It took Yang a couple of days to get over it, but she did. Thinking back, she didn't really expect Raven to respond, why would she? She obviously wanted nothing to do with her, they were in the same city and she never contacted her once.
It was just foolish hope that made Yang send that message. Raven didn't want to write back? Fuck her. She didn't need that woman in her life anyways now that she had confirmed how selfish she truly was. It was a blessing in disguise, Yang tried to tell herself.
Final exams were coming up in December, right before the winter break. Yang dove into her studies, determined to get good marks and finish strong. She'd make something out of herself, make her real mom Summer proud of her.
"But Yang, what are we going to get Uncle Qrow for Christmas?" Ruby asked, toothbrush in her mouth, getting ready for bed.
Yang was hunched over at her desk, feverishly writing biology notes. "Not now Ruby, I have to cram all this stuff into my brain…" Yang furrowed her brow at her text book. "Meiosis…? This again? Argh!"
It was 10 pm at night, Yang had spent the day with Weiss studying Biology but she still felt like she needed to cram. To make matters worse, the Chemistry final was the day after Biology and she didn't feel ready at all. If only she could call… Yang chewed on her lip and looked at her phone.
Things between her and Blake after the party had been a little tense. They still talked, mostly in class but it wasn't quite as easy as it was before. After going back and forth a dozen times, weighing the pros and cons, Yang made up her mind and hit the call button on Blake's contact.
Blake picked up on the third ring. "Hello?" she answered, sounding a little hesitant.
"Blake, hey. It's Yang, it's not too late to talk is it?"
"No, I'm just surprised you called me at home. I thought you were… Mad at me…"
"Honestly, I still am kind of. I just wish you would trust me more, but I get it… These things take time right?"
"Yang…" Blake felt like she truly didn't deserve Yang as a friend.
"Anyways, I'm calling about the Chemistry final on Tuesday. I could really use some help studying, I was wondering if we could meet tomorrow."
"Yes," Blake said, a bit too quickly. She checked herself. "I mean, sure. Is the downtown public library okay?"
"Sounds great, you're a lifesaver! I'll text you after I'm done Biology. That is, if I actually survive the test with some brain cells still intact."
The dark haired girl laughed, a melodic sort of chortle. Yang smiled and played with her hair, deciding that she really missed Blake's laugh and wanted to hear it again.
"Goodnight, Yang."
"Night."
The next day, they spent hours at the library going over notes and labs. Blake patiently answered all of Yang's questions about bond pairings and stoichiometry in her usual calm reserved way. The blonde's head was spinning at times but at the end of the night, she started to feel somewhat okay about the upcoming exam.
"You'll do fine," Blake said.
Yang shrugged and managed a smile. "I hope so. I really want to do well this semester."
On the morning of the final, Yang was nervous as she flipped through the 15 pages of the lengthy exam. She took a deep breath and started with the problem sets, choosing to save the multiple choice for later, and trying to keep Blake's soothing voice in her head. You'll do fine.
Three days later, after her English final, Yang walked up to the board where the chemistry marks were posted with a feeling of dread. She scanned the dot matrix printed paper for her student number. She found it. Wait that can't be right… B-plus, 87%. She had gotten an B-plus!
Yang could barely contain her excitement. She jumped up and down and whooped, earning a stern look from a teacher who popped her head out of a class where they were still writing finals. Yang covered her mouth apologetically, but quickly went back to pumping her fist and hissing "Yes!" to herself.
Yang heard someone turning the corner, and she whipped around ready to pull whoever it was into her impromptu celebration. To her surprise, it was Blake, looking cool and beautiful in a dark purple cardigan and black skinny jeans with her book bag slung over her shoulder. Yang grinned and hefted her in the air, holding her by the hips.
Blake let out an undignified yelp. "Whoa there."
Yang set her down. "Blake, I got a B-plus, 87%!"
"Congratulations," Blake said sincerely. "I knew you could do it."
"It's all because of you."
"I didn't do anything... But thanks," Blake mumbled, starting to feel embarrassed by the sheer adoration in Yang's gaze. "So… I guess this is it, huh? We won't be lab partners anymore."
