To begin with, I have a terrible shyness thing. I have a very hard time speaking to people I don't know, barely know, or can't even see. I choke up around the people who sit next to me in class, I have very little to say to even some of my best friends (which I think they take as me just being a listener and not a talker), and it's very difficult for me to order food on the phone, so I just don't. I also thank Pizza Hut every day for allowing us to order pizza online now... :boogie:

Anyway~ This all kind of stems from me not wanting to make an ass of myself.

So.

There is this guy, Joshua, who I've known for about two years. We worked together for a while, and he would always flirt with me. I was 16 at the time, I think he was 20...something. Early 20's. He only flirted, and he didn't want to make it obvious because I wasn't 18 then and it could have been bad.
Some guy from another store (same company, different plaza) came in and started flirting with me and Joshua came over and told him to back off, I belonged to this store, and he couldn't have me! :sweat:

I think Joshua is cute. And we always had a great time working together.

Then Joshua became assistant manager, and I began to work under him. I suppose he was trying to do this for my own good in the company, but he tried to get me to be more outgoing and assertive with the customers. One day he made me stand in the very front of the store and greet the customers who came in face to face! :cry: It made me so nervous, the other guy who I was working with, Mike, almost complained to our boss about what Josh was making me do. I know I shouldn't take business stuff personally, but it just made me so uncomfortable I started to dislike him.

Then Josh moved to a different store. We barely talked anymore.

Two years into the future~ I'm 18 now! I could drive over to the store where he works and talk to him but... I'm too nervous. I don't know if he ever really found me attractive, and I don't know if he was just being playful and was never really interested. He's probably somewhere around 25 now.

Is the age difference too much? How do I even approach him? Should I even do it? How do I even do it? I never approach people.

Are you guys ever stuck in a similar situation? :o

If I were you, I would go talk to him just because. Even if he doesn't like you or he has a girlfriend, you guys could still be friends. You said you had a great time working together right? That probably wouldn't change even if he has a girlfriend. I would at least call him up if you have his number. Ask if he wants to catch up. Tell him you were going through your adress book and thought you would call him up just because. Something like that. Don't let it seem as if you're interested in him at first just so you don't make it awkward. Anyway, that's my take on it. You can choose to take my advice or leave it.

Thanks for the advice! :)
Chances are he doesn't have a girlfriend. He has a lot of family stress so that I've never really seen him be able to go out and socialize very much. But even if he did, that would be okay. At least I would know~

Unfortunately, I don't have his number. But I could go into the store and buy something I suppose. I just don't know how to have a conversation with him. Or spark one.

*walks into store* *looks around* "Oh hey! Dude! How long haven't we seen each other?" Then continue. If you're that shy, ask him how his life has been :)

About the age gap: My parents have an age gap of 16 years. My grandparents had an age gap of 19-20 years [and they met when she was 19 o_o].

And try to think this out: You want him as a friend or as a lover? Either way, you can always drive to the store, have a conversation, and keep the friendship :)

PS: Wish some good luck with his life to the guy ;D

I would like him as a friend first of all, but I would also like to try dating him. If we don't work out, thats cool. Just to give it a try.

Whats difficult about just having a casual conversation though is that his store is a little far away. I can't just go there every day and have a casual conversation like I did with the friends around here. :(

And we know each other pretty well... I'm wondering if asking him out to catch up over coffee is too abrasive and obvious? :lol: