honestly? i think it could go either way. that sounds confusing but like.. i feel like, you could meet someone or bump into someone, etc etc, and then feel like you like them a lot or feel../something/ about them but youre not sure? and then you guys start talking, and then get the friendship/relationship/whatever building up, and then you realize the feeling you felt then was love.
or, it could go where you meet the person, think they're cool and have a lot of common interests, and then start talking to the person, building up a friendship first and then relationship. however no matter which situation, i firmly believe in getting to know the person first and building up something, before just jumping in a relationship. i have made the mistake of just jumping in a relationship before, and it didnt work out, for various reasons.
but..uh, i guess thats my view point. it seems complicated i guess, to me at least. but thats how i see it.