Does she like me? Or should I refrain from that state of mind?

Well im sure there is 1001 questions similar to this, but every person and circumstance is different. Basically some background, im male and I have a good freind who is female, typical ey? I’ve known her for years on and off, through friends, etc… But as of about 12 months ago, we started to hang out and at that stage I was only hoping to improve her lifestyle, she has had a history of drugs (not my thing, not once), has a great dad who unfortuanly due to a medical condidtion needs consistant care and a mother who thinks shes still 15, who kicked all her children out on there own as soon as they hit 14, and leads a very non-consiquencal lifestyle, so I took it onto myself to help her out (also she was going out with a guy, who was only taking advantage of her, and was a deadbeat, no job, no ambitions, 24/7 drugo). A bit furthur on, 3 months has passed, she had quit bongs all together, got rid of the bastard, and had a full time job (just a checkout chick, but better than nothing), and had the ambition of going back and finishing school… 10 months down hte track, fianlly applies to go back to school and starts attending… 12 months on which leads us to now, now throughout all this I tried just to be a positve influence and try to nudge her in hte right direction, which as much as id like to say it was me, she wouldnt have gotten to this stage without her own will to do so, and I have been very proud of her (starting to sound like her father here, haha) Now here is my delimer, I have always thought she was an attractive chick, shes always been a good person, despite her mistakes, but didnt think much of it till now, I dont typically associate with people of this background. And as the title gives away, im starting to feel more for her, than jsut a good freind, I think shes stunning whether shes jsut woken up and her hair is messed, to when she does dress up, she has the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen, and again I come back to past mistakes, but despite them is a very intelligent, loving and caring person. So you can already see my feelings for her, but I dont want to mess up the freindship, and I defiantly, dont want to push her away by “scaring” her, espcially if she starts to fall back into old habits, which im worried about and the main reason I worry, is because if im not her freind, I know som e of her old freinds and the only reason im not concerned at the moment is because she spends every second with me, between sleeping and her schooling. now all this leads to how she acts and possible signs.

1. She wants to see me ever day, and I’ve worked out its been about 73 days straight,that I have seen her and spent most of the evening, hanging out, watching movies or driving while listing to music (oh thats another thing, she loves hte same music)
2. Lately she has been showing up at my work close to closing and just waits for me to finish so we can hang out.
3. When we are doing whatever, she is always making physical contact, trying to tickle me, jsut generally messing about harmlessly. Now with that last one, she does have a very outgoing and “flirty” personallity which makes it hard to read any potential “signs” since its kind of who she is.

I jsut keeping typing and typing, so im sure theres some mistakes, I proberly sound like some 15yo, haha… Anyway I dont know if anyone can give advice, I cant ask her straight out, im afraid of losing her as a friend, and her falling into old habits, but I dont want to miss an oppertunity, but I need to be 90% certain.. We get along great, have some fun, do a lot together, but all things that good friends can do..

I dont know what else to say, if anyone can understand what im asking please give any advise, ask any questions you need to give me advice.

It would be appriciated

Thanks