This is how I would do. I would tell my friend, that I love them - I would die for them, be there for them in any situation - but telling them you want to have sex with them is like - just asking for it (no offense meant at ALL)
But it really is. Who knows what their teaching kids in sex ed these days, about child molesters and whatnot. But beyond that sexual preferences are personal. They are glued to YOU. YOU have sexual feelings for BOYS. "BOYS" here is not a person - but it is a group of people, therefore it doesn't involve any particular person - and hence is personal. However - you love and care for the boy, spiritually and emotionally. "The boy" here would be your young friend. A real, breathing person - not a group of people, but an individual. Those feelings involve another person - THOSE are the feelings you share.