How to Play Cupid With Your Friends (Even If You Don't Have Katniss-Level Archery Skills)

Big ups to you for having awesome pals who are suitable for dating each other. That's a testament to them AND to your ability to draw awesomeness into your world. And if we can have some selfish talk right now, if you can lead these two people you adore to also adore each other, it works out double-time in your favor. But! Matchmaking is a risky lil' game, ya'll. You gotta be smooth. You gotta be breezy. You gotta be a bit of a puppetmaster, but not in an evil, creepy way.

You can pull it off. You've got skillz, with a "z".

Here are a few potential ways to get this shiz done.

1. Use "Spaceface," as my mom calls it. (Facebook).
Figure out one thing both these eligible friends have in common and then find a photo, news story or what have you that mentions it. Maybe they both like robots? Or perhaps they're each really into Renaissance Faires? They both have brown hair? Whatever, just post that bad boy and tag them both in it. Like: "Shark attack! Cheryl Lawson & Mike O'Brien, it's stalking your surfer butts! HAHA LOL ROTFL BFF JK JK JK WTF?!?" Too much? Ok, leave out the last part. They'll be intrigued by the co-tag. Believe that.

2. Be creative in a big way.
Engineer a large lottery for everyone aged 12 to 18 and an arena where all the lucky winners can fight to the death. Rig it so that your two friends are both chosen. Quelle surprise! Throw 'em in (they'll be fiiiine, they're awesome, remember?). They'll emerge in victorious and sorta-kinda-maybe in love. Will they or won't they? They will … eventually. Just know if you choose this, you have to also engineer an apocalypse so it's gonna probably take up most of your Saturday.

3. Make them collaborate … on a surprise for you.
This one's fun because it also benefits you (selfish time #2). Is it your birthday? This works best if it's your birthday. Pretend it's your birthday, ok? Force them to plan a party for you. Do a lot of, "Oh Cheryl, you and Mike are the only people who know how much I love Bagel Bites. You should guy should team up and plan my b-day!"
Everyone who has ever watched a movie knows love blossoms over a shared project. They'll probably have a big falling out somewhere in the middle and then come together at the end (your party). Cue the choreographed dance number!

4. Bring one friend to a place the other friend will be.
Easy enough, especially if you're positive they'll hit it off once they're in the same room together. If your homie works at The Tater Tot Shoppe and he wears an embarrassing uniform, don't choose that as the casual meetup spot. Same if his parents drag him to craft fairs. Don't pick that either.

5. Do nothing.
This only works if one of your friends is a wizard, vampire, or werewolf. If so, just wait. It'll happen on its own.

6. Get their help solving a mystery.
There aren't enough mysteries out there to be solved, are there? Sure, there are the cold cases and the horrible stuff you see on the news but what about, like, The Case of the "Clocktower that Never Chimed"? Or "The Curse of the Fruit Salad that Only Has Cantaloupe in It, Which is Gross Because Where Are All the Strawberries, Am I Right? Can I Just Get a Fruit Salad Without Cantaloupe? Guys, I Hate Cantaloupe"? What were we talking about?

7.  Be a human being about it.
First, find out if both friends are even interested in dating, because that could get awkward real fast if your bestie is just not feelin' a boyfriend right now, no matter who it is. Both are on board? Ok. Separately tell each friend you think you know someone who might they might have a lot of fun meeting. Give the quick rundown of why, without overselling. Then, either give email addresses (if that's cool) or just be all, "We're going to meet a bunch of friends at the mall, if you're down, you should come." And then come Miley Cyrus or high water, you drag them to that mall.

HOLY MOLARS THESE IDEAS ARE GENIUS. Do you have any friends who would be perfect together? Are you going to try to play Cupid? CAN YOU SEND SOME FUNNY SINGLE DUDES OUR WAY?!?

Related post: Valentine's Day!