Can a man and a woman just be friends?

This is one question that I find I ask a lot and most definitely is constantly popping up in my life...why is that so many guys mistake hanging out/friend time as a date?? Let me give you an example of somewhat recent events in my life that causes me to ask such a question...

In high school I had more guy friends than I did female friends. Never once in the 6 years (my high school had Jr High included) did the issue of feelings or dating ever become a topic. We all knew that we were just friends and lil throw back from 1999 - we were mad chill with each other. Fast forward to 2011 - its been about 10 years (i think i just vomited a lil) since we all have graduated from high school. We went our separate ways, however with the use of Facebook & Twitter have reconnected. I found 2 of my old high school buddies on Facebook. We got to chatting a bit and decided to meet up/hang out like old times. Considering it has been about 10yrs, I didn't think twice about it - here is someone that I spent all day, everyday with why would anything change?

Ya well I guess that's where my blonde-ness comes in. I go hang out - have an awesome time, we re-cap on old boyfriends/girlfriends, jobs, parents, apartments, share photos of our pets. I go home thinking that was awesome! My old buddy is just as great as he was in high school.....WRONG.

Two days later, I get a text - "Had a great time on our date, cant wait to see you again!"   Hold up!!!! WAIT!! When the hell did we go on a date???? was that really a date? Did I get duped into something? WTF is going on?

How is meeting up with someone you haven't seen in x amount of years a date? We never dated once in the past? Nor had the topic of feelings ever come up to give the impression that I was into him...So what exactly qualified this to be a date? Is it because I'm single? and if I weren't, would you have not come out?

Immediately following that text, I replied "we were on a date?" and that's where it got awkward. I started receiving texts of various sexual things that this not so gentleman-like person wanted to do with me. Maybe I'm old school, but ah since when did that ever make a woman want a man? Unless your a prostitute and are getting paid to have a man talk to you in that way (and ladies who are  - All the power to you), that is a complete turn off.

Long story short, that "re-kindled friendship" ended as quickly as it started, and sadly the experience put a damper on the memories I had of my so called "awesome" friend.