[Timbit]

khalwa is non-mahrams being alone together, i think.

anyway, i think if you're gonna date (and pretty much all the muslims i know do), then just call it what it is. i have friends who do stupidass things like say "it wasn't a date!" in response to the question "how was your hot date?" they'll be like "well, yeah, i saw her and we went for dinner and caught a play and then had a long walk by the lake and i gave her a present and she loved it." how is that not a date?!

if it's somebody you like and they like you back and you are expressly going out together because you like each other or want to get to know each better (for marriage purposes perhaps), then it's a date. i don't see the point in saying it's not. if it's just you hanging out with your friend of the opposite sex just 'cause you're friends and there's no romantic intent there, then no, it's not a date.