Chapter Two – The First Summer
"Yang are you absolutely sure that you're alright, dear?" Her mother asked frantically over the phone as Yang started warming up a bottle for the baby that was already named. It had only been a week since Yang had adopted Ruby Rose as her daughter. She was surprised by how much Ruby slept through the day and sleeping through the night, only to have woken up once when Yang had slipped and fallen in the bathroom. But so far, Ruby had been perfect for her. Besides from the fact that she ate enough to feed the entirely of the world three times over.
Yang never told her parents why she suddenly couldn't go to college, as she tearfully told them over the phone that she really did just have to give up her ambitions for a while to sort everything out. And her parents naturally worried for her sudden change in her future choices, as they mildly argued on the other side of the phone who would talk Yang out of her rash decisions.
"I'm fine, Mom–" Yang sighed heavily, rocking Ruby in her arms as she held her phone to her ear with her shoulder. She could hear her parents bicker and her mother complaining.
"Yang, its Dad here. Look, it's common for kids your age to want to be rebellious–" Her father started.
"Yin give me the flipping phone, I'm the one who brought Yang into this world!" Mia snapped.
"Mia, if it wasn't for me she wouldn't be here." Yin stated. Yang cleared her throat loudly down the phone, red cheeked and suddenly embarrassed by her parents teasing and bickering.
"Erm, I'm still here, guys." Yang mumbled. Her parents cleared their throats as Ruby began to whimper loudly in her ear as the microwave pinged in the kitchen. Yang sighed heavily as she placed Ruby gently on the couch as she rushed to the kitchen.
"Yang, just come home. We can talk about this, whatever you're thinking right now. This doesn't even… this doesn't even sound like you!" Her mother exclaimed as Yang reached for the bottle that burned her hands. She flinched and hissed underneath her breath, but grabbed the bottle quickly, ignoring the burning pain in her hand as she walked into the main room where Ruby laid perfectly still on the couch, staring at the ceiling in awe. Yang looked up to see ants crawling on the ceiling.
"What about the scholarship, sweetie? You worked so hard to get where you are." Her mother asked impatiently. Yang closed her eyes. She could hear the disappointment, and she couldn't really blame her parents for sounding like that. They had done everything to make sure that Yang had had the best start in her life from the moment she was born. They made sure she had everything she wanted and needed in life and sacrificed a lot for her. But Yang stared at Ruby, whose eyes then met with Yang and then gave a wide, toothless grin, her fists clenched again and waving them around excitedly. Yang stroked Ruby's head and leaned forward, kissing her on the forehead gently. She sighed again, the phone still to her ear.
"I'm sorry for letting you down." Yang said. There was a pause on the other side of the phone as Yang felt her eyes water suddenly. She wiped the tears away with shaking hands. She almost forgot the milk bottle in her hand, still piping hot as she placed it on the floor.
"Yang?" Her mother asked nervously. Yang sniffed, keeping her eyes on the seat. Ruby gurgled loudly, a frown on her face.
"I just… I just can't do it… I can't…" Yang choked, taking deep breaths.
"Yang, we're coming to see you." Her mother stated.
"NO. Just… just trust me, for once. I'm sorry." Yang whispered.
"Yang–!" Her father cried. But Yang had already hung up on them, flinging her phone onto the floor with a grunt, head in her hands. She still needed to get in touch with her college, but as her eyes found the milk bottle, she reached down and grabbed it slowly, and then took Ruby in her arms as she began to feed her.
"They wouldn't understand. I couldn't have just left you there like that." Yang sighed as Ruby drank quickly. Yang stroked Ruby's head again with a smile on her face. Ruby drained the bottle within minutes and yawned after Yang brought up her wind. Yang chuckled softly as she set the empty bottled aside. She carried Ruby to their bedroom, which contained a bed, a second hand cot, and a few other things that were found in a bedroom. She set Ruby down gently in the cot and watched Ruby fall asleep almost instantly, her eyelids drooping until they fluttered close. Yang smiled as she reached down and stroked Ruby's hand with her finger. She waited a while by the cot, before heading towards the sitting room and calling the college that she had hoped to attend.
"Beacon College of Law, Professor Ozpin here, how may I help you?" The voice asked. Yang cleared her throat. Ozpin was the man who not only owned the college, but he was also a man who chose his students wisely. He always chose the best students to attend Beacon College, and Yang felt privileged when she received her acceptance letter and scholarship. It did help however that he was relatively friendly with her uncle Qrow.
"Erm, hi. It's Yang here." Yang replied.
"Ah, how may I help you Yang?" Ozpin asked, his tone lighter and friendlier. Yang breathed in heavily, her stomach knotting uncomfortably.
"I was just wondering if I could withdraw my application, please." Yang stated meekly, scratching the back of her head anxiously.
"I'm sorry, I don't think I heard correctly." Ozpin said slowly.
"I can't attend the college anymore." Yang said, a little more firmly the second time. There was a quiet hum from the other end of the line.
"Yang, if it's about funds or accommodations or inquiries about your scholar—"
"I have a baby." Yang blurted out suddenly. There was a sudden silence on the other end of the phone.
"... Oh dear. Right. Well, congratulations for starters, I suppose. But I'm sorry that you want to withdraw." Ozpin said with a slight sigh. Yang's heart plummeted.
"I really do want to attend! Just... just not right now." Yang added in defeat. She heard a soft, deep in thought hum from the professor and frowned to herself.
"There is one thing we can do." Ozpin stated after a moment. Yang froze.
"We can postpone your entry, or in other words reserve it for you in the meantime. However it'll only be for four years at the most..." Ozpin added in a cautious tone. Yang nodded wildly, heart racing out of control.
"T-That's fine by me! Oh my God, thank you so much!" Yang babbled as Ozpin explained how for now the college would reserve her scholarship under the condition that she joins the lawful services and obtains full marks in all of her finals. And as he spoke Yang nodded, taking it all in and thinking about just how lucky she really was to have such an honour bestowed upon her.
"We'll have a representative discuss the latter with you in September. Hopefully that won't be too inconvenient." Ozpin stated in a finalising tone. Yang nodded again as she approached her room and walked up to Ruby's cot, and saw that Ruby was still sleeping soundly.
"Thank you. Thank you so much, sir." Yang said in a hushed tone, stroking Ruby's cheek gently. Ozpin chuckled just as quietly.
"Good luck to you for your years of parenthood, Yang." Ozpin replied. Yang smiled as she hung up, before bending over towards Ruby and kissing her cheek gently. Yang had never felt so lucky in her entire life. And she vowed that she would succeed for the two of them, so that she could give Ruby what Yang had had.
