I was out again tonight and I went to a place I've frequented lately. As soon as I arrived I spotted HB7.5 (a girl I've opened but only talked to for 5 minutes) sitting at a table with one other HB5 and four guys. She gives me solid "hello" eye contact but I get roped into a conversation with one of the guys working at the place and then a HB6.5 shows up and says "Do you remember me?" I only kinda do and I have to ask her what her name is and then ask her to join me at a table where my friends are moving to. She is showing some pretty decent IOI's so I test out some incidental kino and she reacts by reciprocating. It is like every 2 or 3 touches I give her she "accidentally" touches me back. Despite us sharing a table with 4 other guys she is giving me a lot of attention but I'm not really into her. After about 45 minutes HB7.5 is leaving and I haven't even got to say hello. I wave her down as she exits and say "hey, too bad we didn't get to talk" and she responds "well, I've been sitting over there all night". Ouch. She continues: "Maybe we'll chat next time" and reminds me of her name. Perhaps she remembers my name but she didn't ask and then she left. I can tell HB6.5 is wondering if I'm going to make a move (or at least attempt a close) but I don't escalate passed some "friendly" overt kino.

I know theoretically that you have to strike while the iron is hot. Any hesitation is a killer. I didn't try and close HB6.5 even though I spent a lot of time on her. HB7.5 gave me an open invitation with her look and I didn't go and I could tell it upset her. I might be able to salvage both women since I know I'll see them both again but I tried acting too cool and missed them both tonight.

It is a new frustration. I am passed AA, I can create a good response during conversation but I choke when I get the opportunity to escalate. It is a recipe for friend-zone and until I can get passed it I'm doomed to AFC status.