aw man that sucks about that boy, but if your mutual friends all think highly of him and you have no reason to think he's only interested in sexual favors then maybe he's just as confused as you. maybe he's afraid you only think of him for things like that and nothing more and afraid to cause a rift by asking about another step since it's so much easier to keep a friendship healthy if it's casual. maybe I'm just speaking from my own wishful intentions but it sounds like you have a better chance of that being true for you than for me and the boy I'm wondering about. :(