If I'm going outside with a girl for a normal hangout (not a date), how do I know if it's expected from me to escalate since it's not a date?

How do I know if I'm friendzoned even before the meeting?

If I want something more with a girl, I know I gotta escalate from the first meeting, but it's freaky because I don't know her and how could we like each other if it's too early. But on later meetings it's late to do something and I definitely get stuck in a friendzone...

This is like fucking nuclear pshycics to me I swear...