Step 1: Have one of your friends pull her aside casually , say going to the bar to order drinks and make offhand comments about how attractive you are looking lately... get them to report back next day.
Step 2: Guage response - use for confidence boost
Step 3: talk to her about it. Be subtle, rather than bursting out with your undying love- say something like you feel your friendship deeply and have developed a bit of a crush. If she accepts the subtle, you can express more... if she passes it off you can safely retreat with minor bruising.
Step 4: post how it went and receive joy or hugs from us.
I used to hang with a group containing a couple of gay men, both of which got very close with me and ultimately confessed feelings for me. Though I didnt share their feelings, and turned them both down, we stayed equally as close as before, once their initial embarassment faded. What I am trying to say is if your close and she is lgbt friendly then she in all likelyhood wont freak out if you say you think you are falling for her. Its not as risky as a friend from a straight circle, see?
By the way, they thought I was gay because of my feminine mannerisms and thinking- maybe they got the point the night I spent one of their parties pashing an openly and feircely lesbian girl (while I was a boy- much to both our and everyone elses confusion.) Aaaaanyway, oversharing as usual...
Good luck!
