Why Am I In The Friend Zone?
Neil Goldman, Friend Zone Escape
You're Too Aggressive
Nobody likes the hard sale. Demanding an answer to an invitation to lunch, reacting poorly to rejection or being inordinately persistent are off limits. No one wants to be in charge of your happiness or afraid you might go home and kill yourself just because they aren't sure about going out. That is way too much pressure. Be friendly and polite, not pushy. You catch more flies with honey. Also, learn to grow a thick skin. Life is filled with rejection, and if you are that angry at the word "no" you probably suck at life in general. Grow a pair.
You Suck At Life
I know your mom told you how special and awesome you are, but you should take it with a grain of salt. She loves your dirty draws. The people do not.
Maybe your issue is not hygiene. Maybe it is a general lack of ambition. If you are looking for a serious relationship, the person you want will likely not be interested in shaping and guiding another adult. If you end up in a relationship, your partner is probably an opportunist with designs on you.
Maybe you are one of those really rude people who mistakes a lack of tact for honesty. Love is unconditional, but relationships have terms. You can only say "Oh well, their loss" so many times before you realize the things you do aren't working.
Captain Friend Zone To The Rescue
You Don't Express Interest
So you like someone, but you find yourself hanging out all the time with nothing coming of it but friendship. You visit each other, go shopping together, but nothing has progressed. Sometimes you lash out by pulling passive aggressive stunts (i.e., I'm not going to answer the phone) but even if you are directly asked, "Is something wrong?" you will lie. You tell yourself you don't mind being a friend as long as you are around, but you do mind. You are just afraid of being rejected and losing access to the person altogether.
Tell them how you feel, and accept what they may say in the end. You do not want to be an emotional mess because you have been friends for years and the love of your life is in love with someone else. You also don't want to be the shoulder to cry on too often. It never feels good to idolize the person who treats you like an option. Stop living in limbo. Find out for yourself where you two stand and make a choice.
The Object of Your Affection Is a User
Maybe you are trying to sell your sweetie on the idea that being with you is a dream, so you do too much for him or her, and he or she is in love with the benefits, not you. It sucks to discover the person you want in your life just likes free lunch, but it happens. Females are usually guilty of this, but males are definitely not exempt. Women will take dinners and quality time freely and never take the relationship anywhere. Men usually abuse a friendship with a needy or insecure woman, simply because she is never going anywhere. Once you see you are in a one-sided situation, cut it off. A simple test you can do is to not call. If you receive a call in a couple of days and it is not to receive anything from you, you may not have a user.
Your Reputation Precedes You
Do you have a history of being a douchebag? Are your exes disgruntled with good reason? There is a chance your crush is fully aware of your track record and unwilling to subject themselves to such foolishness. Be honest with yourself about your past, and if you have some skeletons in your closet, consider being forthcoming. If you have, for instance, been physically violent in a relationship, but you are a recovering rage-a-holic, let it be known. Maybe you will miss out on being with someone, but there are plenty of people with checkered pasts who have found love. I mean, look at Kim Kardashian!