How should I get to know him?

I really like this guy, we used to sit together in some of our cles but at that time I didn't like him, his and my friends gave us names and tried to make us a couple even though we weren't. But now i really like him. That was like a year ago, now his friend just remembered all this and is pestering me again. But this time the guy i like doesn't know anything about all the things his friends have been saying to me. I have a feeling he may like me and his best friend just found I like him, and now I can't even face him because it so embarring. I really want to get to know him but don't know how to, and how to start conversations with him.