The restaurant was full of candlelight and couples all out for a romantic Friday evening. Giggles and soft words could be heard over the violins playing in the background. Waiters moved with precision around the tables, delivering plates of food and drink to the patrons. At one table sat four ponies who, unlike the rest of the restaurant, were silent.

Sweetie nudged Silver, glancing meaningfully at Cade. She had thought her friend was excited to come, but the grey mare hadn't said much. Cade, Silver's date, was picking at his dinner, occasionally trying, and failing, to start a conversation with Silver. It seemed as if she wanted nothing more than to go home.

This wasn't what Sweetie had envisioned when she had asked Glimpse for a date. She hadn't expected a stallion to sweep Silver off her hooves, but one that made her smile would have been great. She thought Silver would at least make an effort. Instead, they were halfway through their meal with very little input from the other couple.

Silver wasn't even eating her food. She wasn't sighing, but she was slouched in her chair, her gaze on her food. It was obvious to anypony that she didn't want to be there. She had seemed so excited before they left.

Maybe we should have sat in the booth differently. Silver and Sweetie were seated on one side, across from their respective dates. It had seemed the proper thing to do when they arrived, so they could easily look at their dates, but now it didn't.

Glimpse cleared his throat, looking up at Sweetie. "Anymore problems with Karat? I still say you should tell the campus police."

"Oh, no," Sweetie replied. "It'll be fine, I'm sure."

Silver looked between Glimpse and Sweetie. "What happened?"

"You didn't tell her?" Glimpse looked surprised.

"Karat and I sorta had an argument and..." At a pointed look from Glimpse, Sweetie sighed. "It might have ended in a fight."

Silver raised her eyebrows. "Sweetie, why didn't you tell me? Are you okay?" She leaned in closer to her friend, as if to examine her.

Sweetie waved her off. "I'm fine, really. It isn't a big deal."

Silver gave Sweetie a look that let her know the conversation wasn't over, but she let it drop for the time being. Silver looked back to her food, again ignoring Cade.

"Are you ladies ready for a movie?" Cade asked with a grin, looking directly at Silver.

"Yeah," Silver said, finally looking up at him. "What movie are we seeing again?"

"We thought the two of you could decide," Glimpse answered with a smile. Sweetie frowned at the amount of food they were leaving behind as the left the table. It seemed nopony had been very into the dinner. Cade paid for his and Silver's, while Glimpse paid for his and Sweetie's. As they walked out into the cool night air, Glimpse nudged Sweetie in the side and winked at her, causing her to giggle. He moved closer to her and after a moment she felt him wrap his tail around hers.

Sweetie blushed and smiled up at him. She leaned against him as they walked. "If you had been this nice when we first met, I would have said yes sooner," she told him. "I thought you were an arrogant prat."

"I just wanted to...I don't know. Impress you? You're beautiful and smart and I wasn't sure how to get you to like me."

Sweetie just shook her head as they walked into the theater. On any other building, the color combination would have been atrocious. Blue carpet against green walls covered in posters of movies and flashing lights were all vying for attention. Ponies queued in the concession stand and ticketline, though they were short for a Friday.  "So, Silver," she said, turning to her friend. "What do you wanna see?"

The grey mare looked up at the listing and shrugged. "I don't know. Umm...Hoofloose?"

Sweetie grinned. "Oh, I've been wanting to see that. What do you say, guys?"

The two colts assented and purchased the tickets. The group of four made it into the showing room and found seats in the back. The room wasn't very crowded, since the movie had been out for over a week, which suited Sweetie perfectly. As the trailers started, Glimpse wrapped a hoof around her.

She leaned into his side and looked up. He was watching the screen with interest as the feature began. Sweetie giggled at Mik's antics in the beginning, gasped as the reverend slapped his daughter, and smiled in all the right places.

During the race scene, Sweetie glanced over at Silver, to see how she and Cade were doing. She saw Cade lean in and say something, but she couldn't hear it. Then he leaned in closer, obviously trying to kiss Silver. Sweetie smiled, thinking maybe that was just what Silver needed.

Until Silver shook her head. The grey mare leaned up, whispering something into Cade's ear. Cade's eyes widened before he gave Silver a quizzical look. She simply shrugged, shaking her head.

Sweetie's brow furrowed. What had just happened? She was distracted as Glimpse put a hoof around her, pulling her closer to him. "Movie isn't bad," he whispered. Sweetie smiled up at him before he returned his eyes to the screen.

She followed his gaze and watched as Mik stood before the city council for a final time, asking permission for their school to have prom. Not long after, the lights lifted and everypony stood to make their way back into the lobby.

"What a great movie," Sweetie gushed as they walked out of the theater.

