I attend a weekly event at a bar where travelers and travel-minded people socialize and drink. Typically there is a good combination of regulars and newcomers who are either passing through, or have been brought in by regulars such as myself from other venues.

Last week I arrive to find one of the regulars (we'll call him Dan) spreading his awkward natural game all over an HB8. I see no problem with this, and don't feel like contesting. When the time comes to introduce myself to her I even talk Dan up a little bit, but I'm more interested in hanging out with my friends and playing some pool that evening.

This week, I'm already at the pub when Dan and HB8 roll in together, good on you Dan. I'm in a conversation with someone else at this point but she makes strong eye contact with me and freakin winks. I'm taken aback and kind of nervous about the situation with her and Dan, I'm also reluctant and inexperienced at trying to game with any of my friends around. I go about the evening as normal, friendly with everyone but not hitting on anyone, once or twice I have 2-3 second eye contact with her while talking to other people but I'm still reluctant to talk to her. Despite having two female friends vomit social proof all over me while we eat pizza and shoot the shit, I play it way too passively and don't display my interest even with the IoIs flowing from her direction. So she leaves at the same time as Dan, and I beat myself up over not making a move. Not a total loss though, She's definitely interested, I'm definitely awesome, and I'll definitely see her next week.

Queue this morning, I'm out and about pounding the pavement and looking for work (I'm pretty much a hobo atm but I don't let it bother me). Bam, other side of the crosswalk coming in my direction, she's right there, hasn't seen me yet. I stand there like a doof, eye contact from across the street, we're both smiling. She walks to me, touches my arm immediately, callback jokes from last night, introduces me to her co-worker, more banter, touches my arm again. Meanwhile I'm in shock, completely out of state, keep smiling, I've got a glazed look in my eye I'm sure, nothing particularly witty to say, "herp derp I'm unemployed, hahaha". And then she's gone again, into a nearby building where she works. Now I'm pissed off, cannot freakin believe I let a golden, serendipitous opportunity like that pass me by.

Not so much frustrated with the outcome, as frustrated with myself for not making a move, it stews for the rest of the afternoon and the story's not over yet. After 3 encounters where she shows excessive interest and I show barely any I decide it will be a brilliant idea to loiter around outside her work and catch her on her way out. I've actually got a legitimate reason to be in the area (had to print more CVs at home and came back to hand out more/follow up on some from earlier) but I decide that I want to make it really obvious so I take up position leaning against a tree 5 feet directly in front of the front door reading a book. Timed it rather nicely as I only wound up waiting a few minutes.

I've already got my shit eating grin on staring her down like a lunatic as she walks through the door. She's surprised and weirded out already but still smiling and friendly. She asks what I'm doing there, I had planned on jokingly accusing her of stalking me, but instead I say some shit like "Waiting for you of course" which is creepy as fuck no matter how you say it. Instead of trying to build comfort like a sane person I dive right in with "I forgot to tell you something earlier" and then go in like I'm going to tell her a secret, which she mistakes for kisses on the cheek (she's Spanish), ok I guess? cool. I am falling apart, I wish her a happy birthday (which is what I had forgotten to say earlier), tell her I'd like to take her out to dinner tonight, she can't because she already has plans, but she'll give me her number, and she has me call it so she can make the contact on her phone. Chat for a couple more awkward minutes, she heads off to her bus stop, I duck into an internet cafe to see if I can introduce myself to the boss, because it seemed like a rad place to work.

Reflections: fate couldn't have possibly dealt me a better hand, pretty much threw it away due to inexperience and nerves. Number exchange could have just been so that she'd know who not to answer a call from, or it could mean that she is a goddamned saint and completely forgives my insane behaviour. Makes sense to continue as though she's still interested.

The important thing is what do I do with the phone number?