How to get a girlfriend

ok, so im a little new to this dating thing. ive just now learned about this mystical “makeup” product (oooh! aaaaah!), and until recently, my entire town seemed to be populated with boys who were short enough to pass for third graders. suddenly, at the start of this new school year, a TON of new people moved to our district, and finally there are actually guys OVER 5′ 5″ (no offense to shorter people. i just happen to be 5′ 11″). anyway, a few days ago i was out with a couple of my friends, and we saw these SERIOUSLY hot guys (who were tall! woohoo!), AND they were checking us out for pretty much the whole time that me and my friends were out! anyways, i would have gone over and talked to them, but never having dated before, i was completely afraid of making an idiot of myself. any tips for getting around to talking to random hot guys like this? not what to say to them, but a way to actually get to talking to them without just going up and announcing myself. because this actually happens alot, and its really disappointing when i never get up the nerve to talk to them, and i end up having to go home before THEY ever get up the nerve to talk to ME.
Basically, any tips for finding an excuse to talk to random guys i happen to see when i go somewhere? Yes, I know that the guy is traditionally supposed to talk to the girl first if he’s a ‘real man’ or whatever, but personally, im all for screwing tradition, so please dont answer that i should wait for them to get up the guts to talk to me. honestly though, i will never get up the nerve to just walk over and announce that im talking to them, i need a roundabout way to end up having a conversation with them.
and yes, i am also aware of safety precautions and all of that stuff. i have had to watch videos about it since the fourth grade, my parents have repeatedly talked to me about it (and forever scarred my memory), and its not like im going to be stupid or anything. i know how to be careful.

Technorati Tags: advice, Dating, Random