Search Results: confused by a girl

So I was texting a girl I like the day before yesterday and we talked about dating apps. A little context about us: I started developing feelings for her during our last year in highschool. I told her this some time ago and she was sweet about it. I didn't tell her in a flirty way or anything, so I'm pretty sure she doesn't know I still like her. Anyways, she told me she downloaded Hinge (wee woo, I know, bad news for me). She then continued to criticize her appearance, to which I replied that if she doesn't have a chance, I have absolutely none at all (just a joke to make her feel better about herself). She thought I meant that I had no chance at dating her. I replied that I meant dating in general, but that I probably had no chance with her back in highschool because she wasn't interested in me anyways (all of this was said in a jokingly way, not anything dramatic or serious). To my surprise, she said: "Well, I didn't know you were interested in me back then". I replied: "I'm confused now, did you have feelings for me?". She answered: "Well, I never thought about it. Not about anyone in school actually. I think everyone thought I was weird". After this, she said she only downloaded Hinge to see who was in her area and that there was nothing more to it. We continued on the topic of how weird our school was. That was our entire conversation. So yeah I'm very confused by these mixed signals. What do you think?

https://www.maxim.com/maxim-man/men-who-have-girlfriends-are-hotter-2018-1/

So after reading a few articles like this one apparently women find taken men more attractive because "When a man is chosen as potential partner by someone, it tends to mean he is “higher quality” than all the other dudes who are single. Clearly, he has some endearing qualities that appealed to his girlfriend, which makes other women around take notice and want to be with him as well."

This article quotes from a study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-19770-8 which finds that men who have girlfriends receive something called an “attractiveness boost” and are suddenly perceived as hotter than they’d normally be.

“Women in our study found men’s faces more attractive if other women had given that face high ratings. But the same goes for pictures of abstract artworks... Women appear to copy the mate preferences of other women, but this might simply be because humans have a general tendency to be influenced by the opinions of others.”

So in any case, girls have you found taken men more attractive than single men? And guys have you noticed women noticing you more when you are taken?

I gotta say that in my last relationship i definitely noticed women being friendlier with me. i don't know if thats attraction or maybe im 'safer' to talk to now? i dunno man lol. human behavior is interesting and confusing at the same time.

Keep in mind im just talking about attraction. im not talking about if you'd actually do anything about the attraction such as cheating or something. JUST attraction.