference between young love and having a relationship when you're a bit older?
Sophie: "I think that some younger relationships can work – but for me being slightly older feels better." Shay: "I think that having a relationship when you're younger is never going to be as meaningful as an older person's relationship. When you're a bit older you can show intimacy and obviously that means a lot more."
Osca & Emily, both 18
Do you sometimes wish you'd met each other later in life?
Osca: "Maybe, we are quite young."
Emily: "No, not really."
Are you scared that you like your partner more than he/her likes you?
O: "I was at the beginning, because I knew I did like her more ... but it's all cool now."
E: "He chased me, so I guess he liked me more!"
Can you ever be too young to fall in love?
O: "No."
E: "No."
Do you believe in soulmates and true love?
O: "Erm, I don't know about soulmates but love is definitely real."
E: "Soulmates? Ha ha, eerrm ..."
Do you want to get married when you're older?
O: "Yes."
E: "No."
How long do you think your relationship is going to last?
O: "Until we're old and grey, ha ha, only as a joke."
E: "A bit."
Andrew & Jemma, 16 & 17
Is this the first serious relationship you've been in?
Jemma: "Yes, definitely – we met in 2006 when I was 13."
Andrew: "Yeah, for me personally it is."
Can you ever be too young to fall in love?
J: "Not at all, it's not the age, it's how you feel."
A: "No, but I do think you need maturity to be able to know what love is and what to do with your feelings."
Are you scared that you like your partner more than he/she likes you?
J: "I used to have that feeling, but I think we both know now how we feel."
A: "I thought that at the beginning, but growing up together has made me feel more comfortable."
How do your parents feel about your relationship?
J: "On both sides they think we aren't good enough for each other."
A: "They don't approve, but that has never stopped us and I hope it never will."
Describe your relationship in three words
J: "Beautiful, exciting, romantic."
A: "Romantic, adventurous, joyful."
What scares you about being in a relationship?
J: "Breaking up, definitely. I wouldn't know what to do if we broke up."
A: "The thought of it ending."
Do you think the relationship has changed you?
J: "100 per cent yes. If I hadn't met Andrew, I wouldn't be the person I am today. We've grown up dramatically over the past three years together. He's changed me into a more caring person."
A: "Being with Jemma has changed the way that I see everything."
Cassie & Timmy, 17 & 18
How long have you been in a relationship?
Cassie: "I have been in a relationship with Timmy for one year and 11 months."
Timmy: "Me and Cassie met through a friend and it just went from there."
Describe your relationship
C: "We have our ups and downs and have had a couple of breaks from each other, but always come out stronger."
T: "Our relationship is very strong as we have broken up twice before."
Do you love each other?
C: "Yes! I do love Timmy and I'm pretty sure he feels the same – we are really close."
T: "Yes, we do love each other. Every time we are together our love gets better."
Do you think you'll be together for ever?
C: "I just take each day as it comes, you never know what's gonna happen."
T: "I can't really say that we will be together for ever, because you never know what is round the corner. I feel that our relationship is at a strong stage and that we could be together for a really long time."
Is it important for you to be in a relationship?
C: "No, I don't think so. I just feel comfortable and happy that I am in a relationship."
T: "I wouldn't say I really need to be in a relationship, but it is just nice knowing you have someone at home that loves you very much and will always be there for you."
What do you think of elderly couples?
C: "I think it's really sweet seeing an old-age couple." T: "Their love must be very strong for them to have stayed together for so long."
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