OH, ((((((((Distressed))))))) Im sorry for their behavior, they are not nice people, they are punishing you just for liking someone, shame on them.

I think that you are swiming in a school of stinging jelly fish. And, you need to get away from them. And they have hurt you. But, Distressed,
when people behave this way, it does not mean that you are at fault or a bad person, you DO have to stop taking it personally and move away.

Sometimes we end up in groups of bad people and we judge ourselves because we are one against several. You have to realize this, "Birds of a feather flock together". You really need to find other friends, these people are not friends, they do not respect you. As far as the boy is concerned, he likes someone else, and he has told you. BUT the way he has told you is bad behavior on his part. He should have told you that he is honored that you do care and that you can be friends but he is interested in another person.

It is helpful to put yourself in the others position too, what if someone liked you and your feelings were not mutual, and instead you preferred someone else, what would you say to this person?

I don't know your age but if you are younger I will tell you that often younger people do not have good people skills and can be very selfish.
Often the younger crowd can be mean as they feel it is some sort of power. They can often be very inconsiderate of the feelings of their piers.

I know how you feel, it happens to many of us, we like someone and they don't like us and it can hurt. Just think of it as, you are better off, if you had developed a relationship you would have only been hurt or disappointed down the road.

I hope that helps Distressed,
Open Eyes