Walking to the restaurant

Andrew noticed some glances, mostly from men, in his direction as they walked through the mall, one glance even fully looking him up and down. It was awkward, and Andrew leaned into Brian hoping to send the signal "I'm attached." It didn't seem to reduce the glances.

"So Andrea, what finally made you decide to go out with me?" Brian had put on a playfully exaggerated "voice." Clearly going along with the theatre of what they were doing.

"Well," Andrew stumbled. He knew he was meant to be playing the fictional "Andrea", but at the same time the whole point was to be boosting Brian's confidence. "I suppose, I finally realised how hansom you are!"

"Awww, come on. That's not true."

"It is! You've got this.. rugged hansomness to you."

"Rugged hansomness? Seriously?" but he was smiling and practically laughing.

"Well, you know, not everyone has to look like an underwear model to look good, but you still have a beauty to you."

"Well, that's easy for you to say, you could probably pull off being an underwear model..."

"I... I... " Andrew blushed hard, even through the makeup.

"Oh," responded Brian, clearly enjoying himself. "So you can dish out the compliments, but you can't take them? That's not very fair!"

"It's not... I don't mean...." flustered Andrew. He waited for Brian to interrupt but he didn't. Collecting his thoughts he thought up a response and turned to his pretend date with a straight face "I just don't think that underwear is the right thing to talk about on a first date."

"So... third date then?"

"Oh shut up!" Now Andrew was laughing, playfully nudging Brain with his shoulder to emphasis what he said. Brian took it in good humour and the pair walked on in good spirits. Maybe this won't be so bad, thought Andrew, just two friends having a good time.