How do I (M17) ask a girl (F17) I’ve liked for six years out?

I’ve liked this girl since I was in 7th grade and she is a year younger than me. I’ve always thought she was super pretty and getting to know her a little over the years, I’ve really enjoyed talking with her. It’s been very on off because we don’t talk often but when we occasionally do, it’s always polite and I feel a sort of magnetism towards her. Today, I talked w her for a few minutes and it was the first time in several months. I felt the same admiration I felt for all these years when I talked w her and she kept staring at me kindly as well as we talked. I found out we have a lot in common because it just came up naturally. She seemed very invested in our convo and I kept getting lost in her eyes because she kept making eye contact.

I’m going to college next yr and she’s gonna be a senior in HS, so I don’t want any regrets. But I also don’t know if this is the right time to ask her because there are other opportunities that I might be able to talk with her. That being said, I have four months which is not a lot. I have work shifts on the weekends until 8 PM and get back from school around 7 PM to so it’s gonna be hard in the case she says she’d like to hang out.

I’d just really appreciate any advice you guys can give me right now because I’m lost. I really really like her and I want this relationship to grow naturally, but at the same time I’ve never had the courage to ask someone out and she’s the first person who I’ve felt incredibly attached to and emotionally invested in. I just don’t want to fray this friendship we have right now and I’m scared. I’m scared of rejection and, honestly, even the possibility That she says yes because I love deeply and want to give her my energy and time but know that will be super hard given my demanding schedule.