Okay, it has been well over a week since my last chapters, sorry about that. I'm still figuring this story out. If you have been paying attention to the events of yesterday, (I assume most of you have), then as of this posting there have been no updates on Monty's condition. I am hoping this chapter may come as a brief distraction from the goings on, and hopefully make you smile a little bit. The community is incredible and has raised more than $150,000 for medical expenses and family for Monty, If you want to help, and somehow don't know about this, there is a link in Burnie's journal on the main page of Rooster Teeth. Get Well Monty, we're all pulling for you!
Weiss didn't see Ruby again that day, after lunch she had Chamber Choir with Mr. Garner, followed by Advanced Literature with Mrs. Linville. Thankfully she had that class with Blake, because, judging by the syllabus, she would definitely need help. Weiss was never able to interpret symbolism or theme in books. As much as she loved to read, as far as she was concerned a writer meant what they wrote, and she was hard pressed to find underlying meaning, no matter how hard she tried. Fortunately Blake was a little more versed in the tones, motifs, and various meanings in lines of literature, otherwise Weiss would surely end up with a less than stellar mark in the course.
As she drove home from school, Weiss couldn't shake one thing from her mind, I think I was too hard on Ruby. My father always tells me that tact and patience are something I should strive for. Of course, I think that was meant for business dealings, but I suppose the same could be said for daily interactions. Ugh, I was so upset though, she really could have hurt me! People die from lesser head wounds all the time! Still, she did look really upset. Perhaps the next time I deal with her I'll try exercising some caution in my words.
She was broken from these thoughts as she pulled into the garage of their home. While their house wasn't quite the full-scale mansion on the hill, It was the nicest house in the richest neighborhood in the city. A two story, Victorian style house with a wraparound porch, painted a faint blue. The house was way too big for the two of them alone, it had become painfully obvious when Winter left for college two years prior.
Weiss walked in and was greeted by the sight of her father seated at the kitchen table, staring intensely at his laptop screen.
"Dad, I'm home."
"Hello, Weiss. How was your day?"
"My day was… fine, what about yours?" She asked as she sat at the table to pull out her books.
"Nothing particularly eventful occurred today. Now, as for you, I know what that 'fine' means. Tell me what happened."
Weiss huffed, she was always annoyed at how perceptive he was. She really shouldn't be, he had been this way for as long as she can remember. James Schnee was an extremely perceptive individual, it came with the territory. When you run a company that handles eighty percent of all diamonds and jewels that enter the country, you learn how to read your various business associates. Of course, it's a plus when you can use this to convince your own daughter to talk to you. Her ice blue eyes glared into his own. She realized that he wasn't going to back down, so she took a breath.
"There was an… incident in history class this morning"
Weiss went on to describe how she had met Ruby, and what had transpired in their shared class.
"I hit my head pretty hard," Weiss said. She pulled back her bangs, showing her father the bruise that had gotten darker since the incident. "I was lucky that it didn't do more damage."
Her father's face softened momentarily looking at the injury. "I can get you an ice pack if that still hurts."
Weiss shook her head, "I'll be fine, thank you though."
James nodded, "So then you went on to publicly berate this girl?"
"Yes," Weiss responded sheepishly. "I am aware that I handled the situation poorly, and, after the class, I met up with her and her sister at the lockers. The sister, Yang I believe her name was, informed me that I had hurt Ruby's feelings, and I apologized."
"I am glad that you can see where you were wrong," her father said. "And I'm even more impressed that you took it upon yourself to apologize. You did very well, although maybe next time attempt to avoid the public defamation."
His daughter nodded, "I still don't know what I'm going to about her though. I have to see her every day, I mean her locker is right next to mine."
James put on a pensive expression, "Perhaps this is an opportunity. For you, I mean, to make another friend. Blake is a good friend, don't misunderstand, but this could help you improve your social skills."
"I don't see the need to worry about making friends. It's senior year, I need to stay focused on my schoolwork so I can make to Beacon University next year."
"Weiss, your cumulative GPA is four point seven. I'm very proud of how you've done, and I'm certain you will be accepted no matter how this year goes. Take this opportunity to expand your social education. I could have sent you to any private school in the country, but I chose public school because there are some social elements to this type of schooling that are lost in private schools. You'll find that this will help you later, no matter where you end up."
The heiress sighed, "Alright, I'll give it my best shot, but no promises. Ruby is really annoying."
Her father chuckled, "I'm sure you will. And everyone can be annoying sometimes, Weiss, even you," he said, a sly grin forming on his face.
