Asking her friends is she likes you is a less bold way of basically telling her that you're interested in her yourself. Still, if you're feeling shy but really want to know how she feels without asking her directly, then just ask her friends how she feels about you. They probably won't tell you how she feels, but they'll make it obvious that she likes you by acting excited and saying that you should talk to her. They'll also tell her that you like her right away, so be careful. Her friends will, however, let you know if the girl doesn't like you and this will spare your feelings if she doesn't. If you're feeling brave and really want to date this girl, then just find a time when you're alone together, like by your lockers after school, and ask her how she really feels about you. You can even admit that you like her first (if you do) and wait for her to respond. Don't put too much pressure on her -- just casually say that you've noticed that she might like you and that you want to know how she feels. You can even complement her a bit to put her at ease. If she admits that she likes you and you like her too, you don't have to jump up and down for joy or you'll look uncool. Instead, just show her that you're excited that you both like each other and ask her if she wants to hang out some time. If she doesn't like you, don't be a jerk about it. Just say, "Cool, it's no big deal," and act cool and calm as you say goodbye. This will show her that you're comfortable with yourself and who knows -- maybe she'll change her mind about you in the future. Whatever happens, remember that you're in middle school. Relationships in middle school are fun, but they're usually short and shouldn't be taken too seriously. Just try to have fun and if it doesn't work out with this girl, someone else will definitely fall for you.
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One-sentence summary -- Ask her friends. Ask her yourself. React appropriately.


Straight hair can be easy to take care of, but it can also look limp. Fortunately, there are a few extra steps you can take to give it some boost. This section will show you how to blow dry straight hair; it will also give you some tips on how to give it a little volume. Here's what you'll need:  Hairdryer Nozzle attachment Round hairbrush Hair clip and hair tie Mousse for thickness (optional) Cream to smooth and soften dry, damaged hair (optional) Hair spray to add volume and set style (optional) Squeeze your hair with the towel. This will help soak up any excess moisture, and help your hair dry faster. Use mousse if you want to add volume to your hair. Use a smoothing hair cream to tame dryness and repair damage. If your hair dryer had a speed setting, use the high one. Dry your hair until it is about 80% dry, then turn off the hairdryer. Be sure to aim the nozzle downwards while blow drying your hair. The nozzle will help direct the air flow, and keep your hair a safe distance from the hairdryer's heat. Gather the upper layers of your hair, just like doing a half-up, half-down ponytail, and secure them with a hair clip. Point the nozzle downward, and run the round brush through your hair while you are blow drying it. You can pull it back into a low ponytail if you want to keep it straight. You can also twist it into a loose bun if you want it to have a slight wave to it. Run the brush through your hair while you are drying it, and point the nozzle downward. If you want to give your hair some extra volume, the point the nozzle upward when you start at the roots. Then, move the brush up and out in a c-shape motion. You can brush it back and let it part naturally. You can also set your own part using the handle of a rattail comb. If you want to have flipped ends, run the round brush through the underside of your hair, and stop when you get to the ends. Blow dry your hair using a medium heat setting first, then dry it using a cold setting to set the style. Here are some tips on how to style your hair:  To give the ends of your hair a slight curl, run the round hairbrush through the underside of your hair. Twirl it until the ends of your hair are wrapped around it. Blow dry the ends with a medium setting first, and then a cold setting. The cold air will help set the curl. To make the ends of your hair straight, brush them downwards while blow drying them. Be sure to aim the nozzle downward as well. If your hair tends to get a lot of static or flyways, tame it with some styling cream or mist.
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One-sentence summary -- Gather your supplies. Start by towel-drying your hair. Apply some mousse or styling cream. Put on the nozzle attachment and start blow drying your hair on a medium heat setting. Clip the outer layers of your hair out of the way. Blow dry the bottom layers of your hair. Pull the bottom layer of your hair out of the way once it is dry. Remove the hair clip and blow dry the top layer of your hair. Take out the low ponytail or bun and part your hair. Style your hair, if necessary.


In order to fight off the gummy, sticky stains, you'll need something that cuts grease. You can use store-bought products like Goo-Gone, Dr. Bronner's, or Simple Green, or you can make your own.  For strong stains, use 1 cup vinegar mixed with 4 cups water. Let the vinegar solution sit on the stain for a few minutes before wiping. You can add 1-2 tablespoons of ammonia for even more powerful cleaning. For smaller, gentler stains, mix 3 tablespoons baking soda with 1 cup water. These surfaces are much more prone to staining and warping if you're not careful. Some cleaners can strip away sealants, coatings, and paints if you're not careful. Always read the label for suggested surfaces to clean with. When in doubt, dab a bit of cleaning solution on a small area and check back 10 minutes later. If it is not stained or warped, you should be good to go. Some cleaners to consider include:  Murphy's Oil Soap Dr. Bronner's Barkeep's Friend Warm water and 1-2 tablespoons trisodium phosphate Depending on the stain you can use different abrasives to remove the stain, from gentle sponges on walls to blades on glass and hard plastic. Don't dig into the stain. Simply work at the edges, trying to lift it from the surface, to prevent scratching.  For walls, use the rough side of a sponge, or another gentle scrubber. For unpainted metal, a toothbrush or other hearty brush will work wonders. For painted metal, you need to use a gentle towel or microfiber cloth. Use the sharp side of a razor blade to scrape away the gummy residue from glass and plastic. With the blade at a roughly 45-degree angle to the surface, scrape away the loosened nicotine residue. If you're working on glass, use a glass cleaner like Windex to remove the last little bits of residue and wipe the surface clean. Otherwise, a few drops of dish soap and warm water should be fine. For serious stains, repeat the process, letting your degreaser soak into the stain for an extra 5-6 minutes. If the same stain has been building up for years, leading to a yellow, brownish tint to your items, they may never return to their original color. You can make improvements with gentle scrubbing and cleaning, but it may be time to repaint the walls or get newer objects if you can't fight off the yellow tinge.
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One-sentence summary --
Spray the stain with a gentle degreaser. Test your cleaning supplies in an unseen area before using on wood, enamel, or paint. Use an abrasive sponge or brush to remove the stain. Wipe clean with soap and water. Know that long developing stains may not come off at all.