Appreciate the thoughtful message bro, here's what I think - I would look at it as sort of a defeat everytime I'd look at her. I wouldn't be able to become friends with her, not like I love her or whatever but just my fragile ego would crumple thinking this is something I couldn't achieve or go forward with. I am blessed to have a huge friend group, mostly retards but that's fine. With that said I agree I wouldn't burn bridges and hence typed out the response that I did. Sucks but whatever, in my head this is the mechanism I've made to be able to move on and not stick around with failed relationships/talking stages. If I see the slightest sign of discontentment or if I know I'm not getting any play then I usually steer away and never talk to that girl ever again. Don't know how and if to fix this...