Weiss feigned surprise, "Me, annoying? Never." she grabbed her homework and made her way up to her room. "See you at dinner, dad."
Weiss walked in to her sparsely decorated room and sat down at her desk. As she began to look over her homework, she heard a video call chime from her laptop. She glanced at the clock, 4:15, right on time.
She opened her laptop and was greeted by the smiling face of her sister.
"Hey, sis!"
"Hey, Winter." Winter Schnee looked a lot like her sister, the main difference being that she kept her white hair cut short, and her eyes were less of an ice blue, and more of a sky blue.
"What's up, bean? You seem down in the dumps."
Weiss smiled at the nickname, "Nothing really, just a strange day at school…"
"Well, go on and tell me!"
For the second time that day, Weiss described meeting the new girls, and her subsequent conversation with her father.
Winter thought for a moment, "You know, I really hate to say this, but I think father is right, you should make more friends. Come out of your shell! You'd be surprised how many more people will want to know you if you loosen up a little bit."
"I'm comfortable with the amount of people around me currently. Why do you and dad want me to change so much? Next you'll be telling me I need to listen to 'Achieve Men' and read those stupid 'X-Ray and Vav' comic books that you love so much."
Winter laughed, "Hey, 'Achieve Men' music can solve any problems, no matter what they are, and don't get me started on the benefits of 'X-Ray and Vav'!" She gave her sister a smile. "I'm not trying to change you, Weiss, you're great the way you are. I just want you to be happy, and I think friends may help with that."
"I know, and I appreciate you worrying about me. I'll try, I will, just don't expect necessarily stellar results. But that's enough about me, what about you? How's college going?"
"I'm good! I met a guy this weekend…"
They talked for the next two hours about nothing really important, laughing and catching up. They tried to talk at least once every week, but due to Winter's schedule it had been two weeks since their last call. Weiss had missed having her sister around the last couple of years. The house had gotten colder without her. Her father cared about her, she knew that for sure, but he was not very good at expressing love, not as good as Winter anyway.
"Hey I'm sorry but I have to go, bean. Have a fantastic week! Please try and make friends with those new girls, I think it could really be good for you."
Weiss sighed, "Like I said, I'll give it my best shot. I'm not very good at this so I am unsure of how it will turn out."
Winter smiled, "I guess that's all I can ask for. I'll call you next week, I love you, sis."
"I love you too, Winter, goodnight."
Weiss closed her laptop as her sister's image disappeared. She tried to go back to her homework, but she couldn't keep her head clear enough to focus. So, everyone thinks I should befriend these new people, why? I don't need more friends, I've been very adamant about that, but now both dad and Winter seem convinced that it will help me in some way. I can see the benefits that my dad put forward. In business, appearing friendly can be very helpful in creating deals, and I suppose the only way to learn how to be friendly is to try and make friends. But Winter said it could help me be happy, I am happy! At least, as happy as I need to be. It can be lonely sometimes, Blake isn't exactly the most exuberant of personalities, but she is an excellent friend and has helped me cope with quite a few things the last couple of years. I guess I just do not see what I can get from a friendship with those two. We are nothing alike! They both have high energy, and Ruby, at least, is obnoxious, whereas I am calm and collected. Ugh! I'll ask Blake tomorrow morning what I should do. If she is of the same opinion as my father and sister, then I suppose I'll have no choice but to try and be friends with those hooligans.
Confident in her decision, she went back to her studies. She was about to start on her readings in the textbooks when she smelled something delicious outside her room. upon opening the door, she found her dinner, chicken carbonara, sitting on the floor and a note taped to the outside of her door.
Weiss,
I came to give you your dinner and heard you talking to Winter, I did not want to interrupt so I left your dinner out here, hopefully you find it before it gets too cold. I know it's your favorite dish and assumed it would be welcome, considering the events of today. As you and I both have work to do, I shall leave you to dine in peace. I will see you tomorrow morning for breakfast.
Dad
Weiss chuckled at the note, it was a sweet gesture on her father's part. His notes had not gotten any less awkward over the years, but she found it very endearing. Weiss grabbed her dinner and sat down back at her desk, as she started eating she thought, Tomorrow is going to be a very interesting day.
AN: I know the story is running slow for some people's taste, but I assure you, there will be romance in here, soon. I also need to revise my statement that I can push out one or two of these a week. I am not abandoning this story, by any means, simply taking longer to write. I have never written before so I am still trying to find my footing, please bear with me. I would like to thank Cowjump for some fantastic insights and help on how to look over and edit my story, if you have not read his work, I highly recommend it! I do not own RWBY, it is the property of the amazing Monty Oum, Get well soon Monty!