HELP! There's this boy...(WARNING!! LONG QUESTION!), (Same q, more details. ^_^) Options

[Dreamers]

There's this boy...(WARNING!! LONG QUESTION!)

About me
Age: 12
Grade: 6th
Gender: Female

About him

Age: 14
Grade: 8th
Gender: Male (duh!)

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Question and history
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Let's call the guy 'Joel'
Okay, well, 'Joel' is my brother's good friend. He comes over alot, he's funny, cute, etc. You probably already have it figured out. I really like the guy.
Now.. I'll tell you how he treats me and how he acts etc, and I want to see if you all think he likes me.

Joel really likes to poke me. He pokes others, even guys, but he pokes me the most. We get in little play fights, and when I'm sitting down, he'll often push me over and say 'rawr!' He basically loves to tease me. He never stops looking in my eyes when we talk... unless we started talking when he was playing his Nintendo DS..

At a Scholar Bowl (we're both on Scholar Bowl) match he sat next to me with other seats open. I'm on the JV team, and he's on Varsity. Joel was working the time machiene, and I had to sit next to him when coach put me in. I said 'Sorry dude, I'm squeezing in." He smiled and said he didn't mind. Then, there was a question he knew, he leaned over and said, "I knew that one" I replied "I know that Mr. Mythology." He glared at me, but he was trying to hold back a smile, I did the same. At any Scholar Bowl match he talks to me some. Sometimes he might talk to another person and everything...

Joel also seems to pop up where I am an awful lot. One day he popped up 3 times, and since we're in different grades, lunch periods, etc. that's unusual. I told him, "You've popped up an awful lot today!" He just smiled a little smile that sent the message he had a secret and said, "I can if I want to."
He ALWAYS has a smile when he greets me.

One time I was sitting on the couch, he'd spent the night and had just woken up. He came upstairs where I was to watch my bro play a game. (We were all in my brother's room) and sits down. Next thing I know, he's laying down with his feet toward me because he wanted to take a nap.

He pushed his feet into my side to get me to move, but I wouldn't budge, so he grabbed this little air gun thing and--using me as a foot rest-- he laughed like a maniac and began shooting it at my head. I didn't budge so he gave up.

Okay, here's where it gets serious. My pal thinks he likes me, and thinks we'd make a nice couple, my MOM thinks he likes me a little, and my brother says we'd make a cute couple!! Other people I've asked say he might, but I think he likes me as a little sister or something. I'm not the prettiest gal, so...

LAST THING!!- In public, like with girls his age around, he isn't as open with me, but when it's around guys and everything, he's really open with me. Today though, we were all walking out of the building (My brother, 'Joel', me, and a girl 'joel's' age who I think he likes). The girl and 'Joel' were talking then I looked back at him. I made eye contact with Joel, and he stopped almost midsentence, ran up to me and stuck his tongue out at me, I started the convo, and he followed immediatly. He gave me a nickname (crazy) too, but that's normal.

I think he likes me as a friend, but now for your opinion(s)...


PS- For people who think 'You have nothing in common' we both read, like Halo and Halo 2 (even though he's much better than I, we like similar music, being goofy, the color blue, and teasing one another. (That's very little, but we can make a civil conversation n everything!)

EDIT - I DO know there is a giant age difference. He said before he forgot I was a 6th grader, he thought I was a 7th grader so who knows? Maybe that counts for something too?

EDIT - It wasn't EXACTLY mid sentence when Joel was talking to the gal, but they were in the middle of a conversation. It was like he was about to say something to her, I heard the start of a word, I made eye contact with him, and he ran up, stuck his tongue out, and I started the convo. When ever we walk side by side, I-- more than 3/4 of the time-- Have to leave his side first.

Does that count for anything?