Me: student in a STEM related field currently doing his masters degree, 22 year old kissless virgin (but only socially clueless when it comes to dating), height 5 ft 3 (used to be very insecure because of that, part of me still is, but recently started accepting that disadvantage), decent looking yet "boyish" face and slightly muscular body from working out without weights, still living at home because it is a financially smarter thing to do, have discovered TRP a few years ago, but only recently started to really read up on it.

Met a girl in an extra curricular math course and asked her out. She spent a year abroad after high school, smaller than me, looks and behaves more like the shy type.

First date: drank a coffe and went to a walk in the park afterwards. It was rainy so it was easy to tell her to grab my arm. Conversations were light throughout, jokes hear and there, never awkward, but not very flirty. She avoided eye-contact a lot. Not knowing if she likes me, I pussied out of going for the kiss and we ended with a hug. Next day I text her that I enjoyed the time with her and asked if she caught a cold. She told me she enjoyed it too, so I straight went for setting up the next date.

Second Date: Went to eat some cheap super market food at the nearby beach (large lake). after an hour I put my hand on her waist as we sat next to each other. She did not show any signs of feeling uncomfortable, but she still barely looked at me so again I did not escalate further, although there would have been enough opportunities were we were isolated. Conversation was casual and fun as in the first date, bit more teasing. At the end after we hugged I held her a bit closer and went for the kiss. It probably felt a bit forced, as I am not used to it. She smiled, backed off and told me she likes to take things slowly.

I just would like to hear some general thoughts from you:

  1. Anyone got similar experiences? How do I proceed? My idea is to wait for her to text first and otherwise next her and reset with another girl ( I talk to girls on a regular basis because of hobbies and social circle, but she is the first one I ever approached with the intention to ask her out, so my cold-approach-skills are barely existent).
  2. If thinks dont work out with her, should I focus on self-improvement and wait till I move out? I would be 24 by then, so still young. On the other side I would like to lose the virgin-card sooner if the opportunity arises, but thats a bit difficult with no pull location and lack of experience.