"It was alright," Cade nodded. "I just don't get why it was important for the lead stallion to be a gymnast. Added nothing to the plot."

"Oh, but the ending was just perfect! I mean, when they finally had their prom, and the dance at the end..." Sighing happily, Sweetie looked around. "What now?"

Night had fallen while they had watched the movie. The group of four stood under a streetlamp as they discussed what to do.

"We could take a walk in the park."

"We could go to a club."

"Anyone else tired?"

Silver had asked the last question.

Glimpse shook his head. "I was thinking we could do some other stuff. Go dancing, or get drinks or something." He looked hopefully over to Sweetie.

She looked from Glimpse to Silver. This whole date, thought Sweetie was having fun, was to cheer Silver up. It didn't seem to be accomplishing its purpose.

It didn't take long for the ponies to pair off again, Sweetie and Glimpse walking a few feet behind the other couple. Glimpse intertwined their tails and they leaned against each other as they walked.

"I thought she would like this better," Sweetie said. "I was really hoping she would cheer up."

"What's she so upset about anyway?"

"It's...personal. I really don't think I should just tell everypony, you know." Sweetie sighed. "I had fun though. I'm really glad we did this."

Glimpse smiled. "Me too." A comfortable silence fell between the pair as they walked, Sweetie leaning against Glimpse.

"We could do it again, you know," he said. They were nearly to Sweetie's dorm now, but Glimpse stopped, looking over at her. "Another date. Just us next time?"

Sweetie nodded. "Yeah, we could. I think I would like that." A smile slowly formed on her face. For just a moment, silence hung between them as they looked at each other. Then Sweetie felt Glimpse's lips on hers. They were gentle, almost caressing her own. It was different than any kiss she had received before. There were no butterflies in her stomach, no quickening heartbeat. It was just a kiss.

"So, maybe next Friday?"

Sweetie just nodded. "That would probably be okay."

Glimpse chuckled. "See you later then," he said. He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers once more before trotting in the opposite direction.

As Sweetie walked to her dorm, she mulled over the whole date. It had been fun. But...it wasn't what she had planned at all. Not only did she fail to cheer Silver up, but she was confused about what she felt for Glimpse. Did she like him...or was it that she just like the idea of having somepony special? She opened the dorm to find Silver already in the room.

"So, did you like Cade?" Sweetie asked with a smile.

Silver shook her head. "Not really. He's not my type."

"Oh?"

"Yeah." Silver blushed. "I--" The grey mare paused before sighing. "Sweetie, I like mares. I thought you knew."

Sweetie blinked. "Oh," She blushed, embarrassed by her mistake.  "Oh, no. That was horrible then." She groaned.  "I'm sorry Silver. I didn't even..." Sweetie sighed. "That was probably really awkward. I thought when I told you one of Glimpse's friends, you knew it would be a colt or..." She shook her head. "I'm sorry?"

"It's okay. I thought you knew!" Silver started chuckling. "He tried to kiss me during the movie, so I told him. His face was priceless."

Sweetie started giggling. "I can imagine!" Sweetie gasped as a pain shot through her side.

Silver's face changed from one of mirth to one of worry. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Sweetie said, shrugging off the question. She was about to change the subject when Silver spoke again.

"I can't believe you guys got into a fight. We've gotta go to the police."

"Na," Sweetie said, batting away Silver's hoof as she attempted to examine a bruise. "I'm fine, I swear."

"Why were you fighting anyway?" Silver asked.

Sweetie sighed. "I...it's so stupid." Silver moved over to Sweetie's bed, lying across it. "I mean, I don't even get it, you know. One second she's my friend and we're joking, the next she's telling me how unworthy I am to even know Rainbow Dash. I mean..." Sweetie trailed off, shaking her head.

"I think we should just forget everypony for a while." Silver climbed onto the bed with Sweetie, lying beside her. "I mean, Diamond and Karat and...all of them, you know? Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are fine, they aren't turning into monsters."

"What exactly did Diamond say to you?" Sweetie asked. "If you tell me, it could help."

Silver sighed. "Diamond and I were always close. Best friends forever since I can remember. Our families knew each other, of course, but...Diamond was the one who started our friendship. She was so...sweet."

Sweetie snorted, at which Silver gave her a pointed look. "Sorry...continue."

"Well, as I was saying...she was sweet. And in school we were fine, until everyone started getting their cutie marks. Then it became so important to her...and..." Silver sighed. "Her cutie mark is something she would have to explain. But when we made it to high school, I discovered my liking for other fillies...

