How can I overcome my shyness and talk to this girl? Options

[fever1]

There's this girl that I just moved my locker next to at school, and I really want to talk to her, but I'm way too shy. I think her and I talked once back in freshman year, but I could barely talk to her and I was embarrassed because I thought she thought I was weird. She's a beautiful, sweet, and cool person from what I know of her, but I'm still too shy to even say "Hi" because I think she will be freaked out.

How can I overcome my shyness and talk to the girl, and any advice on how I can keep the conversation going (such as stuff I can talk to her about, and transitioning different topics, etc.)?
I'm like this with most other people, but it's pretty much this girl that I have to most trouble with.
Thanks for the help.

[S-Majere]

Reidar, you crack me up.

But being all serious for the moment; shyness is a terrible infliction and should be overcome immediately. If you can't bring yourself to talk to this girl yet;

Practise on a few others.

Get a job in retail or customer service (works a treat).

Sit down in front of a mirror and run through scenarios with yourself.

Get to know her friends, what she likes, what her tastes are.

Ask her on a date to the cinema. It's corny, but it works.

Suck it up and go for it. If the Super Volcano beneath Yellowstone doesn't kill you, the resurgence of Bubonic Plague might - so live without shyness and go for it.