He asks

"Tanya," Kyle starts and pauses to take a deep breath, "so, gosh this is hard to phrase, so before very recently did you ever have, like, you know, feelings for me?"

"Oh, of course, it's kinda hard to not have feelings toward other people."

"Right, but I mean, did you ever have a crush on me before Maggie and I...I mean, before the other night? Be honest."

Tanya starts laughing. "Oh, that kind of feelings. Um, yeah, no. I honestly don't know what's come over me but it's a real change. I really really like you now Kyle but back then..." she pauses "you grossed me out and I couldn't stand being in the same room with you."

Kyle flinches at the phrase and looks over the side at the workers still waiting for the part to arrive. Tanya's words hurt. "So never once? Not even before you started hanging out with the cheerleaders and cool kids."

Tanya shakes her head. "Honestly, I barely though about you when you weren't around. Even before high school. Like, remember my seventh-grade birthday party? I didn't want to invite you but my mom made me."

Kyle's lower lip trembles at the admission. It was the seventh-grade birthday party when Kyle first realized what having a crush on a girl might mean. He had thought, all of these years, that Tanya might have liked him, too. "Seriously? But you were so nice to me."

Tanya shakes her head and looks at the floor. She feels real bad seeing the way the words spilling out of her mouth are hurting this boy she has such a deep crush on, but she can't stop talking. "Again, that was all my mom. She knew you were the smartest kid in the class so pushed me to be nice to you thinking your smarts would rub off on me or something. I hated doing it and was so thankful when she stopped pushing me. Listen," Tanya says seeing a tear escape Kyle's eye. She takes his hand, "none of that matters now though. I've seen the light. It doesn't matter that you and Maggie are losers anymore. I want to be with you. I...I really, really like the two of you."

Kyle shakes his head. "But I want it to be real, Tanya. I want you to want me like I want you. For real."

Tanya doesn't understand. It feels completely real to her. Confusing, yes, but so very real. She squeezes his hand. "It is real, Kyle. Let's just forget about the past and be together now. I don't hate the thought of you being in the same room with me anymore."