When i met my "longest" ex i was 18 yo. We just met at some party (not like club, just friend of a friend) and it was smooth from the beginning. My wife and i met at work(i was 20 at the time), i own a company, we were a contractor for their company and i saw her and got her business card, after couple of days of no sleep, i broke up with my gf and called my future wife (it was terrifying) and asked her out. I know it sounds stupid like some doctor would say - "you overthinking it", but sometimes its true. If you scared of someone laughing at you for stuttering - they don't deserve your time at all, thats the reason i don't speak or communicate with my school "friends", there is better people in your life.