u/Asleep-Selection-648

I need some advice. I've been thinking about asking out this girl whom I barely know.

TL;DR : Given what happened, should I just be direct and text her to ask her out on a casual date, or am I completely misreading her friendliness? What is my best next move?

Context:

I'm 21, in college, introverted, and not exactly the best at talking or expressing myself. And, of course, I overthink.

I've never had a relationship, nor had I asked a girl out before I mustered my courage and asked out a girl I had barely met in my classes. We went on some dates, and long story short, she told me she didn't like me, so things ended between us. That was about four months ago. It affected me, yes, but I realized it only hurt because it was my first time experiencing rejection.

For about the past two months or so, I have crossed paths with this girl ("Lora"), with whom last semester I had to redo a subject I failed.

I had never actually talked to her in the first place; one of her classmates, this guy ("David"), approached me and introduced me to their group.
Whenever I had this class, I would greet all of them.

Since I was a 3rd-year student and they were 2nd-year students, I offered them some materials through David to help them with some of the classes they had.

On the day I took the exam, it was with their class, and that's when it actually "hit me."

While we were waiting to enter the last part of the exam, we (the whole group) were talking and expressing things that we like, and singing.
I don't know exactly why, but I listened to her the whole time while she was talking and singing.

When we began the last part of the test, it was me and her left to finish.
After I passed, she just turned to me and said, "Congratulations, OP," while smiling at me.
I saw her with different eyes in that moment, not just as an acquaintance or a classmate.
I shrugged it off, thinking it was just too weird to think that, since at the time I had recently been rejected and was feeling down.

After that day, I didn't talk with any of them before this semester began.
I've crossed paths with them rarely, and we all would just say hi and talk for a short period.

One day, while I was walking to my class, I was tapped from behind. It was just her, Lora. I was lost; my mind was spinning. She was stunning. She got beside me and asked how I was doing and what I was up to.
While we were walking, she was talking about her day and how she had to go to this course where the professor was only asking her questions since she was the only one paying attention.
I didn't talk a lot; I mostly listened to her, and I couldn't think of much to say.
Once we arrived at the faculty, we said goodbye and that was it.

That same week, I ran into the group and played Truth or Dare. They asked if I wanted to play, and I said, "Sure."
At some point, I got the question, "How would you show you like someone?" I wasn't expecting a question like that, and I was overthinking in the moment. Because I was sitting NEXT TO HER (yes, I saw her and sat beside her), it was too much for me. I said, "I don't know, maybe ask that person questions about herself and learn about her."
Lora looked at me and said, "Oh, that's very cute." One person from the group started to tease her for saying "very cute" instead of just "cute" to me.
Guess what I was feeling? Yeah, that feeling from months ago.

And then there was a pause for like two weeks because of the Easter period. I started to think of her and still didn't know what I should do.

Going back to university after the holidays, I would see Lora like usual. I started to find her attractive even though I was seeing her so rarely.

I was still doubting myself and going back to overthinking, until I thought about just asking for her number. How did that turn out? I didn't get to talk to her alone, and I thought to myself that maybe I should just forget about it.We have different schedules, we barely know each other, and we rarely see each other.

Up until two days ago.
After finishing my class, I crossed paths with Lora and David. We said hi and started to talk.
Lora talked about a subject they hardly understand. I was familiar with the subject and offered to give them some materials.

She was hyped up and said, "Yeah please, that would be great. Can you send it to David... or send it to me? Do you want my number?"
I took her number, and we talked a bit before they went on their way.

Some hours later, I sent her the materials. She thanked me, and we just exchanged some emojis, and that's it.

Yeah, I was just rambling about what happened and what I thought about everything. I know I read too much into everything, and I overthought it.

I need some help.
Now what do I do?

I don't understand why, for so long, I have thought about everything I've described in this text. I want to do something, not just stand by, but at the same time, I don't know how to act.

I'm probably just attracted to how she looks, acts, and talks, and how I feel when I'm near her.

I want to know her, but I can't see a way. When I thought to ask for her number, I wanted it to be a pretext to ask her out.

My mind is in contradiction.

Maybe she was interested in me?

If I ask her out, I want to be direct. What stops me is not wanting to mess up or embarrass myself.

Am I really just imagining things, and has she just been nice to me all along?

Sorry for the yapping, and thanks for reading all of this "story."