<human>: Hi everyone,
There's a boy in my class named Andrew who I have become friends with over the past year. He's great - funny, nice, charming, etc. Honestly, if he's interested as well I think it would be cool to start a relationship with him :)
The problem is, I guess, my friends. Recently I asked Andrew to a dance and he said yes. When I told my friend, she replied with "that retard? What, are you his caretaker?"

I immediately deflated. Andrew is very mildly autistic - it's only noticeable sometimes when he pauses in his speech (he sometimes has trouble collecting his thoughts, per se) or because he doesn't show a great deal of emotion. Even so, he's great at communicating his feelings by speech and is all-in-all a high functioning member of society and great person :)

I guess what I am worried about is more reactions like my friend's. What will my family think if they hear about his autism? I feel like everyone thinks I pity him or want to fix everything for him, but I don't! I just like him.

What do I do?

Can you provide a brief rundown of the text in within 3 sentences?
<bot>: like a boy in my class but he is mildly autistic and am afraid everyone will think I am dating him put of pity