I've been reading a lot of romantic stories lately in which the guy falls madly in love with the girl from affar, or is close friend with the girl, and then he declares this love to her without first asking her on a date or even asking her if she likes him as more than a friend. Is this really the way to start off a relationship? Has any one here had a relationship that started out that way?

Once when I was 13 my best friend confessed his love to me. It was an extremely awkward moment, and after a while he got over me, and I ended up "falling in love" with him...