So I am a computer scientist, and while I work I usually have a pen in my shirt pocket. I had to make a run to an electronics store today, and when I got up to the counter the sales lady said, "Hey! Nice pen! I have the same one!" She said it really enthusiastically and was all smiley and flirty about it. It caught me off guard as I have never been complimented on a pen. I bought was I was there to buy and walked away because I really had no clue how to follow that up. Any suggestions?

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Now I can finally be myself 'cause I don't want to be myself.

Go back (buy something small) and tell her something like "hey i remember you saying you had the exact same pen, and i lost mine, do you remember where you got yours?" that would be a good start for a conversation.

It sucks getting caught off guard! Sometimes I won't realize it until a few minutes after like a total AFC! LOL!

Anyway, I am not sure about bringing up the pen again. That moment is gone, don't try to bring it back up. Of she doesn't remember the pen situation its gonna get awkward. Work on opening her as a new set. The knowledge that she was flirty before should help you go in really confident. Defintely keep rocking that pen though. Maybe pay for something with a credit card so you have to sign with the pen.

A good opener in an electronics store though is the reverse supermarket opener- go to the electronics store and ask her what aisle the milk is in... wait for her to look confused before crackin a smile and explaining that you were just teasing.

This electronic store is huge and probably employs well over a hundred people. The chance of me ever running into the same girl again are slim. I only asked in case something like this ever happens again. A comment on something like a pen is so off the wall that it caught me completely off guard.

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Now I can finally be myself 'cause I don't want to be myself.

If you think you can pull it off and you've got the right person, you could always ask: "Are you hitting on me?" That would take the right sense of humor and a good follow up but it would work in a variety of situations because of the flexibility of the response.