Is he shy or just not interested in me?

PART 2: It is, of course, possible that I'm mistaken in assuming this guy is as strange, or as complicated, as me - so I could be wrong about all of this (sure sounds like me, though, except I'm slightly older and not in college). But ask yourself this: if he doesn't like you, why does he stare at you? Because he's trying to tell you something that he can't bring himself to actually tell you to your face. (And probably because he just likes to look at you.)

Anyway, if any of this rings true, my advice is this: be straight up, because somebody's got to. Walk right up to him, and just say "Hey, what's up, _____!" Just smile and act like he's your bestest friend in the world. Overdo it a little bit, it's okay. It should help put him at ease. If he still acts weird at first, just ignore that and continue to pretend he's the coolest guy in the world. It shouldn't take too long for some of that facade of his to start melting away, and for him to start acting genuine.

If he likes you, it doesn't matter what you actually say; as long as your showing interest in him, he'll probably feel somewhat overwhelmed (in a good way) and won't have the presence of mind to care about what words you're actually using. (At first. And this doesn't mean spout gibberish; I'm assuming you know what normal conversation sounds like. You don't want to spook him too badly, lest he bound away back into the forest.)

If he seems to respond well to your attempt to reach out, and hell, even if he doesn't, be direct. This type of guy probably appreciates the directness he lacks, because he wishes he had it. So when the idle chat has been gotten out of the way, just straight up ask him:
"So, uhhh. why you always starin at me?" Here of course, make sure you're smiling - If you're lucky, he'll be honest, and you can probably take it from there. If he politely points out that he's actually been staring at SALLY, who's been coincidentally standing behind you all semester, well, ooops -

Most likely you'll get some mumbled half-answer and an embarassed smile. Score! Say something like, "Because. you know, if it's cause you think I'm pretty, that's quite alright."
Stress the word YOU ever so slightly, becasue you don't want to sound concieted. He needs to know that you want HIM to think he''s attractive, not just "guys". The last thing he wants you to see him as is just another sucker who will jump to do your bidding just because you smiled at him. (Oh, but he is, he is - try not to take advantage, okay?)

What he really wants is for you to look at him like he looks at you (figuratively). It only feels like you're a "sucker" when it's one-sided; if you were to feel the same way, then it would be okay for him to be a fool.

Anyway, I better stop before people start throwing lettuce at me. I'm done, I'm done. But I hope something in here might help you to make sense of the non-sensical.

I'll tell you exactly what is going through his mind, becasue you're talking about me. (Not literally. Although wouldn't that be funny?)

So he obviously likes you. When you're a safe distance away, he can't help but stare at you sometimes because he's infatuated. The funny thing is, he's really looking to see if you look at him - but if you do look back, he starts feeling like he has to look away so you don't get creeped out by the fact that he''s staring at you all the time! It's like, he so desperately wants you to see him looking and know what it means, since he doesn't have the balls to tell you in any traditional way - but he also can't help but be worried you'll see him looking and think he's weird.

Also, as time goes on he feels more and more awkward about the situation he's creating by being such a puss. And that's probably how he thinks of it, like it's his fault (and it pretty much is) but he feels even more awkward now because he feels responsible for it.

So why does he ignore you when you're close? Well, there's two answers to that. One or the other could be true, and most likely both:

1) Since the days of cavemen, when a human percieves a threat they FREEZE. In the modern world, whether you're bluffing at the poker table, or sneaking out of your bedroom window at night, or hoping that that bear won't see you - this is still the body's initial response to something that scares you. Here, it's not so much of a "freezing" as it is a "acting natural" - like you're a cop and he's trying to hide the joint he's holding. He doesn't want to, but when one is faced with a moment of indecision, the default option is to do nothing, just act natural, man! Which of course results in him acting the opposite of natural.

2) It is likely that when you're not around, he is good at talking himself out of "going for it". Probably a self-esteem thing; psychologically all he's really doing is protecting himself from having to deal with a real-life rejection. He does it himself so that you can't. So, it seems like he's lost interest, but he's just convinced himself that he doesn't have whatever he thinks it takes. And he thinks it's better to remain a mystery than to let you find out he's just a "loser like the rest of them" (He wants to be special, but doesn't think that he is.)

When he either hasn't seen you at all for a few days (because he's had time alone to get in a funk about it), OR just after making some half-hearted attempt to move the situation forward (because the closer you get to your fear, the easier it is to panic) - on those days, he will seem distant and disinterested.

But he's just trying to lie to himself - he still likes you, and when he sees you, it starts all over - suddenly he can't help but stare at you again. It's a vicious cycle.

Sorry - I write a lot. This thing is about to cut me off, so I'm going to do another one saying what to DO about it. I'll be more concise, I promise

He's a shy guy and is intimidated by you. From what you have said, he will most likely not act on what he is feeling, if you want him you're gonna have to make that first move.

Why don't you ask him, At least try to talk to him then you can know about his interests

He thinks your intimidating. I would encourage him to open up and try to make him feel more confident about you by being understanding, not judging him and showing a genuine interest in him and who he is. Initiate contact.

Hey, I don't think anything' s wrong with him!
maybe he's just a little discouraged, you need to show some sort of interest in him too!
know that just as you have obviously grown to anticipate his flirtatious nature, he has grown to realize that you don't usually respond!
I can sense that you've gotten to like him a little, so tell him, talk to him, I'm sure he'd appreciate the gesture!
the flirting thing that you seem to like from him works both ways, he needs to get some sort of response from you to know that its okay to take things further!

best of luck!