A/N: Fun fact, diffusion of knowledge from sleeping on textbooks does not work. I have tried it many a time. Alas, I'm still not as cool as Nora, I suppose. Leave your comments, and let me know what you think!

Also, important note: I did change this fic to a T rating, as we're going to start getting more mature as time progresses with the Beacon Bunch. Probably should've done this earlier, but meh.

Laws of Attraction

The next week was nothing but a blur of papers, a flurry of scratching pencils, and combat exam after combat exam. It was a blessing that each day's sessions were shortened slightly to accommodate for more studying and rest time after each morning exam, allowing the students to go back and sleep before readying themselves for the next subject – but the arduous schedule was taking a toll even on Pyrrha. By Friday, she found herself collapsed on her bed, not even bothering to change into pyjamas before she fell asleep after the final individual combat evaluation.

Throughout the week, no one really spoke much. Team RWBY was always doing their own thing, having found a study system that worked for them. So, JNPR simply lurked in the library, noses deep in their textbooks and class notes. The movements were methodical, zombie-like- the librarian took so much pity on the students' blank expressions that she started offering sweets throughout study hours in order to liven the young people back up.

Pyrrha was never concerned about academics the same way she feared performing in combat in front of others. In academia, she could be prepared. No one could change the facts, no one could throw her a new idea- she could use reason and logic and work her way out of any situation she found herself in, without feeling the scrutiny of the audience, and the isolation from others as they placed her all alone upon that pedestal she detested. It was safe. Thus, the little black box never really opened its lid, and she was free to simply suffer from test anxiety just like everyone else.

Since Jaune was uncomfortable with Pyrrha offering her help, she could do nothing but sit on the sidelines and watch him flounder. So, it was even more magical when the person who finally called the blond out for his avoidance of schoolwork didn't have to be her.

"You're going to sit down, read this book, and answer these questions," Ren commanded sternly, forcing the blond into a chair the weekend beforehand. "No more running."

"Ren," Jaune attempted to struggle free, "I don't need-"

"Our leader is not going to fail midterms. You're going to do terribly, but it won't be a fail," he insisted bluntly. "I won't let you."

And so, Pyrrha was able to let out a sigh of relief, sit back, and work on her own academics. If Ren was there to hound him, then Jaune was in safe hands, especially considering that bookwork was Ren's specialty.

Thankfully, exams only lasted a week in length, and everyone ended up on the other side relatively unscathed. It was definitely stressful for everyone, and even the professors seemed less-than-pleased to have so much marking to do; to top it off, failing academically meant the possibility of having to leave Beacon at the end of their first year.

However, any poor marks achieved during this round of testing could be removed from one's transcript if they improved by a significant margin for the final exam. That fact gave Pyrrha a little light of hope, knowing that all was not lost- not for Jaune. The blond had not done very well, anyone could tell- his face was ashen, waxy, throughout the entire week. Yang jokingly gave him back his "Vomit Boy" title, which she and Ruby had used to describe him for the first week of classes, after his unfortunate airsickness on the way to Beacon.

Although marks wouldn't be out for the following week, they could still gauge how well they had done. Due to Ren's strict study routine, though, everyone could confidently say that Jaune probably passed. He was able to recite the bare minimum, and as Nora so lovingly put it, "He's an idiot, but at least he'll continue to be our idiot next year!"

Pyrrha still couldn't understand how the orange-haired girl managed to do so well, despite never being awake during class. Maybe the diffusion of knowledge from sleeping on her textbooks actually did work.

Still, a little part of Pyrrha prayed that maybe, just maybe the marks would come out and Jaune would end up blowing them all away. He took all the jibes in stride, playing them off as if his marks were a factor of his 'coolness'; but the redhead just wanted to see her friend succeed, no longer with that pale complexion, that worry permanently etched into his brow.

She still occasionally had dreams of Jaune standing proud upon the Great War memorial statue upon Main Avenue, battle-hardened and weary. She knew he could be a Huntsman, she just knew it.

And every time, she woke up flushed and embarrassed, and she just couldn't explain why.

After every test was done, they were given little respite as classes started back up to normal the very next week. Everyone moaned and groaned about it, but in reality, to be free of exams until the winter months would be nothing short of a blessing. Pyrrha was excited to get back into the learning curve- although she was confident that she had performed well in the testing, it was nice to get that little bit of nervousness out of her mind.

