Looking back, it was kind of stupid that I was scared to talk to her. She also happened to be one of the nicest people in the world.
Funny thing is, she went on to become a nurse. Between first and second years of medical school, we had to do a primary care practicum for a month with a primary care doc. I chose to go back to my hometown, so we could spend time with family while finishing a requirement. I go in the first day, and who is the doc's nurse? Brenda P! Actually, Brenda B now. And she still looked just like she did in HS. And I still got all tongue tied whenever I was around her, even though I was married with a kid by then. Never did tell her why I ended up in medical school. Probably would be funny to tell her about it, all these years later.