I am a 17 year old high school student, who is... gay.. I love theatrical art with a passion. I was in the fall production of our school and there was this really cute guy in the play. He is two years younger than me. I sort of liked him when I first met him, but nothing too serious. We then became very good friends and we would have lunch together pretty much everyday. One day during rehearsal, he put his hands on my face and started to stroke my cheeks. I did the same to him, thinking he was just messing around, no big deal. But then he did a lot of other intimate things to me during the following weeks. Like, one day we were just chilling backstage in the dark where no one could see us, and he asked me to sit beside him and he rested his head on my shoulder. We also occasionally held hands, with fingers interlocked. When we stand beside each other he would always lean toward me. We would always stare at each other even if we stood far apart. One day at a party we both had some beverages and he was really drunk. He hugged me and told everyone that we were gay for each other. I sort of ignored it because I have no idea if he was serious, but I was soooo happy! And also I heard alcohol makes it easy to say something you don't have the courage to say, right?

I found myself madly in love with him and didn't know what to do. I was so sure that he felt the same way for me as well. I wrote him a love letter the week after the play was done. He texted me and told me that he "loved me as a friend, and always will". I was really depressed afterwards. I told myself I should fade out of his life, because a normal straight male would totally be creeped out if another guy confesses to him, right? But he reacted differently. We still text and talk to each other. We were in this other show together and I still find him looking at me all the time. He even grabbed my hand the other day, (after I confessed to him). All this made me really confused. If he were truly straight, wouldn't he try to avoid me, like any other straight guy would do, so he doesn't give me the false impression? My friends told me that he's just really confused about himself, because his parents are really strict and apparently he's been bullied a lot in junior high, people called him "fag". So maybe he's just feeling confused and insecure? Or maybe, like he said, he doesn't like me more than just a friend, he's just being nice? I am really confused and depressed right now. What should I do about this whole situation? Should I wait for him to come around?

You should wait for him to decide if he wants to be openly gay, straight, bi, or closeted. When you are 18 you will be an adult and might get into trouble being involved with any minor in such a way that adults could charge you with risk of injury or statutory rape even with consensual sex. I doubt that he is straight, but I'm not there. Keep your options open with theater and school and many friends. High school is not the place to be totally committed to one person. You told him how you feel (good) and he responded, so all you can do is take what he said at face value. 15 is a lot younger than 17 in many ways, and he may have deliberately decided not to have any serious relationships yet, especially with a senior.

Thank you very much for your help. :) Time will solve everything, I think I'll just move on with my life sooner or later.

And also I never thought of having sex with him, he's too young and innocent. I just want to be with him and keep a platonic relationship.

From what you are saying it seams like the guy likes you but is scared to express it publicly. Because when y'all were alone he was intimate with when no one was around. He could possibly be scared of what other people wold say. If he did as you friend said he has had ruff years in middle school. Talk to him about what you really feel when y'all are alone some time. If he was straight he would not have acted like he did and still does. Most not all but most straight guts would be freaked out and would never have a thing to do with you. Watch how you present yourself around him.
Make sure that your actions are not leading him on. And same for him. You watch how he acts around you in detail so you know you want be leading yourself on. As I have always said read the book in black and white before you make any decissions, or thoughts about someone. Sit back and just watch and let it play threw like a TV show would and just doing that might give you some answers