#17
by OmiSC
Love can be a bit of an ugly matter.
If whenever you see this girl you're in a public place or hanging out with other people, I would just ignore her. If you get the chance to talk to her in private, it would probably be best to be forward about how you do not feel the same towards her as she does to you. It's going to suck, but being blunt about the matter would help set her on the path to finding someone who will reciprocate her love. It'll also help her realize that there was never anything here for her anyway, and that her pursuit was really a fleeting dream (that nobody's to blame for except herself).
A good way to diffuse the situation would be to tell her that you're not interested in pursuing romance at this time in your life. Remember, you can't control her feelings for you and you can't be blamed for how she'll feel afterwards. If she's a reasonable person, she'll get over it and likely thank you for being direct later. If that isn't what happens - it's ultimately her problem and not yours.
TLDR: Ignore her advances in public, talk to her in private when you can but let her come to you. Do your best to be honest her, and don't over-think the problem. Not your problem in the end, and it's best for both of you to let her deal with the aftermath on her own.