Chasing after a friend

3 years ago, I met a girl (I shall call her chastity) I have called called my dear friend. The thing is, I have always had immense feelings for this girl. To spare some details, about a year and a half ago, I set her up with my best friend at the time. They dated for about 7 months, then broke up, then got back together for about 5 months. He broke up with her to get with the ex of our mutual good friend a week after she broke up with our friend. About 2 months ago, I had to tell chastity about this whole situation. Not long after, I admitted that I have such feelings for her, and she said she knew all along. She said she had kind of thought about us in the past and needed time to think about things. She subsequently went to Europe for 5 weeks and now she is back. My big question is, should I chase her? I really care about this girl, and I have harped over her for almost 3 years. I don't want to lose her as a friend, but I know I feel so much more for her than I do for anyone I would fittingly call a friend. It would suck not to have her in my life, but I also feel like not taking a chance would just suck in its own way.

If you think she's worth it then go for it. Go after her but give yourself a limit. Also prepare yourself for the outcome. You have to be able to accept the fact if she decided to just want to be friends with you. Good friends are hard to come by and if that's all there is to it then you must accept it. But that will require learning how to distance yourself so you're feelings won't get hurt in the process.