Am I in love?

So I’m a teenage girl who’s just started a new high school and for about two months now I’ve had a crush on a classmate of mine. And looking at him, there might be a 50% percent change he might like me back. Cuz at times he shows signs that he does, like me busting him looking at me but at other times he looks like he doesn’t, like when I get near him he gets all quiet and stuff, and usually he’s a very open extroverted person, I don’t know if this is because he likes me or because he feels awkward around me. My friends tel me that I’m obsessed with him, which I just deny as me beign in love but they asked me yesterday ” But are you actually in love wih him or are you in love with the image of him?” in terms of me beign eager to date him. I guess I get so excited when I knew that I might have a chance, because I’ve never had a boyfriend, I’ve suffered of years of loneliness and finally it feels like I might have some company espacially in a boyfriend since I’ve always wanted one. Anyway, how do I know if this is real love? And if he rejects me, how do I get over it? Thank you for your time :)