I 18m want to ask out my crush however it is very complicated

The girl who i am crushing on has just left a year and a half relationship where she was pretty badlyy hurt. whats worse is that this guy is an ex friend of mine. She wasnt on my radar before and i was just trying to help her feel better but i feel ive caught feelings and idk how to show them to her without it being weird. We'v eehung out 1:1 before and its been fine but i feel like she knows somethings up. any help would be appreciated.

What is the problem my man? Tell her the truth. And whatever happens let it be.

Hi Jim, After a year-and-a-half of being mostly treated badly (the ending was just the deneouement that you got to be privy to, not the whole shebang), it MIGHT BE A LIL BIT SOON, still ("Down, boy!, Sit, boy!, Gooood boy!..." lol). And after a year-and-a-half of being mostly dominated and made to feel the opposite of the truth - like shite on his shoe, unimportant, Not Enough, all of that - it'd probably be better to let her inch-by-inch catch on to the fact you have an INTEREST that is deepening (rather than an impending intention to act/pounce) so that she can feel that SHE is the one totally in-control this time (this case, over whether or not to consider you/proceed, and when), hence won't have to start avoiding you in case, pounce, is what you do. She'll have had enough of being pounced on. (Plus Healthy, EQUAL-partnered romances tend just to peter-out (usually into 'brother-sister'), not come to a loud and impactful head that leaves you injured.) Another consideration is that she might at this premature point take it badly, as in, feel somewhat misled and betrayed, as in, that you approached as a friend & supporter whereas, all along, secretly held a romantic-sexual agenda, meaning, pretended to give a shite, empathy-wise, and, pouncing on her when she was down, low on defensiveness, and still foggy-brained (i.e. not Compus Mentis therefore Not Fully Consensual...Coerced, even: 'Date me or lose the friendship!'...even if that's just her over-vigilance doing the thinking). Why would you want to build a foundation with her when she's injured anyway? It's got to be 50/50, so it's not likely she'll be capable of laying her half solidly, is it (limping, broken wrist - psychologically-speaking)? I would bide my time and thank Fate for the frankly enjoyable opportunity to stretch and tone your Patience and Endurance muscles. If this has been the situation that eventually comes to light, she'll be DEAD impressed and touched that you behaved like a true Gentleman as well as bestie and quasi-brother. When and why did he become your ex-friend? I'm guessing you realised his true colours? And you were just an arm's-length bystander, right? Imagine having been being strapped to him. She might be a bit traumatised, and that will make her skittish, snappy, suspicious...which would put her back and put you INTO that traction WITH her! 'All good things come to those who wait'. And from another angle: why not pimp your ride? Re-inflate her self-esteem and trust by giving her a sturdy handrail (being her reliable Constant) and then you - AND she - will get a better and longer performance. Conversely: 'Fool rush in where Angels fear to tread'. Another old but true saying - especially when trying to bag yourself a wild and skittish one: "Slowwwwwly, slooowwwly, catchee Monkey...". Read on the interweb about befriending and gaining trust of a Feral cat. FEED them and don't miss a single meal. If you have to - compensate by making the very next meal double the size. Same principle......just Wild in a different way (effing furious!). This will add masses of character and follow-on adult skills to you. Single sweetie versus a whole bagful? (insert Countdown muzak). You can be clever but natural about it, within the initial Bestie/Brother roles, however: Counter her self-belittlements ('my hair's shit and my nose is too crooked') with how you truthfully feel ('Says who!?' or 'Hardly?!', or 'Don't be silly - you're by far the prettiest woman I know!'). Are you getting the gist? Basically, her name ain't John or Trevor. Treat her like a Lady, as well as bear in mind that this could be your Best Gal Friend FOR-LIFE for all you know. Carefully does it - cos every bloke needs one of those, trust me! I feel very sorry for grown men who aren't part of the women's world. (Their loos don't stink for a start! Hahahaha).

"she'll be DEAD impressed and touched that you behaved like a true Gentleman as well as bestie and quasi-brother." Aka exert manly self-control (even in the face of serious temptation). After all, Self-Control is precisely what her ex and your ex-friend DIDN'T have/DIDN'T CARE ENOUGH to have, Big Fat Differential Eh! Seriously - all you have to do is just SHINE, brighter than he ever could. PS: 'We don't protect our women because they're weak, but because they're important'.