Dear Annie,

I'm writing on a friend's behalf. No, really, I am writing on a friend's behalf. I'm not one of those who pretends to write about a friend but they really are that friend… I'm confusing myself. So, I work at this place where my friend also works. He is kind of the boss there. Or more like the boss over our department. He is a ladies man – always stealing my girlfriends – by the way. Anyhow, he has a female friend who is his right hand. While he is a slacker and hates to work, she is strict and harsh and make sure he does his work. They are total opposites. She almost never shows any emotion (It's been like two years since I saw her laugh, like really laugh) so it's hard to figure out what is going on in her mind.

She has never shown any interest more than friendship with him, and she doesn't think it's proper for people who work together to date (Then there's this little tiny law… Maybe you've guessed where we work by now?). She has always called him by his last name or "sir" or something else. But I recently noticed that she has been slipping lately by calling him by first name, something she has never done in the years I've known her. One time I caught her with being angry with him and called him by first name. The first time I noticed this was when she was tired one morning. And the rest is only when she gets emotional.

He too calls her by last name or something else and he's been slipping too lately. She can sometimes comment that he shouldn't be calling her by first name, but sometimes she doesn't complain. I think this may mean something, but they are too damn pride to admit it. So that's why I wrote to you; do you think I'm right in suspecting something or is this normal behaviour? I really want to know. Should I do something?

-- Blonde Guy in Central

Ps: Do you have a boyfriend?