Not your typical falling for best friend story

Hey guys, hope it's ok that I'm asking for your advice! Seemed like a good place to ask for help after seeing an old thread that was sort of similar to this.

I'm a 23 year old male. About a year and a half ago I became friends with a lesbian via her straight roommate who I was having a fling with. At the time, I didn't have a romantic interest in her. We became best friends. BEST friends... as in I've never felt this close to a friend before, let alone a girl (I think the fact that she was lesbian allowed us to get really close as friends first before your typical sexual-tension drama).

Long story short, I started falling for her about 6 months ago; and since then I've definitely fallen. She has a history of dating guys in high school.. and has made out with some in college (while she's drunk, of course)... but she is clear to everyone now that she is a lesbian and not bisexual. The thing is.. rather than saying she has always been gay and it only took her until college to come out (which is what I thought was generally the norm when people come out?).. she is convinced she WAS straight when she was dating guys (I hope I'm not offending anyone; I understand sexuality is very fluid and complex). Dunno if that means anything.

So I thought I was hopeless and I'd have to just wait until a straight girl who I was interested in came along. We're so close that I told her that I have a serious crush on her and it didn't really make things awkward or anything.. but she reassured me although she "loves me more than anything" she is gay and wasn't interested in guys; and that she'd keep an eye on making sure she didn't lead me on any more. But we hang out and talk almost every day. She's met my family, I've met hers. We typically haven't done anything beyond platonic other than mild cuddling/platonic flirting; but since I told her I had a crush on her she's actually ramped things up rather than setting boundaries. We've drank together and she's been a little extra flirty and held my hand too. We've slept in the same bed and (sort of?) spooned.. never kissed. I've remained platonic and haven't come onto her though (trying to be respectful of her sexuality), other than jokingly. And she had previously texted me while drunk saying that she "wants me" haha. She has told me she has hung out with her ex BOYfriend recently and that they sometimes still kiss and stuff, but that it doesn't mean anything to her. She has gotten jealous when I was with other girls. So... my point is I'm still CONFUSED. I've convinced myself that it's not going to go anywhere but then she gives me a mixed signal. Do I lay down barriers and tell her to stop confusing me? Do I just continue as it is until I find someone else? Do you think this is a case of pansexuality and she in fact is attracted to me? She means the world to me right now and I don't want to hurt our relationship by coming onto her if she in fact does see me as just a friend.

I hope this post doesn't sound too ridiculous... but I need some advice :/

Thanks guys

---------- Post added 11th Mar 2015 at 11:16 AM ----------

Sorry I think I meant bisexuality rather than pansexuality, haha (sorry for the double post.. won't let me edit again.)

 

Any opinions?

 

Thanks EpicConfusion.. it's just going to be so hard though. I've been in relationships before where I thought I was in love, until I started falling for this girl, haha. Also, sometimes it seems like she's the one trying to start something, but I don't know how to talk about these instances without making things awkward. I just don't know how I'm going to let her go. And I don't want to hurt her either by distancing myself.. we are best friends. Not that I'm wishful thinking, but what are the odds that she is a closet bisexual?