fine line between love and infatuation

how do we know where that line stands? at least in my personal experience/opinion, they're pretty fucking similar. see the thing is that when I get a crush I fall HARD. it starts gradual, with me just liking their looks or style or whatever and even if I don't see them again for a little while they stay in my mind until it gets to the point where they are all I think about. 

I know people say that if a crush lasts past 3 months, it's love, but is it? I've had a crush (a juvenile word honestly but idk what else to call it) on this boy in my grade since september 2024 and it's now june 2025. we're coming up on a year soon, and I guess it's considered love according to 'experts' or whatever bullshit but is it? I have talked to this guy in person and texted him so I have gotten to know him somewhat, but he's been pissing me off because he told me (and his friends also told me) that he isn't interested in me romantically, which like--ok. fine. but then he keeps stringing me along and flirting with me and it honestly makes me feel like fucking garbage.

worst thing about it though is that he does it subtly enough so that if I try and call him out on it, I'll just look like a delusional lunatic trying to convince myself that he is in love with me. I don't care that he doesn't like me back but then why can't he just LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE????!!!?!? even his friends like teasing me about my crush on him (I never even told anyone that I liked him so I guess I'm just obvious idk) and I don't even know his friends. one of them in particular, who is one of his best friends, always glares at me in the hallway (and I am not exaggerating this because my friend who walks with me has also commented on it) and I have no clue why. I don't stalk this guy or act pushy/clingy to him--I can hardly even work up the nerve to TEXT him, so why are they being this way? I guess it's typical stupid teen boy logic, but it's ruined my mood. At least school is now out for the summer so I won't see him and I can work on getting over my crush on him, out of sight out of mind and all that jazz, but I know that once I DO see him again I'll be madly head over heels for him once more.

our school is full of ugly guys, so he's one of the most attractive in our grade, which is honestly just sad if you think about it, but he is genuinely quite attractive. he has dark brown hair (my type is guys with dark hair), beautiful brown eyes that give me butterflies whenever we talk because he's very good about keeping eye contact, lovely lips (they're very kissable) and my favorite thing about him- his diamond stud earrings! This description can technically be applied to a shit ton of people in the world and I highly doubt he's on this website so he won't find this, but anyway. I am obsessed with him. When he doesn't text me back my whole day is ruined. He's left me on delivered for three weeks as of right now so I've taken a step back to distance myself from him and get him off my mind, but then his favorite song came on my playlist and I remembered how handsome and funny and charming he is. The worst part is that apparently he's a known hoe at our school, which...you go around with any random person but you don't want me? A HOE doesn't want me? He probably knows I'm not that kind of girl but still, it stings. whatever, I'd rather not deal with chlamydia.