You may have a point here. And I have to conceed the first bit about "good unpleasantness," as I believe bad things can have good outcomes, or some better-formed phrasing.

And I don't know that I'm even *really* looking for some non-romantic analogue, so much as something *far* more grounded in friendship. I don't want to go from zero-to-sixty in twelve seconds. I want a friendship that will grow into a romance.

And maybe this is all just a phase, me dealing with recent hurts...