ok you need to work on your game all around first off when texting and or on the phone CONTROL THE CONVERSATION take the conversation in a different unexpected direction you can have a fun conversation with the most boring girl on the planet (ex you know.... i thought about missing you..and i decided not to.) something she was not expected takes the conversation in a completely different direction, and always try to play the role of the busy one. ..... Iv had this before where a girl just doesnt seem that easily interested aka just busting her balls doesnt work shes to boring lol.. get into more deep conversations about what she want to do in the future where she wants to go how she wants to do it .. and bust her balls a little in the process.
In person from what you wrote it sounds like you were like hey how nice to see i should really go and reluctantly left wrong... if your going to do that stay for 20 secs build some quick attraction ( a situational neg and some push and pull kino) and than exit on your own account not because your afraid of loosing your friends.
the picture situation was actually a great chance to establish some great kino to build comfort you should have made that one fun and went with it try not to get annoyed in situations like that it shows confidence if you can adapt and not be flustered.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hnyEJqpUq4
kino escalation ladder great for learning when to initiate kino
hope this helped