Ask a girl out from college, as a non-traditional student, but not risk friendship (long)

TL:DR I'm inexpierenced in relationships and don't know how to go forward with with a girl I so admire.

Just for the background basics I'm a 30 year old returning college student, after my stint in the Navy, and the girl is a senior I've know for about a year now, lab partners in chemistry classes.

Now for a bit more personal background stuff I have only ever had one previous girlfriend, and that was when I was 27... After a year and a half I broke it off and it ended bad. She emailed my parents all the sort of secrets you tell your partner in confidence and her taking out gay solicitation posts on my behalf on Craigslist for the following half a year. So I'm pretty much going into my current situation like a synical 18 year old.

So this girl I met and have become friends with would talk after class, you know the cliche hanging out in the hallway. It's now summer break and, through Facebook we chatted a bit after school ended, but because I'm socially awkward as hell we didn't msg for about a month. Last week, out of the blue, she asks if I want to go out for a beer.

Now during the spring, waiting for class I literally gave myself a panic attack because I was thinking about asking her out. I got so into my own head my hands started shaking and I had a hard time breathing and left the building, skipping class that day, that's how much girls can still completely freak me out. Fuck me right, I was on a submarine for 4 years in not so friendly waters but a girl I like can throw me into a panic attack. So her asking me out hit hard...in a good way

Anyway we met up last weekend for a couple drinks and spent about 5 hours just taking at the bar, which is good right? This girl is smart too and I the conversation we had was probably the most fun I have ever had. I'm a huge nerd, which with age I learned to totally embrace, and we talked about science and a ton of philosophy, she has a minor in it, and I just couldn't ask for a better way to spend time.

So now it's a few days later and she is all I think about. I don't even care if we date or anything, though if you couldn't tell I would love that, but even the friendship would make very happy.

My normal response to unfamiliar situations or problems is to study and learn everything about it. That's all well and good professionally and academically but doesn't work here and I'm lost.

I know I can get into my head and overthink too much but all that has led to is I either act on impulse or way overthink things, neither which is good.

After last weekend I sent her a msg the next day saying how much fun it was. A few days later she said, yeah, it was a blast and thanked me for coming out.

I want to try and play it cool as that is my normal demeanor but I also would like to show a bit that yeah I am interested.

I just start freaking out even thinking about being forward with how I feel and I know it's because how inexpierenced I am. I just feel stuck. Im terrified of coming off as some creep messengimg her too much trying to start conversation.

Where I'm at now, I'm thinking to try to get her out of my mind and leave her alone, not be a creep, and ask her out to some live music my sister performs at this weekend.

There are 18year olds more expierenced then me here so any advice is much appreciated. I just don't want to fuck this up.