HELP :
My best friend likes me, and everyones like "ZOMG, MOUSE YOU TOTALLY LIKE HIM" which, I do, I love the guy to death, just not.like.that. but if they keep giving him the wrong idea, he either might :
Get upset because he KNOWS who my crush is
OR
Start thinking that I dont really like my crush, that I really do like him.
The sad part is, is my BEST friends think "Well..of course you like him, you guys talked on the phone for 3 hours until 11PM!" "..that..was a 1 time thing." "but still"
Im afraid hes SERIOUSLY gonna ask me out eventually, and I wont know what to say because he is my best friend, and if i tell him "Im sorry I just dont like you like that", then its like "GO JUMP OFF A CLIFF AND DIE", because that takes guts becaue of how tightly knit we are. :/
I seriously cant hurt his feelings.
We made up a joke of " Hey lover" but sometimes he takes it seriously, and he has already sent me 5 texts with "<3 you babe" "Luv yuh

" (or something like that) and like whenever I text him a "goodbye" i always put "Loooveee youuu xD" AND he knows I joke, because its an insider. I know hes
NOT joking though.
Then, I get questions from my friends "Why dont you like him back?"
Like I seriously dont know why he isnt my crush. I sometimes wonder "why is my crush my crush? I know he isnt a 'prettyboy' and he isnt popular...I spend at least 14 times MORE with this guy, then I do my crush.."
I got a text from one of my gal-pals and it said "Hey...would you ever go out with *insert friends name in here*" and I literally replied back with "Im not sure. I cant say NEVER, but I cant say 'YES' "
Then my OTHER friends (not as close) said "EW. Why would you like him though? Isnt it obvious??? You dont like him because hes ugly" thats not true, hes not ugly...I dont know how you would describe ugly, but to me it doesnt make a differance. HONESTLY. It doesnt. Any crush ive EVER had is "ugly", but him? Hes just not my crush.
I dont get butterflys, or I dont feel...welcomed(?)
Its all so confusing.
I cant imagine what reading that post must be like.
:/
It never leaves me alone, because I feel so bad about it.