How do I tell if he likes me or just worries for my safety?

So as seen in the title I know this guy (17) who I kinda like (I really don't know what love feels like :/). He's helped me get through some... sad stuff (see my other posts but I'm getting off topic). Now I'd like to point out that I'm a 13F and he's a 17M. We met through my sister (15) on Xbox (I use my sister's account as I don't have one -.-) and chatted through Instagram. The reason I want to know if he likes me is because he is willing to talk at 3am with me about stuff that happened till 4am even though he's tired. When we've talked in dms he's also said he'll go up to his friends (squad we met through) and defend me. I also want to point out we have talked about them behind their backs (jerk move but them being 4-5 years older are huge jerks to me and have made me full on sob in my bathroom because I got so mad). He also says the only reason he's still friends with them is because he can't avoid them (friends of friends). We talk about other stuff besides him comforting me from my family garbage and trash talking. Once when we were talking he said "I'm in a hoodie" (I was talking with him about clothes I wear because I was worked up over the fact my sister said she thought I was lesbian). Now a days with my age girls usually steal the guys hoodies. I'm not sure if he meant anything by it I just want another opinion because my sister says he likes me but nothing will happen cause of age gap. Thanks for reading my weird story. This probably will get buried but whatever. Please be honest because I don't want to go farther down a lie (if he doesn't like me).

Submitted April 25, 2020 at 12:06AM

So as seen in the title I know this guy (17) who I kinda like (I really don't know what love feels like :/). He's helped me get through some... sad stuff (see my other posts but I'm getting off topic). Now I'd like to point out that I'm a 13F and he's a 17M. We met through my sister (15) on Xbox (I use my sister's account as I don't have one -.-) and chatted through Instagram. The reason I want to know if he likes me is because he is willing to talk at 3am with me about stuff that happened till 4am even though he's tired. When we've talked in dms he's also said he'll go up to his friends (squad we met through) and defend me. I also want to point out we have talked about them behind their backs (jerk move but them being 4-5 years older are huge jerks to me and have made me full on sob in my bathroom because I got so mad). He also says the only reason he's still friends with them is because he can't avoid them (friends of friends). We talk about other stuff besides him comforting me from my family garbage and trash talking. Once when we were talking he said "I'm in a hoodie" (I was talking with him about clothes I wear because I was worked up over the fact my sister said she thought I was lesbian). Now a days with my age girls usually steal the guys hoodies. I'm not sure if he meant anything by it I just want another opinion because my sister says he likes me but nothing will happen cause of age gap. Thanks for reading my weird story. This probably will get buried but whatever. Please be honest because I don't want to go farther down a lie (if he doesn't like me).