Well...This Is New - 67

Freshman me, two years ago, looked over at Paul, who was sitting just a few feet away on the weight room floor.
The previous day before I had noticed him, alone, not really sure who he could talk to. I knew what that felt like. And my heart, strongly, as if it had a voice of its own, told me I needed to talk to him.
So I had. Surprise had lit up his stark features, and then delight. He immediately grabbed on to my friendliness.
So the next day, I studied him. Really tried to figure him out. Lizzie had warned me he was incredibly annoying, and that's why no one liked him. My heart melted a little when I heard that.
He saw me looking at him, and smiled, mouth full of braces, in his Scooby Doo t-shirt and athletic shorts.
I felt nothing. No love, no adoration, no appreciation for how amazing he is. Just cautious friendliness to a boy that hadn't had any friends...until now.
"Alright, get to it," our gym teacher said. "Ten minutes of cardio."
Paul and I got up. He wouldn't leave my side.
"What ya wanna do?" He asked, smiling eagerly at me.
I smiled back, wondering if he had a crush on me.
"That would be creepy," I thought, looking at him. Not cute, too shy...yeah. I would never like this guy. I was only being a friend to someone who needed it.
Paul's eyes scanned the ellipticals, that were about triple times our size.
"Hey," he pointed. "I have an idea."
He led me to one of them, and gestured to the foot pedals.
"You go on one," he suggested. "And I'll go on the other."
"That's dangerous," I protested, folding my arms.
"Nah, trust me," he smiled.
So, carefully, I did.
We each climbed onto one pedal, and the teacher didn't even notice.
"So," he said softly. "Tell me about yourself."
"A-about me?" I asked.
"Yeah..." He looked away, shyly. "What's your family like?"
I told him about my sisters and brother.
"Your brother grew up with three sisters," he noticed. I blinked at him. "I grew up with four."
I gasped. "Four sisters? You're the only guy?"
"Yeah," he laughed.
He asked me questions, smiling politely, laughing. He'd tell funny stories and I'd laugh back. His face was bright, his eyes animated...

I stared at the new, size-fitting elliptical in front of me, tears of nostalgia in my eyes.
"Em?" Heather asked. "You alright?"
"Th-this brings back memories," I murmured. "A whole lot of memories..."