Landon, 17
Texas
Asks:

There is this beautiful girl at my school and I've found out that she hasn't ever had a boyfriend! She is somewhat shy, but she has plenty of friends. I'm a mostly quiet guy too, not real funny, average looks, and above average intelligence. I hang out with a lot of the popular people, but I'm not a partier or real outgoing. Her locker is right by mine, but every time I think of something to say, I just think to myself how stupid that would be. I'm not scared to talk to girls in general, because I have plenty of friends of the opposite sex, but just this one. How can I get her attention, keep up a conversation, and eventually get to the point where I could ask her out?

Lee's Thoughts:

Well, Landon, of course it's easy to talk to the girls that don't heat up your blood and make you all tingly. Seriously, your body has physical reactions to being around someone you are attracted to. All that heart-pounding stuff is not just metaphor. The universe/God/whatever created this instinct in us to push us towards growth, not to scare us away from it. When you get all weird around her (in your head), you need to hear that as a voice saying "GO FOR IT" instead of hearing the voice saying "YOU SUCK, THAT WOULD BE STUPID".

Think of it this way, you can either live in constant torture thinking about this girl every day when you go into your lockers, and be SAFE in your head not risking anything....ORR...you can use that "above-average intelligence" and take a chance. The WORST thing that can happen is that she thinks you are a nice guy and you get a good friend out of it. If you like her, I doubt she would be the kind to cut off your balls and walk away in a huff if you were to say hello.

Just say, "HELLO!" and smile. That's ALL you have to do the first time. Be friendly. The next time, ask about one of the books she's carrying. Keep it simple to start with.

Then, you may think about using Lee's Patented (okay, patent-pending) Move #326...which is perfect using the close proximity of your lockers. When you are walking away, brush past her, and verrry gently and softly touch her back with the tips of your fingers. (Does this make sense?) Make it very subtle, like you don't even realize you're doing it, and you are distracted with something very important you are thinking about. You're just trying to get to class and she happens to be in the way. "Okay, well, see ya later, gotta go!" (then, DO THE BRUSH-BY)

I'm TELLIN YA!!

She WILL notice and she'll think, "Did he mean to do that?" "Is he just so cool that he didn't FEEL that electricity just then?"

You'll have her eating out of your palm. :)

Good LUCK!