I don't know if it was the show's goal to make it as creepy and one-sided as it really was, or the creator thought this was as genuine as it gets.
I mean, he eventually does befriend her (in an acquaintance sort of way), but even then, he's constantly learning new things about her; he doesn't know her at all. Nor does he even make any effort to do so.
The romance was basically: Shy awkward new kid sees a pretty girl and instantly falls in love when she does one nice thing for him.
I want to say Patti was piqued at least once with their date and whatnot, but unlike Doug (who never notices anything), she knew it was a lost cause after that. But Doug only continues his insane one-sided infatuation with a girl he knows almost nothing about, and has virtually nothing in common with.
Why fans root for this sort of hook up unironically is disturbing.
If Patti wound up with anyone from the series, it was Chalky. The other conceited sports maniac.