relationship help

Queen
So there's this boy .. we knew each other for 4 yrs.. argued like a couple for half a year when we first met but were the best of friends and I've always had a crush on him but he dubbed me Many times .. he's been locked up (2 times) and always called me and we'd talk on the phone about how he needa stop and he needs to think about his future blah blah blah.. so recently he told me that , He likes and that he made a stupid mistake in not trying to talk to me before .. we talk now but we don't wanna ruin our friendship if we do date and break up .. Btw he's 17 and I'm 16