Derpy and Note Pad eventually made it to Rarity's boutique. Note Pad knocked on the door and waited alongside Derpy, who's eyes drifted around aimlessly.

She's determined, I'll give her that.

Rarity opened up and smiled at Note Pad. "Hello again Mister Pad!" She looked over at Derpy. "My bag!"

Rarity took her bag back from Derpy, slinging it on. "Thank you, Note Pad," she said with a smile.

"Hey!" said Derpy, "I found the bag, not him!"

Rarity and Note Pad both ignored her and spoke.

"Now then, the bits?" said Rarity.

"Of course," said Note Pad.

Rarity went inside the boutique and returned with a small pouch of bits, giving them to Note Pad. He smirked and put them away.

"Thank you, Miss Rarity," said Note Pad, "Have a good day. Derpy, let's go."

"Um, don't you want my contact information so that we may go on a date-" and then Rarity was cut off when Note Pad himself closed her door in her face.

Note Pad wordlessly turned and walked, with Derpy heading close behind him. It was almost evening and Derpy's stomach rumbled.

"I'm hungry too," said Note Pad, much to Derpy's embarrassment. He stopped shortly to give her the bit pouch that she had earned.

"Where are we eating?" he asked, surprisingly kindly.

Derpy looked around. "Um... there's this great restaurant in Cloudsdale..."

"No wings," said Note Pad, referring to himself.

"Oh right..."

"And please, none of this "Sugarcube Corner" nonsense either. I don't plan on wasting all my good money on my dentist."

Derpy smiled, then giggled at this. "Okay um... oh! I know a place!"

Note Pad was surprised with her choice. He never thought such a fancy restaurant could exist in Ponyville. And yet here he was, seated across from Derpy in what was known as The Silver Barn.

The lighting was great and not too bright, and everything about this place was "Ponyville Fancy". Even light music played in the distance.

"Derpy, there's no way you could afford this with just a hundred bits," said Note Pad.

"Oh well uh, I had a lot more left over from my old job. It's fine." said Derpy.

Note Pad figured the least he could do was help pay.

"What was your old job?" he asked, intrigued.

"I was a mailmare," said Derpy, "I became a detective this morning," she said smiling.

He nodded. "Do you have a boyfriend or something that knows about your sudden, unannounced, ridiculous "job change"?"

Derpy frowned. "I'm single. It's just me and my daughter Dinky."

Note Pad paused. "Oh..."

There was an awkward moment of silence before their waiter came with their complimentary bread and wine. He left shortly after.

Derpy immediately reached for the wine bottle, pouring herself a glass. "It's kinda hard, raising little Dinky by myself..." she said, shortly downing the glass.

Note Pad felt some regret at bringing up the topic. "If you don't mind my asking, Derpy, who was..."

Derpy gave him a sullen "please don't ask" look. He changed the topic.

"Easy with the wine, you're drinking it down like water."

"It's good," she replied, "You should have some."

"I don't drink," he stated simply.

"How come?" asked Derpy, "Afraid you'll get so drunk you'll take off those glasses? They're practically goggles."

He frowned. "I don't drink because my father drank."

Derpy was confused. "And that's... bad?"

Note Pad nodded. "He drank too much, Derpy." He glanced away. "I don't want to talk about him anymore. I mean it."

"I'm sorry..." said Derpy, sighing.

Note Pad tried changing the subject. "How old is your daughter?"

"Seven," said Derpy.

"Oh, nice..." said Note Pad.

Eventually their waiter returned with menus. Note Pad and Derpy settled on pasta.

Note Pad swirled his fork around his pasta. He felt so awkward and out of place. Derpy looked up at him.

"You're from where again?"

"Manehattan," he said.

"I've always wanted to go there," said Derpy, twirling pasta around her fork, "I delivered packages a few times, but I've never relaxed there or enjoyed the scenery."

She ate her pasta, enjoying the flavor and having more.

"You spend enough time anywhere, you realize there's not much to look at," said Note.

"I'm sure there is if you're open-minded," said Derpy, having more pasta.

"So you're saying I'm close-minded?" asked Note.

"What?" said Derpy, "N-No, I'm not..."

Note Pad rolled his eyes behind his dark sunglasses. He looked back up from his pasta at Derpy. She was staring down at her food with a sad expression.

"Nevermind," she said.

Note Pad had to admit, Derpy was great-looking. The light of the restaurant really brought out her bright yellow eyes.

Even if they were showing sadness.

Something feels off... thought Note Pad.

Yet despite their growing tension, they continued to silently eat pasta.

Derpy glanced up slightly to look at him. With his dark glasses which covered his eyes from view, his light red coat, and black mohawk mane (similar to that pony with the hourglass cutie mark, now that Derpy thought about it), she thought about how handsome he actually was.

I wish he'd notice me, she thought to herself.