So I'm attempting to pursue an assistant instructor at my school, a small community college in the northwest. She's a year and a half older than me, and not from the US, but speaks decent enough english. What worries me is that I'm walking into a trap. Aside from the obvious "not interested you asshole" response, I wonder if she might not already be attached. Her Myspace would say otherwise, but I suspect the default setting is "single" and she might not have updated it yet, as she seems to have signed up recently. Plus she has a ring on her left ring finger. It looks like a series of hearts, suspect that means something.

So what should I do? Should I hit the afterburners and pursue? Hold off? Throw out other lines? Help, I think I'm doing it wrong.

Yes you are as in; You are giving this serious thoughts at way to early a stage. Just circulate until you know the coast is clear, just like the vultures on animal planet.

errrm well when you talk to her ask what shes been up to recently. if shes says she went out with her boyfriend at the weekend, thats pretty clear. if its a bit unclear you could always go for that slightly-interested probing of stuff like "oh so what does your boyfriend think of you doing suchandsuch"