• meeting. obviously, you have to meet someone before you date them.
• friend zone. before someone can establish that they're romantically compatible with you, they have to be generally compatible.
• deep conversations. this defines you as a stronger friend. the more compatibility, the better.
• consideration as a love interest. can i see all of your good points and look past lacking qualities? additionally, can i see myself doing romantically involved activities with you? kissing, hugging, etc.
• declaration. when you move from being a friend to a love interest or experience a degree of separation. must be mutual, acknowledged, and both parties must establish that it is exclusive.
• honeymoon. not actually going on one. just the feeling that everything is going well. doesn't seem like anything can/will ever go wrong. something of a high.
• fight. conflict is inevitable. of course, it's all in how it's resolved.
• some semblance of ordinary. you like them, they like you. things work out.

"both of us have our own yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows." <-- this is very true.