Talking to a girl after a long time

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I recently moved from my home to another city for 6 months, and returned home about 5 months ago.
I'm excellent at missing the fact that I am being hit on or the other person is interested in me in a much more than a friendly level. So before I moved, this girl used to chat me up nearly every day, and though I did not pick it up at the time, she wanted a relationship with me and was even comfortable with it being long distance if I was. I know all this because others, including my sister(who she's good friends with), have pointed out the obvious to me.
I've known this girl for many years and have always been interested in her, and her in me.
However, I haven't talked to her in the past 5 months even after having met her a dozen times, and it seems that me not reciprocating was taken as a sign of disinterest by her. She asked me once if I was ignoring her, and I just didn't reply and went away, which in hindsight wasn't the best thing to do.
However, now I am stuck up on her, and I want to get it over with. I want to ask her out and either date her or get rejected, but at least I wanna know that I gave it my best shot.
The problem is, groups bring out the best of social phobia in me, and whenever I see her, she's usually part of a group of people who either are immature and would go around spreading rumors even if I just asked her aside for a moment, or groups of people who I do not know and am afraid of getting in between of their conversation. Another problem is I do not know how to approach someone who is talking to a group of people without being rude.
Also, I do not know how I would start the conversation since its been so long, because once I've talked to her on a couple different occasions, then I believe I can ask her out no matter how much shaking is involved.
I've never had a girlfriend and have never gone out with a girl before, and she seems like a really nice lady. She used to be very freakin much interested in me and clearly wanted to go out with me, however, I seem to have screwed it up and want to fix it, and eventually date her.
I need some advice for achieving this, and any advice would be welcome.

EDIT : I thought some important information was left out, so just filling it in. We both are 16, and there's also a slight problem. She *might* already have a boyfriend, I am not sure, but I heard it from an uncredible source and am not sure of how to confirm that.

I'm a horrible person to give advice but being honest is usually the best way/
Asking if she was hitting on you if she says yes tell you you feel stupid bc u didnt notice until she moved if she says no tell her u were lonely after the move and thought of her which made you think of her in a new way.
If trying is more important to u than a possible rejection honesty is ur best bet and if shes in a relationship and says no u might be her rebound.