Friends ex asking me out

[Justaguy1234]

17m high school. Never had a relationship. Little bit of background knowledge, "Bill" and "Sara" dated for over a year and a half. I was never close with either of them, but we talked occasionally. They broke up on good terms at the end of last year. Then they spread rumors about eachother and now they dont like eachother or talk at all. At the begginning of the semester, Sara was looking for a ride home. I offerred, since I thought she lived near me (a bit further than I thought) and I kind of liked her. I drove her home around 3 days a week for about 2 months. We talked alot, I felt that I could be my true self around her and I didnt have to fake anything. I like her and think shes a good person. I occassionaly talk to bill in a group chat. Then bill convinces me im being a simp and shes using me for a free ride home. I take his advice and start making up excuses about not being able to drive sara home. I was thinking about asking her out, but thought she was using me. She eventually stops asking and starts driving herself. This was good cause it saved me around 15 minutes a day. We still talk, we have same class and adjacent lockers. Since then, Bill and I have been growing closer, and Sara and I have been drifting further apart. A couple weeks after, sara asks me to coffee. I wholeheartedly didnt see it until too late, so i said another time. The next day she hints at it, I was too caught up with studying for a math test to care. I kind of forget about it/get caught up in other things, kind of dont care. My feelings for her have been on and off, I like her as a person, shes very nice and accepts the true me. I thought she was very attractive about a year ago, however recently she has gotten lots of ackney which makes her less attractive. Anyways since then I have joined a sports team, hung out on the weekends at a friends house and started working out daily with her ex, bill. I guess the main reason I didnt ask her out again was because I didnt want to start problems with bill, so i just didnt think about it. They both say they are over each other, but bill talks about her alot. Past experiences and bad things. A week or two ago, bill gave me the go ahead to date her, I said I probably wouldnt anyways. Last friday, she asked me out for lunch. I was genuinley busy, or else I probably would have gone. I offered to go this week. She said yes. Problem is, now I am good friends with bill, and I dont want to hurt our friendship. I told bill i wouldnt go out with her because it would be weird, to test the waters. He said "why" . But today he said him and his friends were gonna jump her next boyfriend. A joke, but shows hes not completley over her. Pretty much I want advice on what to do, and soon. I value my friendship with bill more than a relationship with sara , however I like sara and how she understands me. I do want to go out with sara, but i think it would end badly. Now ive lead sara on, and if i tell her because im friends with , i think she'll think im under bills control. Should i ask out sara? And if not how should I reject her after leading her on.

[d0nnivain]

Sara likes you. Bill said it's OK for you to go out with Sara. You liked her until you started basing your opinion of Sara on Bill's comments. Bill was the one who told you Sara was using you. I don't think she was. I think she was hoping that the time you two spent together would encourage you to ask her out. Although you probably won't ever do things with Bill & Sara together I see no impediments to you dating Sara if that is what you want to do. Don't reject her just because of Bill. Date her or don't based on how you feel about her.

[Justaguy1234]

Sara likes you. Bill said it's OK for you to go out with Sara. You liked her until you started basing your opinion of Sara on Bill's comments. Bill was the one who told you Sara was using you. I don't think she was. I think she was hoping that the time you two spent together would encourage you to ask her out. Although you probably won't ever do things with Bill & Sara together I see no impediments to you dating Sara if that is what you want to do. Don't reject her just because of Bill. Date her or don't based on how you feel about her.

I realize that she probably wasnt using me for the ride home and legitematley wanted to get closer to me because she liked me. Problem is im really good friends with bill now and he was dating sara for over a year. He says hes over it but i can tell hes not. He still talks about a lot. Not about how much he likes her but like "me and sara used to do this". I know he still has a connection to her and I dont want to break our friendship. Im not in love with this girl and I dont reallly really like her or something, or else I would have asked her out or went out with her right after she asked me the first time. I just think she is a good person, that I would go on a date with, but I dont think that its worth the consequences it would have on bill and I's friendship.