Hey, thank you for your nice reply! Yeah, I also just heard the "Do you prefer mountains or the sea?" ice breaker for the first time like two months ago and I was like "wait omg that's actually so genius, let me steal that idea from you immediately now thanks bye" lol. Another thing I try to implement more often is raw authenticity. You don't have to know everything. If someone can't cook, that's totally fine. But if someone can't speak properly it's a problem, a disorder and the person is excluded, ignored or laughed at. Speaking from experience. Anyway. Back to the topic. Where were we? If you don't know how to start a conversation, use this to start it. Also, I'd like to highlight the following again, even though I basically already said it: Bring up something personal. "How are you?" is basically "Hello, I guess? Do you have anything to say?". Say how you feel or what you did and ask the other person about it or if they feel the same. And all the sudden you not only have a personal connection but also so much potential other topics you can work with in comparison to basic small talk. Example: Basic small talk: "How are you?" / "I'm fine, thanks." – Nothing's been said and there is nothing to continue. The person answering could be falling apart and tries to hide it behind a "I'm fine" because the conversation isn't personal, individual or authentic. In comparison, a very dry reply to a personal topic: "God, I'm so tired. Are you also tired" / "No." – Even a dry "no" gives you options to continue: Why not? Is it full moon yet? Are you affected by the moon? Maybe I should change something? How much sleep do you get? yadda yadda yadda. Also, maybe stop if you feel the other person is really not in the mood to talk. It sounds so easy but it really isn't. But I believe in you. Just do it, see how it went and do it better next time :) To come back to your questions/concerns: I feel your pain trust me. And no, the part after the initial conversation is not easy. But again, don't be so hard on yourself, slow and steady wins the race. Say hi, have a nice small talk or lunch or whatever and leave. Nothing big happened. And that's ok. You'll meet again next break. If you don't have their phone number after the first "hello", don't stress it. After a bit (if you don't have a "reason to ask" for their number) hit them up with something like "hey by the way, how come I don't even have your number?" If you're looking for a friend, most will happen automatically or intuitively – or not at all. Then you also know what the other person might think of you. Then maybe check on them from time to time, ask for the homework, send memes, whatever. Let them know you're there and care in some way. And if they're alright, they'll let you know if they don't like an idea. If you're looking for something greater than just friendship, take it equally slow. I know it's difficult and can ve exhausting but it's worth it. I just today read this beautiful phrase: "You don't have to be beautiful, rich or perfect to make a difference. You just have to care." and I 100% agree. My general advice: Let it flow naturally. I'm explicitly not saying "slow" but "naturally". Listen to your own feelings but also to the feelings of the other person. Sometimes, someone is mentally recovering from someone or unavailable, open and ready, maybe just a bit shy or starving for contact and connection. Things will most likely worsen when it's actual love and your social anxiety and overthinking triple all the sudden. But those scenarios can be the best teachers as well. Remember, they are just human as well. Treat them with respect, understanding, respect, openness, authenticity and also respect. Stay true to yourself, you don't want to fake being someone else for the rest of your relationship/life. If you can work up the courage, approach them and tell them why it took you so damn long to get and walk over to them. I'm happy my first response helped, hope this one does as well. I've written a book again and just wanted to get two or three things across, oh well lol. But if it helps someone then that's more than worth it. It might also help myself writing all of this down. You really start to understand a topic when you explain it, or something like that. Cheers :)