A tomboy may be more willing to make it clear that she is seeking out more time with you than other girls would. Boys are often pressured to ask directly for what they want instead of being coy. It’s likely that she’s modeling her behavior on more masculine flirting, so she may be more direct.
Especially if you have a crush on her too, don’t flirt with other people just to make her jealous. This is confusing (and mean) both to her and the person you’re flirting with. Just interact normally and see if a normal interaction makes her appear jealous.
Touch is often key in tomboy flirting style because masculine flirting tends to include more touching than feminine flirting. Does she hit you more than usual? Unfortunately, one way that boys are socialized to show affection is through pushing, wrestling and punching. A tomboy or girl who emulates more masculine behavior might do the same thing if she has a crush on you. If this is the case and it makes you uncomfortable, it’s okay to discourage this behavior or tell an adult if you think it’s gotten out of hand. [2] X Research source
In particular, pay attention to her reactions to some light teasing. Don’t hurt her feelings or be mean. Just tease her enough to let her know you’re paying attention to her, and see if this causes a bit of blushing or extra laughter.
On the other hand, she could just be having a hard time hearing what you’re saying, so look for other signs of attraction too.
Of course, if you’re talking about something that aligns with her interests, it’s possible that she’s just engaged in the conversation and doesn’t actually have a crush on you. Are there any other signs of attraction also present?
Particularly look out for preening that seems out of character. If this girl rarely cares what her hair looks like (which may be common for tomboys) but is suddenly invested in smoothing out her ponytail all the time, that’s could be a clue that she wants to look nice for you.
One interaction won’t necessarily give you all of the information you need here. If her feet are pointed toward the end of the hall instead of toward you while you’re chatting at your lockers, it’s possible that she’s just in a hurry to get to class. Take some time and observe her feet in several interactions.
Tomboys tend to have friends of all genders. Be sure to pay attention to each group of friends she hangs out with.
Beware that asking could put a strain on your friendship if she says no. That doesn’t necessarily mean that if she rejects you, you can’t be friends anymore. It just means that you will have to work extra hard to bring things back to normal. Take the risk if you’re pretty sure she likes you! If you like her too, the payoff of having your friend become your girlfriend would be worth it.
