[Elle_94]

Thanks for the advice guys.
I have hung out with him and his friends once or twice before now. One was his birthday barbecue and the other was when he got invited to the pub with them at short notice while I was at his so I tagged along. I don't mind hanging out with his friends but he never really invites me to go along, and neither do they, and I don't feel I can just say "can I come?" when I'm obviously not invited for whatever reason - I feel like I'm just being even more clingy and causing him problems.

I think asking the few friends I do have to meet up a bit more is a god idea. Perhaps if I just try to show them I want to hang out and get closer then they'll return that by asking me out too. Perhaps I do give the impression I'm just not all that interested by never really reaching out to them, because I'm afraid of rejection.

In terms of putting myself out there more. Id really like to do that. But I'm a really shy and awkward person and I get very nervous in social situations. I just never know what to do and end up making myself look weird and get laughed at. How can I get over my shyness? How can I handle social situations better?

Thanks all x