Physical contact is a key contributing factor to attraction. But if you’re just going around grabbing at the girls that you like you’re more likely to come off creepy than cool. So how do you go about creating that prolonged touch that might set her heart aflutter without pawing at her like a perv? Try an old-fashioned thumb war!

This works best when you two are already sitting in close proximity – think the bus, next to each other in class, during an assembly, etc. If you’re just around idling, the conversation lulls and you’re still looking for someway to attract her to you challenge her to a thumb war.

Hold out your hand like you’re looking to shake hands. Don’t say anything yet. Look down at your own five fingers. Look up at her eyes. Look back down to your hand. After she reaches out to your hand (or she throws you a subtle look of confusion) toss out the challenge – “thumb war.”

Right now it feels simple, and silly, and like a stupid way to pass the time. But the two of you are holding hands. She’s growing comfortable with the idea of the two of you touching and if you don’t get overly competitive or weird during this game she’ll associate your touch with happy thoughts.

It’s a cute way to seem spontaneous and fun. But use it sparingly. If you’re doing this all the time – with her or with other girls in your network of friends and school – you’ll get a weird rep as “the weird thumb war guy”. Then no amount of advice from HUSH will be able to help you out.