Author's note: So this is my new story. Won't say much: it'll just be short, sweet, and to the point. The first thing I want to say is HOLY CRAP TWENTY ONE PILOTS EMOTIONAL ROADSHOW IS THE BEST THING EVER. Secondly, Thank you all for reading my crap. It means a lot that something I do for fun can bring so many people together to share a common enjoyment. This has truly been a change to my life, and I'm glad that I started writing in the first place. Anyways, without further adieu, I present to you the first chapter of Treading on Thin Ice!
Today is like any other day. There's schoolwork from Professor Port and Oobleck's classes that I have to do, friendly banter between my sister and I, and of course my overwhelmingly large crush on my partner, Weiss. Normally I can just ignore the way I feel whenever she is in the room, but the school dance is coming up and I'm wanting to ask her to it. It's been a little hard lately dealing with my feelings for my white-haired partner. She's been spending a lot more time with Neptune lately, and I'm jealous. Like, extremely so. I don't know what it is about him that makes her want to be around him so much, but whatever it is, I wish I had it instead. I just hope she can see what I have and realize that I have things to give too.
Weiss yells at me, breaking me out of my thoughts. "Dolt! I was talking to you!" She's standing below my precariously hung bunk bed, looking up with those bright blue eyes that I could lose myself in. She's wearing her normal combat skirt and bolero jacket, and she's looking up at me impatiently. She looks so beautiful like she always does. Hopefully, she'll think about me in the same way that I think about her. Maybe her feelings for Neptune aren't super genuine. Or maybe they're not shared, and she'll need someone to help comfort her. I can be that person. I know there might be a chance.
"Sorry, Weiss. I must have spaced out. What did you say?" This visibly irritates her, and I regret it immediately.
"I said that I will be going out for a while. I have something that I need to do." Weiss turns from me and starts rummaging through her bag for something, finding it quickly. It's her Scroll. She puts it inside the pocket on the inside of her jacket.
"Can I come too? What are you gonna do?" I ask.
"I don't think so, Ruby. Neptune actually asked me to meet him in the courtyard. He said there was something he needs to talk about with me. I don't know what it is, but it seems important." Of course it has to do with him.
"Oh…" I can't help but sound a little dejected and feeling disappointed when hearing this. See, the thing about my feelings for Weiss is that she doesn't know about them. But I plan on changing that when I ask her to the dance today.
"Take care of the room, okay? Blake and Yang are studying in the library. Honestly, I don't know how Blake manages to get her to study." Weiss turns around and leaves, mumbling softly to herself. She closes the door and walks down the hallway towards the courtyard. I immediately get up and head over to Team JNPR's room. The thought of her going to Neptune sends me into a panic. I need some advice. I don't know how I'm going to ask her out, but I know it needs to happen. I need advice fast before Neptune asks her out before me. Or even worse, Weiss asks Neptune. I knock on the door and wait for someone to answer. I want to go talk to Jaune because I think he's been dealing with a similar issue, and I want to see how he's dealing with it.
Nora's voice calls from beyond the door. "We're coming! Just give us a second!" A few seconds later, Pyrrha opens the door and sees me standing in the doorway.
"Hello again!" Pyrrha says smiling. Then she notices that my face is sadder than normal. "Is something the matter?"
"I have a question to ask Jaune. It's really important. Can I come in?" Pyrrha says nothing, but motions me in with her hand. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome, Ruby. Jaune is in Vale getting groceries right now, but I'm sure that you could ask me if you need to talk to someone. Now, what is this question of yours?" I look around the room, thinking of where to start. Nora looks at me curiously, and I can't help feeling embarrassed by my question. I just can't keep it to myself anymore, and I need to move forward if I'll ever be able to deal with my feelings.
"I… I really like this person, but I know that they like someone else. I want to ask them to the dance today, but I don't know if I can."
"Then do it. No ridiculous schemes, no pick up lines. Just be honest," Pyrrha says. She's looking at me intently.
"But what if I-?" I'm cut off by Pyrrha talking again.
"You can't get it wrong if it's the truth." She smiles. I smile back at her.
"You're right. Thanks, Pyrrha. I owe you!" I run into the room, grab the flower of my namesake from a nearby vase on the shelf next to my bed because I know roses are Weiss's favorite. I put the vase there after I got it as a present during our white elephant gift exchange between RWBY and JNPR. Yang filled it with flowers. Roses, tulips, and other flowers that I don't know what they're called fill the vase. I'm sorry, Yang, but I need to borrow this rose. It's very important. I use my semblance to dash out of the dorm room and down to the courtyard. I'm visibly excited, and I can't wait to ask Weiss to go to the dance with me. Before Neptune gets there. I have to beat him to her. Flowers have bloomed, birds are chirping, and people are outside messing around. It's definitely spring time, and it becomes more noticeable to me as a cold wind blows by, stopping me in my tracks. After a second of warming up, I walk the rest of the way to the courtyard. I extend my hand with the rose, practicing what I want to say.
