My friend saved me from being raped, but now he's acting really strange, and I'm worried. What should I do?

Okay, well I have this friend, and I really, really like him. His name is Ricky and he’s 18 (I’m 17, 18 in 2 weeks). Ricky and I have been friends for something like 3 years, but recently we’ve gotten a lot closer. We met in dance class, but I stopped taking dance last year because my schedule was too full. Anyways, because I don’t see him at dance anymore, we’ve started spending a lot more time together. He’s the best, sweetest, kindest friend I’ve ever had. He’s so much fun to be around; He’s always so animated and funny and he’s the nicest, sweetest guy I know. Well, since we’ve been spending so much time together lately (we even both got jobs at the same restaurant), I’ve realized that I like Ricky as more than just a friend. I really like him, and I think he likes me too, but I’m not totally sure.

Also, I recently lost my stepmom to cancer, which was really hard for me, and he was right there for me through the whole thing. He even came to the wake and funeral with me, and he held me the whole time when I cried. He’s also really touchy-feely with me, like he’s always hugging me, and playing with my hair, and he’ll come up behind me and rub my back or whatever. He’s just… I’ve never met another guy like him. He’s spent quite a few weekends at my dad’s beach house with me lately, which is really fun, because we’ll be at the beach until 2 am sometimes; just him and I, and I love being with him. There have been some times where we at the beach late and he would get really quiet for a moment and look at me, and I thought he was going to kiss me, but every time, he seems to chicken out, and I’m a lot more shy than him, so I wouldn’t make a move.

Well, last weekend, we were at my dad’s beach house again, and we were at the beach around 12 am, and I wanted to run back to the house to grab a blanket because it was getting cold. I told him I’d be right back, and on my way back to the house, I ran into this guy (he’s probably 19 or 20) who stays with our neighbors for a week every Fall. He’s always made me uncomfortable; I avoid him. Well, he tried talking to me while I was walking down the docks, which aren’t very well-lit and very quiet at night (I shouldn’t have gone alone, but I didn’t think it through). He started touching me and I asked him not to; he tried to kiss me and I pulled away but he grabbed my arm and he started getting forceful and I started yelling at him to stop. Ricky must have heard me and he came to find me; he saw what was happening and he came running and he started pushing the guy off of me and fighting him. Ricky was furious, and he was screaming things at him like, “Leave her the f*** alone,” and “Don’t you ever f***ing touch her.”

Well, Ricky eventually pushed him off the dock (which was unintentional, but it worked, haha) and we ran back to the house. I was pretty shaken up (shook up? I don’t know. Haha), and he held me and talked to me and rubbed my back for a good hour before I fell asleep. However, since that happened, he’s been really quiet. Usually, he’s open with his emotions and everything and he’s NEVER quiet for long. He’s hardly talked to me though. I was scared at first that he was mad at me, but he doesn’t seem angry; he just seems like something is bothering him and he doesn’t want to talk about it. I’ve asked him multiple times if something was wrong and he just tells me, “Yeah, I’m fine,” but I don’t know what to do. This isn’t the normal Ricky, and I’m really concerned. What could be going on with him right now? What should I do? I’m really worried and confused. Help please?

Thank you!