Me and my bestfriend have been the closest

Me and my bestfriend have been the closest for almost exactly a year now. I'm a girl, he's a boy, and I could never ask for anyone else to be my bestfriend. we're like Spongebob and Patrick. The thing about it is, I think I like him. He weirdly glances at me a lot. He always slows down in front of my desk. He always wants me to walk him to class. He always lays his head on my shoulder or my lap (not as awkward as it might sound). Every time someone brings up something that has to do with couples, he waits to see what I think about it. We're always always hanging out so about 2 or more times a day I get asked if I like him, if I think he's cute, vice versa, so and so. I'm mostly scared of rejection, and for some reason I just want him to know with out anything changing. It won't be the same anymore. Sorry. I honestly just need someone to vent to, who will vent back what they think. There's some cons of being bestfriends with a boy. They don't always give useful love advice.