How to Tell if a Girl in Your Class Likes You (High School)

Co-authored by Eddy Baller

Last Updated: October 10, 2021 References Approved

If you're wondering if a girl likes you, don't worry, you're not alone! Plenty of people find it hard to figure out if someone likes them! Luckily, there are some subtle signs that you can look for if you pay attention. If you like her, too, you can even try asking her to hang out with you so you can become more than friends.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Watching Her Body Language

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Notice if she seems to look at you a lot. If you catch her staring at you, that could be a sign she's into you or wants to get to know you better. Don't stare at her! However, look at her occasionally to see if you can catch her looking at you.^{[1]
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- Keep in mind that some girls are shy, so this isn't a tried-and-true method to tell if she likes you. In fact, she may avoid your gaze instead of looking at you.
- Also, notice if she tries to find you when she walks in the room. She may look around, and when she finds you, her eyes will stop on you for a second.
- Often, she may glance away as soon as she notices you're looking at her, too!^{[2]
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Watch for her to flash you a smile. If a girl likes you, she may start smiling at you more often. Maybe her face lights up when you walk over to you, or when you catch her eye, she flashes a grin. These could be signs she likes you.^{[3]
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Look if she seems approachable when you're around. If a girl likes you, she'll often make herself more approachable. She'll put down her phone, and turn her body towards you, for instance. She might also sit up straighter, tilt her chin up, or move her hair out of her face with her fingers. Much of this movement is subconscious, and it can indicate she's into you. Especially if she's with a friend of yours and she stops her conversation to speak to you ^{[4]
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- On the other hand, if she crosses her arms and legs, turns her body away from you, picks up her book or phone, or generally looks like she doesn't want to be disturbed when you're around, she may not like you.
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Notice if she preens or blushes. When we're around someone we like, we tend to unconsciously preen. For instance, she might run her fingers through her hair, adjusting her headband, or pass her hands over her clothing to smooth it out.^{[5]
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- She might also blush when she sees you.
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Check if she suddenly becomes more fidgety when you're nearby. People tend to fidget when they're nervous, and if a girl likes you, she's going to be nervous around you! That may mean she jiggles her leg, plays with her hair, or jingles her keys. She might also bite her nails or mess with any jewelry she's wearing.^{[6]
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- Of course, some people just naturally fidget a lot. Watch her before she notices you're nearby. Check if she seems to fidget more when she sees you.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Paying Attention to How She Interacts with You

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Check if she laughs at your jokes. A girl who likes you will laugh more when you're around. She may even laugh at something that's not that funny, just because you said it. If she seems to be laughing or giggling a lot while you're talking to you, she may be into you.^{[7]
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Notice if she starts acting differently around you. If you've been friends, she may suddenly seem more distant. If you haven't been close, she may suddenly seem more affectionate. If her behavior suddenly changes towards you, her feelings may have changed, too.^{[8]
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- Also, watch how she treats other people in comparison to how she treats you. If she treats you differently, that could indicate she likes you.
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Pay attention if she touches you a lot. People who like each other tend to make gentle contact while talking. For instance, she might reach out and touch your arm when she's making a point, or she might rub your shoulder as she walks up behind you.^{[9]
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- Hugs are also a good sign.
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See if she tries to be around you a lot. While she's not likely to follow you around, she might just show up where she knows you're going to be, such as reading in the library when she knows you have study hall there. Alternatively, she might try to sit at a nearby table at lunch or even at the same table.^{[10]
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- Also, if she seems to be more dressed up than usual when she's around you, whether at school or when you're alone, that could mean she likes you.
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Check how quickly she replies to your messages. If you're talking on social media or by text message, she'll likely reply fairly quickly if she's into you, often within minutes if she's online. If she's not that into you, she may wait longer to reply.^{[11]
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- Also, if she adds you on social media, that's a good sign, too.^{[12]
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Listen to see if she makes it known she's single. Often, she'll mention more than once that she doesn't have a boyfriend or girlfriend. If she's gay or bisexual (and you are, too), she might bring up that fact more than once to let you know she's available.^{[13]
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Pay attention to compliments. If she's always saying nice things to you, that's a pretty good sign she could be into you. Of course, everyone gives out a compliment every now and then, but if she is doing it regularly, pay attention.^{[14]
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- For instance, you may notice she is always complimenting what you're wearing or how smart you are.
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Notice if she remembers the little things about you. If she pays close attention to what you say and like, that's a good indicator. For instance, maybe she remembers you like cherry cola, so she grabs the last one at lunch for you before they run out.^{[15]
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- Alternatively, maybe you say something about your brother, and she says, "Charlie, right? I've heard you mention him before."

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Asking Her Out

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Show her you like her, too. Before you ask her out, you can use the same signals to show her you like her, too. For instance, you can smile at her every time you see her, touch her arm in conversations, and invite her to sit next to you at lunch.^{[16]
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Bolster your self confidence when you work up the courage. Confidence is attractive, so try to believe in yourself. If she doesn't like you, well, there's someone else out there for you!^{[17]
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- To bolster your confidence, try practicing what you're going to say in a mirror first. Take a deep breath, and try to say it in a slow, steady voice.
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Ask her to hang out with you. Try a small "date" first. Ask her if she wants to hang out after school or go get a soda. You could even ask to study together. The more you're together, the more likely your friendship will blossom into something more.
- For instance, you might say, "Hey Catherine! You feel like grabbing a soda with me after school?"
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Accept defeat if you realize she doesn't like you. If she doesn't return calls or texts and she disappears when you're around, she may not like you. If you feel like you're getting these signals, accept it and move on. You'll find someone else in time!^{[18]
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- This is especially true after you've had a date or hung out together more. If she suddenly stops wanting to hang around with you, that may mean she's decided she's just not that into you.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you know if a teenage girl likes you?

Eddy Baller
Dating Coach
Eddy Baller is a Dating Coach and the Owner of a dating consulting and coaching service, Conquer and Win, based in Vancouver, Canada. Coaching since 2011, Eddy specializes in confidence building, advanced social skills, and relationships. Conquer and Win helps men worldwide have the love lives they deserve. His work has been featured in The Art of Manliness, LifeHack, and POF among others.

Eddy Baller

Dating Coach

Expert Answer

It doesn't always mean a girl likes you when she gives you her number, but if she's texting back and forth with you and seems interested in getting to know you better, it's a good sign she's into you.