I'm a twenty year old female student in the UK and I went on my very first date ever this week.
I didn't know the guy very well but he's been in my lectures since first year and I've always thought he was cute, he didn't even acknowledge my existence until this semester (I think me losing weight might have had something to do with it, but I don't mind) and he started checking me out and eventually (after a dance at the union) we swapped numbers and he asked me on a date.

I was excited, I've never had any luck whatsoever with guys; I have anxiety so I usually sabotage anything that could possibly go well before he's even thought about it but this guy didn't give me a chance to and I said yes before I could think of an excuse.

He was half an hour late; I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel about that, it was snowing so the buses could've been late but all he said was "Sorry about that." and that was it.
He bought me a drink, we sat down and it was awkward as hell; so I took one big gulp of my drink and started talking incessantly.
I was keeping myself in check and kept asking him questions every time I mentioned something about myself, I was getting wishy washy answers so I outright asked him if he actually had any hobbies or interests - He doesn't.
He doesn't have any friends either.
He said he had never realised that he didn't have a life until I started talking about mine which I felt bad about but I was also shocked - I don't consider anything I do being counted as 'having a life', I play video games, read, write, go clubbing with my friends once a week and daydream a lot, but compared to him I'm the busiest person on the planet!
He made me laugh and we hugged at the end after talking for two and a half hours, so to me the date went well; he said he had fun and we should do it again. I agreed and said we should go bowling. You know, actually do something just so I'm not the only one who has something to say.

We haven't spoken since, we didn't really text beforehand either; he said so himself that he wasn't a big texter and even though I am I can text other people for conversation so I don't mind, but I feel like we should really talk more, even though he might not have anything to talk about.

I don't really know what I'm supposed to do; I like him, I'm not in love with him or anything but he's funny and cute and I really really liked the hug I got - a proper squeeze not a half-arsed thing, but some of my friends say that I shouldn't date him because he'll be free all the time and I'll be the only thing he has besides university; I don't think I would be happy with someone who will depend on me so much but I don't know him well enough to know if he would do that.
I was thinking that maybe we could go on a few dates of actually doing things to see if he enjoys some of them enough to take on as an interest.
But I don't pity him, if he's happy like this its fine, but he didn't seem happy when he said he hadn't realised he didn't do much; I have no idea if this is a good plan or not.

Another thing I'm not sure about is whether I should ask him to go on a second date (we mentioned it but didn't set a date or anything) or wait for him to, or when should we even have it? We break up for Easter on the 28th March for a month and we live at opposite ends of the country.

I have never been in this situation before, I'm completely lost!

Relax, breath as the thing is don't get carried away, and don't get ahead of yourself. Actually you don't have to do anything unless you want to call and see what he is doing. He may have plans, he may not. But there is no hurry is there?

It was only a drink, and conversation but if you want a bowling buddy date, ask and see what happens.

He may not know how to bowl, or want to learn, or just not want to do it.
He may feel bad about not having any interests, and he may think he's a bumbling idiot, and you are the most wonderful and interesting woman in the world.
You have to find out!
Ask him out... poor guy. I have a feeling it's more the second idea than the first. Good, if you go out again, and give him some encouragement about himself.

He said bowling was a good idea so he does want a second date, I'm not sure when to ask him though; it's a bad time of year to start dating someone I think because when we get back to uni after Easter we have a 2 week exam period and then we have summer holiday until September. I'll probably see him on Tuesday in a lecture so hopefully we can work it out then; I've never been so unsure of what to do in my life! There should be a guide or handbook or something!

Well, if you ask me I think that you should approach this guy, if you really like him, because I don't think he will ever make a move, he might be just in the same situation like you.

Listen to me, you might have appeared like the one who is always busy to him, someone who is more social. That might be the reason why he might not ask you so you do it, of course if again you like him.

I don't think you like the guy enough to stress yourself. I think you like the idea of a guy to date. He shows some interest and did ask you out and it went well, so chill until you can talk and see what happens.

The whole purpose of dating is to have fun getting to know each other. Nobody knows what will happen after that. That's part of the fun if you ask me. So why worry, just date. Just be yourself and do what you do the way you do it.

Be open to other avenues of fun with other guys, and don't just get latched on to this guy. Kind of soon for that latching thing and may not be wise considering your dating experience.

When you see him in class, just say that you know this is a busy school time so maybe you can grab a coffee or lunch in the cafeteria? I was never a big fan of real dates myself when first getting to know someone. You need ways for quick exits, not just because something might go wrong, but also to calm down the anxiety. You could even joke about that.

I like the hang out buddy idea rather than a formal date thing myself. Much more relaxing and fun.

So should I invite him to hang out with me and my friends? It would be all girls except for him because there's a bit of tension with my guy friends (one of them told me he liked me and I had to let him down and its all a bit uneasy so putting them together would be a no-go).
Or should I just invite him to do the things I want to do but my friends won't? (Like bowling, because they all hate bowling but I'm a big fan.)
I'm such a worrisome person; if I don't have step by step instructions I'm terrified of doing everything wrong!

One on one is the way to keep things for now. We all get terrified in dating situation epecially new ones when we have no clue of how we feel, howthey feelor what's coming next.

I go back to my original suggestion, just relax and be yourself, and make it up as you go along. Never be afraid to try and fail, that's what learning your life lessons are about.

You will be fine.