12 Awkward Stories of People Who Run Away From a Date

We’ve all had less-than-ideal dates, but some people have standout tales. From odd exchanges to downright unsettling behavior, these dates went so off course that those involved couldn’t help but end things early. Fortunately, social media offers a platform to share these cringe-worthy moments without fear of judgment. And don’t forget to check our bonus section for a story whose ending is really hard to predict.

• In college I went on a date with a girl who rolled down her car window and threw an empty soda can out her window when she was done with it. It was a total turn-off. I told her to drop me off at the next stoplight, and walked home. © HerrowPries / Reddit
• Had a first date with a girl who insisted we go to a really expensive place, where she ordered a $25 dollar appetizer, $45 steak and a $15 drink. She wouldn’t put down her phone, kept taking calls and answering texts. The waitress noticed and motioned for me from behind her. I excused myself, and the waitress had separate bills all made up and asked if I wanted to pay my share and leave her at the table. I said, “That would be wonderful!” So I did. © ELPwork / Reddit

• I knew this girl for like 2 years from college and had a huge crush on her, but we were best friends. I man out and asked her if she wanted to grab a coffee with me, as a date.
  We were talking, and she started telling me about all the guys she’s been with intimately, which I don’t care about since I also dated during that period, but I wouldn’t brag about it to her. Anyway, she started saying that if she started dating me I would probably be the ugliest guy she was ever with, and she would be embarrassed when sometimes people get the wrong idea about us.
  I almost started to cry. I loved this girl so much and that really hurt my pride, we were best friends, and she usually wasn’t like that. I told her my feelings and just left. © iamnotalways*** / Reddit
• Went to meet a guy for the first time at his house. There was a pile of toenail clippings on his coffee table. And it wasn’t one recent clipping. It was like, many clippings. Out the door I went. © Amos_Moses83 / Reddit
• I had a woman call me and insisted I gave her my number one night when I was bartending a small music venue during a concert. The name and description didn’t sound familiar, but we chatted for a few nights and decided to meet. I will call her Bonnie. We met up at a bar in her part of town. Bonnie looked a little familiar, but not someone I would have given my number to. She was totally not my type. But I decided to not be rude and gave the one date a chance. Somewhere in the course of the evening, we started sharing pics from our phone. “Here is my dog”, “Here is my son”, “Here is me in Vegas,” etc. Then Bonnie showed me a pic, “This is me and my best friend Sarah.” I looked and Sarah looked very familiar. Sarah WAS my type and I totally remember chatting it up with her and gave her my number. Then it occurred to me that Bonnie was the woman standing behind Sarah the whole time, just minding her own business the night I gave my number out at my place of work. Basically, her best friend Sarah catfished me in person on behalf of her friend. I left. © t480 / Reddit

• First date, we’re meeting at a new pizza place in town. She tells me to get out of my car first. She then sees me and laughs, going, “That’s your tiny car?”
  We’re in line to create our own pizza, we’re talking, mid-conversation she pulls out her phone and blocks me on Tinder and Snap visibly in front of me. I walked out in the middle of our dinner as she’s asking me where I’m going. © mattjwx / Reddit
• This happened to a friend. Context: he has a beard. So, my friend picks up this girl, and they’re on their way to dinner, and she says, “You do realize that if this is gonna work you have to shave that off right?” He didn’t say anything, just turned around and dropped her back off at her house. © Jeborisboi / Reddit
• He invited me and a friend to play dodgeball with a group of folks I’ve never met. We’re having an ok time, he’s paying more attention to his friends, but that’s fine because I’ve got my friend to keep me occupied. We’re hanging out in the parking lot before the first game is about to start when, out of nowhere, he grabs a ball and throws it at my crotch. This guy then screams, “Wham, bam, right in the clam!” I immediately turn to my friend and ask her if she’s ready to leave. I say goodbye to him and his friends. Immediately come home to a grip of texts about how “immature” I was behaving. © Monpetitvulcan616 / Reddit

• Great chats online, decided to meet in person. He’s got a Bluetooth headset with a little LED light that shows it’s on. He keeps it on during drinks. I work up the nerve to ask if he can take off the headset while we’re eating dinner. With pride and complete confidence, he says, “Don’t worry! You totally have my full attention. This isn’t a phone headset, it’s a camera.” © anarchypretzel / Reddit
• Went to pick up my blind date. She opened the door and looked at me and said, “Ew.” I looked at her and said, “Yeah, I agree,” and turned on my heel and left. Total date time was less than 5 minutes. © Outlander56 / Reddit
• We were at a restaurant and the waitress came over and gave the standard greeting, “Welcome to...can I start you off with some drinks?” I order a water and a drink and then looked at my date and said, “and whatever she is getting.” My date then looked at me, looked at the waitress, looked back at me with a confused look on her face. So I asked if she was okay or if she needed more time to look. My date then clears her throat and asks me if I knew the waitress. I said no and ask why. The date then went on a rant on why the waitress was talking to me and looking in my direction when she should only be talking to and looking at her. I was shocked and was like, “what?” She then goes on about how if the waitress and I have something going on, to just let her know now. At this point I looked at the waitress and told her to cancel my drink order, apologized to her, then I got up and left. When I got to my car, I blocked the date’s number and everything. © Capitolkid / Reddit

• I met this girl on a dating app. Her profile was absolutely stunning. After two weeks of talking, we met up for coffee. She was still absolutely stunning. But the first thing out of her mouth was, “That dumb barista spelled my name wrong,” referring to a girl who made her coffee. I decided to sit down anyway. Within the first 10 minutes, she bad-mouthed the barista and the coffee shop, her sister-in-law and new nephew, and her ex-boyfriend. Then she got “jealous” because the barista brought out my coffee order and smiled at me. I thanked her for her time and told her I was not interested. I paid for our coffees (left a big tip for the barista) and left. © Weak_Dog7271 / Reddit

Bonus: Date, interrupted.

• She was ignoring me, being rowdy, and eventually spilled my full glass of ice water on my lap. We hadn’t even received our food at that point, so I asked the waitress to box it up because I was leaving. I couldn’t handle it anymore. I had enough, especially after the car ride to the restaurant. Next time, date night will be just my husband and me. The toddler will stay with grandma. Kids, sometimes. © sauerpatchkid / Reddit

Navigating the dating scene is never a walk in the park, whether you’re single or already coupled up. These stories of romantic endeavors gone awry serve as stark reminders of the unpredictable nature of love and relationships. Ouch!