Valentine's day is around again. First things first, for those of you who have partners willing to take them out and splurge, congratulations. Please do not invite a third wheel whether or not you like the person you are going out with. If you are absolutely uncomfortable with this person you are supposed to spend the evening with, feel free to turn them down. You are not bound by a contract.
On the other hand, I do not care how lonely you are, do not accept an invitation from a friend to accompany her on a date. Even if you think it is not a date, Do Not Go. Besides the fact that the person trying to get to know your friend would be sending you killer looks, you will also end up feeling even lonelier than you were when you were alone.
However, in the event that your roommates are having loud s**, or your house is haunted amongst a myriad other reasons and you just have to go on that date as a third wheel, please remember that you are the unwanted presence as far as one of the other parties is concerned. Do not, by any means, become the center of attention. Here are a three tips to help you be the best third wheel you can be.
- Make sure you have an object on your person that will take up most of your time. If you think you are going to spend the time talking to your friend/her date, you are sorely mistaken. If the date turns out to be charming, your friend might forget you entirely. Thus, charge your ipod or download the deluxe version of that trial version game on your cell phone that you've always wanted to play in full.
- If your outing turns out to include the movies, you are a little bit lucky because you do not have to entertain yourself. However, do not forget your place and lean in towards your friend/her date. Another common mistake is seating such that the date is in between you and your friend. Unless the night is going to end in a three some, please seat on the other side of your friend such that she is in the middle of you and her date. She's the one on the date with both of you after all, the date did not invite you.
- Unless the date insists on paying your way, PLEASE do not hesitate to ask for a separate check. You are only allowed to skip this step if its your friend (who invited you) that's footing the bill. Remember that the date had a set amount he planned to spend on your friend. You are not your friend. Refrain from stretching the date's budget.
There you have it - my personal 2 cents. For all the would-be third wheels, remember that your friend might be inviting you because she feels guilty that you are home alone. It might not necessarily be because she actually wants you to come. Thus, saying no is safer than saying yes. You do not want to be these girls.
Oh and this is Leeza.
