I had to tell myself stories about numbers to make them make sense.

1 and 3 were two boys in class that both liked 4.

2 and 4 were two girls that both liked 6.

2 didn't like 7 (annoying boy) but they would hang out if 9 was around.

3 and 5 both had a crush on 8 but she was in the next grade.

Etc