I need help asap!!!!!!!?

hard to explain bt at uni and since ive been here ive become increasingly close to a family friend at home, he is a year older and completly perfect. i know he likes me and i like him, and he was joking bout me having to tell my parents i have a boyfriend, bt thinks its better to ask someone else out in person!!! trouble is, im at uni in leeds and he is at swansea, there is no way i have chance to go down and see him with the amount of work ive got to do, plus its really expensive. bt i dont want to wait til xmas to make it official!!!!! how can i tell him that i really want a relationship bt i cant travel down to see him at the exact moment in time? and that i really dnt mind him asking me out by fone?????!!!!!