<human>: So for a while now I've been crushing on one of my close friends. Even my mom would say I'm in love with her because I'm so interested in her, though I don't know if its love considering I'm only 15 and she is only 16. Anyhow, we have spent a great deal of time together over the past few months, she even accepted my request at attending homecoming with me.  
  
However, I don't know if I've simply become a close friend to her or if she is really interested in me. My family who knows her would swear she feels the same about me as I do about her. Over the summer I had even asked if she was interested in me, though we were both dating other people, and she said she was but didn't think I was interested in her.  
  
We share many common interests and are together quite often, the last time being when she invited me to attend her family's bonfire for New Years. I've wanted to ask her out for a long time now, but I will admit I have a fear of rejection and have much doubt in myself. And I am known for being oblivious to when a girl likes me. I don't know how obvious it is to her that I like her, but I haven't noticed many signs that she feels the same. For instance, not long ago she told about how she thought a guy was cute that we saw in a music shop when we were browsing around. This kind of thing greatly discourages me.  
  
I know much advice I'm likely to recieve is man up and ask her out if you want to find out how she feels, but my fear of rejection and lack of knowledge in the relationship area, me not wanting to mess up a relationship with her, prevent me from doing so.

Can you provide a brief rundown of the text in within 3 sentences?
<bot>: I like a close friend of mine but can't tell if she feels the same. I'm afraid to ask her out and need help or advice.