So this just happened and I’m still processing the social trauma.
I was waiting for the elevator in my apartment building when a very cute girl I hadn’t seen before came up and stood beside me. We exchanged a friendly smile. Nothing too much, just that nice little “hi I’m not a serial killer” energy you give strangers in shared spaces.
Elevator doors open, we both get in. I press my floor — 17th. I ask, “Which floor?”
She says, “21, thanks!”
Cool. I hit 21 for her. We make some small talk. I mention the weather, she smiles, we vibe. Light, easy elevator banter.
Then the doors open on 17.
Without thinking, I step aside, gesture toward the open door like a true gentleman and say, “After you.”
She pauses, gives me a mildly confused look, and goes,
“…I’m on 21?”
Cue the instant internal facepalm. I just tried to let this girl off at my stop like I was the elevator concierge of Floor 17.
We share one second of high-density awkwardness.
I smile like an idiot, nod like I meant to do that, and walk out.
I am now considering new apartments. Preferably ones without elevators. Or attractive women. Or eye contact.
TL;DR:
Met a cute girl in the elevator, tried to be smooth, ended up escorting her to the wrong floor like a socially anxious butler. Regret is eternal.
Comments
Not a big deal, we always make these things bigger in our minds. Next time you share an elevator with her, make a small joke about it to let her know it wasn’t a big deal to you, either
Too relatable. Endearing and awkward. I hope you run into her again so that you two can exchange the tiniest of giggles.
Nah everyone does shit like this, its just awkward chuckle and move on sort of stuff.
This is the most awkward kid thing I’ve ever read. It doesn’t matter, she doesn’t care. Don’t make it weird in your mind. You can just say “Oh yeah, my bad lol.” then go on with your day.
Haha this is actually kind of a great In.
She’ll remember you, and now you have an inside joke between the two of you.
If you see her in the elevator again within a week or two you can say “floor 17, right? Haha, I’m so dumb”, or something else silly.
“Haha. See what being pretty does to people? And hey, by the way, could I get your number?”
It’s ALWAYS recoverable!
You act like this is the worst thing when it’s the complete opposite. She will remember you because of this. Next time you meet her you can just use it as an excuse like “you were so cute my brain failed to work properly”
nah thats gold, do the exact same next time
Next time, just say, “Oh, duh! Sorry, you’re so shitty I got distracted. I MEAN PRETTY. YOU’RE SO PRETTY. AH FUCK”
Regret is eternal but it fades in intensity with time. Youth is fleeting and priceless, so enjoy it. Even the public facepalm moments 🙂
Thought you were about to nice guy this with a “did we not just hit it off?: type response.
“uh, is this 21?”
[Awkward look, deer in headlights look back]
[Feigned, overly confident, overacting suaveness (maybe running fingers through your hair, bonus points if bald/short hair)]
“No ma’am, this is the way to my place” followed by a wink, or wiggly eyebrows.
They say no? You say ‘yeah, my brain turned off for a second. Unit 1721 if you change your mind though’
They say yes? Idk… I’d never.
Next time you see her, just tell her her dazzling smile got you all flustered, and you forgot that she wasn’t getting you off. Er, getting off with you. Er, I mean, I don’t know what I mean, I lost my mind, and it hasn’t come back.
I think if it were meant to be she would have got off, waited until you were out of sight and then got back on and went to her floor. I might have even looked for a stairwell.