[icarus]

I disagree with people who say you are screwed or should forget about it.

You've been close with this girl a long time, maybe she too is realising you're the kind of person suited to her. If she's a nice girl and not a superficial bitch then she might be attracted to you already.

My advice is to avoid the serious blunt talk. It always leads to awkwardness of some sort or another.

I agree with the posters who suggest pushing your times together more in the date direction. New Years idea is great. Or any sort of thing you can get yourself invited to that would require you to take a date. Any weddings coming up? When you ask her, be sure to ask if she wants to be your date, not "I can bring a friend along".

Go for dinners, and if you go for dinners already, make them more intimate. Nicer places, wine, the kind of place where its obvious only couples go to eat.

She'll get the hint and will give you signals back, positive or negative.