Ruby wasn't there. Yang scanned the room several times, but her caped little sister was no where in the classroom.
"Weiss, where's Ru-" Yang had begun to question Weiss on Ruby's whereabouts, but just as she, did, the bell rang, and Professor Port called for silence. Weiss sat down on the opposite side of Blake from Yang.
Yang knew she would never be able to focus on the lecture until she knew where her sister was. Ruby had been in their first class, and it wasn't even lunch yet... did she already bail?
Blake gently elbowed Yang's side, then stealthily slid a sheet of notebook paper in front of her. 'She left right after second period. She said she felt sick.' The delicate hand writing made it clear that the note was from Weiss. Yang looked over at Weiss, who was watching her expectantly, and with mild concern, and gave her a silent not of appreciation, then raised her hand.
"Erm, yes Miss Xiao Long?" Port interrupted his lengthy and self-centered lecture.
"May I be excused? I need to go check on Ruby, it's kind of an emergency."
"Hm, well...if you must, but try to be back in 15 minutes, alright?"
"Yes sir." Yang stood from her desk and walked as fast as she could out the door while the Professor continued his lecture.
'Summer Rose,
Thus kindly, I scatter.'
Ruby clutched the photo of her mother's memorial tightly, and read the text over. It was six years to the day since her mother passed away, and the memories still stung. Her stomach knotted as she left her head fall back onto her pillow and remembered, crystal clear, the day that two Hunters showed up on on their doorstep, and with sorrowful expressions delivered the grave news of Summer Rose's death.
Knock knock knock. "Ruby? You in there?" It was Yang. Of course it was Yang.
Ruby sighed. "Come in."
Yang entered the room and her eyes immediately fell up Ruby. She was already back in her pajamas, laying on Weiss's bed with Zwei curled up at her feet.
"You don't have to knock to enter your own dorm, ya know."
"I didn't want to barge in. Weiss told me you weren't feeling well...apparently not even well enough to get into your own bed." Yang sat on the edge of the mattress.
"I wanted to have Zwei with me."
"I see..."
"What do you want, Yang?"
"I just wanted to make sure you were doing ok. I was worried when you didn't show up for class."
"What, did you think I'd jump off the tower or something?"
"Puh-leeze, like that kind of fall could even put a dent in my baby sister." Yang teased, ruffling Ruby's hair. Ruby gently waved Yang's hand away. "Look, try not to stay in here too long, ok? I know it's tough but...at least try to make it to some of your classes. You know how cranky Weiss will be if she has to share all her notes with you."
"I'll try."
Yang finally stood back up, and with a final glance towards Ruby, left the room and gently closed the door behind her.
She was yet again left in silence. Stirred by mattress' movements when Yang stood up, Zwei stood up, stretched, then made his way to the other end of the bed, and gave Ruby's cheek an affectionate lick. She scratched behind his ears in return. "Thanks Zwei..." She muttered, then rolled over onto her side, facing the wall.
She stayed there for was seemed like hours, staring at the wall in silent thought with Zwei's warm body now curled against her stomach. Still feeling depressed, yet strangely peaceful, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Next thing she knew, she was being awakened by the bell at the end of the period. After laying in Weiss's bed for a couple more minutes, she finally got up, changed back into her uniform and cape, grabbed her book bag, and went to lunch.