How do I become just friends?

I work at the mall and there's this girl there who is absolutely gorgeous but not only that....she's smart, funny, and has a good head on her shoulders. Me, I've had up and down times in my life. My dad was in the ARMY so I never really had any great people skills due to all of our moving. When we finally moved to Indiana I actually made a ton of friends and was looking forward to a great life but over the past few years the changed me and made become something I can't change and then they ditched me. I feel like I'm snared up in their trap and can't get out. I can't remember how I made friends the way I did back then. Back to the girl thing, she makes me want to be a better person, she's everything I dreamed of in a girl and I want to talk to her and just be friends first because I don't want to scare her away because I REALLY like her. How can I talk to her without it sounding like I'm flirting. I always think of things to say then she comes around and I completely forget.