Date line. (GL Life).

Ask Lucky By Alexis Sinex, 18

All my BFFs go out on double dates or group dates, and don't ask me to join them because I don't have a BF. I feel hurt and left out. Should I say something?

Sure, talk to them about it. I doubt they exclude you on purpose. Chances are, your friends assume you don't want to hang with all couples and be a spare wheel. Explain that you don't resent them for having BFs and don't care about being dateless, but that you feel you re missing out on some fun. I'm pretty sure they will invite you on their next outing once they get that the couples thing is no biggie to you. Heck, ask if any of their BFs have a friend who could come along...who knows?

Dear Lucky,

My parents smoke, and it bothers me. I stink like smoke, and it grosses me out. Whenever I talk to them about it, they say they're trying to quit. What can I do?

Ask them, nicely, if they'll restrict smoking to one part of the house or, better yet, outside. Tell them you hate smelling like an ashtray and would rather not inhale smoke. Do they know secondhand smoke is a huge cause of sickness--and can lead to cancer and other smoking-related diseases? For important information on its effects, go to www.lungusa.org/tobacco/smosecondha.html. Maybe your encouragement will help them quit, or at least get them thinking about it on a whole new level (especially when they're smoking every cig on the toilet under a vent or outdoors in bathrobes on rainy nights). A little bargaining never hurt either--for every cigarette they smoke, you get to stay up 10 minutes past your bedtime.

Dear Lucky,

My friend is rich. We have fun hanging at her house, but she asks why I never invite her to mine. Truth is, I'm afraid of what she'll think because I don't have a pool or tennis court. I know she's my friend no matter what, but I'm still embarrassed.

There's no reason to be embarrassed about your abode, especially with a friend who likes you for you--not if you sport designer duds or have a butler named Cheeves. What's cool about your house? Do you have a kickin' club basement or laidback boudoir? I'll bet your house is fine, and you probably loved it before you fell for her pool and tennis court. Invite your friend over, but don't make excuses for why you don't have this or that. Your friend probably couldn't care less, so why should you? Just make her feel welcome, and you two can have just as much fun at your place making sun tea on your back patio or chilling on the sofa watching summer reruns.

Dear Lucky,

My mom always checks my e-mails. She even deletes my messages without telling me. I haven't done anything to make her distrust me. What can I do about it?

Tell your mom you feel she's totally invading your privacy. Talk to her in a mature and calm manner, and ask why she's reading and deleting your e-mail without letting you know. Find out if there is a reason she distrusts you, but I'm willing to guess it's not you she doesn't trust. She, like most parents, is probably concerned about Internet "stalkers" or ripoff scams. If this is the case, maybe you can convince her that if you ever come across any suspicious or unsavory e-mail, you will let her know immediately so she can screen it. Hopefully, she'll understand where you're coming from and will stop snooping around your e-mail. If she continues, you can always switch to snail mail (I know, I know).