Later that day

We were all congregated around the kitchen table, discussing the plans for the day. Ariel seemed the most annoyed about the rain.

"I know what's going to happen," she said. "We are going to push it to tomorrow then we will forget about it once the sun comes up and everyone starts drinking and we'll never go."

Suddenly, Chelsea piped up. "I have an idea," she said. "I was thinking, as we were telling Liam about how we all met and how long we'd known each other, that most of us haven't been on a first date in a long time. I thought that might be fun."

"What do you mean?" Chris asked.

"Well... we could have a themed date night tonight and the theme would be First Date."

"That sounds fun and all but why would I want to go on another first date with Robert?" Ariel asked.

"Hey!" Robert shouted.

"Well..." Chelsea said. She looked at Lauren for confirmation before continuing. "It wouldn't be with Robert."

I could see everyone simultaneously connecting the dots while also trying to convince themselves that Chelsea didn't actually mean what we all knew she meant. Everyone's eyes darted around, searching frantically for the person who would shout "WHAT?! THAT'S INSANE!"

Nobody did.

"OK," I said, taking the hint to try to drag some of the awkward attention off of Chelsea. I started talking, hoping that my brain would work at least a step ahead of my mouth. "That sounds like it could be sort of fun, actually. Besides Lauren and Liam, we've all been dating each other for forever. We're all part of this group and we see each other all the time and hang out but I don't really hang out one-on-one with Ariel too often. Or Lisa. Or Lauren. It could be fun to have a silly night out together."

I think it all made sense. At the very least, it was something. Everyone else was content just sitting and staring blankly ahead or looking down at their twiddling thumbs.

"That does sound sort of fun," Lauren added. Liam looked at her, surprised. All of a sudden, everyone's eyes went to Robert and Ariel. Ariel looked over at Robert then back at us.

"I think it could be fun," Ariel said. "I'd be game."

"Yea," Robert quickly added. "Yea, let's do it."

We just needed Lisa and Chris.

"I mean... if everyone else wants to..." Chris said, shrugging. He gave Lisa a look that said Please don't kill me. Lisa smiled.

"I'm game."

"OK, then," Lauren said. "I guess it's settled."

"How are we going to do this, then?" Chris asked.

"I think there's two ways to go about it," Chelsea said. "First way - we all actually go out on dates. Dinner, bowling, movie, whatever. The other option is, we stay here. We have dinner then we have a movie night in the theater where everyone sits with their new date."

Everyone's wheels were spinning again, flashing through the scenario where we are all in the same theater, mere feet from each other while on a "date" with someone who was not our significant other.

"I like the first idea," Ariel replied.

"I don't know," Lauren contended. "I don't know if I want to go out. I like the idea of staying in."

"Let's take a vote," I suggested. "Going out, staying in, or indifferent."

We went around the table. Ariel and Chris voted to go out. Robert, Chelsea and Liam voted indifferent. Lauren and Lisa voted to stay in. It came down to me. I was the deciding vote.