Roman and Ruby stood outside in the cold, night air waiting on his limo. She kept stealing glances at him but he just stared straight ahead. Her mind wandered right into the gutter thinking about his lips and the way his body felt against hers. She felt her face heating up thinking about being that close to him.

"Ruby."

"Y-yes?"

"What do you look for in a man?" Roman asked.

"I'm not sure."

"Ok."

"It's a honest answer."

"I never said it wasn't Red."

"I guess because I messed up the first time... I'm not sure what I am looking for or what I should be looking for. I imagine it's what Yang and Blake have."

Roman smiled, "Is what they have between them that great?"

"Truthfully yes."

Roman turned around, "Maybe it's time to stop idolizing what everyone else has and find your own."

"Because I was wrong the first time. I would be afraid to be wrong again."

"Everyone has been wrong more than once."

Ruby nodded and looked the other way.The limo arrived and he let her in first. They sat in silence for a few minutes before he spoke again.

"What do you want to do now?" he asked.

"I don't know."

"There's an ice cream shop open 'til one. Want to go? They have chocolate ice cream."

Ruby looked over at him with a grin on her face.

"Ok!"

X

Roman got Ruby a bowl with six scoops of different chocolate ice creams. It was covered in sprinkles and hot fudge syrup.

"Want to play twenty questions?"

Ruby looked up with her mouth full of ice cream and nodded.

"I'll go first since your mouth is busy."

Her face turned pink and nodded slowly.

"What is your biggest fear?" he asked.

"People."

"You're shitting me."

She nodded, "I'm still nervous about people but I have friends who can force to do it even though it makes me uncomfortable. I have social anxiety. We've been there enough I can talk to Junior."

"I'm not surprised."

"What do you look for in a woman?" Ruby asked.

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth but he ate some ice cream before answering.

"Quit stalling."

"Alright, alright."

He drank some water.

"I need someone I can have fun with. I don't want to be bored for the rest of my life. She has to smile often and she has to be strong willed."

"She sounds wonderful."

Roman eyed her with a devious grin, "Oh she is..."

"You already met her...?" Ruby asked, "Why aren't you hanging out with her instead?"

"Red..."

Roman reached over wiped ice cream off her lips before she could lick it off. He just stared at her intensely but she couldn't look away.

"You don't think highly of yourself do you?" he asked softly.

"If I was, he wouldn't have left clear across the world."

Roman hung his head feeling slightly defeated.

"You're killing me."

"What why?"

Roman got up and sat in the seat beside of her. She turned placing her back against the wall. He leaned close to her face and she swallowed hard. He smells really good...

"Ruby, no man in his right mind would hurt you if he was a good man. He used you because he knows how to exploit your insecurities. I would give up chasing women in a bar for you if you wanted to be with me. I know how good of a woman you are just from hanging out with you."

Ruby looked down at the floor. Roman tilted her face back upward. He could see her silver eyes watering.

"Don't cry."

"I'm not!" she said blinking.

Roman sighed and pressed his lips against hers. He felt her tense up for a few seconds then she relaxed. In his opinion she was pretty even when she was sad. She was breaking his heart.

For someone who physically strong enough to take out strong men was falling apart by one boy.

Roman slipped an arm around her waist. Ruby had a firm grip on his shirt. After a few minutes he pulled away and stared into her eyes. She had a dazed look on her face but she was smiling.

"No more talk about that fool. Just be happy," Roman whispered.

"Ok," she said.

"Let's take you home... You look tired. You also can avoid your sister until morning at least."

Ruby laughed.

X

The limo pulled up in front of her house. Roman gave her a kiss again but more quickly. He slipped a small paper in her hand and she gave him a funny look.

"I want you to decide when you want to talk to me. I won't bother you at work or when you're at home until your ready. Message me when you're ready. I'll be waiting Red."

"Why are you giving me the choice?" she asked.

"Because, I want you to decide when you're ready. Friend or more... Goodnight Ruby."

"Night Roman."

Ruby got out and headed for her door. She unlocked it and looked back seeing the limo creep away slowly. She got inside and locked the door. She stood in the dark living room touching her lips.

