BEGINNER ADVICE: AND IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE ME AS FAR AS I HANDLED A SITUATION, PLEASE FEEL FREE AND I WELCOME IT. ALWAYS LOOKING TO IMPROVE

So I know a girl, we'll call her "girl" (because I'm feeling really fucking creative today). Girl over the time that I've known her has kept me on hook, and walked over me a few times. Like a chump, I took it. I'm great at standing up to strangers and other guys, but girls I dig? I am like putty. Not attractive.

Anyways, girl kept me on hook for a while, and I went with it. Finally, I decided that I'm done with that shit and being her little orbiter, and so I essentially friendzoned her and mentally nexted her. However, a few nights ago, she did something that crossed my personal boundaries more than I was going to let it.

I struggled all day: do I say something to her? Do I let it go and just next her? No, fuck it. She needs to know that what she did wasn't cool... and girls dig men with spine (even though at this point, it was more for myself than anything else. I needed to gain my self-respect back). My heart was racing, I was getting nervous... and for what? To stand up for myself? Something is wrong with that picture.

I call her out on her what she did, not in a mean or abusive way, but in a assertive "Not cool, next time do this" sort of way. She looks shocked and instantly gets defensive giving me excuses and "you misread the situation". Did I misread it? I doubt it, but I'm not going to be needy and start arguing with her in a back and forth. I tell her "OK, maybe I reread the situation, but listen, I thought you were doing this... and don't do it again to me". I wanted to stay assertive while not throwing around accusations and not appear butt hurt by it.

Even though it may not have amounted to much and maybe even in the way I handled her excuses I may not have been as firm as I should have, but it was actually a huge step for me, letting girls know my personal boundaries and what I will and will not tolerate. She can come up with excuses, but she now knows that if she wants to be around me, she can't treat me a certain way. If she tries, I will call her out on her bullshit.

Yes, girls (and guys too for that matter) may throw tantrums, may be pissed or get defensive, but in the long run... not only will they respect you more, you will respect yourself more for standing up for yourself.

TL;DR: Newbie advice... have a spine and stand up for yourself without being needy or butt-hurt about it. Be assertive.