Is it normal that i'm intimidated by a crush

There is this amazingly beautiful and smart girl, she is about 4 inches shorter than me, in my grade, same age. She is super nice to everyone, she would hi 5 a druggie emo and talk to a "special" kid for hours to make them happy when most popular girls ignore them, she is in student government and into soccer and tennis. I can talk to her for a while then i freeze up like a deer in headlights when she smiles, and she always smiles around me (or is that just being nice?) i went crazy on a guy who said he would hit her unless she gave him her homework her but when she asked i denied being anywhere near that place. She could have any guy she wants but she is single and i need to work up the nerve but im afraid she will think im weird. never had this problem before i take rejection well. what should i do? my best friend says she will slap me till i ask the girl out but i think its too soon, hell a year would be too soon, so yeah is it normal to be like this? and what should i do?