can a boy-girl friendship last long?

This guy and I were friends for like 10 years, and then we started becoming attracted to one another. We went on a date and then everything went down hill. The friendship was so messed up after that. We haven't talked for like 4 years now. I think they can be friends, but the more time they spend with one another...eventually they will become attracted to one another which causes the situation I described above.