Q - Dear Annabelle, There's this guy in one of my classes. We've talked some, but not about ourselves (class work). But I would really like to get to know him. The problem is,I know nothing about him. So I don't know if he has a girlfriend or not. Plus, I'm really shy, and I don't think I could ask him out without knowing anything about him. Is there any way to get him to ask me? What can I do? A - Dear Penny, Tell him you have some questions about chemistry.....now, bake some chocolate chip cookies and take a couple to school. Ask him to taste them and offer his comments..tell him that you like to bake, and youâre not entirely sure if youâre getting this right. Hey, could work! ; ) (Remember, teenage boys have hollow legs...feeding them is ALWAYS a good idea.) - Annabelle Q - Dear Annabelle, The only problem is that he is not in high school. I guess I should have told you that. Instead of going to high school, I take college classes at a local university. That's what makes this especially hard. I only have one class, (history), with him. I don't see him before or after class, (he has a class and I leave). And we only have history two days a week. Do you have anymore advice? Thanks for getting back to me so soon. A - Dear Penny, Iâm gong to be very direct here. While being Îshyâ can be wired into a person, as, with many things, it can be reinforced or ameliorated by behavior. NOW is the time to get over it. (Yes). Walk right up to him and ask him directly to help you study for a test...at YOUR house, and just after the aforementioned cookies have been baked. (Smell is the deepest and most effective of the sense memories ...remember that). If HE is in college and YOU are in advanced placement, {congratulations, by the way ; )}, then he may feel that you are too young for him. At this age, kids usually prefer to have same age dates. Whatever happens, itâs not the end of the world. Youâre not going to die if nothing comes of this, (at least youâd better not), so think of it as Îpracticeâ. Youâre years away from starting to date Îfor seriousâ, so relax a bit and look at this, (seriously), as practice, practice, practice. Whatâs really important during these years is your grades, (because you're training your brain to *think* so you can deal with the slings and arrows of the real world), and getting to know as many people as possible...not the least among them, yourself. Now, youâre smart enough to insinuate yourself between him and any exit of your choice. ASK....and ye may receive. - Annabelle