I really like this girl and she flirts with me a lot and we make jokes with each other and smile at each other. How can I tell if she is just being nice or if she is really interested in me? Is there any signs of this that I can pick up? Could I do anything to see if she likes me without asking her? I don't want to ask her straight up because we are close friends and I don't want it to be awkward between us if she is not interested in me.

It's really all about the color of shirts she wears. If she wears red, it means she likes you. If she wears gray, it means she hates you.

I kid, but in reality, there's no way to tell how a girl thinks. Worse, even if she TELLS you she feels one way, a girl could feel completely opposite of what she tells you. They're liars, psh.

Really, if you like her that much, then you should tell her. Worse case scenario, she doesn't feel the same way, and things are a little awkward between the two of you, but eventually things go back to the way they were (if you two are that good friends). Best case scenario, she'll tell you how she feels.

And if you're not too confident, you can always go to a mutual friend. That's a pretty good way to figure things out.

Well sadly mind reading hasn't been developed and we're limited to being human though... I promise though I'm working on it and as soon as I figure it out I'll tell the secret :D

Ask a friend. See if he sees the same signs you do. If you get really shy there's always sweet little notes like this one "I'm really shy and I really like you....- <your name here>"

Be honest and be yourself

This is a problem for me too, in not being so able grasp the meaning of some gestures on girls' part. I also think that most of them have double behavior standards. I really don't know whose fault it is, or maybe it is both.