Gary was looking at the breakfast menu with Miranda. He had been unsure about savoury muffins as he remembered she disliked them. She ordered one anyway.

- I love now that you're doing breakfast.

-I prefer to call it brunch.

- I couldn't be more sorry. I mean, combining two meals into one? That's insanity personified. What next, 'linner'?

- Or 'lupper'.

- Funnier, 'lupper'.

They were sniggering at the table when they heard some mimicking laugh behind. Turning around, they saw Stevie and Clive with restaurants vouchers, attempting to set them up on a romantic date. They dismissed the offer, with Gary taking a quick look at Miranda. She said just friends. Clive insisted.

- Did I mention that the restaurant is Wilson's?

- Wilson's? Clive, you know I have been desperate to try the food there. - Ok. Maybe we can just go as friends. Be casual, Gary, you can do this. - We can give it a shot. What's the worst thing that could happen?

- Hm - Miranda thought out loud - humiliation, embarrassment, explosions, collision, tears, nudity and death. But that was just bad luck involving a rogue creme brûlée torch, unlikely to happen twice. So I'd say let's go for it. - they shook hands.

- Ok I will give them a call.

He told Clive that he would leave early for the date. 3 hours is probably enough prepping time? He wanted to make an effort. He hasn't been on a date for a while, and this time it's with his long term crush. It's a bit unreal, going on a first proper date with her, seeing how long they have been going on about being just friends. On the other hand, her intense shyness around him seemed to have improved. For once, she did agree to go on a date with him. He ironed his shirt, humming along to the tune of Feeling Good.

They were sitting at the restaurant, checking out the menu. Gary was a lot more nervous than he had imagined. He kept telling himself that this allegedly would just be a meal between friends, but could not shake the thoughts of romance with Miranda. She looked lovely tonight and was saying something funny about the menu. He felt even more attracted to her than ever. Will something happen tonight between us? I have waited for so long, but is now the right time? She looks amazing though... I don't think I can hold back any longer. I suppose it's a good thing that we are set up - I should use this opportunity to ask her out. Ok, courage, Preston... go!

- I think we should sleep together.

- Sorry?

- I think we should sleep together. - looking at a shocked Miranda, he smiled charmingly and went on. - shall I explain?

- Yes please thank you very much to you please sir thank to you. (Laugh)

- I think Stevie and Clive might be right. There might be an 'us' that we never - he hesitated, unsure if she felt the same - ... do you?

- Yes! I mean I've always thought there was...

- Something, yes. - Wow. - You know what they say, when you have a friend whom you - really fancy - fancied in the past but never kissed and after a while you're too good friends and it gets awkward and embarrassing. We need to break this awkwardness. Anyway, that's my theory. - Good one Gary, you sounded cool and manly there.

- That's an excellent theory. I must say, obviously I don't usually just leap into bed with someone...

- No no no, me neither. I mean, I had some fun in the past, as I'm sure you have.

- Loads. Well the odd bit of predominantly other kinds of fun to be honest. Let's not dwell?

- Sure. Anyway, if this is our moment, I don't want to regret not doing anything about it.

- Really?

- Really.

- Well me neither. - Hearing her words, he smiled. At last, he managed to ask Miranda out. She no longer ran away from him. She was looking radiant. He put his hand up, and their fingers intertwined.

- Gary, are we finally?...

- I know! How long has it taken us?

They were having a brief ecstatic moment when Miranda spotted a flambé at a table nearby, and quickly threw water over thinking that the guest was on fire. Gary was laughing, taking her hand and running out of the restaurant. They walked over, still hand in hand, to a burger van nearby. This took him back to when they first met in uni - he fondly reminisced her adorable shyness on their introduction, the pure joy on her face when tasting his muffin, her clumsiness which led to them having almost a romantic moment, and finally her carefree laughs towards the end of the night. He started fancying her then. A bit overdressed, but hey, we are on a date! A date with Miranda! I won't be able to stop saying it.

They went back to her flat, and the casualness earlier disappeared. Gary was quite nervous - he would spend the night with Miranda whom he has liked for 15 years. His previous dates were generally a nice meal, lots of flirting predominantly from the girl, followed by lots of drinks and mindless sex. He normally just went with the flow, never intending to form an actual relationship with anyone. This time, he knew he wanted to be with her. He wanted their first time to be special.

Too many thoughts raced through his head when they finally sat down on the couch. It's time. But I'm so restless. He suggested some music, and she agreed, playing a shuffle. The song started with some flamenco style music, only to be followed by suggestive lyrics 'my humps, my humps', taking them aback. Miranda quickly reached across to turn off the music, and next thing he knew her face was inches away from his.

'Hello'.

'Hi'.

