“You’re the funniest person I’ve ever known. You know that? I’m crackin’ up over here!” “You’re a knockout in that sweater!” “I’m constantly inspired by your kindness towards others. You’re one in a million. ”

Don’t hold your eye contact for too long, though! Optimal eye contact is about 3 seconds of eye contact at a time.

Employ a little boldness—but don’t come on too strong. In other words, say, “I’ve gotta admit you’ve been on my mind all day,” but avoid “I’m in love with you. ” If you’re in person, use body language to flirt: lean in close to talk, keep arms and legs uncrossed to seem more “open,” and turn your body towards hers. If you’re flirting over text, send her occasional flirty emoji, like winking smiley faces or hearts.

“You said last week you were nervous to take that math test—have you taken it yet? How did it go?” “You had that big meeting today, didn’t you? How did it go? Probably glad it’s over with, huh?” “I noticed you were reading a book when I came in. What was it? Are you enjoying it?”

Be careful telling someone you don’t know all that well that she smells good, as it could make her a little uncomfortable. But a date or a significant other? Go for it!

Of course, keep alert for signs she doesn’t want to be touched, especially if you’re not dating or have only recently begun dating. If she pulls away or seems uncomfortable, give her space. You can even create sexual tension and give her butterflies by maintaining a close distance without touching: try leaning close to her when you speak or whispering in her ear.

You don’t have to be a comedian to get her ROFL-ing. Just be friendly and able to laugh at yourself, make sure to laugh at her jokes, and the two of you will have a good time. Make her laugh over text by sending her an intentionally cheesy pickup line, like “Are you on loan? ‘Cause you’ve got my interest,” or referencing an inside joke.

Practice good hygiene: wear deodorant, shower regularly, and keep your hair and any facial hair kempt. We’re not talking a Princess Diaries makeover here. You can stay true to you and still take your style to the next level. Just spend a little extra time grooming yourself before you go out—and trust us, she’ll notice.

If you know you’re going to see her soon—like in class, at work, or on a date—you can “plan” to be confident by rehearsing for your encounter beforehand or having some conversation starters in your back pocket if the chitchat lags. If you’ve got butterflies yourself around this girl, try calming them by drinking some water and taking a few long, deep breaths.

Don’t just be respectful toward her, show her you’re kind to everyone. No matter how sweet you are to her, if you don’t tip your server, she’ll probably notice!

What you share might be surface-level, like favorite TV shows or music, or more personal and intimate—say, you both grew up in the same religion, or you are both majoring in the same subject.

Of course, be sensitive to signs she’s not receptive to your attempts to draw her away: if she doesn’t follow your lead or excuses herself to mingle with others, she might not be up for it.

If you’ve been together for a little while, the “honeymoon” phase might have worn off a bit. That doesn’t mean the romantic dates stop—in fact, dates are maybe more important now than ever!

It can be tough not to go into problem-solving mode when she tells you about the bad day she just had—after all, you care so much about her! But a lot of the time, what she’s really looking for is just someone to listen, not fix her problems. “Go on! I want to hear the rest of this story. ” “You failed that test? Oh man, that must have felt crummy. ” “Wow! I can’t believe that happened. That sucks. ”

Keep it simple and curate a playlist of music you think she’d like, or, if she’s the spontaneous type herself, take her on a last-minute weekend trip to the beach. Go old school and send her a postcard in the mail. Even being spontaneous by yourself can be a draw: she’ll see you as a confident, independent person who takes chances and goes after what they want in life.

“I still remember seeing you play Cinderella in ninth grade. I was in the first row. You were incredible. ” “Remember that camping trip we took last year? I think about that all the time. It’s one of my favorite memories. ” “I think I first got a crush on you when we had to work together on that English assignment. You were just so into Shakespeare, it was adorable. ”

The level of boldness will probably depend on how well you know her and what your dynamic is like. If she’s a crush you don’t know all that well, boldly declaring your love may be too strong. If she’s a girl you’ve been dating for a little while, on the other hand, a bold declaration may be just the thing to ignite some passion. “I feel totally bewitched by you. I can’t stop thinking about you. ” “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. ” “I am crazy in love with you. ”