Can mates become 'mates'?

We’ve all crossed the line before. That imaginary line in the sand that takes you from being a potential lover, to a friend. Maybe someone else crossed that line for you. Suddenly that sorta cute dude you’re considering snogging looks different somehow. They start to look like nerdy Ross on Friends, rather than shaggable Joey. You simply can’t imagine why you ever wanted to have sex with them, when now you’re perfectly content to stop the action at a kiss on the cheek. We cross the friends line for a few reasons. One popular roadblock is that you’re house-mates. And everyone knows it simply doesn’t do to screw the crew. Or maybe you wait that bit too long to make your move and you find yourself sharing tubs of ice-cream on the couch instead of bodily fluids. Whatever the reason – my question is this. Can you recover from being put in the Friends Zone? Is it possible to make the Quantum leap from mate, to ‘mate’? It does happen. I’ve heard urban myths about lifelong friends suddenly winding up in bed like Harry and Sally in When Harry met Sally. It works in the movies, but does it really work in real life? Do friends who become lovers feel robbed of that giddy, getting-to-know-each-other stage? By now, you already know their best stories, their foibles and freak flags. But maybe that’s part of the charm. You’ve read the fine print and you still want to sign the deal.

Okay people, fess up. Have you screwed the crew? Mated a mate? And did it work?