not-date

a date-like activity or activities (i.e. movies, dinner) performed by a guy and a girl together, who have no interest in each other and no intent to date. These activities are performed strictly as friends, although these not-dates can be segues into the awkward phase before actual dating commences. For other people, distinguishing between a date and a not-date is difficult, if not impossible. Thus, those who are on a not-date are often confused by other people that they are dating or vice versa. In the base metaphor, a not-date is the equivalent of sitting in the bleachers and watching the game.