@brianq,
When you put people on pedestals and don't really interact with them for more than one purpose (to see whether they like you), it's no wonder that they're confusing. When you lump over 3 billion people together based on a tiny sample, it's no wonder they're confusing.
Have a conversation with her. Not to get a confession out of her and for God's sake not to confess to her.
Confessions of feelings with no background to them are creepy. Full stop.
Never, ever do this.
Here are some alternatives.
"Hi, ___, did you get the homework?"
"Hi, ___, did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?"
"Hi, ___, that test was the worst! How do you think you did?"
"Hi, ___, you want to get a soda later?"
There ya go.
No deep confessions. No stalking. No guessing games as to who feels what. No trying to read the tea leaves. No listening to rumors (don't listen to rumors).