Hey, Happy New Year.

I am recently back in the game after a LTR. I went to a NYE party and opened lots of sets but ultimately to no avail in the end.

I'd like to share 2 specific situations that occurred at this party and hear your advice on what went wrong.

The first set I opened had 3 chicks. A HB4 an HB5 and a HB9 (my target!).
I opened this set interacting with the HB5. After 2 minute or so I let HB9 into the conversation. Things were going good, HB5 and HB9 were eating out of my hand. Told some nice stories, did best friends routine coupe of magic tricks. HB9 gave me an IOI, ater I said i was thinking of getting a tattoo, she said dont do that they are ugly, id never date anyone with a tattoo...which of course I explored, "so your thinking about dating me...bit soon isnt it, and i didnt even buy you fowers yet". she says well im not dating you if you get a tattoo, thats foe sure!. So all good signs, but after a few mins, HB9 just swithes off completely, starts looking over shoulder then goes off to dance. I followed her, but it was clear she didnt want to dance with me, so i said im gonna see my mates, i will bump into you later. went to go and see her later in night about 30mins later, and was ignored big time, and got some really nasty looks! Not sure what went wrong. I asked her to dance and she kept inviting me to dance with HB5.
I always thought it is best to open a set by ignoring your target, but perhaps in this case, HB5 liked me, told HB9, in which case HB9 would naturally back off as it is her "best friend"!!

So, after this initial opening period,where they are eating out of my hand, i get stuck! things get contrived or dull or something. They start to lose interest. What should I have done different?

Another example, opened 2 girl set HB2 and HB9 (target). Things went great, after few mins I isolated the HB9, lots of IOIs, hand touching, sharing same cigarette, flirty chat, big deep eye contact. Felt after 5 mins I was so in there, so I went in for a kiss. She pulled back all like "what you doing" I have a BF bla bla, tried all sorts of damage control but to no avail. Perhaps she was just a prick tease. Should I have closed in for a kiss so soon (after no more than 10 mins). I was 90% it was on!
Any advice?

Thanks in advance