We’ve all been there – you arrive at a party with a group of your friends and begin to fish your way through the crowd when suddenly you’re being stopped by a guy who’s ready to make his move. Your friends manage to escape and now you’re stuck and left with a decision to make – stick around and see what happens or make a run for it. Here are four tips to try when you’re stuck in the corner with Mr. Not-So-Suave.
1. Give Him a Chance
Though the title of this entry may suggest otherwise, your first plan of action when being approached by a new guy should always be to give him a chance. We all know how easy it is to decide whether you want to spend anymore time talking to a guy when they first approach you, but sometimes it pays to be open to the idea that he might actually be a decent guy (no matter how rare that is). Let’s face it, when it comes to social interaction, girls have a bit of an advantage. I mean what do we really have to do other than show up? Guys, on the other hand, approach it almost as an art form. Look at the typical frat boy – it’s practically their job to know how to meet new girls. So before you completely shut them down and ruin their game, you should at least listen to what they have to say. If the conversation goes well, congrats, you may have just found your new beau. Unfortunately, this is very rarely the case and that’s when us girls must resort to plan B – the getaway.
2. The Restroom Retreat
This one may seem a bit obvious to both parties but hey, it works doesn’t it? When you gotta go, you gotta go and no one can deny you that right no matter how pushy or clingy they may be. So when you’re done hearing about how blacked out he was last night or want to avoid an invitation to the sweaty dance floor, simply excuse yourself to every girls’ safe haven at a party – the bathroom. Not only are they guaranteed to be testosterone free but they’re also full of other girls who will be able to relate to your situation and maybe even offer some advice of their own. Make sure to take your time while you’re there (which is never hard for any girl to do) and when you’re finally ready to reenter the party, your suitor will most likely be gone and onto his next victim. However, in the rare (not to mention creepy) case that he’s still waiting where you left him, it’s time to call in backup.
3. The Best Friend Bailout
In case you were unaware beforehand, college parties will quickly make you realize just how important it is to always have a friend in tow. There’s no better way to avoid an awkward encounter than by having a friend step in. If you’re lucky enough that your friend is close by and you’re able to capture her attention, it should be pretty simple to signal to her that you need to be rescued. Whatever you do make sure the signal is subtle; unless you want to continue your wonderful conversation explaining why you’re making bug eyes to someone across the room. In the case where your friend is nowhere to be seen, sending a quick S.O.S. text may do the trick. However, depending on how frequently your friend checks her phone, this may not provide a fast enough escape route. Your third option, although it involves a little white lie, is pretty much foolproof. Politely interrupt the conversation to tell the guy that you spotted a friend across the room and that they’re signaling you to leave. The only downfall to this plan is that you must completely avoid the poor guy the rest of the night and spare him the embarrassment of realizing that you were really just trying to get away from him.
4. Just Say No
When all else fails and he just can’t seem to take a hint, it’s time to let him down easy. Though it can be uncomfortable, sometimes a simple rejection is all a guy needs to know that it’s time to back off. Yeah it may hurt his ego a bit, but at least you’re being honest, right? It also guarantees that you will be able to continue on with the rest of your night. You may feel a little guilty, but rejection can be healthy – it’s a part of life. He’ll get over it eventually, and with such a big campus and a population of over 40,000 students, you two will probably never have to cross paths again.
No matter which method you choose to use, always remember to keep it classy. The last thing you want is a snobby reputation as the girl who thinks she’s too good for anyone else. Besides, it’s college, and learning how to meet new people is a part of growing up. So interact, have a good time, and always make sure to have a friend close by – just in case.