Dating, Friend Zone?

[dater89]

So I met this guy online about a week ago. We exchanged over 100+ messages on the dating site for the first few days. Then I asked him out on like day 3, and gave him my phone number. We then pretty much texted constantly up until the date (actually even sexted the night before the date, no photos or anything just flirting), and exchanged two phone calls. So I knew a fair amount about him before the first date. We have many things in common (and I'm talking like creepily coincidental things, for instance our birthdays are a day apart and we were both born prematurely) and have similar personalities. Neither of us has had sex yet (For me this is b/c there's not a very big gay population here and haven't found anyone I've wanted to have sex with, for him he's just new to gay dating). I'm 23, he's 21. He's much younger than me in terms of gay years, he's still not out to his parents yet and had a girlfriend until like a year and a half ago. Went out on our first date and about halfway through the date, he tells me he's been thinking about it and he's not ready for a relationship. He told me he needs to get more comfortable with himself, and doesn't think it be fair to me to date right now, but still wants to be friends. He did tell me I would be at the top of his list when he was ready to date (said that he'd have to see how it goes this summer). I do feel he was being sincere about this since after our date he changed his online profile to reflect that he was just looking for new friends and not a date. The date itself was actually probably the most enjoyable first date I've been on despite him telling me he just wanted to be friends. There were only a few awkward silences and it lasted for about 3 hours (longer than previous first dates I've been on). He strikes me as someone that is still trying to figure out who he is. I did tell him that I would be willing to be friends since he's someone I'd like to get to know even as a friend. He told me he felt like the worst person ever for doing that to me, and said that we'd just have to see what happened between us. He also invited me to a party at his house next weekend. So my question is, what would you all do in this situation? Have I been friend zoned forever, or is their hope for something more? Am I wasting my time? Keep in mind, I don't mind being just friends, but in terms of compatibility I feel like this is someone I could see myself in a relationship with (at least based on what I know about him now). We probably have more in common than anyone else I've dated. I guess I just don't know how I'm supposed to feel about this guy.

[MidwestUSA]

Go to the party. Not only will you see him "in action" with others, and find out if he's lying about "not wanting a relationship" with you, you may meet some other, really great, available people.