I've had a crush on my friend for the longest time, but don't want to anymore.?

I met this girl Tabitha after the beginning of my second semester of my Junior year in High School. She is now my best female friend and no question about it. The way she is and how comforting she can be, like the way she puts her small warm hands on my cheeks and hugs me when I'm down has gotten me to crush on her real bad. She had a boyfriend and was going out for a while at least 7 months. Eventually they broke up and I wanted to go out with her, but she just didn't see it with me. She ended up dating some guy out of no where who moved away to Washington like a month later. I guess she just had the hots for him. She decided not to date any one for a while. Even though she kind of broke my heart (I've went through 6 girlfriends so I'm used to it) I consider her my best friend. She has always been there for me and always makes me smile when my days got me down. The way she hugs me, comforts me, holds my hand and kisses me on my cheeks. I have never had a female friend like this back then. I was horribly deprived of them and horribly depressed. She overlooks my differences and is incredibly resilient, staying positive even at the most...Well, negative of times. Over the summer I began to miss her a lot. Especially when she went to New Mexico for two weeks. I got my driver's license and went to her house a lot after she got back. Met her family and got to know so much. I found that every time I got back from her house, I started to like her more. Occasionally she wouldn't mind cuddling either. But she has no intentions or feelings to go out with me and I know it for sure. So I decided to just stay best friends with her. But I like her still, and I honestly don't want to anymore. I don't want to crush on her anymore. But I DO NOT want to have to resort to stop talking to her altogether. I love this girl and I will not under any circumstances just ignore her. Ever. My question is: has anyone out there went through the same thing and actually succeeded in getting over their best friend? And what should I do to follow in those steps?