About 2 weeks ago, I approached this girl at my local bookstore.

I was inspired by/from scanning through Neil Strauss's book, but that's it; I didn't apply (or try to apply) anything I read (very much). I decided to work my game using my own means, and feel things out. I just wanted, basically, to see how I could perform trying to pick up a girl with my own methods. In hindsight, that was naturally a bad idea, being the major AFC I am, and having never, ever asking a strange girl -- or ANY girl -- out ... ever. I've never had a girlfriend, never had sex, and never even kissed a girl. To say the least, I'm completely inexperienced; but that is all about to change.

Okay, so here's how it goes: I go up to the counter to purchase a CD (which I bring for the sake of having an excuse to talk to her), and I make small talk with her for a while. Now that I recall, I was just going to feel her out to see how we got along, and I wasn't actually planning on asking her out. I am inexperienced, but I have no problem with social situations, and I'm not too shy to talk to anyone; so I smile, I speak clearly, confidently -- she seems to be pleased with my company. I was there for a few minutes, made up my mind about how pleased I was with the results, and then the intercom came over and rushed me out. So, I acknowledged it, and bid farewell. Now ... then something snapped in me. In hindsight, what I should have done was go on, and BEING A REGULAR CUSTOMER should have came back to work on her with a few more visits, all while establishing a good rep with her co-workers ... but I didn't. I remembered reading about how you should seize the first opportunity, and go for it. Not just in the Mystery Method, but I also read the same thing from a woman who wrote a book about making people fall in love with you. I felt like if I didn't ask her out then, I'd never have another chance; but I had already left the store, and I thought about how awkward it would be to come right back in before they lock the door, and ask her out. I decided to go for it anyway, thinking I had nothing to lose in the attempt, and so I went back in and said:

Raskolnikov: "Hey. I was going to go see a movie over there at the theatre [there's a multiplex next to the book store], and I don't have anyone to accompany me, so would you like to come?"
Girl: "What movie were you going to see?"
Raskolnikov: "Inglorious Basterds"
Girl: "Me and my friends were supposed to see that last Sunday."
Raskolnikov: "Well, if you'd like, you can see it now."
Girl (very discreetly): "Tell you what? Here's my number [she finds a pen and paper and writes down her name and number] ... you can try texting me, but I'm not a big texter, and we'll see if we can work something out."
Raskolnikov: "Great! I may even go buy a cell-phone just for that!" [Ouch. And I laugh, too]
Girl: "And what's your name?"
Raskolnikov: "I'm Daniel. [she extends her hand, and I shake. UGH! This is awful!] nice meeting you."

And I guess I left then.

So, hey! I got her number! I sure didn't see that coming!

Good thing it turned out this way, because I didn't even know if there was a showing for that movie coming up!!

Now, during the whole interaction, she seemed genuinely pleased with both my company, and with my offer to her. She looked (at least) like she really didn't mind being asked out by me, and was considering following through with it.

Then ... then this happens ...

I text her. I actually have the messages still on my cell-phone with me right now as I type this, and I'll copy them verbatim:

"Hello, [girl's name]? This is Daniel. I came by your register yesterday at the Borders. What day would be a good day to go see that movie?"

Her response was a very, thinly concealed, and very obvious, "Not interested." It was only this, and this only:

"O hey I really dunno between work and school its kindda crazy."

Anything I say next should be a wrong response, so I try to make it look like I don't get it in case she may still be interested. The debaucle reads as follows:

"I know what you mean. Well, in that case, why don't I get in touch with you again tomorrow and see what you think?"

Arggh!! But it doesn't end there, does it? Later on, I leave this message on her cell-phone's voicemail:

"Hey, Mandy! It's me Daniel! Forget the whole thing with the movie! I think it would be a lot better to get to know each other first before we rush out to see a movie. Call me back at [this number] to accept, or decline. Bye!"

It went something like that, I can't remember the details.

Need I say she's never called me back? I believe there's a term here for that -- when pickups don't return calls.

So, what would you say I did wrong? Was it really something I did (yeah, it was a bit), or did one of her co-workers cockblock me? Did she come to her senses after whatever charm I put over her wore off? Or .... more likely .... as my Sister told me, she never even intended on following up with the date, and she put on a REALLY good rouge that she was considering it. Well, I was dressed pretty Peacocky (at least for the city I live in). Maybe that's what did it.

I'm open to any interpretations.

Women are flakes!! period.
Don't beat yourself up about it or waste valuable grey matter trying to work em out.

It is just numbers. Move on, there are loads of book stores and loads of girls everyday going in and out of them.

Keep on keeping on. we are all in the same boat.

saying you had nobody to accompany you to the movies implies a bad social standing.

once she texted the not interested message usually I would say thats it. if you really wanted to text her again, i would pick a different day and a different thing to do. oh and a rule of thumb never text/call her twice in a row if she doesnt respond the first time. makes you seem needy

its good you were confident to approach her and ask her out though, this will just be a lesson for next time

That pretty much wraps up everything I think about it.

I do like going to that book store, though. I've stayed away from it since then, in part because I'm too embarassed to run into her, and partly because I've been too busy to go; but in case I'm ever there again, do you all think I should completely avoid approaching her? It won't be anything like before, I assure you! In fact, I believe I have the perfect outline all worked out in case I bump into her, and have no comfortable way out of the encounter.

I'm thinking of casually telling her that I'm sorry that our little date didn't pan out, confess it was too sudden, explain to her that she struck me as special and intriguing, and that I felt compelled to ask her out in that instant, and then say good-bye, and go on my way, never talking to her again, and continuing on as before; but even that doesn't sound 100% sure. Maybe I should just say nothing to her at all.

I'm thinking about going there this week, so you all want to advise me before I make another critical error?

You're absolutely right about one thing, I was definitely coming off too needy. I knew I blew it once I sent the second text message.

Oh, and you know what else? For a few days prior to that incident, I was reading The Game in the very store she works at! I'll bet the Assistant Manager (who looked to me like a collossal prick, anyway), has seen me reading that book, or did that night on the security cameras, and probably told her! If she told her coworkers about it -- some of who are familiar with me -- I guarantee you they tried to cockblock me!