"Of course, I told DT. She was my best friend. She was my only friend. I wanted to keep it secret. I mean, I know there are other ponies out there who feel this way, too. I just...I wasn't sure, I think. And then I got my first real crush..."

"Oh, who was it?" Sweetie nearly squealed. "Was it Twist? Oh, I bet it was."

"No, it wasn't Twist. Petal."

"Roseluck's cousin?"

Silver giggled and nodded. "Yes, her."

"Did you tell her?"

"I did. And...she is firmly interested in stallions." There was a small hint of sadness in Silver's voice. "Every time I like somepony, they are interested in stallions."

After a small silence, Sweetie looked over at Silver. "How do you know you like mares and not stallions?"

"I...I think about mares a lot more, and I find mares more...I don't know how to explain it. How do you know you like stallions more?"

Sweetie just looked back up at the ceiling. Silver stood and walked over to her own bed. "I think I'll hit the hay. Sweet dreams, Sweetie."

Sweetie moved around in her own bed, slipping under the blanket and turning the lights out with her magic. She lay there, staring at the ceiling. She thought of Glimpse and the date, and she thought of every other stallion she had dated. Had she ever felt something special there, something she didn't feel elsewhere?

Sure, the date had been fun, and she had enjoyed the kiss. She had always liked kissing. But....

"I don't." Sweetie turned to look at Silver.

"Don't what?" came the faint reply. Sweetie couldn't see Silver's face, but she could imagine the mare with her eyes closed, barely even registering that Sweetie had said something.

"I don't know that I like stallions better."

"That's nice," the grey mare said, shifting. "We'll just fix it in the morning. I promise."

Sweetie chuckled. Silver had no clue what the conversation was about, but that didn't matter. Sweetie turned to face the wall, closing her eyes, but sleep wouldn't come. Her mind was too busy sorting this new information.

Grimace had been her first real 'coltfriend' in high school. He had been the bad boy type, and she remembered how her stomach had fluttered when he spoke to her, and how she couldn't take her eyes off him. Thankfully, she had moved on, but most of her other coltfriends hadn't lasted long.

She had thought she was in love with Cyril, until she found out he was dating Twist at the same time. He had been her last coltfriend, though that was nearly a year ago now.

Yes, she knew she had crushed on other mares before. It was probably perfectly natural. She had even had a crush on Apple Bloom after they had both received their cutie marks. It hadn't lasted long though.

Her thoughts finally drifted back to Glimpse. She liked him...didn't she? Or did she just like idea of having a very special somepony? The kiss hadn't made her feel anything. It had simply been a kiss, nothing more.

She sighed and shook her head. When did life get so complicated?

Every time I like someone, they are interested in stallions.

Sweetie furrowed her brow. She wasn't sure why she thought of that line, but it made her wonder, who did Silver like now?

How do you know you like stallions more?

No...but...maybe?

Sweetie looked over at her friend again. Could Silver have a crush on her? What did she think of Sweetie dating Glimpse?

"Sweetie Belle, you're overthinking it. Go to bed," the white mare told herself. Everything could be sorted out in the morning.She rolled onto her other side and closed her eyes again.

Sweetie hadn't moved at all through the night after falling asleep, so when she awoke the next morning, her side was sore. She groaned as she sat up and looked around the room. Sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains covering the window, shining on the scarf Sweetie had worn on the double date.

Sweetie blinked a couple times before recalling everything that had happened. "Perfect," she muttered. She looked over at Silver, who was still asleep. She sleeps so much. I bet she would sleep all day if I let her.

Sighing and pulling herself out of bed, Sweetie made her way to the shower, turning the hot water high to relieve her tense muscles. As she began applying the shampoo, her mind wandered to the conversation with Silver again.

It wasn't enough to work with. Silver could have meant she liked Sweetie, or she could have meant just exactly what she said. She needed to talk to Silver about it, but it wasn't like she could just walk up to the grey mare and ask if she was interested.

Plus Silver was still upset over the fight with Diamond Tiara. Sweetie started, realizing something. What if Silver and Diamond had been together? What if Diamond had broken up with her? What if...

A pounding on the door brought her out of her thoughts. "Sweetie, come on, I have to pee!"

The white mare chuckled and quickly rinsed herself and opened the door. The instant the gap was large enough, Silver was in the door and ushering Sweetie out.

Sweetie made her bed as she waited on Silver to come out. She sat on her bed, staring absently at the bathroom door trying to figure out how to start the topic again. As it turned out, she didn't have to.

The instant Silver came out of the bathroom, she smirked. "So, you don't know if you like colts better?" Sweetie just shook her head. "There is an easy way to find out, you know."

"How?"

"You obviously like Glimpse. I've never heard you talk about a mare." Silver made a gesture as if to say the rest were obvious.