Ruby took off her boots and headed upstairs. She put her boots to the side and flicked on the lights.

"Why are you home so late?!"

Ruby screamed and fell over. Blake shot up in bed confused. Yang was sitting at her computer chair with a grin on her face.

"You think taking your boots off will be quiet enough for us!"

Ruby laid on the floor trying to calm herself.

"Since we are awake tell us what happened!" Blake said since she was more awake now.

She sat up and grinned, "Not much."

X

X

The next morning Ruby was sitting at the table staring at the paper with Roman's number on it. Blake and Yang wouldn't let her go to bed until she told them everything. Now they were sipping their coffee staring at her in anticipation. Ruby could feel their eyes on her and it was making it harder to make a decision.

"You know... You should just text him and get it over with," Yang said, "He's probably in love with you after those dance moves."

Ruby's face turned bright pink.

"I wish you didn't teach me now..."

"There's nothing wrong with it. We dance like that all the time. Even with different people. You can just stay dancing with Roman if you want."

"I know."

"So are you guys still just friends?" Blake asked with a smile.

"Yes."

Blake and Yang shrugged with a smile.

"I'm OK with that," Yang said patting her little sister's shoulder.

"Oh, babe the papers came in this morning. We have the house!" Blake said.

Great. I'm alone already.

"I'll have to get boxes!" Yang said standing up quickly.

"I already have some in the trunk. We can start packing today. Ruby, are you OK with running the store by yourself? Pyrrha has the day off."

"Sure."

Ruby went upstairs to her room and closed the door. She already felt alone. She headed for the closet digging through it. Finally she found her black and blue sweater dress. She found blue leggings to wear with it and did her makeup black with blue.

She left for work without saying anything.

Ruby sighed as she drank her coffee waiting for the day to go by. She saw Blake had posted a schedule and she was off Friday, Saturday and Sunday. She had wondered why and then it dawned on her that it was the business party for Roman's dad and she was his date. Blake also gave Pyrrha the weekend off too. A small smile appeared on her lips.

Blake had left her a note saying there was no truck and that she should close by five. Ruby looked around her work place and it was empty. She groaned in annoyance. She slipped her hand inside her sweater pocket feeling Roman's paper there. He was being really patient with her.

X

X

Roman tapped on his coffee table. He had told his mom everything and she was super excited to see Ruby there with her son. He knew he gave Ruby the option to pick when she texted him but he was getting nervous. What if she didn't want anything more than being his friend?

"This is fucking stupid."

"Why?"

Roman jumped in his seat.

"I forgot you were here, Hei."

Junior rolled his eyes, "Thanks dick head."

Roman gave him a thumbs up.

"What's on your mind?"

"Nothing."

"Someone named Ruby?"

Roman closed his eyes and nodded. He laid his head back.

"Someone has it bad."

"What the hell does that mean?" he asked glaring at his friend.

"I've never seen you focus on anything so hard before besides your liquor."

Roman crinkled his nose, "I don't know."

"Oh my god. You actually like her! I was worried you were gonna be an ass but you fell for her didn't you?"

Roman got up from the couch and headed for the kitchen.

"What is it about her you like so much?" Junior asked following him into the kitchen.

"Why must you do this?" he asked annoyed.

"Because I'm curious as too what got you hooked. Your last girl is a complete different type from your goth princess."

Roman grabbed a coke from the fridge and opened it.

"You really want to know?"

Junior nodded.

"Ruby looks hardcore and fierce on the outside. Her personality is off and she has social anxiety but once she started talking it was like a whole different thing. She's not one way or another... She's complicated yet so simple.

"Everything from the way she blushes to the way she looks when she's upset... She's so complex. Even though she seems like a crier, she's strong. It kills my black heart to know someone hurt her and she's so damaged she can't even believe someone likes her."

Junior stared at him.

"What?" he asked.

"You seem attracted to damaged girls."

Roman shrugged, "Well, I'm quite damaged myself. Emerald did quite a number on me."

I'm glad you guys are enjoying my story and dont worry I'll keep going since it barely started : )