They all sat in Professor Oobleck's lecture hall one late afternoon. Out of the corner of her eye, Pyrrha could see the sky slowly growing darker and darker from the high-up windows- now that October was almost to a close, the sun was setting quite early. It was an unsettling feeling, to only be free of the classroom once the night had already fallen, but at least they had turned on the heaters so no one had to freeze.

Professor Oobleck was bouncing around, just as usual. Pyrrha sat comfortably in the second row, ankles crossed and eyes keenly fixed upon the hyperactive man as he hopped from one corner of the room to the next in the blink of an eye. She had long grown accustomed to how dizzying his movements were, and now, watching him was more of a game- after all, where would he go next?

She could see Jaune sitting across the aisle and down a row from her, head resting tiredly upon his hands. He had barely gotten there on time, and thus had gotten stuck in the front row. The redhead let out a small sigh, seeing just how lackluster his engagement was in the lecture.

A snort drew her out of her thoughts. Blake, who was seated beside her, gave her a rare, wry smile as she saw the source of Pyrrha's frustration. "Don't worry about it," the brunette mouthed before turning her attention back to her notes. Pyrrha smiled lightly back- the girl had been opening up to her more and more as of late. It made her happy.

The professor ran a hand through his haphazardly spiked green locks. "Yes! Yes, prior to the Faunus Rights Revolution- more popularly known as the Faunus War-" and suddenly, he was back in front of the huge world map covering the blackboard, "-humankind was quite, quite adamant about centralizing Faunus population in Menagerie." He pointed out the southern isle with his stick, then promptly zipped to the other side of the room, sipping his coffee. "Now! While this must feel like ancient history to many of you, it is imperative to remember that these are relatively recent events! Why, the repercussions of the uprising can still be seen to this day!"

Moving frantically around the room, he asked, "Now! Have any among you been subjugated or discriminated because of your Faunus heritage?"

Pyrrha looked down to the row in front of her, where Velvet sat with stooped shoulders. Even her ears were limp and disheartened, the discomfort causing the older girl to hesitate before slowly raising her hand. Her evident nervousness broke Pyrrha's heart- the sweet girl had been sick during her first year in this part of the course, and had missed the lectures, so Professor Ozpin had deemed that she attend these classes while the rest of the second-year students had a free study period. What the headmaster hadn't known, however, was how uncomfortable the girl would be in the same room as people like Cardin, who continued to glare daggers at the older girl's back with predatory eyes.

Professor Oobleck clicked his tongue, disgusted by the sheer amount of Faunus students raising their hands. "Dreadful, simply dreadful! Remember, students, it is precisely this kind of ignorance that breeds violence." Sipping his coffee once more, he added, "I mean, I mean- I mean just look at what happened to the White Fang! Now, which one of you young scholars can tell me what many theorize to be the turning point in the third year of the War? Yes?"

Pyrrha shifted around in her seat to look at Weiss in the row behind her. The pale girl brushed her hair off her shoulder and confidently announced, "The battle at Fort Castle!"

"Precisely!" he agreed enthusiastically. "And, who can tell me the advantage the Faunus had over General Lagune's forces?"

Suddenly, Jaune's muffled voice cried out, "Hey!"

Pyrrha covered her face with her hand when Professor Oobleck immediately jumped in front of Jaune, leaning down to the boy's face excitedly. "Mr. Arc! Finally contributing to class! This is excellent! Excellent! What is the answer?"

The blond stuttered, "Uhhh… The answer… The advantage… that the Faunus…" Desperate, he turned in his seat slightly, looking up at Pyrrha with frantic eyes.

She immediately leaned forward, pointing to her eyes. Night vision! It was night vision! she mouthed, forming her hands around her eyes like glasses. C'mon Jaune, you know this!

The blond was not taking the hint, continuing slowly, "…had over that guy's stuff… uhh… binoculars!"

For a moment, there was silence while Jaune sat with a pleased smile on his face before the class erupted into laughter. Pyrrha groaned and slapped a hand to her forehead. Of course he would say something like that.

The professor was not pleased, zooming back to behind his desk. "Very funny, Mr. Arc!" Seeking out a new victim amidst the roaring students, he suddenly called, "Cardin! Perhaps you would care to share your thoughts on the subject!"

