A few thoughts/questions that are spinning around in my head:

A) Do I avoid this altogether due to us having several mutual friends?

B) It's not clear to me that she likes me in that way. She is not the flirty type, but she is friendly via text.

C) We live in different towns a couple hours apart. I visit the town that she and a bunch of my friends live in at least once a month.

D) What are general practices to keep in mind when telling her I want to take her out so that if she rejects me it doesn't make things awkward when we inevitably find ourselves partying in the same group of friends one day in the future?

Looking for your thoughts or any TRP reading about asking out a girl that you're friends with and who is only one degree removed from your social group, even if that reading/advice is: Don't fucking waste your time.