So I reread the second chapter and the changes just kept on coming. This time the story is starting out slower but the hating part is gonna speed up after this. I think it was just to fast in the beginning for the original, and while you guys liked it, I couldn't in good conscious not make it better.

Chapter 2

No mater how hard I tried to make it up to Pyrrha she kept distancing herself from me. At first it was subtle. She would always have an excuse to not hang out with me, or she would take forever to answer me back if she ever did at all.

It was close to the end of the first semester and Beacon had just finished their semester testing. Weiss had been stressing over them a lot because apparently they would change your classes depending on how well you did, and she had no intention of dropping out of any of her AP classes. I didn't really see the point about studying for the tests, but I studied with Pyrrha and her friends whenever she asked me to because it was one of the only times where she would ask me to hang out anymore.

My relationship with Weiss, Yang, and Blake was weird. Over the past few months Weiss had grown even colder towards me, almost as my very existence annoyed her. I guess it was because she cared so much about school and I didn't, but I had no idea. Yang was almost the same as before, but it seemed more strained to be around her. Her jokes seemed more forced and it was like she was waiting for me to mess up. Blake was almost exactly the same though, as she always kept quiet and read her books.

Right now all of us were hanging out at school after the testing to just relax before the girls, minus Blake, had to play their first soccer game of the year. Since the incident I had tried to make sure that I had gone to as many of Pyrrha's game's as I could so it wouldn't be an issue. Even with me trying so hard our friendship wasn't the same. It was like before I was one she was closest with, but after that first meet the other girls had taken my place and now I was slowly being thrown out of her life.

"Hey Jaune, we're gonna go and get ready," Pyrrha said to me while I was left in my train of thought.

"That's cool, I guess I'll go sit at the bleachers with Blake," I said as I nodded to said girl as she made her way to the bleachers while reading a book.

I caught up to Blake and I decided to make conversation even if she was reading, "So, those tests today huh? I don't get why Weiss was so worried. They were all really easy."

Without even looking up from her book she answered, "I did well on the English test, but I don't think I'll have to change my classes." I fell behind her while we walked slightly up the semi-crowded bleachers.

When we sat down the two teams had just made their way out to the field and were starting to warm up, Pyrrha blocking the goal while her team mates tried to make it past her. Mr. Oobleck was racing between the girls giving them small tips of advice before the game. Granted, this advice would be a lot more useful if they could understand him, but Mr. Oobleck had a tendency to speak to fast for us to understand him.

The other team, Nice Dynamite, was coached by two guys. One of them had short brown hair and he yelled a lot whenever one of his players messed up. It looked like the girls on his team didn't really mind the yelling though. Some of the girls were actually laughing at him when he yelled loud enough. The other guy had what sounded like a British accent and a big nose.

The game had just started when Blake spoke up. "Jaune?"

A little surprised by Blake starting any form conversation, I jumped slightly in my seat, "Yeah?"

"You know that they don't want you around right?" Blake said as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

"Who?" I asked, even though I already knew who she was talking about.

She finally took her eyes away from her book to look at me, "Yang and Weiss. You would have to be an idiot to not notice how much Weiss hates you, and even Yang is tired of trying to be your friend for Pyrrha's sake."

My stomach dropped at her words, but I couldn't stop myself from asking, "What did I even do?"

She sat in thought for a few minutes, "You really hurt Pyrrha when you didn't show up to that track meet. All day the only thing she could talk to us about was how nervous she was that she was going to ask you out. Then you never showed up. We just don't Pyrrha to get hurt again."

I was confused and angry at her words. Confused that Pyrrha was going to ask me out and angry at myself for messing up our friendship. "So I should just leave you guys alone?"

She just shrugged her shoulders, "I never said that. I just said that we don't want you here."

I got up at that, "I guess I'll just go then."

She didn't even say goodbye.


Passing by the park like usual while thinking about what Blake said, I just couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that Pyrrha was going to ask me out, was being the key word. I was walking down the sidewalk, wondering just when our relationship got so fucked up when I noticed a familiar-looking girl wearing a red hoodie and black corset crossing over to my side of the street just ahead of me. Spotting me, she immediately turned to face me and waved her arm energetically above her head like usual, a bright cheerful smile on her face.

I had just returned the wave when I saw to my horror a car speeding down the road towards her, the driver either drunk, half-asleep or plain crazy if he was going down a suburban street at 90 miles an hour.

I was already running when the girl turned at the sound of the car and froze when she saw it coming straight at her. The driver had finally noticed the girl and was trying to brake, but the car was still going fast enough to do some serious damage, if not kill her. With bare moments to spare, I tackled her out of the way just as the car screeched through where our previous position was not half a second ago.

The bastard driving the car just revved up and sped away while yelling an apology out the window, not even bothering to come out and check on the girl he had almost killed with his reckless driving. The girl lay below me, panting shallowly as tears leaked from her glazed-looking eyes, and her fingers clutched my arm in a death grip.

