I just found out about this phenomenon called the liking gap which is when someone meets a new person and then assumes that person didn’t like them, while they in fact did.
It’s really confusing because I was under the impression that neurotypicals know those things from their nonverbal communication. That’s what we, autistics, are constantly being told, aren’t we?
The other thing is that my ‘liking gap’ is the total opposite: I meet a new person, I think we get on, I told them all about my collection of trains (I don’t have collection of trains) and they listened without interrupting me for 45 minutes so they have to like me, don’t they? And then it turns out they’re avoiding me.
Or, possibly less dramatic: I am still getting invitations for events like birthdays and such but when people want to meet up over a cup of coffee, I’m never their first choice. Even if I didn’t mention my collection of trains. They may still meet up with me for one to one chat but only if everyone else is busy and they have nothing else to do.
Unless they’re trying to fix me. I used to have a colleague who was doing just that. She would be happy to meet up with me several times a week and every time she would tell me that I have to open up. It was before I realised I’m autistic. It must have been really hard work for her but I decided I can’t miss on that opportunity. Who knows, I thought? Possibly, with some effort on both sides, it could work out and I’ll finally be who my mum always wanted me to be. I will be ‘like other people’.
Autistic and me 
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