Ladies, perhaps some of you can explain this to me.

Last Friday, I asked a friend of mine if she would like to go to Borders with me. Our particular Borders has a Starbucks attached to it, so, I figured it'd be nice to catch up on each others lives over a few cups of coffee. She said that she had somethings to do during the time I asked her about, so, I said that we would hang out another time. I really like this girl, but I don't want to wear my heart on my sleeve, you know? Anyway, I am digressing.

I went to the Borders anyway, seeing as how I like to sit and read in a relaxing place. I bought a Garfield book, paid for it, and got myself some coffee. I sat in the Starbucks and read the book, and maybe 20 minutes into it, I happened to look up. I saw the girl I was asking to come with me that night, and she was with another guy, and they looked fairly happy, or serious. I'm old fashioned, and I don't really assume a whole lot. But at that moment, I realized the phrase "Maybe we could go out for some coffee" was officially the equivalent of holding a pin-less grenade.

That sucks and is something we all experience at least once Its all part of growing

Sounds like she said no to you because she's into someone else.
Strange that she would go to Borders that same night though.
You should probably refrain from asking this girl out again until she's available.
Just be friends for now, and tell her about other girls you like, make it up if you have to.

Hun, you are territorial, without
the right to be.

Maybe her showing up with another guy was a nonverbal way of telling you that she just wants to be (sorry for this) friends with you and she didn't know how to come right out and say it. If you want to hang out with her, tell her that a few of your friends are meeting at a diner for lunch and would she like to join you...and make sure you bring a friend or two along, so she can see it isn't a date, but make sure you pay a little more attention to her so she knows you are willing to be friends. Who knows what will happen if she does become available...