I Need An Official Ruling On This One...

Ok, so say you meet someone in your bar of choice, get to talking and find that you enjoy each other's company. How long are you supposed to wait before you call someone who's given you their number once you decide you actually want to see them again? A day? Two days? A week? To add to the dilemma, how are you supposed to handle the situation if the person who gave you their number is the best friend of someone who's been blatantly flirting with you for the past couple weeks and seems to be working up to asking you out? What's the protocol here? Is there a universal you-snooze-you-lose policy that has to be observed? If you go out with one does that preempt the possibility of dating the other? Am I a complete gimp when it comes to dating? Should I finally quit talking about it and just become a nun? If so, do you think a habit would make me look fat?

Your input would be greatly appreciated...