So I took a girl out on a first date for a nice dinner I met on the internet, and the date was going really well. She kept telling me it was going really well, and she started playfully hitting me and generally complimenting me. We had transitioned from dinner to an ice cream shop and had been on the date for about 3.5 hours. She then said she liked how I took the lead with a few things on the date (like where we're going to eat, leaving the restaurant, etc). So I said something like, "You like when I take the lead? Well then." And I went in to kiss her. She recoiled.

She then apologized, and said she couldn't believe I tried to kiss her. She said she recoiled because she's a bad kisser. She said the date's going really well, and I'm sorry I did that to you. She told me to take it slow with her, and I said that's fine.

We hung out for maybe another hour, and we kind of lost some of our initial chemistry. She acted a little weird the rest of the night. It was getting late, so I offered to take her home, and she accepted. She said I didn't have to walk her to the door, but I told her I would anyway. I kept my distance though, I didn't want to try to kiss her again. I told her goodnight, and she said "let me give you a real good night." So she came in closer to me and then gave me a hug, a peck on the cheek, and then an awkward very quick kiss on the lips. She made me promise multiple times that I would hang out with her again and that I shouldn't be mad at her for not letting me kiss her. I was a little reluctant, just because I couldn't believe how weird/awkward she was acting, but I promised her we would hang out again.

Yesterday, I texted her late in the morning with an inside joke from the night before. She responded many hours later with a little "haha" and minor comment, but she didn't ask me any questions (which is unusual for her. usually she responds within like 15 mins, she's very curious about what I'm doing, how my day was, etc.) I responded to her response with something even funnier, and then she didn't respond at all to that text. It is very unusual for her not to respond to me.

I think that means I'm friend zoned? I have other options, but I had a great time with this girl, and she's gorgeous! Should I apologize for coming on too strong and tell her I know a place to take her to make it up to her? I think she would like that. Or should I feel it out a little more to see whether or not I'm really friend zoned?

Firstly, don't apologise for anything. From the looks of it you did nothing wrong on the date. She sounds a bit strange to me lol. You went on a date to a restaurant then an ice cream place with lots of laughing and touching but she couldn't believe you tried to kiss her? What planet is she from!

Anyway, that aside, you may just have to phone her rather than text. If she picks up just prepare yourself to act as naturally as possible, don't even mention any of the awkwardness before. If she sounds awkward don't respond to it and she will soon feel comfortable. And to be honest, if she keeps avoiding your calls and texts then I don't think there's anything you can do. Like I said, it sounds like you did nothing wrong. You know that old cliche girls give "it's not you, it's me"? Well I think this time it's definitely her.

Simple : Do nothing!

Apologizing makes you seem weak and as if you are unsure of yourself. Are you unsure of yourself?

I would wait for her to beg to talk to me or call as RockstarPUA said concerning phone talk. She does seem strange, maybe she's been hurt before or there's some underlying agenda such as her just wanting to tease you. She did say take it slow so maybe that's a sign of a past traumatic event. Something you and her could converse about some time in the future if it ever gets there.

I would keep my distance and wait for her texts, wait for her to initiate conversation, act like you are busy and have a busy life...you seem like you're on-call all the time with her as was she until the date happened. Now she thinks that you're hooked in and not going anywhere. You'll probably do something to botch it up like send multiple texts and eventually get upset with her or impatient....she's probably expecting it. I could be wrong, but I pay attention and the way you have portrayed it...is as this is new behavior from her ever since the date. Which makes me think you're right, she's friend zoning, but just playing you out and making you believe you can be something more.

You don't have control of this relationship anymore, I don't mean it as a relationship...I mean a relationship in general. You need to focus your mind somewhere else and go to those other options until you hear from her. If she really likes you she'll know something's definitely wrong and try to talk to you as a normal person liking another would. In the end I would leave a text saying something like "You should hang out with me again" and see what she says....the SHOULD implies control and guidance on your part....of a sure thing. You can change it up to something you like, but keep to that method of SHOULD....and if she doesn't respond then you know you can ex her out of your time and energy being spent. Just follow it close and see what goes on JUST REMEMBER ONE TEXT LIKE THAT...JUST ONE TEXT, NO MORE...NO MORE AFTER UNLESS SHE RESPONDS ABOUT THE TEXT AND IF SHE DOES DON'T RESPOND RIGHT THEN AND THERE...SHE HASN'T BEEN...DON'T BE HER LAPDOG....WAIT A COUPLE HOURS AND IF YOU DON'T GET A RESPONSE...THEN JUST FUCK IT, BUT IF YOU DON'T GET A RESPONSE AT ALL OR SHE MAKES EXCUSES NOT TO SEE YOU AT ALL WITHIN THE WEEK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TOSS HER ASS OUT OF YOUR LIFE CONCERNING ANY DATING OR JUST KNOW FROM THAT HOW MUCH YOU SHOULD INVEST IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE DATING STILL WITH HER...WHICH IS MINIMAL

DON'T SEEM NEEDY, DON'T SEEM DESPERATE....Best wishes to you PM me if you need anymore advice!

OH BTW @ROCKSTARPUA VERY, VERY GOOD INSIGHT...I DON'T KNOW WHAT PLANET SHE IS FROM, COULD VERY WELL BE AN ALIEN IN DISGUISE FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT....OR SOME ELEMENTARY GIRL POSING AS AN ADULT....SOMEONE SHOULD ASK FOR AN ID .... ROFL

ANYWAY SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T THINK OF YOU AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR A BOYFRIEND/LOVER OR SOMEONE WHO PLAYS WAY TOO MANY GAMES, BUT A POSSIBLE OUTCOME IS SHE MAY HAVE JUST BEEN BADLY HURT NOW DOESN'T EXPECT ANYONE TO COME ONTO HER OR LIKE HER...BUT THE WHOLE DATE PREMISE AND HER TALKING ABOUT TAKING THINGS "SLOW" WOULD PROVE OTHERWISE AND THAT SHE DOES THINK OF YOU IN A SEXUAL MANNER
......PERHAPS SHE'S A VIRGIN (NOT LIKELY) OR BELIEVES IN BIG-TIME CHIVALRY (AGAIN NOT LIKELY HAHA) ...KEEP ME POSTED..JUST DON'T INVEST INTO THIS ONE....THIS SOUNDS WILD! HAHA GOOD LUCK

Thank you both for the tips.

theBlackMagician, that is excellent analysis. You picked up on some subtle mistakes I'm making such as "being on call for her texts", and letting her think I'm hooked in. I'll definitely be taking you up on your offer to PM about this.

RockStarPUA, also solid advice. Thanks for reassuring me I didn't do anything wrong by trying to kiss her. For the future I'll try phoning instead of texting. It's just that usually I"m a better texter, but I'd like to get better on the phone.

As for what happened since then, I didn't see your responses until this morning, and I actually texted yesterday evening. I apologized and then some. A rookie mistake, I've since realized. As my user name suggests, I'm just getting back into the game after a long relationship, so I'm a bit rusty. She responded positively to my apology at first and mentioned she'd been thinking about me. There may be a way forward from here if I don't mention it again and go back to leading her.

If a girl says, "I've been thinking of you" that = "invite me out".

And don't apologize to girls ever, just about. There are exceptions, but seriously, don't apologize. If you want to attempt to kiss a girl, you will attempt to kiss a girl, because that's your job. Nothing to apologize for.