“Mean Girls” is one of my favorite movies for a number of reasons. Not only is it based on my hometown—and quite accurately so—but it also features a variety of romantic issues and plights common to many young adults in the real world. Oh, and even I have to admit that Lindsay Lohan looked smokin’ in this movie.

Regardless, one issue presented in the film deals with Lohan’s character pretending to not understand a class she is in so she can be tutored outside of class by the guy of her dreams. While this led to further consequences, I couldn’t help but sympathize with Lohan’s character. Keyword: character; not actually sympathizing with Lindsay Lohan, since that’s pretty hard to do. After all, what are we supposed to do when we want to spend time with that attractive individual in our class outside of class? How do we win that special someone over and find out what he or she is really like outside of an academic setting?

Let’s say you are in a small class, and in this class there’s that good-looking guy or girl you want to talk to, get to know better and, if there’s chemistry, spend time with outside of the classroom. Hopefully, your professor will encourage class discussion and maybe even small group work. If so, do everything in your power to try to work with that person.

You can even just walk up to them one day and say, “I really liked what you said about…” or “What you said about this or that text was so interesting.” It’s as simple as that.

A compliment always proves helpful in the game of love, and this can easily lead to a bond and an excuse to work together. If you don’t actually think what that person says is interesting, either move on or, if you are just that attracted to that person physically, find some other compliment. Just don’t be overly maniacally friendly, and never refer to anything you see on that person’s Facebook, even if you do stalk him or her daily.

If you find yourself in a large lecture environment and notice that cute guy who comes to class every day, you’ll know that he probably cares about schoolwork, which is always good. Though it may be hard at first, sit next to him one day. Flash a charming smile, and you can even ask to borrow a pencil/pen/piece of paper. Just don’t let him look in your backpack to see that you actually have one and are just asking to initiate conversation, because then he may think you’re crazy.

Another tip is to try to talk with that person after class. That is, if you and a friend grab lunch and happen to see that cute girl sitting with her friend, it is more than all right to walk up to her, say hello and make a comment about that day’s class, like how boring it was, or laugh over an absurd comment some other student made in class. Eventually, if love is in the cards, you guys can start eating lunch together. Given time, this can lead to hangouts off campus.

If you want to take eating lunch together to the next step, tell that person that you guys should make a time to hang out that weekend or go out one night. It can be said causally, while simultaneously allowing you to get the message across that you’re into him or her. You can also ask that person to study with you, since group studying is both fun and productive—well, sometimes. More importantly, this is a nonchalant question, and a study date could with time progress to romance. All you have to do is communicate.

So the next time you want to pull a Lindsay Lohan and are tempted to pretend to be stupid just to have that special someone tutor you, don’t. After all, playing dumb probably won’t work—we are pretty bright kids. Just remember to be yourself, talk to the person you’re interested in and if it’s meant to be, it will be.