What's your opinion on a girl asking a guy out?

There is a dance at the end of the year, called 8th Grade Formal. I like this guy, but most of his friends just use him for popularity. He asked out tons of girls to formal that rejected him. I wanted to ask him to formal, but got too scared then eventually a girl said yes to his offer. But unfortunately dumped him after two weeks or so. I felt bad, but a little happy on the inside. I want to ask him to formal, but I’m afraid he will see me as desperate. We have connections class together, and barely talk outside of that. What do you think of a girl asking a guy out?