"I've liked mares before," Sweetie said. "Just--I never considered it a real option. You grow up and marry a colt and have foals. That's just what happens."

There was a subtle change in Silver's stance, almost seeming to become smaller.  "That's why I didn't parade the information around." Silver looked at the ground before looking back up at Sweetie. "Have you ever liked your friends?"

Sweetie blushed faintly. "I had a crush on Bloom once, but that was a long time ago. I'm way over it."

"And you never considered another friend?"

Sweetie furrowed her brow, trying to tell what exactly Silver was trying to ask. "I dunno. What about you and Diamond?"

Silver shook her head. "No, Diamond is into stallions. And I never really felt that way about her. She was like a sister. It would have seemed weird, I guess." Silver's ears drooped as she thought about the fuschia mare.

Sweetie bit her lip, trying to think of a way to cheer Silver up again. She had done so well last night, even if the date wasn't as great as she had planned. "So..." Sweetie said, fishing for something to say. When nothing came to her, she sat on her bed and sighed. "While we're on the subject, are you ever going to tell me what Diamond said to you?"

Silver's ears flattened more. She joined Sweetie on the bed, sitting silently for a moment. Sweetie waited. Finally, Silver began. "There is a lot of personal stuff going on, as I guess you've surmised. I was kicked out of my house. I might have lied a little on why. Some of it was because of my major, but some of it was because I told my parents."

"What? But that shouldn't--"

"Like I said before, Sweetie. Your family is different than mine. I told you before, my father likes to fix my future. He had picked out a husband for me. I said no, which he was fine with, but he did remind me that when I find a stallion he needed to be prominent. I said I didn't like stallions. Things went downhill from there." Silver took a deep breath before continuing.

"I wrote Diamond, it's a wonder she could even read the letter from the tears. I had never made an effort to hide my preference, and I really didn't think he would react that way. I thought they knew, actually." Silver snorted, shaking her head. "Diamond told me I had to come to Ponyville so we could talk...and then at the train station she..." Silver closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she spoke next, her voice came out in a whisper. "Her exact words were 'Sweetie doesn't mind rooming with an worthless fillyfooler?' I know that may not seem that bad, but coming from her, and the stuff she knows I've dealt with, it was a harsh blow."

Sweetie reached out and pulled Silver close as the grey mare wiped tears from her eyes. She wished she was better at words, that she knew the right thing to say in these situations. Sweetie hummed a melody as she felt Silver's breath become more calm.

Silver didn't need long to recover. She sat up, taking a deep breath and putting on a huge forced smile. "So, Apple Bloom, huh? I never took you as the earth pony type."

"Ohmigosh, you cannot tell her! She doesn't know and never will. Promise?"

Silver chuckled at the reaction. "Yeah, I promise."

"Silver?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever had a crush on a friend?"

The grey mare blushed. "I, um, since Diamond and I aren't friends anymore, you're kinda my only friend now. I don't exactly lend well to the craft of friend-making."

"That doesn't answer my question," Sweetie said with a grin.

Silver bit her lip, before motioning with her hoof for Sweetie to lean in closer, so she could whisper. Sweetie had a cocky smile on her face as she compiled, her ear coming to a stop not an inch away from Silver.  "You see, the thing is..."

Everything went pink. Sweetie flailed for a moment before untangling herself from the sheet Silver had thrown over her head. "You... should have... seen yourself." Silver said between laughing fits. Once she had regained some composure, she grinned at Sweetie. "Really, it was funny, you were all--oof!" As she brought a hoof up to in example, however, she overbalanced and fell off the bed, which only made her laugh harder.

"Serves you right," Sweetie said as she grinned down at the mare. "Tricking me like that."

"What did you expect, me to confess my undying love? I mean really?"

Sweetie grinned as an idea popped into her head. She moved off the bed and lay where Silver was still sprawled on the floor. "Well, I just wanted to see if maybe you'd like to...you know..."

Silver's smile turned to a look of confusion. "I know?"

Grinning, Sweetie leaned close to Silver. Looking into Silver's eyes, Sweetie moved until their lips were barely centimeters apart. She could feel Silver's breath quicken as she moved closer.

Suddenly, Sweetie broke out into a fit of giggles. Silver was staring at Sweetie with a dumbfounded look on her face.

"Wha--I--you--huh?"

Sweetie took a few deep breaths as she tried to stop giggling. Silver sat up, staring at Sweetie.   The grey mare tilted her head to the side, a small smile spreading across her lips.

"Sweetie?"

"Yeah, Silver?"

"I do like you." Next Chapter: XIV: Problems Estimated time remaining: 36 Minutes