Search Results: getting back in the game

Guy messages me every single day usually for morning till we go to bed. Casually in conversation said he talks to me more than anyone else. Hung out a couple of times, has tried inviting himself to things I am doing, and 95% of the time reaches out first. I rarely reach out first. If he doesn't respond or leaves me on read, usually hours later he'll reach back out or eventually responds to whatever it is he left me on read with.
Met about a month and a half before he left for college in another town, so now the ability to hang out is not quite as easy, I'm very busy with work and school, and of course he's in another town.
We played video games together, he would call me on the phone when we do instead of using a headset (haven't much since school started thought) and occasionally facetimes me. A couple weeks back we facetimed for 3 hours straight.
Downside, he occasionally calls me "bro" or "dude" and talked about a girl he'd met at the college that he was really frustrated with her cause he likes her but her immaturity bother's him. Told me what he was looking for with a girl (which, ironically was describing exactly what we have almost down to a T). I gave him advice on what to do, and that was kind of the end of him discussing girls with me. Other downside, I am older than him.
Cannot distinguish between if he views me as a good friend and buddy, or something more.
Is he just stringing me along and wasting my time, or am I just not being obvious enough about my feelings? Seems like he's getting a little bit distant now, unsure if it's because I'm not really showing interest because I've been afraid to because I am older than him.
Thanks!