Yang's grin faded a few notches when she realized the one class they had together was over. "I guess not… But hey, what's your schedule like next term?"
"I have Physics first period, then English B and-"
"With Mr. Christianson?" Yang interrupted.
"Yeah."
"I'm in that one too!" Yang exclaimed.
Blake smiled, her usual smirk, subtle but stunning, the one that always gave Yang the sensation of butterflies in her chest. "Then I guess I'll see you around... Bye, Yang."
"See you…"
Yang walked aimlessly through the mall, taking a moment to adjust the wool beanie that she had pulled hastily over her messy hair. Last minute Christmas shopping, definitely not her favourite way to spend a Saturday afternoon. She wanted to get something for Blake to thank her for helping her study. The problem was that she had no idea what the mysterious girl would actually want for a gift.
Blake didn't seem to be into material things, a worn out novel was her most constant accessory. Yang walked into a stationary shop and saw a black leather journal with a flower design on the cover. The flower looked vaguely familiar to her and she wondered where she had seen it before. Then it dawned on her.
When she first met Blake, her last name had sounded so pretty and cool that Yang googled it to see what it meant. Belladonna; 'beautiful lady' in Italian and most famously, an extremely poisonous flower otherwise known as deadly nightshade. In Renaissance Italy, women used it in eye drops to dilate their pupils to appear more seductive. Beautiful, deadly, seductive, all words that seemed to describe Blake in Yang's mind.
The cover had the outline of two belladonna flowers stamped into the leather. Each one of them had five pointed petals curving outward from an elegant bell shape facing opposite directions. Yang turned the well-crafted journal over. It costed $50, a small fortune for a highschooler whose only means of income was working at the Dairy Queen in the summers. It was a little pricey but Yang knew it was the one, the gift that'd be perfect for Blake.
It was Christmas morning at the Xiao Long apartment. Ruby, Tai Yang and Uncle Qrow were seated at the table laughing and telling jokes while Yang flipped the pancakes.
They had exchanged gifts earlier in their pajamas right after they woke up. Ruby and Yang gave their father an "ugly" Christmas sweater, pixilated white reindeer shapes against a dark bluish green background. He laughed out loud and put it on immediately.
Yang got Ruby a portable battery charger for her phone so she could play that godforsaken Pokemon Go game longer in the summer. Ruby got Yang a couple vintage style T shirts with her favourite band The Achieve.
When Uncle Qrow came over for breakfast, they gave him his present, a Scottish kilt, a gag gift inspired by a story their dad told them about Qrow 'accidentally' wearing a girl's school uniform skirt to a high school assembly.
"I bet I can finish this stack before you do," Taiyang challenging Ruby with his fingers poised on the fork.
"You're on, old man!"
They dug into the pancakes hungrily, loading them up with butter and syrup, and demolishing them quicker than Yang could make them.
Yang smiled at the scene and exchanged a knowing nod with Uncle Qrow. This was her family, flaws, rough edges, and all sorts of crazy. She wouldn't have it any other way.
Uncle Qrow was also a cop, but he worked in a different district, often doing undercover work. He wasn't able to visit much but Yang always appreciated the way he was always there for them when they really needed him.
"Hey Uncle Qrow, can you help me with the dishes?"
"Sure, kid."
He gathered up the sticky dishes in pile and brought them to the sink where Yang's arms were elbow deep in suds.
"What's up, firecracker?" he asked quietly.
Yang didn't glance up from the dishes but asked in a low voice. "Is Raven back in town?
Qrow frowned at the question but he didn't look surprised. "How did you know that?"
"I saw her Facebook page."
He sighed, and muttered something that sounded like, "That idiot…"
Qrow was her biological mother's twin brother but they were nothing alike. Raven had cut ties with all of her family including her brother when she left to pursue her own goals. She didn't keep in touch with any of them.
"I heard she had come back to Portland a couple of months ago from God-knows-where she was before. She didn't contact me or anyone else, it's just part of my job to know what's going on in the city…"
Yang nodded numbly.
