3. How close are you?
You might be a remark or question away from your goal! Evaluate the situation and see how close you are to your goal. People cannot read your mind. Simply inform the person you are interested in that you are not indifferent to them and that you want to build a relationship with them. Be prepared for the unexpected. You can either be rejected or accepted. In both cases you might not know how to behave next. Have a plan for both outcomes.
4. Does friend-zoning happen to others?
Of course this can happen to everyone. No one can guarantee success. We fall in love with people who might not find us attractive as well as we can be loved by those we do not want to be with. Being called a friend when you want to be the significant one is not the most pleasant thing to experience. However, appreciate friendship. There are too few real friends. You are lucky if you have friends.