I was very close to a girl in highschool, however we never officially dated. The deal was we met through one of my mates who she was dating at the beginning of year 10, they only went out for a week or two and I became somewhat close to her during their short stint together. She told me one day that she didn't really feel that way about him, and asked what to do, my reply was the obvious "don't lead him on, it will be worse" so she broke up with him. She also told him that I'd said not to lead him on. So, that's why I was never comfortable going out with her, but we regularly went out places alone as friends.
I've spent more time talking to her than I have anyone else and even now 5 years on we're quite close (we both have other partners). I'm not sure that love is the right word, given the circumstances, but she is and has been very special to me.