I just wanna get out of being awkward so that I can at least start a friendship with him?

So there's this guy I like and is by far the one that I have liked for the longest. We have known each other for about a year and a half. I know that we know that the other exists. I don't know him on a personal level, though. I would like to, obviously. And I can definitely tell that we probably DO have similarities because then... why would I like him in the first place (go look up relationships in terms of psychology)? For example, our personalities, from what I have observed, seem to similar. We're quiet when we're not around people we know personally and we're just a bit louder around our friends. I am.. awkward, though. I often don't know what to say and all of this eye contact with another person—it's like there is something else to say but there's nothing. We're relieved when can go to the far side of the room.

There are a ton of times where we have made eye contact but out of all those times, I can only think of one time where it's been successful. There's not much to say that he likes me and I doubt he does—in that way. I have tried to move on but I've never been successful. I really want to get to know him because I know I can but I just can't seem to make the first step. I know that I should talk to him especially since I get a lot of chances with catching each other in the halls and being in the same class (which is Psychology!). There have been a few times where we would walk side by side to our next class and we would just stare straight ahead without a word.