How do i get out of the friend zone?

I've graduated 4rm high school and i've known this boy since freshmen yr. but i've nvr noticed him how i noticed him now until my senior yr. Our school is a small school and evry1 started to tell me its so obvious that i lyk'd him so i tried to tone dwn the things i did. As the yr. came to an end he found out i lyk'd him and started tlkn 2 me. As we started tlkn he tld me he lyk'd me and nvr noticed what a gr8 person i was and he wuld really love to go out with me bt he doesnt wnt to hve the same experience he had with his ex gf.note:(he knows that i've been in a bad relationship) n so he's like i know u n me dnt like to be played not saying u wuld do the same to me bt lets js b friends for now i dnt want to rush into it. He also said the stronger the friendship the better the relationship. I was always his friend since freshmen yr.So are we sorta 2gether? or are we jus nothing.