So, if you don't want to give constructive feedback, feel free to skip to the tl;dr

So I met a girl Thursday night at a bonfire. 40+ people were there, so it was pretty chaotic. One girl stood out, a tall blone. I talked to her a decent amount, giving her side hugs when she said she was cold. An AFC approached her near the end of the party (~10:30) and gave her his number to meet up for lunch (this will play a part later). I watched this go on and it was awkward as hell. Oh well, c'est la vie. Sucks to be that guy! Soon after, I brought up that we should got to a local cocktail bar that she has never been too, so I number close and she gives me her number quite willingly. Yay!

So I texted her the next day, Friday, after 2pm after I wake up and go to the gym (late night). I work 12 hour shifts, so I can't do anything alternating Saturdays and Sunday through Tuesday. This sucks if I meet a girl on my "weekend" (Wed/Thurs) since if I don't follow up within 24-48 hours then I won't see them again for a whole week (if they're still attracted). I feel like this kills any attraction that I've built, so I always follow up pretty quickly. This could hurt me--too needy?--but I like to think that this is a limiting belief. I do what I want! I suggest meeting up at 8pm that evening at this bar (she lives close to it). After some texting tag, with 1-2 hour delays between texts, she says she'll try to meet up with me. She said she was going to do something else that night possibly, but I joked that that activity was too far away. I get to the bar around 8pm like I originally planned and I see no sign of her. I order a drink and bullshit with the staff since I know most of the them (hooray to social proof). She texts me 15min later asking if I was there since she'll "hopefully" be there in 45min. I give her shit about the "hopefully" and ask if she plans on getting abducted later. She says no :P I head outside and chill on the patio until she eventually saunters over and shows up. I give her a hug and introduce her to the bouncer and then head over the bartender. We order drinks (separate tabs) and then go outside to chill.

I kino like a boss while outside and keep up playful hugs/touching. We eventually move inside for more drinks and then find a chill corner with a kickass couch. Once thing I've learned from seddit is ALWAYS sit next to the girl. So of course, I sit next to her. I continue with plenty of kino especially when I initiate a tickle fight. Yea, I'm a child at heart. I notice a sweet ring--a puzzle ring?--and use that as a chance to hold her hand. Sly? Probably not, but it worked. My only regret during this interaction was that I never went for the kiss at this point. You know how they say if you're thinking I should kiss then it's too late? Yea, that. I had great posturing right next to her face, and I had my arm planted on her lower back. Did I go for it at this point? No. Trust me, my bad. At one point, she asks if she gave the AFC from the previous night her number or did she just get his. I'm feeling like that AFC is going to continue being frustrated. Eventually, 12:30am rolls around and she tells me that she has to get up early to pick up at friend at the airport. I entertain us for another 20min then we close up our tabs and head outside.

Outside, it had that weird sort of vibe where it's like... "So... what's next?" I offer to walk her home since she lives a couple blocks away. We start walking and she keeps shivering so I throw an arm around her in order to warm her up. Sometimes, cold weather can be useful! We get to the outside of her apartment complex and I've accepted that the night was pretty much at end. Was this a premature thought? Probably. Could I have pushed on? Most likely. The attraction was there. It gets to that point where we're standing right next to one another, and it's like... "So... what's next?" We hug and then I say fuck it and kiss her. Was it glorious? Nope. Was it breath-taking? Not especially. Did I fucking kiss her? Yes. That, I can be happy about. The interaction ended on a high note, so I'm content with how it went.

I then leave her apartment building and then grab some food with a buddy and his girl. Kick-ass night indeed. Fin!

Lessons Learned/Reinforced:

  • Talking/banter isn't hard when you're in the moment. I can't really remember most of what I said. Hell, I don't remember what I opened the night with or with what I closed with. It doesn't really matter. Just talk and be able to carry on a conversation.

  • When you feel like you should kiss the girl, kiss her! I had the body placement, the initial attraction, and the momentum to do it. Don't think about it: go for it!

  • Kino is easy if you're used to doing it with everyone. I've become more touchy with people since starting, so it definitely transfers over to dealing with women.

Questions moving forward:

  • Is there a better way moving forward with girls I meet on a Wed/Thurs? Should I wait the whole week before initiating a conversation or does it even matter? Should I just do what I want?

  • When should I text (or should I call) to set up another time to meet up? I know her work schedule, but I'm iffy on setting up a weekday (Mon-Thurs) time since I feel like it's easier to flake on.

  • Is going to the same venue as the first (second?) date a bad idea? Should I switch it up?

tl;dr I meet up with a girl I met the night before and then k-close, with lots of bullshit in between.