"Sorry kid, that's all I got… I wouldn't try contacting her if I were you. She's the type of person who only knows how to hurt, not cut out to be a mother at all."
When Yang was younger, she used to ask him questions all the time about Raven, who she was and what was she like, but he resolutely would not talk about her. She used to hate him for it but now she realized that it was for her own good, so she wouldn't find out what a selfish bitch she truly was.
"Thanks, Uncle."
"Anytime," he said walking away back to the living room where Ruby and Taiyang were playing Mario Kart on the Wii.
Suddenly Yang's phone sitting on the counter lit up with a text message. Yang wiped her hands on the dish cloth and picked up. It was from Blake:
-Are you busy right now? I'd like to drop off a gift-
Yang was surprised Blake had messaged her first. She was already planning on texting for a time to meet after breakfast.
+Not at all, come on over+
Twenty minutes later there was a soft knock at the door. Yang retrieved the gift wrapped journal from her room and answered the door with a smile.
"Hi."
"Hi," Blake said stepping into the small narrow entryway holding a medium sized box. "I'm not interrupting am I?" She could hear Ruby and Uncle Qrow laughing around the corner from the wall.
"No, you're fine. We just finished breakfast."
Yang noticed Blake's cheeks were red, presumably from the cold.
"Did you walk here? You should have told me, I would have given you a ride."
"It's not that far, and it's actually a nice day for a walk," Blake said flashing a gleaming smile.
"I guess you're right…" Yang fiddled with the package she held behind her back. "Here you go, Blake," she blurted out, handing the gift to her.
Blake was surprised. She set down her box on the little table by the door and took the gift into her hands.
"Yang, you shouldn't have."
"Open it," Yang said, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Blake carefully opened the wrapping paper and let out a little gasp when she saw the journal. She ran her finger over the flower petals embossed into the leather.
"Thank you…" Blake whispered. It was beautifully made. She recognized them right away as belladonna flowers, the same as her family name.
"I just thought it was pretty…" Like you, Yang thought.
Blake smiled warmly at Yang in appreciation. "I have something for you," she said, setting down the journal and handing her a plain white rectangular box.
"You didn't have to," Yang started.
"I wanted to…" Blake glanced up at her shyly. "Listen Yang, I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with… And well, I just want to thank you for your patience with me and being my friend."
"You don't have to thank me…" Yang mumbled awkwardly. She opened the box and found a soft orange scarf folded neatly inside. The scarf had an emblem of a yellow flaming heart sewn on one of the ends. It was the design she had hand painted on to her motorcycle and helmet, her own personal symbol that described who she was; fiery and full of heart.
She took the scarf out of the box and ran her fingers over the material. It felt so soft and warm. "How did you…?"
"I had it custom made… Sent in a picture to a website, it was nothing really…"
Yang wrapped the scarf around her neck and smiled. "I love it," she said pulling Blake into a hug.
Blake embraced her back wholeheartedly. She could feel Yang's warmth through the cotton of her t-shirt, and her breath against her neck. Yang held her tightly in a real hug, chest to chest, not one of those fake hugs where there were miles of space in between.
Yang was bit taller than Blake so she had to lean in a bit to rest her head against her shoulder. She closed her eyes, trying to take in every detail of the moment. She couldn't get over how right it felt, with the tips of her hair brushing against her cheek, and the sweet floral scent of her shampoo filling her nose. Yang kept on thinking, this was how it should be.
Blake was the one to pull away first, gradually breaking contact by sliding her hands down Yang's arms and squeezing her palms briefly before letting go. They had far exceeded the time length of a 'normal' hug and Yang's family would be looking for her soon.
"I'd better get going."
"Are you sure you don't want to stay? Uncle Qrow was just about to break out the Pictionary set, it's pretty funny. He always finds a way to make the game dirty."
"Thanks, but I should get back. Tukson is home for the holidays and I don't want to leave him alone today."
Yang nodded in understanding and smiled. "Merry Christmas, Blake."
"Merry Christmas, Yang"
With one last glance and a smile, Blake took her gift and left. Yang patted the scarf around her neck and inhaled deeply. It smelled like Blake.
A/N Merry Christmas!