how to handle this potential romantic interest

I'm a college freshman. I've been deeply hurt and taken advantage of by men, although I have never been in a relationship before.

Lately I've been just not been trying to see men or anything, but now I met someone new and I don't know him very well, but I think I might like to date him. He's interested because after we met he texted me the week after asking if I'd like to do something with him sometime. However, I'm so used to men only being interested in me for the physical stuff, and I want this guy to actually like me.

Should I play hard to get and make him work for me? I've had it happen time and time again where a guy has been interested in me and then we hooked up a few times and he lost interest and it really hurts because I start to like them and I just feel used and unwanted. I usually don't like playing games but I just want this to work and don't want to get hurt again...

i know the best romantic relationships stem from being friends with the person first and then having it turn into something from there. i think this might be a good idea for me because then maybe he'll get to know me for the person I am (and people tell me that I'm a really wonderful person and they can't always tell from the impression I give off - so maybe I should get him to see this side of me first) and not just my body. So I thought that in order to be friends I would just hang out with him but not hook up with him and if he tries something I'd just tell him that there was someone back at home (which is an exaggeration of the truth, not a complete lie). Is this a bad way to play it??? I want to give him a chance but I don't want to make the same mistakes I have before and get hurt....

You shouldn't lie that you have someone at home, just tell him your feelings on the relationship, honesty is a great start on friendship. Would 'playing hard to get' mean flirting? Don't put too much pressure on making this into a romantic relationship or try to make this person like you. Find activities that you both enjoy, meet each others friends.

The trick isn't to play hard to get, its to be hard to get

"Playing" in this case has such a ring of dishonesty attached to it, there's no place for games when it comes to matters of the heart.

You don't have to pretend to have a bf, if he does make sexual advances, just tell him that at this point you don't know him well enough to have sex with him, but you do enjoy hanging out with him and would like to get to know him better.

This way you're not jumping into bed with him willy nilly, not being dishonest with him, or manipulating him, annnnd you're leaving the door for opportunity open should he be serious about wanting to cultivate a relationship between you 2.