GUYS & GIRLS-- why is he so confusing..(really long story)?

Im really sorry its super long but this whole thing is really complicated. So I've liked this guy since feb & he knows. Im gonna be a senior & he's going to college 2 hrs away. He's only ever had 2 gf & is a flirty, sweet guy so it's hard to tell if he likes me or not. In school he'd stare at me, touch my arm alot, walk really close/lean into me, smile at me when I'd talk, & he'd always be the one to start a convo & his friends even started looking at me different. I'd always have to text him first tho except like twice but we'd end up texting for hrs. In may i asked him if he liked me or not. he said he's really sorry, I'm an incredible girl but he's not looking for a relationship bc he doesn't think it would work w/anyone right before college & he also said "if the timing was different:/" So I thought that after that things would be awkward but they were exactly the same. At prom & I asked him to dance during a slow song & he pulled me by the waist up against him w/no room between us & we danced again later. in my yearbook he wrote that this year's been great since he started talking to me. I'm a great girl & he's sorry about the timing of things bc I really am amazing. Last week I went to an amusement park w/him my bff & another guy friend. It was the first time we talked since the end of school. He kept flirting w/me constantly playfully punching me, teasing, hugs. but I know he was purposely all over my bff to make me jealous bc he kept glancing at me. But what surprised me alot is he randomly reached his hand out for me to hold, interlocked our fingers & was kinda squeezing my hand. we were really close holding hands for a short time. He was being quiet & we were just walking. So what's his deal? He never straightup told me way back if he liked me or not like wth? If he doesn't want a relationship why is he acting like that? Why wuld he hold my hand if he doesn't like me when he knows I like him? Is he hiding feelings? Shuld I ask him about it? please help!:/