So, guy advice?

so there is this guy that lives down the road from me and everyone likes him. He is athletic, cute, and has the bluest eyes ever. Well I hated him for ever, and he was always trying to be feiends with me. Then one day, I was having a really bad day and I was crying. He came up and put his arm around me and told me I could talk to him. Then I realized that I really like him. But everyone thinks that I hate him, and my friends would be mad if they knew I liked him. And he is all popular macho, so idk what to do. HELP!!!!