These are a couple FR's that happened in the past year. They are examples of what being aware of your environment can do to your interactions.

[FR 1]

Earlier in the year, I was invited to a house party by a friend at school. This was the first house party of the year so I was going to meet the other students in my program (it's a small program), one of which being a hot redhead that I'd spoken to a couple of times. I never got her name from her but I heard someone call her name at one point in the week.

At the party, I'm hanging out, shooting shit with some randoms when I decided to go outside. I talk with some guys outside and tell them a short version of my name because I told them they wouldn't remember my real name (true fact). They called bullshit and told me to tell them my real name so I did. For the rest of the night, these two guys would walk by me a lot and say "Hey yo, wuddup [sayn]!". I corrected them a lot but they kept doing it over and over. After time, we were creating such a scene with this that the redhead got curious and decided to approach me. Convo went like this:

RED: Hey, I've seen you around before and I've never actually gotten your name before. What is it again?

ME: Let me type it out in your phone. I wanna see if you can get it.

(Put it in her phone. She fumbled around with the pronunciation of my name a couple times but I never gave her the correct way to say it, I just stood there with a smirk on my face.)

ME: I bet I can guess your name :)

HER: Bullshit!

ME: Wild guess, does it start with a K?

HER: Maybe. Or is it a C? Who knows?

ME: Is it Kelly?

HER: EW! No!

ME: Is it Kate?

HER: Nope!

We got interrupted by someone at that point, forgot why, but I just continued.

ME: Ok, so if it's not Kelly and not Kate, I don't think it would be Katie. Is it....K____?

Her face went from :O to a sarcastic eye roll in half a sec, like she was trying to hide the fact that she was surprised.

ME: It's Kayla isn't it?

HER: Hahahaha! Yea! Oh my god, you're really good at this!

We ended up hanging out all night and I got her number at the end of the night. I had the opportunity to go for more but I'm against hooking up with classmates (long story about why; not willing to explain).

[FR 2]

I was at a friend's birthday party at a club when one of his friends and I decided to go flirt with some hunnies on the patio. We hit up a couple of sets and we were doing well when we decided to chill back for a bit and relax at the side. Coincidentally, a group of 2 HB7's and 1 HB8 decided to move near us (proximity much?). We stood where we were and waited to see what would happen.

Just then, some dude walked up to the group and started talking to them. From where I was standing, I could hear the conversation they were having. The dude was asking what they were celebrating and the HB8 replied "My birthday!" He asked how old she was and she replied "24". After a while, the conversation died down and he left. That's when I decided to approach.

I walked up to one of the Blonde HB7.

ME: No fucking way.

HER: Oh, I'm sorry (she moved out of the way, thinking I needed to get through).

ME: You didn't hear me, I'm so in shock right now.

HER: Why?

ME: I was about to wear the same exact dress tonight! (A shiny low cut dress)

HER: Hahaha! Oh yea?

ME: Yea! Good thing I didn't though, my ass would've totally looked sexier in it and we would've had a catfight on the dancefloor.

HER: Hahaha! Oh my god, you're funny!

We move into the group. While I'm talking the two HB7's, my friend is chatting up the HB8. After a while, I drop this into the convo:

ME: So what are you girls celebrating tonight?

HB8: My birthday!

ME: Oh shit, really?! I thought I was partying with a princess (wearing a tiara).

Group laughs.

HB8: Guess how old I am!

ME: 9.

HB8: No really!

ME: and a half.

HB8: Seriously!!

ME: Ok ok ok! (Checked her out, up and down). Well, you don't have any wrinkles yet, so you're not in your 40's. You're dressed very classy and your make-up is perfect so you're not still 19. I'm going to guesssssss...24?

HB7 friends look at HB8. One of them says "He's goooooood".

ME: I know ;)

We decided to chat some more. My friend convinced the group we were 25 and they told us once we were done smoking to come inside and dance with them. We did, but not for long due to some shit that went down later that night.

Case in point, both times I used what I heard and seen around me to strengthen my game. I know this may not be new news to a lot of you but to the newbies, use everything around you in your conversations. I've seen enough posts about 'what do I say next?' and 'what's a good opener?' when all you really need to do is open your eyes and live in the present!

Hope these FR's helped someone!