relationship with my student

Hello, highschool teacher here with a bit of an issue. There is a student in my class who seemed a little weird and doesn't have many friends so I befriended her by eating lunch with her sometimes and helping her with homework. I soon found that she was not weird at all but just... different. We began to hit it off and became really good friends and since we are both lesbians she usually comes to me for relationship advice. The other day she came to my class after school crying about her girlfriend cheating on her and I was so angry I shocked myself, but I was also happy in a way because she was now single. I felt horrible after feeling that way and tried to brush it off but a couple days ago we had this conversation:

Student: Sorry I forgot my board again

Me: Sometimes I think you forget that thing just to see me

Student: Yeah just to see that horrible face

Me: Haha you love my face

Student: I love more than just your face

That last comment made me blush and even turned me on a bit but I told her leave playfully so I wouldn't upset her although I was angry at her for making that comment.
There are plenty of rumours going around of me and her sleeping together and scared of losing my job or worse. The student is graduating this school year so I can wait but Im scared if these rumours are already too widespread. What do I do?

Wow, that is a tricky situation...as a high school senior, your student is probably over 18, so you at least wouldn't have to go to jail if the rumors become too widespread.

I think that the attraction between you and your student is a beautiful thing (I've had a lot of teacher crushes myself ) but for the sake of your career you should definitely wait until she has graduated to do anything physical.

Seems to me that your first comment in that conversation was flirtatious. Stop flirting with your students.

I probably don't have grounds to give advice in this situation, as I've never been in yours or your student's position before, but with you as the teacher and her the student it may not be a good idea to pursue any kind of physical relationship. It can be good as a young person to have an adult to confide in and talk with who you feel close to and who's thoughts on things you respect. However even with your student being of legal age it still feels a bit like seeking an actual relationship could only complicate things in the student's mind. A teacher or any older adult figure who's in a position of superiority over a young person can become a powerful mentor to them. And while we may experience crushes on some of our mentors, or even fantasize about them, it doesn't mean that making it a reality could be healthy. It's not a question of age difference really (though there is a maturity level that can come into play with someone fresh out of high school) but there is something to consider about how your student has viewed you growing up in your classroom, learning things from you, trusting you. That's a great responsibility and one that shouldn't be taken lightly when considering moving forward with something that may only be a fleeting sexual desire. I'm not trying to say what you and her have is a fleeting thing, only that you should take any decision you make about this very seriously, not so much just because of your job (though that could be a factor) but more so for the sake of your student. She may be 18, so legally an adult, but as far as thinking fully as an adult and making these kinds of adult decisions about someone who's been a kind of therapist in her life could prove harmful to her if/when the relationship finally ends. I know the person I was at 18 was not who I would consider a fully matured adult. She may look up to you a great deal, and take anything you think (both positive and negative) to heart very deeply. I can only imagine if a mentor or teacher I cared about and thought highly of took an interest in me sexually. I'm sure I'd be very excited, but with that excitement would be a feeling of nervousness, wanting to please them, what if I do something wrong, what if we fight, what if they stop loving me, all those feeling become amplified when you're talking about someone you've looked up to for so long. And what if her thoughts and feelings on being in a relationship change as she grows up? She may just have a crush on you right now, because you're a mature, caring, successful adult who's taken an interest in her feelings and her life.

As I said I obviously don't have any experience with this kind of thing, and I don't know your interactions together are, but if I were a teacher, or any figure who was in a kind of superior role over another person (be it boss, psychiatrist, therapist, professor, doctor, lawyer, etc.) I would think long and hard about dissolving that relationship barrier with a student, patient, client, subordinate. It's not the kind of thing you can take back when it's done and it's something that will stay with them, and possibly shape their future relationships for years and years to come.

In the end I would say just stay friendly, be supportive, give advice and an ear to listen and shoulder to cry on, but maybe back off on the whole physical relationship thing, she may need your guidance, your friendship and mature knowledge of life helping her through this new and difficult chapter of her life more than she needs a full fledged intimate relationship. Anyway, that's my thoughts on it, I wish you both the very best though, it truly doesn't sound like an easy thing to think about by any means.

I agree with AnthonyofKazoo 100%.

Even if the student is eighteen years old and legally an adult if she is a student I think it inappropriate for a teacher to have an intimate relationship. Even if the student wants it, you are the adult and are responsible to make mature decisions.

You have crossed boundaries that you should not have. You are the adult in this situation and you clearly knew she liked you and you liked her. You should have distanced yourself and remained professional.

You should put this right straight away and be professional - speak to your superiors and tell them - put your student before yourself before you abuse her.

It is abuse - abuse of your position and power and you should rectify the situation straight away.

This is a vulnerable young girl and she should be able to have an appropriate relationship with her ADULT teacher in a safe manner. Your position is one of parental - it is abuse full stop.

Report it immediately and remove yourself from you students life before you ruin her life and that of her family.

You have already allowed this situation to happen .. But now you see this clearly ... You need to stop it here and now! Later down the road if she has graduated and you both want to pursue this by all means go for it . right now ? No way .

Good luck