POV: Jaune Arc
Chapter Seven: Lesson Learned
I sit on my bed in silence, studying the pages before me in a futile attempt to prepare myself for the test tomorrow. The silence is suddenly disturbed by muffled shouts from the hall, I look up from the book glancing over to the other three occupants of the room. The commotion grabbing everyone's attention, we look at each other in confusion as another loud exchange of muffled words can be heard through the walls.
I wonder what's going on.
Nora hops up from her bed saying something about there being a party, sounding a little to excited by the aspect, Ren as usual follows Nora to keep damage to a minimal, Pyrrha sets her book aside as well and stands making her way to the others who are now standing by the door. I quickly move over to them and prepare myself for whatever could be going on out in the hall.
The door swings open thanks to a swift kick from Nora allowing us to now step out, we are greeted by a sight. The source of the noise seems to have been three of the four members of team RWBY and the new member of our team Jason as well as his companion wolf, though whatever was causing the problem seems to have been resolved as the five of them are just standing in the hall now. They heard Nora's entrance and have now turned to face us looking rather uneasy, Nora speaks first.
"Sounds like you guys are having a party out here, why weren't we invited?" After a few moments of silence Yang is the one to speak up, sounding a little more defensive than usual. "Oh hey guys, we just had a little argument is all." The slow response added to the fact of her somewhat defensive tone makes me more than a little suspicious, and after a quick look at the rest of my team it seems that the feeling is mutual.
Jason shifts his attention down to his wolf giving him a scratch on the head, looking uncomfortable with the attention that he is receiving. Phyrra speaks up sounding concerned for the well being of her friends, "Oh really? Is something wrong?" The question is immediately met with a "NO" from both Yang and Jason.
What are they up to?
Jason seems to realize our suspicion and takes it upon himself to explain, speaking in a relaxed tone. "No...no it's fine just a simple misunderstanding is all, you see Ruby here got a little too close to me when I was asleep. I had passed out in the hallway after staying out too late, and Gore here got a little to jumpy and nearly attacked her" He pauses and turns his attention to Ruby. "Sorry again about that Ruby I truly hope you can forgive him…and me for that matter for not keeping a closer eye on him."
He seems genuinely apologetic, and Ruby being her happy self isn't one to hold a grudge. "Oh it's ok don't be so hard on him he was just protecting his friend, I can't be mad at him for that." She says smiling, Gore even walks over and sits down next to her even receiving a hesitant scratch on the head from Ruby. Jason himself seems a bit surprised at the actions of his companion, but his focus quickly turns to Yang, "Well i'm starving, anyone want to get some breakfast?" Though he says it outloud it seems to be targeted to Yang specifically, which earns a giggle and a "Yes" from Yang who then starts walking down the hall with Jason jogging to catch up.
Well that's… Different?
With Jason and Yang now gone it is only myself, Pyrrha, Nora, Ren, Ruby, and Weiss remaining in the hall before. Though this only lasts a few moments before Weiss asks Ruby if she would like to go shopping, earning a near immediate "Yes!" then the two of them make a quick exit from the hall leaving only myself, Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren in the hall. I speak up first, "Well...am I the only person that thinks that was really weird?"
Everyone nods in agreement but Pyrrha is the one to speak. "It does seem like something is going on between them and our new teammate."
"Well obviously, I saw Yang and Jason asleep together in the hall last night probably around midnight or so-" She pauses seeing the looks of surprise before her, "What you guys didn't know that?"
So Jason is here for two days and he is already with Yang, but i'm here forever and Weiss still won't give me a second look just my luck. "Well I suppose that would explain the whole incident this morning, we have all seen how protective Ruby is. Maybe she saw the two of them together?" I state in a questioning tone, examining the expressions of the three people in front of me.
Much to my confusion Pyhrra doesn't seem very surprised at all, but instead looks lost in thought causing my curiosity to spike and make me want to question her about it. "What are you thinking about Phyrra?"
Phyrra looks up and turns towards me with a smile, but won't meet my eyes. "We should get back to studying." She then quickly turns her attention away from me and hastily heads back into the dorm room.
Why is everything so strange today?!
While I stand in the hall trying to still fully comprehend what all is happening, I hear Nora mention something about going to Vale as well. Before anyone can say a word to her she takes off down the hall, all the while ranting happily to herself about this and that leaving Ren to silently follow her on her adventures to keep her in line a slight smile on his lips the whole time.
After Ren and Nora have gone I walk back to the room hoping to find out what is going on with Phyrra, upon stepping inside I notice that Phyrra is standing in the entrance of the room arms crossed seemingly waiting for me. "Uhh...What's up?" I manage to somewhat nervously find the words, but there's something about the way she is acting that makes me think that these words could be a mistake.
