How to let someone know you like them without letting them know

So I've come out to two people total in the last 3weeks. I came out because I thought I might like this guy who was gay and now I do. First off I'm struggling to tell if he likes me because I think I'm looking for signs and exaggerating them in my head because I want him to like me. Secondly how do I let him know I like him without ruining the friendship and other people finding out I like him (I'm at an all boys school and I'm not ready for the banter yet even if it is cowardly of me).
So looking for impartial advice on the first bit and general tips for the second part.
Reasons why I think he likes me:
1) whenever I mention him talking I girls etc. he always rushes to assure me he is gay but around other people he seems to play along with it
2)he searched all my text to close friends and when I went to check his he blushed and deleted specific ones(like not whole convos)
3)since he's found out about me he's started looking for me round school etc
4)when I called him on "."s in his texts he assured me "it doesn't mean I don't want to talk to you"
5) I spent like the last 3days before my holiday with him and at one point we lay there for a couple of hours talking
6) he also talks to me more than the other guys and laughs at my jokes hard, even the s**t ones
HOWEVER I told him pretty much as soon as I started hanging with him so don't know if this is how he would act normally or if he does infact like me, thoughts? I can give more evidence for and against if needed but didn't want to spam you guys.
Secondly I can't let him know I like him in an obvious way because he might panic and tell other people equally if he does like me he may recognise that I need someone to help me come out and doesn't want to scare me from it by making a move...so how do I give subtle indicators? Before I accepted myself as gay I was talking to girls which is arguably more easy cus it's an accepted thing you can get advice on but atm I feel isolated and completely inexperianced(because I am).
Any thoughts would be appreciated even if its not what I want to hear...
Edit: also worth mentioning he's out of my league looks wise?

 

Thanks for the fast response
Yeh I know I make a conscious effort not to like straight guys after the last time
But I'm sooooo impatient! Haha I want to let him know before New Years, like we talk loads and I think it's flirty banter butt as I said I have no idea how to flirt
Yeh that sounds like a good idea, I am worried about pressuring him:/ if he only wante to be mates I would be a bit shot down but would be ok with it hence why I want to let him know early before my feelings develop further
Might start sending a few "x"s
I think he's good looking but I find attractive things in people I like, he's got this whole like arty thing that I love so anything about him I kind of relate to that and little things like hair or smile... im Not ugly and have had a fair amount of attention from pretty girls but Im not my type and I dunno what other gay guy find attractive and I'm not chiselled but not chubby...it's difficult to judge myself

 

Haha that's what I wanted to hear Robert
Cheers resu I will definitely use your advice and keep you guys updated if you have the time