We head to my house, anxiety gripping at my stomach. What will dad say, what will he do? When Yang left it was awful, so much screaming and shouting, things being thrown, threats being tossed at each other. Eventually Yang left, storming out of the house, and she hasn't come back since. It was around a year ago that that happened, and my dad still gets angry about it sometimes. I love my father, but after the death of Yangs mother, then mine, he's been bitter, colder. Yang used to say that before, he would always be smiling, always be happy. Sometimes I was jealous of her, because she got to know him when he was like that, and I never did.
We pull up in front of my house and I'm brought back to reality.
"I'll help you pack your things." Weiss mumbles, getting out of the truck. I follow her into my house.
"Ruby how did it g-" My dad stops short when he sees Weiss, her arms crossed over her chest, the insignia of the White Dragon clearly visible on the right shoulder of her jacket. My dad swallows, speaking slowly now. "Ruby, what's going on, what is she doing here?"
I take a few deep breaths, steeling my nerves for what's about to come. "She's here to help me get my things."
"Wh-What are you talking about?" My dad stares at me wide eyed. I swallow the lump of anxiety that forms in my throat.
"I going to go live with Yang." I lie. Dad doesn't know about the White Dragon, simply believing that Yang now lived with some of her older friends who wear the White Dragoon jackets as a symbol of unity. "I'm moving out."
"Y-You can't do that!" My father tries to speak sternly, but his voice wavers. "You're still a child."
"I'm seventeen dad, I'm going to turn eighteen in a few months." I knit my bow together in irritation. "I'm not a little girl anymore, I can make my own choices."
"You're still my daughter!" He shouts at me, making me wince. "And you are not leaving!"
"Yes, I am." I say as calmly as possible but it still feels as though I'm about to shatter. I head for my room Weiss following behind me. My dad tries to grab my arm but I yank it away from him, running into my room with Weiss and bolting the lock behind me. He bangs on the door, yelling at me to open it this instant. I pull out a couple suitcases from under my bed, opening them on my bed. I pack up my clothes, a few of my books, phone, and wallet and a few other random things. I hand one of the suitcases to Weiss, and she lifts it easily in one hand. I have to pull mine behind me with both. I unlock the door and head out. My dad blocks the front door, the only way out of the house besides the garage.
"Ruby Rose, you are not leaving this house! Now go unpack!" He orders, but I refuse to obey. I try to get past him, but he stands firm.
"Dad move!" I shriek at him.
"I will not young lady!"
I let out a frustrated groan, trying to push him out of the way. This catches him of guard and he stumbles, before righting himself. I use the few seconds to slip past him, but he catches me by the hair, pulling me back inside. I scream at the pain, as he nearly tears my hair out.
"Hey!" Weiss barks, speaking for the first time since we got out of the car. She grabs the arm that holds my hair, digging her nails deep into my fathers flesh, till blood oozes out of little crescent shaped openings. My father lets go of me, and I scramble for the door, wanting to get out, wanting to escape. I can hear Weiss shouting at my father as I exit the place I once called home. "Don't you ever fucking hurt your daughter! Why kind of father are you!?"
I can feel the tears springing to my eyes as I throw my suitcase into the back of the truck, before climbing in the front. The tears come streaming down my face like a waterfall, thick, and hot, and full of pain. It's a few minutes before Weiss gets in, having thrown my other suitcase in the back with the other. She lifts up the divider, and pulls me into a hug, tucking my head under her chin, she strokes my hair gentle, being tender with my still sore head. I cry into her arms for a long time, and she murmurs sweet words to me.
In that moment I feel safer then I have at home for a long time.
The drive to Weiss's apartment is filled with silence, the only noise being the whoosh of the wind against the truck and my soft hiccups. When we arrive Weiss carries both my suitcases upstairs, despite my protest. Weiss's apartment has two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a small kitchen. It's nothing to fancy, but considering that she's affording it on her own, I'd say it's it's better then anything I could afford.
"So this is the place." She mutters, placing my suitcases down on the ground. "Bathrooms over there, it has a shower and a toilet, no tub though. My beds this one here, yours is on the other side, and that's the kitchen, it's got a stove, mini fridge and a microwave. Want me to help you unpack?"
"Um..." I hesitate. "O-Okay."
Weiss nods, heading into my room with the suitcases in hand. She sets them on the bed. "You have your own closet, sorry it's kinda small, but you should be able to fit everything in it."
"No, it's fine, really." I mumble, starting to unpack my belongings. A small bed, most likely only a twin, the closet, and a small bed side dresser are the only furniture in the room. Still, it's nice. Cozy.
Weiss simply nods, starting to hang my clothes on hangers. We work in silence like this for a while before I finally speak.
"He isn't usually like that, my dad." I touch the back of my head. "He has some anger problems, but that was the first time he ever actually hurt me... I think he was just scared, he's lost a lot of people, I can understand why he would be afraid to lose me too."
