These issues are alot easier when you have more confidence (which sadly, I am lacking in) and if you are able to be diplomatic as opposed to blunt. I mean, school kids can be naive enough and convinced when you try to ... bend the truth and being blunt and straight to the point which I am very good at doesn't seem to get you too far. IF you're confident, Cohort_Crusher then just go in for the kill. If you are a little less confident you could stalk/spy on her and if she says something like "You know, I really love such and such" and if it is you, you can pretty much go in for the kill. Of course, telling her you stalked her isn't very good. You could just say something like "For some reason you seem to feel quite close to me" or something their to hide the truth. If you aren't so confident then you can wait for them to ask you out but since you say she is shy you'd be waiting a long time.
Has she got nice knockers? I mean uhmm... is she a nice... uhmm... girl? Uh, yeah that's the one.
"...there's a difference between offering constructive criticism and going out of your way to be a dick." - Aro