I'm having really really terrible boy problems.?

okay, my best guy friend. we'll call him joe. okay so joe and me have been really close since fourth grade. ive liked him since then, and we're in eighth grade now. sure we've dated people, not for long though, but never each other. but now, i feel deeply in love with him. i'm not just infatuated, really, i'm not. we've been friends since the first grade. we talk every day, and he knows i like him. he flirts with me often, and he makes me laugh. every time we make eye contact i feel a rush wipe over me. like for instance, in band cl, we always make eye contact. just for a quick second, and then look down. i get instant erflies. but anyways, whenever my friends talk to him he always says he doesn'tt want to date me. i don't know how to get him to like me more, or what to say. please help on what to do. i've been crying likeseverelyly for this whole year so far because of this. is he playing me, or do i need to get over him. because i really do feel a connection with him, and he tells me he likes me. i dont know how to get over him, because i want him so bad. more then anything. please help me on what to do :[