Is it possible for a relationship to develop or am I being desperate?

Scenario: There's this guy I went to school with basically the whole 12 years I was in school. We never really payed attention to one another; we were always just kind of there. We didnt dislike one another but we weren't friends. The summer after grad, I decided I was going to go out on a limb and try to befriend someone who I had never really talked to and gotten to know. Naturally he was a prime contender. So I got the courage to talk to him one night on FB. I talked to him about 4 times over that summer and we eventually exchanged numbers and we talked some over the next couple of months via text after we were off at college. At first I was just looking to be friends, but I slowly began to develop an attraction to him towards the end of that summer. I felt I only had this new found attraction towards him because he was something new and interesting in my life. I liked the whole spontaneity of our relationship, and the fact that he was someone new to talk with, to get to known, and to figure out. I made some attempts to see if he wanted to hang out that summer but they never came through. Naturally I was very pessimistic about the situation and immediately thought he didn't like me and didn't want to be friends and that he thought I was some weirdo/freak randomly talking to him like I was... But I told myself I was over thinking it and that wasn't the case. I was just being a drama queen and he really didn't have a problem with me. Though we continued to talk for about 5 more months via texts, I finally reached a point that Jan where I was very frustrated by the whole thing. It had been over 6 months, we still had not even ever hung out together, though he would always talk to me I had always been the one to initiate conversation, and I was getting the feeling I was annoying him and he was only talking to me to be nice. I tried repeatedly again to convince myself I was over thinking things: I mean if he was really annoyed with me at that point for that long he would have not even talked to me probably, right? Nonetheless, though I would have readily perused something more than friends if the opportunity had presented itself, I finally, though unenthusiastically, accepted that we were just somewhat friends. I originally really wanted to be good friends, but I would settle and I just made myself move on. I put things on a hiatus. I moved on. Though he sometimes crossed my mind I kind of brushed things off and told myself you are not going to contact him. If he wanted or cared to speak with you he would contact you. Some nights I spent mins just staring at his icon on FB, his name in my phone, just wishing he would contact me. Wishing he would get some miraculous enlightenment from the thoughts about him I was sending out into world like radio signals, and contact me. Of course nothing. That crap only happens in sappy noels, TV shows, and fantasies.... but oh well. Not to be a downer, but its true. Over a year went by where we didn't contact one another. Id occasionally think about him, and he clearly never gave me the time of day. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I heard about how he went through a real personal tragedy. Him and his roommates got hit by those series of horrible tornadoes and his house, car, etc were all completely destroyed. Luckily they were all ok. Immediately my heart went out to him. I really wanted to let him know I was at least keeping him in my thoughts and prayers by sending him a message or talking to him in some way, but I was still being to prideful to contact him. I finally said that's childish (he could have freakin died!) and sent him a text message. He responded with a simple thank you and let me know how much it meant to him I was praying for him. I could have striked up a conversation but I told myself NO. But talking to him again just stirred up all those emotions I had before. It began to really weigh on me, and a couple of days ago I got the nerve to check up on him and strike up a conversation. Things didnt go how I had wanted though. It was the same ole same ole. Me being the one to try and talk to him first. Me throwing ice breakers (topics and questions that couldn't be answered with a simple yes or no) and all I got was nothing. Simple short answers. I tried curve balls to get him to open up and talk to me but. Nada. Tried everything. I became frustrated all over again and eventually the conversation just died. I'm trying so hard and he isn't showing the slightest indication that he even cares. Im not even looking for a real relationship, I would be happy with just a good friendship. I obv care about him somewhat and he doesnt even really give two hoots about me. I feel pathetic. Desperate. Stupid. Like a creepy weirdo. So my question is what should I do?? Is it even possible that we can have any sort of relationship, even if its as simple as being friends? Am I being desperate? Should I stop talking to him, and try to get