Complications

Chapter 2: The Warning

You're staring at her again, Oscar.

Oscar guiltily wrenched his gaze away from the girl in question and tried to focus on his breakfast. Inside his head, the old man was working himself up into full-lecture-mode. Oscar was getting tired of full-lecture-mode.

I am thankful that your chat with Miss Rose the other night helped to alleviate some of your fears, Ozpin began, in his usual long-winded manner. And I was entirely serious when I said she was a remarkable girl. But I worry that too much admiration on your part may lead to... complications.

Oscar glanced at Ruby again, who was seated at the adjoining table, laughing with her friends. She'd come down to breakfast in her pajamas. They had polka-dots. They were very cute.

Focus, please, Oscar. It is imperative you understand. Developing a crush on Miss Rose would be ill-advised, for many reasons.

It's not like I'm trying to, Oscar muttered internally, scowling at the fruit on his plate. But she's nice, and pretty, and super awesome, and when she smiles, her nose does this thing where it crinkles up...

Ozpin sighed. She was formerly my student. Her parents were formerly my students. You must understand this is deeply uncomfortable.

Yeah, I know. Oscar jabbed his fork into a bit of cantaloupe, a bit harder than absolutely necessary.

I know it sounds harsh, but given our situation, romance is a luxury that we cannot afford. It could only lead to heartbreak. Do you understand, Oscar? There was a softer tone to Ozpin's voice now, something almost fatherly.

Yeah, yeah, I got it, Oscar thought back. It's not like she'd fall for a kid like me, anyways. It wasn't like he'd been getting his hopes up. But Ozpin's words worried at him. No romance? Ever? This was new information. Oscar didn't feel very hungry anymore.

"You done? Want me to take your plate?" Ruby said, from right beside him, and he dropped his fork. The others were on their feet now, gathering dishes. He'd been so distracted by his internal dialogue, he hadn't even noticed her approaching.

"Sorry!" she said, noting his surprise. "Were you talking to the professor?"

"Uh... yeah," he said, struggling not to blush as he recovered his fork from the floor.

"It's not anything important, is it? You looked all serious," she asked innocently, and he wracked his brain for a quick excuse.

"No, he just, uh... doesn't like cantaloupe," Oscar lied, and she giggled. Giggled! He'd made her laugh, and her nose was doing that crinkly thing... Ozpin's warnings were swiftly leaving the forefront of his mind.

She took his plate, and their hands touched for the briefest moment, and suddenly Oscar couldn't quite remember why he'd even been feeling glum. He heard Ozpin heave a long-suffering sigh.

Eldest brother, deliver me from teenage hormones...