I've been a lonely guy for a while. I have a small circle of friends. But I decided that I didn't want that anymore. So I've been reading up here, and a few other places, and am trying to change that.

So anyway, the other day I was at the mall with my buddies, buying a few things based on advice from MFA. We are walking, and suddenly my buddy speeds up, and pushes me back a bit. He tells me he's not moving until I talk to that girl that is spraying some tanks with a spray bottle. I hadn't seen her when we walked past, and I tried to turn back to see who he was talking to. I still couldn't see her. After a minute or two of me trying to form an excuse to not talk to her, I give up my new shit and go.

So I approach her from the side, and turns out she's an HB6. I open with "Hey, what's going on?"

And instantly I feel ridiculous. Why am I even doing this. I can't even hold a full conversation with one of my good friends, so why am I talking to her? But there's no time for that. She answers.

"Oh, I'm just spraying the hermit crabs."

Hermit crabs? Wha- ... oh. In the tanks are hermit crabs. All of them are painted. I try my best to recover, and keep talking about the hermit crabs. I try my best to respond in a normal tone, and notice that I'm speaking far too quickly, so I slow down. A little kid runs by and asks how much the crabs cost. The HB6 giggles and tells him. He runs off. I decide to change the subject.

"So, do you go to school anywhere around here?"

Getting a degree in Education. This whole time I am trying my best to not move my eyes from hers. After what seems like 3 minutes of solid eye contact, I finally cave.

More banter. I feel like I'm getting the hang of this. Oh no, why? Two groups of people just approached the little kiosk and are asking her questions. What the hell? This isn't supposed to happen. I wait patiently, but they are still there. So, inexperienced me decides to call it quits. I say, "Well, it was nice meeting you, but I've gotta go. Bye."

Aaaaand it's gone. I head back to my friends. "Did you get a number?" Nope. "Then why are you still here? Go back." I turn my ass around and head back. She's still talking to one of the groups, but they start walking away. I approach her again, and say,

Me: "Hey, I just realized I never asked for your name. I'm (P)."

Her: "Oh, haha, my name is (K), nice to meet you (P)."

Me: "So, I had a really good time talking to you, and I was wondering if maybe we could do it again sometime."

Her: "Oh! Sorry! I have a boyfriend."

What. Wha-- . Uh. This.... this is completely embarassing. There are 3 guys right across the kiosk that heard. They start snickering, but I can't just walk away. I need to end this on a good note.

Me: "Oh, that's alright, so does my girlfriend!"

Her: "What was that?" Shit. I didn't speak loud enough. Just brush it off dude, just brush it o-

Me: "Oh, I said, so does my girlfriend!"

Her: "You have a girlfriend??"

Me: "No, heh."

Her: "Oh."

Well, not that bad, get the fuck out of here before it gets exponentially more awkward.

Me: "Well, it was fun, take care!"

Her: "Yea, bye."

Aaand that was it. I walked away. I felt like a fool for a few minutes, but then it settled in. I fucking talked to a random woman, held a decent conversation about nothing, and asked for her number. For the rest of that day, I was brimming with confidence.

Thanks seddit. It might not mean much to you, but this is fucking fantastic.