Let's say it IS a fauxmance, then how best to manage it?
Confess a crush cutely. Go too fast in a drunken game of truth or dare. Scare him off. Have a think. Pine a bit. Make friends. Sing together. Let things progress. Make him fall despite himself... I think it could have legs, if she really is as adorable as she seem to be to the people who need to think she is adorable to get her the win. And if he can teach her something, Clueless style... They grow together. It gives him a story, because he isn't going to be with the Travis, Dion, Ryan group, not really.
There's worse things they could both do. If there is going to be a romance storyline, then this is the one, I guess.