I slowly stood up as she continued to grasp my arm as tight as possible, refusing to let go even after we were both standing. As soon as her feet hit the ground, what just happened seemed to hit her all at once as she wrapped her entire frame around mine and cried uncontrollably. With my total lack of practical knowledge of girls, I just did what felt natural and returned the hug, rubbing my hand along her back awkwardly.

We must have stood there for at least 5 minutes as she soaked the front of my new jacket. Soon after that though, she quieted down, so I decided to break the silence, "Hey… are you alright?" I asked in as soothing a voice as I could possibly manage.

I waited a few seconds for a reply, only to find that she had cried herself to sleep in my arms. Since I didn't know where she lived, and with her still clinging tightly to my arm even while unconscious, I decided to try and carry her over to my house. Lifting her off the ground into a bridal carry, I figured that she was fairly light, probably a little over 120 pounds. Luckily, my house was only a few short minutes away from where we were standing, so I hurriedly made my way back while trying not to jolt my sleeping passenger.

As I walked, I had the feeling that I was forgetting something really important that I was planning to do... but the moment passed as the girl in my arms started sobbing and mumbling in her sleep. Against my better judgment, I listened to her barely coherent words, "You shouldn't have…just like Mom...Sis is…," was all I could make out before she fell silent again.

Unconsciously cradling her closer at the sound of her upset words I sped up my pace so I. When I got to my house I awkwardly opened my front door and entered my house, making sure not to bump her on my way in, and carefully setting her down on my couch. She still clung to me tightly and refused to let go, so I was forced to perform some mild contortions to slide my jacket off and leave it in her grip, then I went to make dinner for the two of us.

It was the first time in six months that I had to cook for more than just myself. As I cooked, most of my thoughts and worries left my mind as I listened to the chicken sizzling and frying in the pan. Cooking was one of the few things I actually enjoyed doing, I had cooked often for my mom and dad when they were home instead of overseas, and it made me happy to see them eat the food I had prepared with a happy smile on their faces.

Filled with nostalgia, I had just finished preparing the food and was about to serve them when I heard a yelp of surprise come from the living room. Quickly turning everything off, I went into the living room to find the small girl sitting upright on my couch with my jacket in her hands and looking scared and confused at her unknown surroundings. "Uhh... hey. How are you doin'?" I asked as nonchalantly as possible while doing my best to be the picture of calmness.

Several emotions flashed across her face at my words and presence, the first of which was recognition, followed mostly by relief and something else, "You... You're that guy who passes the park every day," she said, to which I nodded. "So that really happened, with the…" again all I did was nod. I was about to say something when she spoke up again, tears forming in her eyes, "Why did you risk your life for me?"

"I did it because you're my friend." I said with utmost sincerity. To my surprise, I found that I really did consider her to be my friend, even though this was our first time actually talking to one another.

The girl just gave me a confused look through her tears. "How am I your friend when you don't even know who I am?" she asked miserably.

"Because strangers are just friends you haven't met yet," was all I said, before embracing her in a tight warm hug. A few moments passed before she calmed down and tentatively returned the hug, then I remembered that I had made dinner. "Hey, I made some dinner while you were asleep," I said as I let go of her, taking her by the hand and leading her to the kitchen.

When we got there, I motioned for her to take a seat before I served the still-warm food onto two plates for each of us. Placing her share in front of her, I sat down and was about to eat when I saw that she hadn't moved since I let go of her hand, "Are you not hungry?" I asked in concern.

The black-and-red headed girl shook her head and was about to say something when I heard her stomach growl very loudly, and very insistently. Blushing furiously, she avoided looking at me as she picked up the utensils I had provided and started eating. We both ate in silence for a few minutes before she softly spoke up, "What's your name?" she asked.

It took me a moment to realize that I never did tell her my name, "My name's Jaune."

"My name is Ruby," was all she said before she blushed and ate another piece of bacon. The rest of dinner passed just as quietly as it started, and when we finished, she suddenly looked at me with embarrassed eyes, "Can I stay here tonight? I don't wanna walk home after what just happened..."

I just smiled at her again and gave her my honest opinion, "Ruby, you're my friend remember? Just think of it as a sleepover." For the first time that night, Ruby graced me with her beautiful smile. After that, it seemed like she really went with the sleepover idea, pushing me onto the couch and asking me to pick a movie as she went to make some popcorn for us.

Before I could pick a movie however, Ruby called from the kitchen, "JAAAAUUUUNNNE, WHERE'S THE POPCORN!"

End

I'm posting this early because I wanted to have a lazy weekend. I may post another chapter for this Sunday like I said I would but I don't know. I'll have to see how much I want to change in chapter 3. Please review and all that stuff, also, if you have hearthstone and ever need to see a dude make the dumbest plays ever, my battletag is TobyFox#1702.