Met a girl in a grocery store a year ago. She was extremely outgoing and cute so I took her number down. I took her out on one date and nothing ever came out of it because she was too young. Now, she's 18, I'm 21. She's very mature for her age.

It's a year later and I helped her snag a job at my restaurant I work at.

She broke up a 2 month relationship with a boyfriend about 2 weeks ago, so I've been keeping it casual. The first week working, she's extremely flirtatious, giving sexy looks and smiles. She rates me a 10 for being "attractive, in-shape, confident, funny, and having a great personality." She slaps /pinches my butt frequently at work or every time we greet with a hug. Randomly throughout the night she'll slap my butt. Occasionally I'll do it back to her. (She doesn't get upset)

But, she meets "John", a coworker of mine. She follows "John" around like a puppy dog and tries to say something to him every time he walks by. She tells me she likes "John" one day, but then the next she says he's too childish.

I feel like I'm bordering the friendzone and want to make sure I don't get placed in to it.

What confuses me, is she tells me she wants a guy that's not easy. A challenge. She says that "John" is "too easy". ("John" already kissed her on the neck after only knowing her for a week) She'll sometimes say things that are suggestive to me, makes me think she likes me.. but let's say she says she wants to go home and watch a movie, and I say something like, "Why don't we watch it together" she just says "Nah" nonchalantly. It's like a game she plays.

"John" tells me she said "I kind of like him(me), but it seems like we're more friends." How do I stay out of that?
I give her rides home every night, perhaps I have a chance to do something there?