A date
A date is when two people go out and pretend they’re just hanging out, even though one or both of them want to be in a real relationship but are too scared to admit it.
We went to the mall and called it a date, even though I knew he wanted to be my boyfriend.
They went to the movies and called it hanging out, but I knew they were just pretending.
He said we were just hanging out, but I know he was trying to ask me out.