Possible relationship? (pretty lengthy story)

I don't really like "getting to the point", because I'm that type of person that explains a lot, but I'll try my best to keep it relevant. Anyway:

Well I guess I'll start off by saying that there's this girl that I met at my college just last semester in the Spring. We both took an English class during that time, and I had taken the same professor because I liked her teaching style back when I took the previous English in the fall. So being familiar with the class, my professor would go on different occasions telling the class about how the papers that I wrote in the previous semester were good quality. My professor would ask me questions about Japan and what I knew about it, pretty much spreading my interest in the class. I wrote mostly about Japanese culture and how it inspired me, and which it still does. So even though while I'm not the most social guy, my "culture/personality"(for lack of better terms) spread throughout the class. Then one day, this girl tells me in class how interesting it was that I knew so much about Japanese culture, and our friendship pretty much sprouted from there.

I continued to talk to her and text her throughout the semester, but the problem arose when she would continuously flake out invitations to anywhere I suggested. She would embrace the idea and say "sure! that sounds like a lot of fun!", then when an hour or two before I pick her up, I ask her if she's ready, and she says "I'm sorry, I'm not going" or this one time, she actually said quote: "I cannot go! I cant I cant!!". She would never tell me why she couldn't, but I would try to understand if she had something like family problems.

Stupid me, I actually confessed my feelings for her (I'd say I did this about 2 months ago), and I told her that those feelings were diminishing because of the constant declining of hanging out with me. And she politely declined saying that she was not into anyone.

Well just about a week ago, with perfect timing, she opened up completely. I asked her how she was doing, and she told me that her ex boyfriend had told her he wanted to be just friends, and she was feeling crappy. She had to work in an hour when she said this, so she made time, and her and I talked later that day. She said that she had known this guy for a little more than 2 years, and they were in a relationship for a little under 2 years. Well apparently about a year ago, she had made a mistake by partying too much, and actually cheated on him, which broke the trust between them. The relationship was wobbly mostly because her ex boyfriend had a hard time trusting her, then eventually broke up around the time that we started our spring college courses 5 months ago. She said both of them were "on and off" in the relationship during this period(pretty much when I first met her in class) until about a week ago.

Now I have to tell you that her ex boyfriend and I are very similar. I've not met him before, but based on what she said, her ex's and my interests are similar; interests such as Japanese culture, kind of shy (not completely an awkward person), clean person, etc.

I really want to help her in times like these, and I do know that it shouldn't be rushed, but I can't exactly hold off my feelings for her. She said that her ex did not do anything wrong, and she tried her best to revive her Trust between them - mostly by pampering him with money by buying him things and having talks. That's why she flaked out - because she felt bad hanging out with other guys since she was trying to win back her ex.

A little bit about me, I'm into physics and philosophy while majoring in Electrical engineering.

Throughout last semester, we have had discussions on life, philosophy, and psychology. We had talks at school about various things such as religion - or lack thereof; going into the possibilities on what's out in space - and I've even given her a personality test, which it turned out to be accurate. Pretty much things that make the mind wonder about things in life.

When we had that discussion last week where she completely opened up, she said quote: "you know, I think I really need you in my life". So I was thinking that there's a strong connection already. Also mind you that we had talked on the phone for two hours straight that night.

I'm just looking for any advice on how I can pursue things, take any necessary precautions, what to look out for and what not to do, etc. And since you've gotten this far down the thread, I want appreciate you guys for reading all of this, lol. Any ideas?

 

Hey mate, I'm not great when it comes to relationships but I thought I would try to give you some advice so you're not just sitting here wondering why people are reading it and not commenting...

When she said quote: "you know, I think I really need you in my life". To me that sounds like she is friend zoning you. Might not be true but you will defiantly need to be careful on how you approach things from here on out if you want this to actually go somewhere. As you said quote: "Now I have to tell you that her ex boyfriend and I are very similar". If you do end up in a relationship with her then you need to be careful about this as well and not end up like him in a wobbly relationship. All though to me it seems that you are already in a wobbly relationship...

Now I'm not sure if I have actually given anything useful or anything at all for that matter... I'm just telling you how it looks from my perspective..

 

Haha I agree you don't get to the point tha fast

Anyway, just ask her out dude, as soon as she said "I really need you in my life" that roughly translates to "I want you in my pants".

Ask her out and go out somewhere

 

I have to remind you that she had strong feelings for her ex, and up until now, she was trying to win him back. As of now, she's in a state of seclusion. Basically she's shunning many people in her life right now to deal with her summer job and summer classes. I've decided to give her some space before delving into this anymore, because it seems as if she's dealing with a lot right now. Thanks guys.

 

Hhhmmm if she wants he boyfriend back so much I'd stay away from her.
I'd actually change my advice and saw you're doing the right thing by giving her some space.

 

I agree with Shoop and Shuix.

Ask her out, but the "I really need you in my life" does sound like you're being friend zoned, personally. Ask her out. If she says no, move on man.