"That doesn't matter." I turn to look at Weiss, but her back is still to me. "That doesn't make up for the fact that he put his hands on you, that he hurt you. Don't ever make excuses for people who abuse you Ruby."
She turns to face me, her piercing blue eyes stone cold and serious.
"Don't ever let them trick you into thinking it won't happen again." She whispers.
"Weiss..." I reach out for her but she turns back around.
"What do you want for dinner?" Weiss asks.
"I-I don't care." I mumble.
"Well that's good cause all we got is ramen." She turns around and a smile is on her face. "I'll go make us some now."
"Okay... Thank you Weiss."
"No problem Ruby." She smiles at me one last time before walking out of the room. I continue to unpack, completely confused and intrigue all at the same time.
It's not long till I'm done unpacking, and by that time Weiss is calling me to come eat. A twinge of pain and sadness goes through me. It's not the first time I've felt this twinge. When I was little and the kids I'd play with mothers would call for them to come eat, I would get that twinge, that little sadness that they had something I would never have. A mother, calling them to eat, worrying about them, taking care of them... Loving them. But the feeling soon fades, as I've trained myself to do so for many years now. No use feeling sad and moping all the time, especially over something that can't be changed. I walk into the small kitchen, two bowl of ramen waiting on the even smaller counter top. I pull up a nearby stool and begin to eat. Weiss sits across from me, eating her food slower then I ever have do. When I was younger, Yang and I would fight over food all the time, stealing it from each other every chance we got. Our family wasn't very wealthy, so we only got small meals, and never really got any desserts or treats, except for special occasions. Living like that, you learn to either eat fast or lose your meal.
"Slow down, you're going to choke." Weiss instructs, and I look up from the bowl to see her staring at me, mouth a firm, pursed line.
"Sorry..." I mutter. "I'm not really used to getting to eat so much."
Weiss raises and eyebrow. "You're kidding right?"
I furrow my brow, shaking my head. "No. I usually don't get to eat so much, my family can't really afford much. You might have been able to tell by the state of our house."
Weiss opens her mouth to speak, but closes it. She does so a few more times before getting up, sliding her bowl over to me. "Here, I'm not very hungry anyway."
"Are you sure?" I ask. She looks away, nodding. I smile at her kind gesture. "Thank you Weiss."
"It's nothing, really." She heads out of the kitchen, and a few seconds later I hear the sound of the shower going. I shrug, still smiling to myself. It's really a great deal more than nothing. It means a lot to have someone care about me.
I eat the rest of the ramen, patting my full belly as I head back into my room, flopping down on the bed. I stare up at the ceiling, wondering just how everything in my life changed so fast. Not even a twelve hours ago I was sitting at home, wondering just what it would be like to be in my sisters gang. And now her I am, living with one of its members, apart of the White Dragon. I smile a little, resting my arms behind my head. This is all I've wanted for the longest time, to be back with my sister, to be apart of her gang, to be somewhere I can feel accepted.
I turn on my side, feeling drowsy and ready for bed after the long day. I hear the shower turn off a few minutes later, and Weiss's footsteps are audible outside my door.
"Goodnight Ruby." Weiss whispers softly outside my door.
"Goodnight Weiss." I whisper back.
After her footsteps have gone, and the door to her room is closed, I get up, turn off the lights, and go to sleep. The world of deep, dark world of sleep envelopes me, the outside world forgotten. It feels as though I've only been a sleep a minute before there's a loud banging on the door.
"Get up Ruby! You need to wake up!" I jolt upright, heart hammering in my chest as I look around me. Weiss opens the door and I spring to my feet.
"What's going into!? What happened!?" I question her, forgetting for a second where I am and what happened the previous day.
"Calm down Ruby." Weiss's voice is soothing. "You just need to wake up, or you're going to be late for school."
"O-Oh..." I nod slowly. "I-I guess I forgot."
Weiss smiles at me reassuringly. "Come on, I'll drive you."
I nod again, getting up. Weiss leaves my room so I can get changed, and once I'm done we head out in the truck.
"You wanna stop and get something to eat?" Weiss keeps her eyes on the road as she speaks.
"No." I shake my head. My appetite is gone, and anxiety has replaced it, as I wonder just how I will be able to go about my day like nothing has changed. I sigh, not caring as Weiss gives me a strange, somewhat concerned look. We arrive in about ten minutes, Weiss's apartment not being to far from my high school.
"I'll come pick you up at the end of school, 'kay?" I nod and she smiles. "Just don't worry about anything. Remember the White Dragon is a secret, so don't go around saying you joined."
"I know that..." I pout. Yang has already given me this lecture a hundred time, telling me to keep my trap shut about the White Dragon. "I'm not a child."
"You're right. You're an adult now, you're apart of the White Dragon and I trust you to protect it." Weiss nods, smiling softly. "You're apart of our family now."
I feel my heart swell at her words. "Th-Thank you Weiss..."
"It's nothing, now get going, you don't want to be late for class." I hop out of the truck, wave to Weiss as she drives off before running to class.