No joke. As someone that has learned through experience the best thing you can do to get a girl interested in you is be fun, make yourself as attractive as possible (in as many ways as possible), be confident in that, and don't act interested them. Don't pretend to be something you're not, just be the best version of you. Don't try to go after people you have nothing in common with! Recipe for failure.
Also when they talk to you like a friend don't assume you have been friend zoned. They say they're interested in someone else, don't act like a ***** or confess your love. Tell them good luck seems like a cool person. Then act like you don't care and don't talk about it in detail.