Author's Note

Hello everyone! I'm so sorry I'm really late with this chapter. Things have been going on so I never had the time to work on it. I hope it doesn't feel rushed or anything when you read it. Also I decided to end the poll now since it took me so long to work on this chapter. Instead, the first chapter of my new story will come at the end of this act. So the winning pairing of the poll is a Ruby Harem story. I kind of have an idea how it'll go and I have a friend who's helping me out with it. You'll basically see what's going on with it on my profile. Thanks to all of those who voted and I hope you look forward to my next story.

Anyway thanks to everyone who favorited, followed, and reviewed this story and are currently reading this story. I really appreciate it and hope you keep it up.

This chapter is another short one. I'll try to make the next one longer for you guys. After you're done reading this chapter, let me know what you think by reviewing.

Alright enjoy!

Song: Resonance-HOME(/watch?v=f9DYcn2f7co)

Amnesiac

Chapter 38: Like a Detective

"Penny," I started, "I think I know who told."

She sniffed, "Who?"

"Emerald."

xXx

Penny just stared at me like I grew another head. She was still "friends" with her. She was still friends with a liar who didn't care about her and I should've told her earlier l. I should've said something. Why did I wait so long for this?

"Wh-What Emerald?" she asked. "She can't…that's not…"

"You have to believe me Penny," I pleaded. "She was never your friend."

She got angry again.

"Yes she is!" she cried. "She's my friend! And she's a better friend than you!"

That made me snap.

"She's a fucking liar Penny!" I snapped causing her to wince. "She doesn't care about you! I'm sorry Penny but it's true." I calmed myself down because I hated to have Penny be scared of me when she did nothing wrong. "I should've told you before this mess happened. As I should've told you my own secret earlier."

She looked up at me curiously. She looked a little calmer now even though she was still kind of frowning at me.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

I took a deep breath.

This isn't like before…

"I don't belong here either," I told her. "This is going to sound like major BS, but I used to be homeless."

"What do you mean?"

Right, I need to elaborate.

"I mean I used to live on the streets," I explained. "I didn't have a home. I didn't have a family. Well, I still don't but I really don't belong here. I hacked onto my high school's servers to get into that school and that made me eligible to get into college. I'm not innocent. I've committed more crimes than I could count, but the school one was the biggest one. I can really go to jail for this if someone found out."

I stared down at her, waiting for her to say something. I didn't care what it was. She could just hate me more and it wouldn't matter to me anymore. I just hoped she'd be more suspicious of Emerald.

"Now I know damn well I wouldn't snitch about this when I have my own secret," I continued. "That would be very hypocritical and would only come back to get me."

She was crying and I thought that this was going to be the end of our friendship until she tackled me to the ground with a crushing hug.

"I'm so sorry friend!" she cried. "I'm really sorry for accusing you. I'm such a bad friend."

"Penny," I grunted. "It's alright. You didn't know. I'm not mad at you."

She got up off me and helped me up, tears still trailing down her face. She wiped them away with her arm and smiled.

"Thanks for telling me all this," she said. "You are actually a great friend Ruby. I wasn't think. I was just so upset and then you-"

"Penny. It's alright now."

This time I pulled her into a hug and squeezed gently. She didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve any of this. She was just so nice and never did anything wrong. She was so innocent.

Like Velvet…

Neither Emerald or me deserve someone as nice as her.

"So what are we going to do now?" she asked pulling away.

I rubbed my hand on my chin. Now I can't really go and tell her dad that Emerald's the one who told because then I'd need evidence which I don't have. But, I should talk to him. He'd have to know something to prevent this from happening.

I told Penny that we were going to have a talk with Mr. Ironwood tomorrow. She only nodded, not questioning anything.

The next day, when we got there, he was sitting at his desk, typing furiously away on his computer. With a clear of my throat, it got his attention. He frowned up at both me and Penny.

"Oh, hello," he tried to greet gently but there was firmness in his voice. "I'm very busy right now girls so—"

I interrupted him, sort of regretting that in the process since this is the Dean I'm speaking to.

"I understand Mr. Ironwood but I just wanted to ask if there is anyway Penny could to not be kicked out of this school." I looked over at her and she was just staring down at the floor nervously. I sighed. "I mean the school board can't just kick her out and fire you like this."

He sighed.

"I don't really know Ms…Rose is it?" I nodded. "Sounds familiar. There is one thing that could possibly help, but it is the only option."

Penny looked up with raised eyebrows, filled with hope.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Well, the only thing there is, is the exam at the end of the semester. It determines whether you can stay in the school or not." He started typing on the computer again, this time not so furiously. "If I can get the school board to see how you do on the exam, you might not get kicked out. I'll obviously be charged for this but I'm more worried about you."

Hearing that, she hopped over to him, with a huge smile on her face, and hugged him.

"Thank you so much Dad!" she cried. "I promise I'll pass this exam and you won't have to worry about losing your job."

He sighed but there was and obvious smile present on his face.

"I told you I care more about you being in this school than me losing my job," he told her.

I felt a bit awkward just standing there watching them hug. There was also a tiny feeling of jealousy in the pit of my stomach.

No Ruby, I thought. Don't be so selfish. This is about Penny not you.

She pulled away from him and ran over to me and gave me another hug.

"And thank you Ruby," she said. "I'm sorry again for accusing you."

"Alright, run along," he said, swatting his hand in the arm. "Except for you Ms. Rose. I need to speak with you."

I froze as Penny nodded and left the room, but not without saying, "Bye Dad."

