I am currently 17, and I told a 12 year old girl I've liked for years now that I like her, and she rejected me. I was at a Turkish festival, and I told her I had to tell her something, and her friends told me to say it in front of them....I told her I had a crush on her, and she politely turned me down by saying she already liked someone else, and that I was much older than her......so I walked away....at first, I felt relieved that I was able to get it off my chest.... and much later, I told her, first in Turkish, then in English, "maybe when you're older" before winking......I wish I was ashamed of myself because dating and casual romance is haram, but I'm sad to say it's hard to feel bad about that when I feel so sorry for myself....my heart never learns from my brain or from my religion, and I feel awful.....what should I do?
Listen brother...
you did NOT got Rejected, you got declined, girls and women dont Reject, they TEST the masculine of man by declining offers to see if you really mean of what you say, by 'walking away from the festival'' just because she said she likes someone else, it shows that you are weak and that you wouldn't been able to live without her! a girl wants a guy that doesnt NEEDS her, instead he wants her.
The reason its because she might want to meet other guys she likes aswell and also prolly because she is too young for you, could be also because she doesn't feel like its a good time to be in a Relationship with anyone, regardless you dont walk up to a girl and tell her directly that you like her, or have crush on her, because how can you really like her if you haven't been with her as a lover? you've been acting as a friend to her for ''years'' as you said and now that is kind of safe you tell her ''I Like you!" and automatically you are asking approval if she likes you aswell ''Do you like me?" its like you were faking your feelings towards her untill you felt that its safe to let her know that you do like her and thats manipulative.
Anyway you are 16.. talking to girls for me came on my 20's and its a game's number when it comes to women, there are plenty enough to enjoy talking, having fun, being in love with and you have plenty of time to learn and experience it first before going deep to get in a ''relationship''.
Don't get attached on seeing girls as a means to an end, you don't go to talk to girls only to get in a relationship or maybe get married etc.
You do it because you love girls. Don't ya? If not then there is something wrong with you and you will need to sit and clean that mentality.
What i wrote its not going to be a good response for the 95% here because islamicly what i explained could sound for some people negative.
Islamicly you seriously need to make your mind up and go to that girl and tell her that you are interested for marriage and you would like to get to know her through her Parents,dad,mom etc, else you get in touch with her parents and let them know instead.
My sugguestion? stop it and first learn at school, study something or do what you love to, have a future goal, plans and purposes and i guarantee you, you will find the right woman in your life

ps: i'm not sure where you live but whatever you do... HAVE FUN, thats the whole point in dunya to enjoy your time in peace and have fun.
You will realise that real love ain't like the lust that you can have, its something you both immediatly see when you meet each other
Spartakos