So here's the gist of the story.

I like this girl. She likes another guy who just played her and left for college in texas. She still has feelings for him, but he will be gone for 4 years aside from summer and December.

I make her laugh now and then and we occasionally talk.

What is your best step by step way of asking a girl on a date (to the movies, dinner, etc.) All advice is welcome! Thanks again.

First of all, disregard the guy in texas, even if she continually brings him up. All that is is an excuse for her to not go out with you. If you allow her to bring him up it will just reinforce her belief that she should be with him and not you. The whole thing is a DLV, so avoid it at all costs.Treat her like a girl with a boyfriend, and run your game on her accordingly. Just act as if she doesn't have a boyfriend. If you game her right, it won't be an issue.

Here's what you can do. She'll invariably say something like "I just miss Jason SOOO much and blah-fucking-blah..." Then you interupt her and with a much higher energy level say, "You know what would take your mind off that?! Let's go to the--(something or someplace fun)! If she wants to yammer on about the guy in Texas, I'm sure she's got some fat girlfriend she can blather to over the phone for four hours straight. But that's not for you to listen to.

The distant/lost lover bullshit is just a frame girls run on guys they are either not interested in, or don't know if they are interested in yet. It's just a whiney, brooding, value-lowering thing for you to have to put up with. The AFC in you will be tempted to console her and talk about her feelings, but don't do it...

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“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!” ~Audrey Hepburn

Yeah I'll use redirection like you said if she brings him up. She hasn't really talked about him at all since he has left so that's maybe a sign she's getting over him. I think I'll just casually ask her to the movies and see what happens. Thanks a lot man! Can't believe this guy played her like he did though. It's nice to have a girl on your shoulder 24/7, but if you're going to leave for college across the country you shouldn't be leading her on like he was, you know?

He'll probably find another girl in texas. It's college. You know he'll find a girl there. Then when she finds out she'll be pissed and I will be able to sweep her off her feet!