dating but not dating? ((need advice))

i’m talking to this guy and he’s the sweetest, fittest and cutest person i’ve ever met but like there’s an issue. ok so we’re not dating but we’ve been talking for 7 months as if we were a couple, meaning that we go through phases where he treats me super sweetly and like ”his girl” ((as other people describe it)) but then occasionally past 11pm he’ll want sex or to come over and “chill”.

i like him, he likes me, we aren’t dating but we act like we are? like a couple of weeks ago he asked what we are and i told him that it’s up to him because he knows that i like him and he told me he doesn’t want a relationship at the moment but he also doesn’t want me to date or talk to anyone else because he likes what we are so i’m really confused? ((also for reference he’s 17 and i’m 16 so we’re a grade apart))

i’m lost because i really like him but i don’t necessarily want to be his “hoe” if we aren’t dating. multiple people have told me that he smiles when i text him and that he always talks about me as if we are dating. know he has other hoes and he told me he doesn’t have a problem dropping them if we are going to be a serious thing but now he told me he wants to wait.

he’s a football player and at i’m a cheerleader and at school once i heard him shout out “THAT’S MY GIRL” ((my friend got it on video too and i completely melt when i hear it)). ugh i don’t want to lose him but i also don’t want him to find someone better than me. what do i do? advice is appreciate.