Much to my surprise my statement is met by a few moments of silence from Phyrra before she speaks, being sure to choose her words carefully her tone softer than usual leaving me to assume that something is wrong. "Oh nothing really Jaune… I was just figuring that we could go over the notes or something, I thought you might appreciate some help."
While I still think that there is something else bothering her, I figure it couldn't hurt to have some help. "Sure that sounds great, thank you." I reply as I walk across the room to my bed, grabbing my grimm studies textbook as well as the matching notes before heading back over to Phyrra's bed. She slides herself to the right slightly opening a spot for me to sit down and patting it to signal me to do so, I seat myself next to her and open the book back to the page where it previously was.
Phyrra does the same handing me her notes for comparison, after about ten or so minutes of furiously copying my notes from hers they are up to the amazingly high standards of Phyrra's. Well this should at least help me get a passing grade, still won't be great but it's a start. "Thanks again Phyrra I really appreciate you helping me with my school work and combat skills I don't think I'd be anywhere near this good without you there guiding me."
Phyrra smiles brightly at the compliment, "You are welcome, it isn't really anything special I enjoy helping you. It ends up only helping me in the long run anyway you being our team leader and all." I laugh scratching the back of my head. "Well I still do appreciate it because you don't have to do anything to help me, so it means a lot to me." I say while matching her smile, silence then takes over for a few minutes as we sit staring awkwardly at our notes.
Should I say something or just wait…
Sense I am still entirely clueless of what is going on I am relieved when Phyrra speaks up, "Do you mind if I ask you a personal question Jaune?" I am slightly surprised by the question, but seeing nothing wrong with it I answer simply "Sure, what do you wanna know?" Phyrra turns to face me by bringing her feet up onto the bed to sit cross legged. After she is in her new sitting position she slides herself back so that she can lean back against the wall at the far end of the bed, where the headboard would normally be.
I mimic her sitting position so that we are facing each other, making sure that I look entirely serious about what is going to be said. "Well I was just curious is there anyone that you are interested in at Beacon?"
The content of the question surprises me slightly, though I don't show it in my expression. I think for a moment on my reply, with Weiss being the only one coming to mind it's as good as answer as any I guess. "Well I kinda have a thing for Weiss, but I don't know she doesn't seem interested in me every time I try to talk to her she just ignores me." I keep eye contact while I speak when I say Weiss's name Phyrra flinches slightly, she tries to hide it but I still notice it only adding to my confusion.
I decide it is better not to question as much as I may want to it would just complicate things further than they already are, which would probably drive me insane. Phyrra responds very simply and suddenly seems in a hurry, "Well...you can't give up, if you really want to be with her then you just have to keep trying." Though it does sound that the words have truth to them there is also something else in her tone, which I can only guess is sadness.
Did...did I do something wrong?
"Well I have some things that I have to do, i'll talk to you later" Phyrra stands practically jumping off of the bed, leaving her notes and book behind. Hastily making her way towards the door, I stand as well trying to stop her but she avoids me, "Phyrra wait!" Though my words fall on deaf ears as Phyrra just continues walking, the door to the room opening just before she reaches it to reveal Jason and Yang entering accompanied by Gore. "Hey Pyrrha." Jason says happily when he notices her heading towards them, but she just pushes past heading out into the hall.
"Is everything ok Jaune?" Yang asks sounding concerned, Jason says nothing. "I don't really know...we were talking and I just don't know, I'm so confused." I bury my head in my hands and throw myself back down onto the bed, with the mix of confusion and frustration I am currently attempting to sift through I don't know what else to do. While I lay on the bed I can hear them walk, from the sound of it the three move over to Jason's bed.
"I am gonna go talk to Phyrra, you talk to Jaune see if you can make him feel better." Yang is speaking to Jason, in which he responds jokingly. "Aye aye captain." Earning a giggle from Yang before (gauging by the sound) she heads to the door to go find Phyrra. Jason sighs out loud, then after a moment I can hear him moving something over towards me. "So...you wanna tell me what happened with you two?" He speaks calmly, I sit up and move my hands away. Looking around I notice two things, first of which being that Jason's jacket is now gone and second Jason is sitting on his bed that is now pushed closer to Phyrra's which he and Gore are sitting on.
"Well we were just studying and such then Pyrrha asked me if i was interested in anyone at Beacon, and when I said Weiss's name...I don't know her mood seemed to change and she left in a hurry." Jason listens without saying a word, nodding his head when I have finished. He contemplates for a few moments before speaking, "So what is the whole...uh...situation between you and Pyrrha?"
