Search Results: he always tries to keep distance

I like my guy friend I hang out with a lot. We met last year. On Sunday, we celebrated my birthday over dinner/a walk on the beach/fireworks, and spending my whole evening-midnight with him made us closer. At least that's how I feel. He kissed me subtly on the shoulder when we hugged goodnight. It may sound like all hearts and flowers, but it only is when we're alone.
In reality, he's actually my college teacher, and although we meet up freely to study (or plan to study but end up just having lunch...), we do have to keep a certain amount of distance. My college has a student-teacher policy as of this semester, so I've been trying to be cautious... But clearly failing...
I doubt he feels the same way about me. Even though he was all sweet and gentleman-like on my birthday, I think he was just being a good friend...
I say this because, I don't know if it's because he's busy prepping for his trip he's going on tomorrow but, he seems a bit distant... I feel like Sunday was this dream and now I'm expected to wake up. We've always been close, but I thought we grew closer after Sunday. Now I feel like it was just me...
I talk to my best girl friend since kindergarten about him, since we share everything. She tells me he and i are complicated and that I need to take a break and see other people - but not give up on him - so that's what I'm doing. She thinks that I should tell him casually that I've been seeing people just to see his reaction/response.
Differently, my older and intelligent best guy friend/ex since freshman year tells me if it were him he'd want me to tell him how I feel before going out with others.
Thirdly, my cold and brutal - yet helpfully realistic girl friend tells me there's no way he feels the same way because "he's your teacher!' She's right, but She's been against me hanging out with him so i feel like her opinion's always based on that.