"Hey, Weiss. I was wondering if you'd like to dance with me at the… at the dance?" I shake my head and try again.
"Hi again, Weiss. Y'know, there's that dance soon, and I was thinking maybe you and I could go… together?" I like that one. That's the one I'm going to use. I start walking with more confidence, smiling to myself for finally getting the courage to ask Weiss out. My heart is beating madly, and my palms are starting to get sweaty the more I think about it, but I know it'll be worth it. I turn a corner to see Weiss sitting at the edge of the fountain, surrounded by the setting sun on the horizon, so I start to pick up my pace. I walk faster and faster, holding the rose in one hand and my chest with the other, but I stop dead in my tracks when Neptune approaches her. I'm close enough so that I can hear their conversation.
"Hey, Neptune! How are you on this fine day?" Weiss stands up and walks to meet him. She seems peppier around him than she does around me. All she is when I'm around is annoyed and irritated. I can't help but feel a little saddened at this realization, but nonetheless, I will ask Weiss to the dance as soon as she is done talking with Neptune.
"I'm aight. Listen, I have a question for you." He smiles at her, then looks behind him. I hope this isn't what I think it is.
"Is something wrong, Neptune?" Weiss asks with a hint of concern in her voice. I really wish she'd show those kinds of emotions towards me. The more and more I think about this, I don't know if I should… But I'm going to because I need to let her know how I feel!
"Nothing's wrong, I'm just a little nervous. That's all." He laughs nervously and puts his hand on the back of his head.
"Nervous about what?" Weiss seems genuinely not sure of what's coming next, but even I can see what he's doing. He's asking her to the dance…
"Well, I'm nervous because of this." He pulls a flower from behind his back; a flower exactly like mine. He extends his arm towards Weiss and asks the question that makes my heart drop and tears come to my eyes. "Weiss, will you go to the dance with me?" Weiss reacts in the worst way possible for me. She raises her hand to her mouth in surprise, slowly nods, and then grabs Neptune in a hug.
"Yes, Neptune. I will go to the dance with you. And how did you know that roses are my favorite?" The rose in my hand falls to the ground, accompanied shortly by some tears just a few seconds later. Is this what hurt is? I hate it already. I turn around, giving one last look over my shoulder at Weiss and Neptune enveloped in a warm embrace, and my heart breaks even more. I start walking back towards the team dorm slowly, leaving behind a path of tears out of how hard I'm crying. It's hard to breathe properly, and I involuntarily wrap myself in my arms for comfort. All I want to do is to curl up in bed and cry myself to sleep, but I need to get these feelings out. I pass people: blank faces with no meaning to me on the way back to the dorm. After a while of musing to myself over the justifications of me crying like this and walking aimlessly, I somehow find myself back at the dorm, finding it empty just like I left it. I make my way over to the desk by the window, see that the sun has set, open the second drawer, pull out my journal, and open it to a blank page. I channel my emotions through my pen into my journal, laboriously wiping away tears as they fall onto the paper.
I hurt all over, and I don't know how to fix it. I don't ache from sore muscles or sleeping wrong. Today is the day my heart died. I'm in love with Weiss Schnee, but she's in love with someone else: Neptune. I finally got the courage to ask her out today, but Neptune had already asked her to the dance. I don't know what to do. I've never hurt like this before, and I'm afraid to tell anyone in fear of ridicule. Especially Weiss. I'm just confused. I need sleep. Sleep and water. All this crying is making me dehydrated. I suppose that's it for now. Bye.
I put down the pen, close my journal, and get up from the chair. I reopen the second drawer and place the journal carefully in the center of the empty drawer, making sure that it's not too far from the left or right, but right in the center. Even when upset beyond being able to function normally, my OCD still makes its appearance. I slowly shut the door so that I don't mess up the placement of my journal. I grab a glass and head to the sink. I fill up my glass to about three-fourths full and take a sip. The cool water feels refreshing going down my throat, and I can feel some of its effects on rehydrating me immediately. Once I'm done with that drink, I walk back to the dangerously constructed bunk bed, and I climb up to my bed. I can feel the sadness hit me again, and I drift off to sleep in a fit of tears. One that no one will know about. But that's just for the best. Tomorrow I'm going to have to figure out how to face her, but there's nothing I can bring myself to do now besides cry.