How to tell her Im not interested in a relationship

[homelesssmoke]

There's this best friend of mine who has been showing clear signs that she wants me to go out with her. She is an amazing girl, and I am very honored that she has feelings for me. When I first realized that she liked me, a few sparks of interest rose, but as time went on, for some reason I just kept (and keep) getting this feeling that I shouldn't date her. I can't explain it. Every time I think of dating her, my whole body just shuts down in rebellion towards the thought (that's not to say she would be a bad girlfriend, its just that I would end up being a bad boyfriend for not returning my feelings for her in the relationship).
This past Saturday, we cuddled for a bit after eating at a restaurant with friends. It felt good at the time, but I realized that it was a baad idea to go along with it because that's basically leading her on. I don't want to continue to lead her on, so I'm trying to come up with a way of telling her that dating just isn't a good idea for me. We have a "date" for dinner this Thursday which complicates me telling her we shouldn't date even more. A friend of mine suggested to just go out with her and see how things go and work things out as they come along, because she's more likely to stay my friend if we break up compared to if I tell her I don't want to date her. I'm not too hot about that suggestion, though.

What should I do?

[TTinKKerBBell]

My Husband and I were best friends (platonic) for 7 years when We came to realize We wanted to take Our relationship to the "next" level.

That was 29 Y E A R S ago!!  Because of our Very Long Friendship, We feel our Marriage has a 'special' quality or a dimension, a 'depth' or a 'value' that We might not have had otherwise.

Today We like to say "T R U E love is a FriendShip set on fire"!!

Perhaps if You do feel mutual "sparks", You can allow YourSelf to see where this takes the two of You.  Be as honest and up front as You've always been in Your FriendShip.  I don't see where anyone has anything to lose.

P.S.
I personally think we would see more Marriages succeed if People were Friends first.  People could know whether or not they liked each other BEFORE marriage instead of finding out they don't like each other much AFTERWARDS.  Just saying.....

[Londres70]

In my opinion you shouldn't meet with her for this "date" until you fully express to her that you are not seeking a "romantic relationship" with her.  I can understand the hesitation to go beyond friendship with someone especially if you aren't having any romantic feelings towards her.  Sometimes going from friendship to a romantic relationship can be very tricky.  

Just tell her you feel comfortable with the wonderful friendship you have with her already and at this time a romantic relationship with her is not a possibility.  

Don't see anything wrong with having dinner with her if you both are in agreement to just be friends BEFORE you go to dinner.  

If she is truly your friend she will understand.  She might be somewhat disappointed, but she should understand.  

Best to do this in person.....not in an email, no FB and no telelphone call.  

[Life360_Dave]

Hi as for being just friends you  can forget that as cross gender relationships just dont work out in my opinion.

To answer your question, if this was the other way around what would you want her to do?