Your Boyfriend Was a High-School Menace—Now What? - dating advice illustration

Your Boyfriend Was a High-School Menace—Now What?

You met a guy who plays the game clean on paper but reeks of smoke under the hood. This ain't a trap—this is a battlefield. Let's burn through the noise.

High-School Bullies Don’t Get Passes in the Real World

Life’s not a fairy tale and high school ain’t a dress rehearsal. You got served by a dude who turned lunchrooms into war zones just for kicks. Now you’re stuck picking through the wreckage wondering if the same monster wearing a nice suit is sitting beside you.

The Bullsh*t Excuse Machine

They always say, “That was a different time” like some magical time machine snapped them into place. High school’s where kids start learning how to weaponize words. Some outgrow it through grit. Others? They carry the same knives into adulthood, just sharper.

Watch for the Tell in the Sh*t Talk

Jake’s clean-freak act is one thing. But calling someone an “unclean person” after two dates? That’s not clean—it’s a loaded bullet. Mental illness doesn’t make him a free pass. If you’re coughing up blood and still throwing punches, that’s called being a tool.

Test the Metal When Heat’s on the Grill1. Restaurant Rules

Does he cancel plans because of a health department sticker? That’s the real test.

2. Anger in Motion

What happens when the Wi-Fi dies or the Uber doesn’t come? Does he flip or fold?

3. Who’s on His Kill List?

Does he trash strangers he’s never met? If he’s got side-eye for the whole city, that’s not judgment—it’s war mode.

The Ghost That Wore a Tie

You got ghosted like a bad investment you never should’ve trusted. He said he wanted to stay put but flew halfway across the globe after calling it a “good date.” Bullsh*t flags get raised, not lowered.

Poker Face, Empty Wallet

You thought a decent dinner meant he was in the game. Nope. That’s just polite code for “not interested.” He didn’t ghost—he chess-moved to a new board and left you holding the queen.

Don’t Marry the Mirage

You’re not the problem if he’s running from your past. The guy who says he “found the love of his life” after one date isn’t looking for love—he’s closing a deal. And you’re just a red flag to him.

Time to Burn the Bridge

Relationships aren’t Yelp reviews. You don’t need ten stars to know a place is sketch. You know when you’re being set up to lose. Walk away before you become collateral damage.

Final Playbook

Treat this like a business negotiation: no handshake, no contract. The only thing Jake guaranteed you was a lesson in how to spot a snake in a suit. Now you’re armed with the truth—never let the setup blind you again.