We're both 31.
He was a friend I had in primary school and we'd spoken in secondary school or college as well, can't remember which.
In May, he added me on FB. He said I look really familiar, and I said "so do you!" and it turns out he's one of my oldest friends who I lost contact with.
We've been talking since the start of May daily, and having fun playing online games together. We've shared selfies and we live on the same estate. Found out he literally lives a less than 5-minute walk down the road. He doesn't know I live that close, only that I'm nearby.
Growing up I hung around almost exclusively with lads, because I relate to them better being a tomboy and all.
I'm mentally hanging around 22-23 due to a (now treated) medical condition where my brain basically didn't hit record and was in a very spaced out state for a decade. It's a long story. He has been slightly flirty and we're both single.
Told my mum I'll probably meet him up at the cinema next month, we've been discussing it. My mum kind of freaked out, saying stuff like, he might have ulterior motives, he might kill you, and then she talked about these true crime cases she loves reading about. She said I need some life skills because I'm "too trusting".
In secondary school and college I had my mum drop me off at the cinema so I could go to the cinema with these geeky lad friends and she was fine with them and didn't say this type of stuff. For more context on that he's whatever you call the type of lad/man who wears tracksuits, shiny things and caps everyday and is a bit rough round the edges but nice. When I was in secondary school almost all of my friends were in that archetype and were some of the most loyal lads I've ever known. A bit hooligan-y, but not harmful.
She tells me stuff like "world's changed since then, you can't even go into town because there's lads with machetes trying to rob you".
Am I being naive, or?