You are stunning. I still can't believe we are a thing. He was slightly taken aback when she suggested turning the lighting down. They were both excited and nervous, he supposed. They went in for a kiss when he burped. Gosh, I have indigestion. At the worst possible time.

They tried again a few times, but it was clear that they couldn't go on. It also seemed Miranda switched to the comical friends mode. Disappointingly, he had to take his leave.

- Ok this is a bit overplanned?

- A bit clinical, yes.

- Can we try this again tomorrow. When we're less...

- Burpy.

- I think this would work better when we're a bit more spontaneous.

- Certainly. - as he unwillingly departed, he glanced at Miranda once more.

- Sorry, I...

- No, don't worry.

- See you tomorrow. - he took her hands, looking at her with great regret. He hoped she knew how much he had wanted them to be together tonight.

Gary saw Miranda walking in the next morning, smiling radiantly. She's here for a 'wedmin' lunch with Tilly. He told her he had taken the afternoon off so that they could be 'spontaneous'. Taking her hands, he looked at her suggestively before disappearing to the kitchen. He could sense the increased confidence in both of them. Last night might not have gone as planned, but at least there was no awkwardness. He wondered at the thought of being intimate with her. Work hours flew by whilst he was busy with these naughty imagines. When he was finishing the shift, he heard Miranda mentioning something about going to the printer. He had an idea ... he suggested walking through the park.

He took Miranda's hands and led her to a bench. 'It's so nice to be out of the kitchen. Shall we sit down for a while?'. He looked at her, wondering how to be spontaneous. A thought came across.

- So here I thought we might be...

- What, al dente? Sorry, that's pasta. Al fresco?

- Yes... al fresco. Come on.

They ran over to a nearby bush. He drew her close, when suddenly she flicked her hair vigorously. 'Are you alright?'. 'Yes... no actually there's a bee in my hair!'. She panicked, flipping her head trying to shake off the bee. He tried to calm her down, 'You will anger it', and the next moment they both fell down to the ground, him on top of her. Wow, that escalated quickly. Spontaneous. I am inches away from her lips. Here we go. The moment was interrupted by the sound of Tilly and Penny being nearby. Then came the hilarious story where they had to invent an explanation of how they were hiding by the bush, something about a tiger and dragon escaping from the local circus. When the intruders were gone, Miranda panicked.

- I knew we shouldn't have been spontaneous.

- Listen, I know what to do. I'll go to the printers, then come over to yours and we'll be spontaneous, say, around 5pm... precisely 5pm? - he corrected himself seeing her expression.

- Thank you.

He collected the paper invites, and walked quickly to Miranda's flat out of excitement. I'm a bit early, but it should be fine. He came in saying hello, but heard Stevie shouting 'We're in the bathroom'!

- Is everything ok? - he asked, confused. After a minute, Miranda emerged from the bathroom, looking troubled.

- Look, this really isn't working. I wish you hadn't suggested it.

- I'm sorry, I didn't want to put pressure on you.- She has given up?

- No no you didn't, it's just...can we drop it? I'm sorry.

She closed the bathroom door, and he waited some minutes to see if she would change her mind. Nothing. Disappointed, Gary quickly left the flat and went home. She's already no longer interested? However I can sense something is off. Perhaps she's still not ready and we are progressing too quickly? She has only recently become comfortable with me anyway. Or is she put off by all the distractions? Thinking furiously, he came up with an idea. It is quite out there, but I will take the risk.

An hour later, he came back to Miranda's flat and saw the door open. He could see her hovering over the kitchen, and quickly came up behind wrapping his arms around her.

- Surprise! I know you said we should chill, but I am getting more and more desperate to kiss you so this is a no-pressure surprise visit ok? I will go with whatever you want.

- That is so sweet... are you wearing a dressing gown?

- Yes, surprised myself too, walking here like this. - he opened his dressing gown to reveal himself wearing only boxers. - sexy!

- Gary, look, I can't do this right now, not because I don't want to but... oh well - they went in for a kiss to be interrupted, again, by the voice of her mother and Tilly. He quickly put his gown back on, attempting to run to be bedroom (Miranda said no) or bathroom (not there either), and they got caught by the party. Then Dreamboat Charlie came from the bathroom and Rupert came from the bedroom, both wearing boxers. Realising her fiancée was cheating on her, again, Tilly shoved Rupert an angry rant and both she and Miranda kicked him out of the flat.

- Look, I can explain later, but I'd better talk to Tilly.

- Sure. And look don't worry about us, if it's meant to happen, it will happen. - He took a look at Miranda before leaving and closed the door, feeling deflated.

The general confusion with Miranda's hectic life was overshadowed by his own disappointment that they did not have a chance to be together. Is it getting too tricky to be together?