The Best Policy...

I once asked a group of guys what is the best way to tell a guy you like him to see if he likes you too. They said that subtle hints don't work and obvious hints are either missed or come across as annoying. What then is the best way to see if a guy likes you too? I asked. Their collective response? Ask him.

~

I once liked a guy. Shocking, I know. But after a while I had several people prodding me to see if he liked me back. So, I asked him. Granted, it was a little awkward because I was incredible immature, but, looking back, it did simplify things a great deal. He didn't like me back but was still interested in being friends. Things weren't awkward between us afterwards because we didn't let them be awkward. We were friends (and I'd like to think we still are).

Later that year I found two other boys attractive (not as much as the first, but attractive nonetheless). I was around a group of girls asking these two attractive guys how to let a guy know that you like him. I told them it was easy: you tell them. They laughed because it was easy to "say such things" but no one would ever do it.

I turned to the guy to my right and said, "Peter, I find you attractive." They all stopped laughing and looked from Peter to me and then back to Peter. He didn't say anything so I followed up with, "Just so you know." Peter and I are still friends too.

~

Well, life weaves an intricate pattern. I like another guy now...I think. I'm still a little indecisive, but I am pretty sure I like him. Anyway, I was going to ask him to the girl's choice Sadie Hawkins dance tomorrow, but someone else beat me to him and I didn't have a back up plan. Anyway, this guy was sitting next to me at "free dinner at the Episcopal church" tonight and started making casual conversation. He asked if I was going to the Sadie Hawkins dance. I said no. He asked why not. I told him that the guy I was going to ask got asked out by someone else before I could get to him. And then he went one step further. He asked me who the guy was. I had a split second to think it through. My thoughts (all condensed into 2 seconds of real time) were thus:

I could tell him it's none of his business...but there is no way to say that without sounding childish

I could tell him that I'm not telling...but that would also sound childish

I could make up some guy...but that would be lying and lying is never a good idea

Result: I told the truth.

I took a deep breath, turned to him and said, "I was going to ask you." I looked at him for another second and then continued eating. I could see the shock in his face and I don't know how long it was before it died. He retorted with something like, "Oh. Really?" The casual conversation continued after that without much awkwardness. Unfortunately, I don't know what to do now...

Dating is awesome isn't it?

But my favorite part of the story was that my friend Maria was sitting right next to me at the time and heard the whole conversation. Her jaw dropped about a foot when I actually told him that I was going to ask him to the dance. When he was out of earshot for a few seconds she leaned over and said, "I can't believe you actually told him!" Without thinking about it I said, "Well, he asked. Honesty is always the best policy."

I hope I'm right. :)

~

"Love is beautiful. Love is wonderful." --Ray, Princess and the Frog

"Let's say God puts two people on the earth and they are lucky enough to find one another. But then, one of them gets hit by lightning. Well, then what? Or perchance you meet someone new is that the person you were supposed to be with, or was it the first? And if the two of them were walking side by side did it just happen to be the first one first, or was the second one supposed to be first? And is everything just chance, or are some things meant to be?" --Henry, Ever After

"I won't say I'm in love!" --Meg, Hercules

"Dear God, was that necessary?" --Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof

~

Today's Featured Quote:

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." --Maria Robinson