Guy: Hey, you going to CityStep?"
Guy: Unfortunately, this is the closest that any Harvard guy will get to asking out a girl to a formal. Note the lack of object orientation in the question, as well as the noted omission of verb "are" to ensure extreme casual nature. These five words were rehearsed this morning in the shower over and over again, and, quite frankly, he is quite satisfied with his performance. Signal: He likes her.
Girl: She thinks that he is curious to see if she has a date--big deal. If he wanted to ask her, he would just do it. She doesn't see this as a trap. He is just trying to be friendly and start conversation. After all, everyone's thinking about CityStep. Interpretation: He does not like her.
THE PSEUDO REJECTION
Guy: "Hey, I was calling to see if you'd like to go get some coffee."
Girl: "Oh, I can't tonight, but I'd love to some other time. Let's go like on Sunday, okay?"
Guy: Nope. Not gonna happen, he thinks; she is so not interested him that it hurts. At least she was nice enough to pretend that she wants to go with him on Sunday, he reasons. If she had told him what she was doing tonight, it would have been less harsh. He won't bother her again. Interpretation: She does not like him.
Girl: Yes! He called me! She can't wait until Sunday when all her work will be done. I have been waiting to go out with him forever. I wish he had called on a different night though, I have so much to do tonight...oh well...Sunday should be fun. Signal: She likes him (remember, this is Harvard).
THE "IT'S YOUR MOVE-I'M TOO CHICKEN TO MAKE A MOVE MYSELF" EXCHANGE
Guy: "Yeah, sounds good. Well, call me sometime."
Girl: Why did you just say that? I hate that. I hate that SO much. You just trivialized our entire relationship! Am I not good enough for you to call me? Why must I be reduced to worshipping the almighty you, so that I have to call you at your convenience?
If he doesn't have the guts to start something himself, he's not worth her time anyway. She liked him a whole lot more before he said that.
Thought: All of a sudden, she doesn't like him.
Guy: He wasn't even paying attention to what she said. In fact, he was just looking her up and down, suddenly appreciating her good looks and oblivious to the conversation. "What the hell were we just talking about, anyway?," he wonders. Whatever--she's definitely hot. Thought All of a sudden, he likes her.
So ambiguous statements can be interpreted in way too many ways. At Harvard, they're notorious for ending relationships before they even begin. Teen FM's advice: suck it up and be direct. Say something like: "I find you quite attractive, intelligent and funny. I would like to get to know you better. Will you go out with me tomorrow night?" There's nothing ambiguous about this statement and so as long as he/she doesn't say no, you're set.