Would You Go On a Date With a Man You Don't Like? Should I?

Last night, I got a text message from a guy who was in my improv class last summer (I not-so-secretly harbor a dream of becoming the next Tina Fey!) He was friendly and funny, but I never really thought of him as more than a casual friend.

Around New Years, we began texting and ended up having an awkward get together at his apartment where we had an Audrey Hepburn movie marathon. We didn't kiss. Then we saw each other one more time, at a friend's book reading, where we lingered over drinks, but again, no chemistry, just an awkward hug goodbye.

He wants to go out again and I'm not sure of a few things:

1. Is this a date or a friendly hang out?
2. How can I tell the difference?
3. If it is a date and there is no chemistry, should I go?

I want to be open to all opportunities, but I also don't know if I can stand another awkward get-together (especially without Audrey H for company) What do you think? What would you do?

In general, even though I spend so much time trying to decipher what's going on in the male mind, I'm astonishingly bad at figuring out whether or not a guy is actually interested in me. In college, I thought the 12-page long handwritten letters from a high school friend were just friendly hellos. A few years ago, I didn't realize an acquaintance and I were meeting to do anything more than discuss writing until he leaned across the table to kiss me. And on and on and on.

Do you have any fail-safe ways you know when a guy is interested in you? What are they? And what do you do or say if you're not interested?

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