This guy likes me but I don't like him back, how do I get him to leave me alone?

[Balaloop]

I'm 17. There's this guy in my English class that I sit with. We used to do all the group work together because neither of us had any friends in that class and we'd chat a little but it soon became more like a friendship and we'd say hi to each other if we were passing in the corridor. We come from two really different groups of friends though. Him and his friends like to talk about video games and stuff and don't go out on the weekend. I have more of a social life. I have NOTHING in common with him. It became really obvious that he likes me. He drew a picture of me and gave it to me. I made it clear that I wasn't interested and told him that I like someone else. But he said we could still be "good mates" and he has my number and talks to me every time i'm on facebook. He's a nice guy but I need space. I don't see him as a best friend how he apparently sees me but it would be sooo mean to tell him that. He's now wanting to hang out with me out of school and he texted me the other day asking me to go to the mall with him after school and I said I couldn't and he got all offended like "You can just say if you don't want to " I feel so bad but I find him soooo boring to be around and my friends think he's weird. I feel shallow for even saying all this because he's a good guy! I don't want to hurt him but it's driving me crazy. What do I do?

[MTR 2.0]

What a lazy "good mate" you are.

Help him get a chick...sheesh.

[Kali3p]

firstly. FUCK YOUR FRIENDS. FUCK THEIR OPINIONS ON ANYBODY. DO NOT FOLLOW WHAT THEY GOSSIP AND SNICKER ABOUT. IF THEY FEEL IT'S OKAY TO PUT SOMEONE DOWN BECAUSE THEY AREN'T IN THE SAME SOCIAL GROUP AS THEM THEN THEY CAN GO FUCK A COW.
Anyways, I understand how you feel about not wanting to hang with someone you don't particularly like too much but they seem nice. If you make it look like they have a chance, then they'll keep pursuing. Nothing wrong with being friends but honestly it's hard if one or the other is constantly thinking of more with the other person when trying to be "friends". fuck the people who say "friendzone" cause seriously, there is a reason some guys are in the friendzone.
I PERSONALLY become blunt in that kinda situation. as in I make it verrrrrry clear I am not interested in them like that and if I don't want to hang out with them I politely say no rather than make an excuse.