Ah... The infamous outgoing friend who thinks he's doing you a favor.... Those can complicate things, eh? I'm going to have to agree with Nick here; it's time to buck up and go talk to your crush. Don't let someone else try to tell him how you feel. YOU need to tell him. At least then you can stop being weird and avoiding each. (Remember, something is only awkward if you make it awkward. ;D)
As for your friend, tell him to back off (politely). He needs to let you deal with your romantic pursuits. If he wants to be helpful, he can be the listening ear when things go right or wrong. That's what makes a good friend.