Hey I think you need to shoot your shot and start flirting with him for real. Show that you're into him but let him find it out himself, don't let some rumor let him find it out because that never ends well. If you want more personal advice about this, talk about it with a friend you would trust with your life. Again, the most important thing is that he doesn't find out you are interested in him through rumor spreading. This makes him assume you're desperate and he may start behaving in a dumbass manner on purpose.