Weiss Schnee
Beacon Academy, Vale
October 14th

Good, she's alright. I don't have to start an investigation into my sister's disappearance. Now, just catch up to her - yes! Her team is going on ahead, I don't have to drag her away from them. Just avoid any distractions, and you'll be… fine.

"Hey Schnee," Coco says, looping an arm around mine. Great, just what I need, a Coco Adel level distraction. "So, I was thinking Schnee, why don't you and I go out into the city later? I need a new tattoo gun and since Velvs here won't come with me, I thought that maybe you would."

"Coco, really, it's not that I don't want to hang out, but I'm a little preoccupied at the moment -"

"Preoccupied with what?" Coco asks, smacking my backside. Sometimes it's a bit cute but I am not amused by it, not now. Irritably, I respond.

"Well, in case you hadn't noticed, something is going on with my sister and I need to speak with her. Sorry." With that, I tear myself out of her death grip and move faster than I ever have to try and reach my twin sister.

"Caitlin?" I say, running to catch up with Caitlin just as we're leaving breakfast. Since we don't have classes again today, I can actually have a chance to spend time with my sister.. "Hey, where were you yesterday?"

She turns around and sighs, adjusting her loose, messy bun. "Weiss? What is it?"

Without even thinking, I pull her into a tight hug. Even though she's clearly caught by surprise, she hugs be back equally tight. "I'm so glad you're alright!" I say as I release her.

"Why wouldn't I be alright?" She asks, though it almost seems like she's hiding something.

"Well I didn't see you at dinner last night, and no one seemed to know where you were. What happened?"

Caitlin shrinks back a bit, rubbing her arm. "Nothing, I just needed to spend some time alone, that's all."

I don't believe her at all. "Caitlin, you're my sister, do you really think you can keep things from me? Seriously, what is bothering you?"

"Nothing!" She snaps. "It's none of your concern Weiss, just… just leave me alone. Please."

"Are you out of your mind? We're twins, we tell each other everything!" I say, trying to reason with her.

"This is different Weiss… I don't even know how to tell you."

"Why not?" I demand, grabbing her wrist.

"Because this is about who I am! Because I am struggling to deal with it and I am not going to subject you to knowing about it until I'm sure you'll understand!" She half-shouts, her eyes beginning to fill with tears. "I'm sorry," She says, wrenching herself away from me. "Just leave me alone."

I'm just about to go after her as she runs away but in that same moment Ruby puts a hand on my shoulder. "Weiss?"

"I don't understand Ruby. What is going on with her?" I'm shaking slightly now; I'm worried about Caitlin, I don't know what she's dealing with, and she won't even tell me what's bothering her. "Do you think that she's angry with me?"

"Why would she be angry?" Ruby asks, confused.

I close my eyes briefly, and then shake my head. "I don't know. She's never done this before. Normally we, well normally we share everything. We've never had secrets from each other."

"Well… maybe she's just struggling with the different surroundings? I mean, you two didn't grow up around here, did you?"

"No, we moved around a little, but we never lived outside of the kingdom of Atlas."

"Well, it's probably nothing. I mean, she likes me better than she did, right?"

"I'm not sure…"

"Oh," Ruby stops, biting her lip before she starts bouncing a little per usual. "Anyway, do you want to hang out around campus today - oh my god what is that!" Ruby says, pointing at a fleet of ships that are starting to land around the academy.

"Ruby, those are Atlesian military ships," I tell her calmly. "But I'm not quite sure why they're here…"

"Well then why don't we go and find out! Come on Weiss, it will be an adventure!" Ruby says, grabbing my hand.

"I really don't think we should -"

"Come on Weiss! Don't be lame!"

Rolling my eyes, I let her drag me off towards the front of the academy where one of the ships has landed. I'm shocked she hasn't decided to carry me and use her semblance to get us to the front of the academy faster. Part of me has a fleeting hope that Winter may be here, but Winter would have told me if she was coming to Vale early. Still, out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of Winter's boss, General Ironwood, walking towards Beacon Tower. I faintly can see Professor Goodwitch and Professor Ozpin there as well, so I suppose it's nothing. I'm almost certain that it's just a normal meeting between the heads of academies, until I see Caitlin sit down outside the tower and pull out a book, very close to where they're talking. So, she's doing one of the things she does best. Eavesdropping.

"Ruby," I begin slowly. "Am I losing my mind, or is Caitlin sitting far too close to where Professor Goodwitch, General Ironwood, and Professor Ozpin are talking?"

Ruby moves a little closer briefly and then comes back. "Yeah, do you think she's -"

"Eavesdropping? Yes." I take Ruby's hand in spite of myself. "Do you have any idea why she might be doing that? The last time she did that it was because she was trying to find out whether or not I had actually been made heiress to the Schnee Dust Company." Not that I can be certain that she hasn't done it since then. The last time she got caught was when she was trying to find out whether or not was actually the heiress. Still, it's a bit concerning to me that she's taken up that particular habit out in the open.
"I mean… I don't know why she would do that." Ruby says, lightly grazing my hand with her knuckles.

"Do you really not have any guesses?" I ask. It's not like me to be so desperate for answers, but this is different. This is about my twin sister.

"Well… she's probably just curious about why an… Atlesian official is here in Vale? I really don't know Weiss." She pauses uneasily before adding. "Is Caitlin in trouble?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out Ruby!" I snap, but then wince at her reaction. "I'm sorry, Ruby, I -"

Before I can finish, Ruby cuts me off with an uneasy kiss. It's soft and so… gentle. I lightly kiss her back, realizing that this is my first kiss. And it's with a girl. I never thought that my first kiss would be with a girl, but now I… I don't want it to end.

"Weiss…" Ruby says tentatively. "I -"

"I… I loved that, Ruby," I say quietly. "Was that, was that your first kiss?"

"Yeah. Was it your first kiss too?"

"Yes," I respond, pulling her in and resting my head lightly on her shoulder as I hug her. "Ruby Rose, will you… will you go on a date with me next weekend?"

"Oh my god, oh my god, yes!" Ruby screams, hugging me tighter. "Wait, Weiss? Does this mean that I'm your… girlfriend?"

"I think so. But Ruby, I've never been in a relationship before…"

"Well then let's go on this adventure together," She says, clasping my hand.

This day might just get a little better...