(Posted this elsewhere, but posting it here too.)

Throwaway, in mobile, yada yada yada.

Hey, I don’t really know where else to put this. Basically this is a really nuanced situation with a lot of different aspects to consider. I’m asking for advice, but I also just need to get this off my chest.

I have a crush. Yes I am 16, yes I’m a teenager, yes I know this happens to almost everyone. I just have never had a lot of luck in the past with crushes. When previously I liked someone, it always failed. One crush said I’m ‘annoying’ and that I ‘talk too much’ (which granted is probably true, but still). Another one admitted to my wingwoman that he had a crush on her when she was trying to help me out. Those both happened when I was 14 newly 15, so over 18 months ago. Since then I haven’t really had any feelings for anyone.

Until recently. I don’t ever get complimented on anything other than my academic skills. However, the other day I got a compliment totally out of the blue from a boy, I’ll call him Zach. Zach doesn’t really speak to me, as we aren’t in any classes together or anything. However, we used to be closer in middle school, although we were never close to best friends. Anyways, Zach randomly told me in the hallway that he liked my hair, and specifically my hair color. Now I have a very love-hate relationship with my hair, so this means a LOT to me.

Of course, because I am a teenage girl, I’ve been obsessing over this a bit. Although the more and more I think about it, the more and more I am crushing on Zach. He is totally my type: geeky, nerdy, passionate about what he loves, and confident. Yes, I realize that this is high school and in the grand scheme of things there isn’t any way we would get married (I’m not even sure I want that with him!). But these feelings are very real to me right now. We also don’t have too much in common, although we do have a few things.

I am a big believer in the fact that girls should take initiative. You like that boy? Ask him out! And considering homecoming is right around the corner, I would love to just get up the courage to just ask him.

Here-in lies the problem though. There are rumors flying around that he might be gay. I go to a very conservative Christian school where being gay isn’t exactly okay. I refuse to put someone in a position where they feel they need out themselves or endanger themselves in order to explain themselves.

There are a lot of people that have previously thought me and Zach should date. He is aware of this fact. Zach can not possibly be oblivious to the fact that he has rumors about him floating around. I don’t want to put him in a position where he has to choose anything suddenly. Maybe my anxiety is just really really abnormally high, but there are a few outcomes, even fewer of which are good, that come from me asking him to homecoming.

1. Zach is not gay, likes me back, accepts, everything goes smoothly.
2. Zach is not gay, does not like me back (was just being nice with the compliment), accepts anyways to save face/keep rumors at bay, is unhappy
3. Zach is not gay, does not like me back, does not accept, everything is okay
4. Zach is not gay, does not like me back, does not accept, rumors continue to fly anyways and it gets bad
5. Zach is gay, accepts to save face/keep rumors at bay, is unhappy
6. Zach is gay, does not accept, no one bats an eye, everything is okay
7. Zach is gay, does not accept, everyone freaks, he gets outed/put in a dangerous position

As you can see, in my 7 possible scenarios, only 3 end up with things okay (#1, 3, And 6). I am aware this all is in the mind of a hormonal 16 year old girl who is probably WAY overthinking a very simple compliment. (I am also aware of the possibility of Zach being attracted to more than one gender, considering I am myself, but in my school that’s almost worse than being gay, so put those ideas where you will in my list.)

At this point, I don’t know what to do. I just want to know something rather than be trapped in this area of limbo where the ball is in his court, and I don’t know if he knows that fact.

He Reddits, I know that. Hopefully he doesn’t come across this. There was so much more backstory, but this is the most relevant info. I also don’t want to put in too many identifying things.

Help? Either support or advice, or a harsh dose of reality if you think that’s what I need. Thank you.

TL;DR: I have a crush. He might be gay. Help?