She turned her gaze to the tall boy, seated across the aisle from her behind Jaune. Cardin, who was leaning back on his seat with his feet propped upon the table, picked some dirt from his ear nonchalantly. "Well, I know it's a lot easier to train an animal than a soldier."

Horrified, Pyrrha's eyes instinctively darted back to Velvet, who sank further in her seat in shame. That's it. Sitting up straight, she interjected loudly, "You're not the most open-minded of individuals, are you, Cardin?"

The boy bristled instantly. "What? You got a problem?"

She turned to face Professor Oobleck again, smiling internally as the man's face echoed the disapproval she felt. "No, I have the answer! It's night vision. Many Faunus are known to have nearly-perfect sight in the dark." Her eyes fell to Blake who was smiling at her appreciatively. Beside her, a low growl from Cardin sent a wave of satisfaction over her body. That's right. I'm not going to pick a fight- I'll just prove you wrong. Deal with it.

Blake added, "General Lagune was inexperienced, and made the mistake of trying to ambush the Faunus in their sleep. His massive army was outmatched, and the general was captured." She leaned to look at Cardin behind Pyrrha's back. "Perhaps if he'd paid attention in class, he wouldn't have been remembered as such a failure."

Immediately, Cardin stood from his seat with a clenched fist, but the professor intervened, "Mr. Winchester! Please take your seat."

Jaune chortled at the quick reprimand, but was silenced as Professor Oobleck suddenly stood in front of him once more. "You and Mr. Arc can both see me after class for additional readings." He sipped his coffee as the blond moaned about it under his breath, then said brightly, "Now! Moving on!"

Pyrrha gave Blake a warm smile for the support, but her eyes lingered on Jaune's slumped-over figure for the rest of the class.

Eventually, the bell rang and the students were set free for the day. Nora and Ren, who had been seated on the other side of Blake, were the first to leave from their team. Once outside, they paused, waiting for the redhead to catch up. She smiled at them and shook her head. "You go on ahead. I'll wait for Jaune." The two shrugged, heading to the dining hall for dinner while Pyrrha found a spot leaning comfortably against the wall.

After a few minutes, a green and white blur zoomed past the awaiting girl, signalling the end of the lecture. Jaune soon followed, but Pyrrha couldn't even get a chance to say hello before Cardin emerged, pushing the boy aggressively from behind and laughing as he walked away.

Pyrrha rushed over and pulled Jaune back on his feet, feeling her blood boil once more. For once, she really, really wished that she was as unrestrained as Nora. "You know, I really will break his legs," she muttered forebodingly.

Jaune sighed, shaking his head. His expression was forlorn.

As the redhead watched Cardin's back turn a corner, a bout of inspiration suddenly struck. If I can't help him with academics, she thought, maybe I can help him deal with bullies. The more she repeated the phrase in her head, the more the idea felt right to her. Finally, she chirped with a bright smile, "I have an idea! Here, come with me!" She grabbed his wrist and began running towards the dormitory, ignoring his confused cries to explain what was going on.

Soon, she opened the door to the dormitory rooftop. Dejected, the boy followed her out into the clear area, walking past her to the edge of the roof to look at the CCTS tower in the distance.

"Pyrrha," Jaune began tiredly, "I know I'm going through a hard time right now, but I'm not that depressed." He peered over the edge of the roof. "I can always be a farmer, or something…"

Pyrrha frowned, confused. What was he talking about?

And then, it struck, horror and fear and nervousness screaming through her veins. "N-n-no!" she cried, pulling him back away from the edge. "That's not why I brought you up here!" The girl paused, taking a moment to collect herself, to breathe, 1, 2- in, out-

The lid was firmly sealed once more onto the box. Don't joke about that ever again, she thought to herself, still horrified despite her neutral expression. I... it's too much. It's too close.

Letting out a weary sigh, she finally said, "Jaune, I know you're having a difficult time in class, and that you're still not the strongest of fighters, so… I want to help you!"

The boy was taken aback by her sudden shift in topics. "Wh-what?"

"Well, you said you don't want my help in front of everyone, but I really do care about you, Jaune," she insisted, holding her hand to her heart earnestly. "I don't want to just sit by and do nothing. We can train up here after class where no one can bother us!"

