My never-ending cycle of boy-girl friendships

Boys are great to have as friends. I know, I know, many people often say this. There are some people who say this and try to be cool, as if having guy friends makes them "tomboy" or something. Then there are those who realise that having boys as friends is awesome. I fall into the second category.

Although, I must admit, I have no idea what it is about having guy friends that is so exciting and brilliant. In fact, a lot of feelings get hurt when there are boy-girl friendships. Today, whilst waiting for my bus, I saw Y talking with a girl I don't particularly like, so I didn't go over. Then this other boy ('Duke') who used to be a close friend of mine (until the unevitable happened - more on that in a minute) came over and we had a really really nice, funny, light-hearted conversation. 

Then Y, seeing this, gave me a look of utmost hurt. I don't understand boys sometimes - Y knows for an absolute fact that I'm not interesting (I've told him about Knight). I think I may have a flirtatious manner, though. Because today, whilst talking to Duke I PUT MY HAND on his ARM which is major flirting in anyone's books. And I laughed at ALL his jokes (although, I'll admit, they were actually funny).

I think girls like boy mates because they are so easy-going, you have a laugh and often they are better listeners than girls (I find that girls are more self-centred - not necessarily selfish though - than boys). Today, Duke and I had a 20 minute conversation about each other's lives (friends, birthdays, events, AS level choices) and it felt good to have such an open and chatty conversation. 

Also, I saw this guy ('Oldie') who went to my primary school, who asked me loads of questions about Duke tonight (how I know him etc..). Maybe I'm looking into this too much, but is this jealousy of some kind?!

This brings me onto my next point: the unevitable cycle of boy-girl relationships. As I was saying, everything in the garden is rosy for a while and you get on really well. Then the boy may think you're being flirtatious and so he confidently asks you out, when you reject him (not feeling the same way) you don't talk to him for a few months/years and then suddenly you start randomly chatting again. And so the cycle continues: Friends-->Perceived flirtation--> Asking out--> Rejection-->Separation-->Randomly talking together-->Perceived flirtation etc etc...

And that's why I think there's a rule that boys and girls can't be best friends without there being feelings in the mixture. 

Then again I may be speaking utter rubbish (which wouldn't be a first)...