If you don’t know what a “Date Party” is, it’s basically when a sorority or fraternity plan to take the sisters or the brothers to a club of some sorts. The popular thing to do is to get set up. They take you or you take them on a bus for way too long of a time, you get super dressed up (probably in black), dance and pretend like you know each other, then either intensively hookup on the way back or sleep/pretend you’re sleeping.

I decided last minute to go to “Date Party.” My friend wanted me too, and she was super excited, so I went. I bought a last minute dress at a nearby store, we got ready together and I actually had a good time.

Why I say actually is because no one goes to “Date Party”alone. If you don’t have a date, you at least take a friend, lol, and I didn’t.

Before getting on the bus, we go to a house where a lot of us pregame the party. I looked around and everyone was talking to his or her date. Obviously, they were, why wouldn’t they? I third wheeled my friend and her date most of the time. I’d say this was beyond awkward for me.

I thought people were staring because it always feels like that in the moment, but no one really cared. So, I started to have some fun with just me. A lot of people asked, “Where’s your date?” and my response most of the time was a laugh and a simple, “Didn’t bring one.”

On the bus, I was the only person sitting alone, this sounds kind of sad but it was really fun. I watched one of my best friends be so happy. I am a hopeless romantic, so I adored watching them. Not in a creepy way I promise! They looked at each other in a beautiful way, and I hope that this lasted more than just tonight.

I wrote this in my notes on my phone as I sat on the bus chilling by myself:

“Currently on the bus trying to look out the window and not at the couple in front of me, probably doing more than making out. I’m listening to six different conversations: one about politics, one about what type of cologne the guy is wearing, one about camp and one is pretty much an awkward silence.”

We got there, and it immediately was a hookup fest. I couldn’t help but laugh a little. As weird as I thought it was, it was also nice, getting a night to just get dressed up and a guy or a girl finally being able to hang out with someone that they really like. This was college, and I thought it was quite funny yet also pretty amazing.

I danced like no one was watching because no one was.

I took pictures of my friends and their dates, and it put a big smile on my face. I was proud of myself for going. It seems like nothing and not a big deal, but I was happy to take something that could have been horrible and make it into something fun.