Assuming the reason he is asking is because he is still new here and doesn't know us us all that well yet, I answer without a second thought. "Well she has been helping me with my combat skills and my school work, other than that we are friends you know." Jason's expression changes slightly at this new piece of information, though if he figured something out he keeps it to himself for the time being. After a few moments Jason speaks up again. "Ok, well I am gonna put this as simple as possible for you. You like Weiss right, that's what i'm getting out of this?"
He pauses checking to see my response before continuing, "And I am guessing that you have liked her for a decent amount of time right?" Again I nod, "So you probably did things to try to impress her, you know make her notice and show your feelings. Now think for a second about that, really think about it and then look at all the stuff Phyrra has been doing for you. And there my friend is where this little problem of yours lies."
Wait a second does he mean...
Seemingly pleased with his explanation Jason lays back onto his bed looking up at the ceiling, resting his right leg over his raised left knee. After a moment it all clicks and I understand what Jason is saying, I stand turning myself to face him.
"So you mean-"
"Yep, Phyrra has a crush on you."
My mind is running at a million miles a minute thinking about every interaction I've had with Phyrra, all the signs i've likely missed and the numerous times I have made a fool of myself. Jason sits up on the bed to look over at me, presumably to see how I handle the situation.
"So Phyrra has a crush on me." Saying the words out loud sounds crazy and ridiculous as my brain is still fighting to comprehend the situation. If there is a reply it goes unnoticed sense my chest is tied in knots, my heart is beating faster than usual and catching my breath is becoming increasingly difficult. Jason stands slowly from his bed walking over to me placing his hands on my shoulders, shaking me forcefully. "Jaune...hey Jaune buddy talk to me, you ok? Looking like you're hyperventilating over here man."
I look at him still quizzical but I am slightly calmed by the action, the force seemingly snapping me out of my little episode. "Ok...i'm ok, I just need a second to figure this all out." Jason nods pushing down on my shoulders, making me sit back down on the bed before removing his hands. He elects to stand in front of me his arms crossed watching me, as I sit there mulling over the details in my mind I notice something strange. "Didn't you have your jacket with you when you came in?" Jason shifts uncomfortably, though why I don't quite know.
"Yeah I did."
"So where did it go?"
He pauses for a few moments before answering, "Yang took it with her." He says looking slightly embarrassed, I can't help but laugh at his discomfort which is met by a glare of disapproval. The glare putting an end to my laughter, I decide it's best to change the subject. "I'm gonna go talk to Phyrra about all this I need to hear it from her." I decide, determined to try to stand though I am stopped by Jason.
"Hold on a second, give yourself some time to think and a little time for her to calm down and talk to Yang. It won't do you any good to go rushing to her when she is still all emotional, plus you're still all flipped out yourself. In a couple of hours you'll both be calm enough to talk about all this without freaking out or flipping out, yah get me?" His explanation makes perfect sense and as hard as it may be, i'll just have to wait. I nod showing my acknowledgment letting out a sigh of disapproval, "I guess i'll go do some combat training, that's always a good way to kill time."
I stand this time instead of stopping me Jason simply moves out of the way allowing me to stand, I walk back to my bed on the opposite side of the room grabbing Crocea Mors from underneath and attaching it to right hip. When I am finished I cross the room a final time making my way to the front door, when I reach the door however Jason calls out to stop me. "Hey wait up, i'll come with you maybe I can show you a few things. Sense your usual trainer is well let's just say not available, plus it might help you to practice against someone you aren't familiar with." I consider Jason's proposition, deciding that he once again is right. "Sure that sounds great, if you don't mind."
Jason chuckles at my statement, "Yeah i'm pretty sure my afternoon is free now thanks to this, Yang is with Phyrra and i'm with you." His statement comes off a little harsher than I think he meant it to but I understand where he is coming from, I say nothing as we head out of the dorm and into the hall now on our way to the sparring arena. Jason pulls out his scroll and sends a message presumably too Yang, telling her what happened and where we are going if she needs him. Not to long after Jason sends his message, his scroll dings alerting him to a new message.
"Well it seems that thing's with Phyrra are worked out for the most part, Yang's been talking to her and she seems to have calmed down." I am happy to hear that Phyrra isn't still upset, knowing that she is doing better seems to put my mind at ease since I don't have to worry about her for the time being. I respond simply "Great, tell Yang she has my eternal gratitude."
It'll all work itself out in time, now I can talk to Phyrra and go from there.
Yang you are amazing.