His expression soured. "You think I need help?"

She backpedalled quickly, "N-no! No, that's not what I meant."

A pause. "But you just said it."

This is going wrong, what do I do? "Jaune, everybody needs a little push from time to time. It doesn't make you any different from the rest of us. You made it to Beacon! That speaks volumes of what you're capable of!"

However, this didn't reassure him, not in the slightest. The blond turned away, murmuring lowly, "You're wrong. I-I don't belong here."

"That's a terrible thing to say!" she admonished. "Of course you do!"

Jaune turned back to her, clenching his fist, face twisted up in frustration and anger. "No, I don't!" he argued.

Pyrrha watched him, crestfallen, waiting for his next words. What else could she say?

All the anger drained out of him, leaving the blond restless and ashamed. "I wasn't really accepted into Beacon." He spun around, looking up at the glowing green lights pulsing in the distant CCTS tower.

It was as if all the cogs in her brain simultaneously stopped working. "Wha-what do you mean?"

Jaune began rambling, his voice hitching higher and higher in his throat as he gushed, "I mean, I didn't go to combat school, I didn't pass any tests. I didn't earn my spot at this Academy!" He looked at her, regret and sorrow almost palpable off his form. "I lied! I got my hands on some fake transcripts, and I lied!"

Her brain was still stuck, thoughts jumbled up into one confused mess. "What? But… why?"

"Cause this is what I've always wanted to be!" he nearly screeched, facing the horizon, near tears. "My father, my grandfather, his father before him- were all warriors! They were all heroes! I wanted to be one, too." His voice fell, cracking, exhausted. "I was just never good enough."

He lied. He isn't supposed to be here. The sudden confession had kickstarted her brain once more, sending her thoughts spinning into overdrive. You weren't crazy, you weren't wrong, he really wasn't taught anything, you knew something was wrong-

But his hunched shoulders were even more heartbreaking today than they were when she had saved him from the locker, and suddenly, it all made sense. Jaune, whose great-great-grandfather was the hero on the Great War memorial statue- the one who everyone aspired to be- wasn't able to handle that pressure. So, he made a mistake. And he wasn't who she thought he was.

You never make mistakes, the intrusive part of her brain suddenly said. She silenced the thought as another, overwhelming urge began to take over her.

She wanted him to be the Huntsman she saw in her dreams. She wanted him to succeed, so, so badly. Slowly, she approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Then let me help you!" she insisted.

The boy spun on his heel, even more frustrated and lost than before. "I don't want help! I don't want to be the damsel in distress! I want to be the hero!"

She recoiled instinctively from his sudden lashing out. "Jaune, I-"

He ranted, "I'm tired of being the lovable idiot, stuck in the tree while his friends fight for their lives!" His eyes were now swimming with tears, and Pyrrha's mind was instantly transported to the initiation over six weeks before; Jaune's awkward smile as they became partners the first time while he was stuck in the tree-

But I was so happy to find you stuck in that tree, she wanted to say, the words on the tip of her tongue.

Jaune whispered, "If I can't do this on my own… then what good am I?"

Pyrrha reached out again, wanting to touch him, comfort him, anything-

And he leaned away from her hand. "Just… leave me alone. Okay?"

He doesn't want you here. "…If that's what you think is best." She bowed her head, keeping her eyes fixated upon her shoes, biting her lip. Without waiting for his response, she clenched her fists and walked quietly to the door, all the confidence sucked out of her.

All she had wanted to do was help him. That was it.

He doesn't want it, you idiot. You're useless. Can't even help him- what kind of a 'friend' are you?

Her feet carried her to the dining hall, which had already emptied out. She had missed dinner again. Vacantly, she checked her Scroll, seeing a few messages from Nora and Ren asking where they had gone. She placed the device back in her skirt pocket- she didn't want to talk to them right now.

Finding a small hollow in the wall outside of the dining hall, far away from any prying eyes, Pyrrha sat down. Curling her knees against her chest, she let out all the frustration she felt in silent cries, tears streaming down her face, sobs shaking her frame. She had never felt so small, so tiny- so empty. It was a different kind of fear than the one haunting her- this one was not paralyzing, not destructive, not deadly.

Just… useless.

All she had wanted was to help him, and now, she felt like she had lost one of her best friends. And this time… she didn't know how to get him back.