Is it normal for a guy to fall in love with his female best friend?

Ok so heres my question which im sure everyone has heard at least once before.. Im a guy and im wondering if its normal that ive fallen in love with my best female friend? I met this girl about 3-4 years ago through a mutual friend that ive known forever. She suggested that i become friends with her because of how alike we are, only thing is we live about 5 hours apart from eachother so for the longest time our interactions were soley through emails or texting each other. After 2 years of talking you know at least a couple days a week i finally got the chance to go and stay with her for her bday and meet for the first time.. Expected it to be awkward and it wasnt at all, it was like meeting a long lost friend. Anyways im dragging this on and should just get to the point. Its 2 years later and we talk all day everyday, and i visit her about every 2 months or so and have a good time its new orleans so theres always something to do lol but ive developed very VERY strong feelings for this girl (we both 22 now) and once i had told her i liked her amd would date her and she gave me the dreaded just friend speech but it didnt change nothing between us which i thought was odd, the year went on i was about to join the military and leave (broken heart, needed a way to escape) so i thought what do i have to lose? And i told her everything..how deeply i am in love with her, how if given the chance id marry her in a heartbeat, how i feel like shes the only thing holding me back from leaving cause id regret it forever if i didnt try one last time.. And she was surprised, said shes never had anyone tell her that, and said she was happy i told her. She now wants me to be roomates with her and our friend( female mutual friend who introduced us) and her bf. But she NEVER came out and said she would date me or give me a chance but i believe she gave me a little bit of hope to go on.. So should i take the chance? Go for the girl, not sure if itll work out or not, move and risk everything? Or say fuck it, join the military get sent to god knows where and try and love again.
(if it means anything this girl is absolutely beautiful, not just saying this cause im into her but its true, we cant go anywhere without guys checkin her out, she is model beautiful, and she knows it, and is the type that every guy wants, not saying im after her for her beauty but she knows shes hot and has plenty of options in guys)