Been reading this subreddit for a couple months. The material on here has really helped me improve my game, and tonight was a testament to that. Allow me to elaborate:

Yesterday I was in a small local coffee shop where I see this HB9 sitting by herself singing to the music playing in the cafe (it was Mumford and Sons; one of my favourite bands). I get over my usual sense of AA by using this common interest to open up on her. We talk for a bit, and she's showing heavy IOI's and I realized I want to see her again, so I used yet another trick I picked up on this glorious subreddit: Instead of asking her out in the traditional fasion ("Hey, wanna go grab some pizza tomorrow?") I say "You're really cute. Know what we're gonna do tomorrow? we're gonna do something fun. How about some pizza?" She responds with a very enthusiastic "yes" and gives me her number.

#Close = a success.

Now for the next part of this story, you guys gotta know some backround info. There was this cute petite HB154644515 that I've been interested in for the longest time. We met each other at a school leadership conference about a year ago. We used go to schools in different towns, so our main form of communication was through text/email. But recently, I moved to her town for school, so this opened many more opportunities to see her. We shared the same obscure taste in music, the same likes and dislikes; we just clicked. but I felt like I was in the friendzone with her so I never bothered to attempt to start anything there.

ANYWAY, back to the HB9 date: The day of the date comes, and we meet up at the pizza place. I give the customary hug and we sit down. As the date goes on, I realize that this girl is not for me. She's boring, bland, and has nothing interesting to say. She seems like she would rather be someplace else. After an hour has passed, she mentions that she has to get going, so we part ways. I look at this as a positive thing. Even though nothing came out of it, I got some experience out of it, and got me in state. I decide to stay behind to take in the sights at the pizzeria. While sitting there by my lonesome, I get a text from the HB154644515 I've been interested in:

"Hey! :) What are you up to? Wanna hang?"

I figure, "meh, why not?". I agree, and tell her to meet me at the pizzeria. When she gets there, things go great. I find myself completely in state. (I think it was left over from the first failed date) I'm witty, clever, and escalate kino at a VERY steady pace, (nothing to serious, just footies). After our meal is done, I suggest the idea of walking by the river front, and she agrees. As we walk we start a game of 20 questions.

NOTE: IF THERE'S ONE THING I'VE LEARNED ABOUT LIFE, IT'S THAT 20 QUESTIONS IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOL YOU HAVE IN YOUR ARSENAL. IT GIVES YOU MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE ADVANCES AS WELL AS OPENING UP CHANCES TO CREATE VERY WITTY BANTER. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

The game of 20 questions goes on as we're walking down the river (at this point, it's dusk, and the river looks pretty as shit) and I escalate kino pretty heavily. I move in for some lower back touching, and she doesn't retreat. This is good. We soon sit down on a bench and kino has escalated even more. Soon, we are cuddling on the bench with her underneath my arm. "this is the perfect opportunity to kiss her, do it you idiot!" says my heart, but my brain responds with "no! we if she doesn't like us?" "It's now or never fool."

Fuck it, I decide to go for it. Whats the worst that can happen, right?

It's my turn to ask a question, so I nonchalantly ask "What would you do if I kissed you right now?" She looks back and says "I'd kiss you back."

AND BAM. K-Close.

It's as simple as that folks. Spent half hour making out with her. Later we slow-danced on the riverfront and I walked her home. (I know, I'm a romantic fucker).

Welp, that's my first field report. Main lessons to be learned here? 1. The friendzone is not a black hole. It can be escaped. I am living proof. 2. Never say no to an opportunity that arises. It would be a waste, you never know what's gonna happen. 3. Go with your gut feeling. If you want to kiss her, than kiss her. You never know what's going through her head. Girls can be tricky like that.

So thank you Seddit, for all your help. I love your faces.