<human>: Fair warning: this is going to be a bit rambly, but I'd really appreciate it if you read it and helped me out.

So there's this girl I like. I've had crushes before but this is the first time I've ever seriously considered asking anyone out.

I heard a rumor that she likes me too, and she's always really nice to me, and nothing about how she acts with me would indicate she *doesn't* like me. 

She's kinda shy like me, but really pretty and I'm scared if I wait too long she'll lose interest (assuming she had any in the first place).

I guess I should probably ask her out, but I would have no idea how to do that in the first place. And I'm worried about what our mutual friends would think if she rejected me. I've always avoided putting myself in vulnerable positions, which is partly why I've never dated before now.

She's also two or three years younger than me, and I don't know if that would be an issue or not.

I don't get to see her much in person, but we text quite a bit. I asked her to a movie the other day, never saying it was supposed to be a date because I'm to much of a coward, and she said she already had plans.

So,

Could you distill the essence of the text into 1-3 sentences?
<bot>: I like a girl. I think she might possibly maybe like me back. I have no idea how to tell her I like her or ask her out, as I've never done this before. Please, please help.