What ifs...

I do not know what to do. I was ready to give up on my situation because of a convo I misinterpreted. Even if I didn't want. So then he feels like I don't put in enough effort and that I don't care enough. Which I understand because I've never came across someone I wanted to put effort into but I'm willing to try. But I don't want to put in effort just to be made a fool of but he's literally never done anything to me to make me so scared I just am. Every wall I have is up because of how much I like this guy. Should I just let everything go and put my all into it? What if it goes wrong? What if I get hurt? Because I don't think I'm strong enough to handle it.