<human>: I'm currently in high school and I have known a certain friend for a few years now. We walk to classes together and sit by each other sometimes but when we talk our conversations never seem meaningful. I notice when he talks to his other friends he's able to laugh, mess around, or look like he's having a good time but when he's around me, any sort of laughter, when there is any, sometimes seems forced. I noticed that I have to be the one to start the conversations to get him to talk versus when he talks to his other friends he's able to start conversations first. 

Now that I start to think about it, I really don't know that much about him personally. I don't know what he likes to do in his free time or what he even does with most of his time. I only a few of his interests.

So in conclusion, what I'm asking is what could I do and how should I act in general become closer friends with someone? How can I get him to act around me as he acts around others? I feel as though asking him direct questions about his personal life or interests would make things really awkward. I want to be able to have more of a personal connection with this friend as he does with his other friends.

Condense the text into a few key points
<bot>: I want to know how to have more of a personal connection wit a friend. I feel like we barely know each other and I want to change that.