Hmm.. I actually had kind of this situation with a girl, first friends and then not. Some time after that she ended up being both my best friend and girlfriend
Sadly, I didn't know about the game, so I couldn't analyze it really.. But what I did was that I was seriously dismissive towards her (actually, at first, I really hated her

) but with time got closer and closer with her. Played it slowly and solid in other words, never showing any sign of neediness.
I think it's something like that it should be played, but can't really remember what I did
Well, what I mostly wanted to say with the post is that it is fully possible and not lost at all.