"Don't worry you're not in trouble." He smiled. "Now I knew it was familiar after reading your file. You're Summer's daughter."

I nodded slowly, not saying anything.

He knew my mom too. How many people know her? Taiyang, Cinder, Junior, and Weiss' parents all knew my mom. Now that I think about it, Ozpin and the rest of them back in Beacon probably knew her too. It was obvious.

"She was a school mate of mine," he told me. "I'm surprise I'd actually see you here. With her being rich and all I thought the money would get passed to you."

My eyes went wide.

Hold on…rich? My mom was rich?

I shook my head.

Of course she had to be! She worked in a police force for crying out loud. Though, what happened to the money? How come I never got it back at the foster home for child support or something? It just doesn't add up.

"Either way, it's really nice to actually see you and talk to you Ruby," he said. "Penny's also been telling me a lot about you. No wonder why I didn't know your name."

"Yea…you too."

I hated how I was just getting bits and pieces. I needed to talk to someone about this.

"So wait…you're rich?!" Sun shouted through the phone in disbelief.

I groaned in pain.

Since I didn't really have class, I called Milt's phone to talk to Sun and tell him everything.

"No I'm not rich!" I snapped then paused. "I mean…I don't know. It's just so confusing. I hate how I don't really know much about my mom."

"Damn…so do you even know where the money is?" he asked.

"Nope," I answered. "No clue. I didn't even know my mom had so much money. But, I'm still trying to figure things out."

"Wow, it's like you're some kind of detective. I wanna help too."

I sighed but decided not to snap at him. This was really my business, but I know he only said that because he cared about me. Still though, this was something only for me to solve.

"No, this my problem. You should worry more about Milt since you two are soon-to-be parents."

He laughed nervously, then I could hear the said woman's yelling on the other line.

"Right. My bad. Uh…I have to go."

She probably heard what he said. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright see ya."

"Bye."

After I hung up, I instantly got a text from Weiss saying that I could come to her house during the weekend, but she wasn't going to be there. Great, now I won't have anyone there to make me feel less nervous. I thought about what Sun said earlier about helping me, but he's a Faunus. That wouldn't end well(or begin for the matter) at all.

Well Ruby, I thought as I started to pace around the dorm room, it'll just be you.

I didn't like the sound of that at all but I had to do it. It's the only way to learn more about my mom and what happened to me.

Later on, I decided to go to Tukson's Book Trade to see Blake since I didn't have anything else to do. Penny had to go to her classes because she changed them for the next semester. That meant no more class together and only with Emerald.

Blake was working at the counter which made me think that Tukson wasn't there.

"Welcome to Tukson's Book Trade," she said boredly when she heard the door open. I guess no one came by yet. "Home to every book under the s—Ruby?"

Smiling nervously, I waved. Seeing her again, made me fluster about what had happened yesterday.

"I don't think books can be found under gems," I told her with a snort as I approached her.

"You're corny," she said playfully with a role of her eyes before asking, "What are you doing here anyway? Don't you have school?"

"My classes don't start till tomorrow." I leaned on the desk. "I wanted to see you since I had nothing else to do."

"Well you'll be bored out of your mind," she sighed. "Tukson's not here so I have to work at the desk. No one's really coming too so it's boring here."

"It's not boring with you." I gave her a cheeky grin.

Her eyebrows rose, "Well you're awfully forward with this. You usually get flustered."

Now I blushed.

"Well yesterday's been on my mind." Among other things as well…

"Oh uh," her face flushed a bright pink, "yea, that was pretty intense. I still didn't expect that to happen. No one asked you about the Band-Aid, did they?"

I laughed nervous as I touched it.

"Sun did." Her eyes went wide. "He found out."

Her face went back to its normal color as an unreadable expression came on her face.

"Did he say anything?" she asked, eyes narrowed.

I couldn't tell what she was trying to get at but I answered anyway, "He did ask me if you were acting oddly for some reason. I don't know why honestly. It's like he was trying to find something out."

"Yea…"

"Anyway, how are you doing?" I asked.

"Good, I had class earlier," she told me. "Now I'm just here working…alone."

"You want to do something since no one's coming by?"

She gave me a look, "Ruby, I don't think that's appropriate at Tukson's book store."

I scowled, flushing a deep red.

"Not like that! I meant go out or something!"

She sighed before saying, "I'd love to but I can't really do that. Sorry."

Right, she has a job. Speaking of jobs, I should talk to the boss on my new found information I got from Ms. Fall. I couldn't believe I forgot about that. After the whole thing with Mr. Ironwood, it should've been on my mind.

"You don't have to stay Ruby," Blake said. "I can talk to you later. You know, on the phone."

Even though she said that, her eyes said something different. Now that I think about it, during the days I stayed over Blake's house, she's seemed so clingy. It's not a bad thing, but I've noticed how she didn't really like being alone.

Like me…

I should tell her what's going on. I can talk to Junior tomorrow after classes. I'm done keeping secrets from her. She is my girlfriend after all.

"Blake, there's something really important I need to tell you," I told her.

She pulled a seat to the desk and motioned me to sit down.

"Go for it."

"So sometime before break this woman, named Cinder Fall, found out that I was homeless," I started, taking a seat in the chair.

Her eyebrows rose.

"Wait, are you in trouble?" she asked, sounding worried.

"No," I answered. "Well, I don't really know."

Taking a deep breath, I explained everything I told Sun, adding some other information since she knew less than him. She was completely shocked the whole time. It actually felt kind of good to tell her all of that.

"So now you're basically trying to find out what happened before you went to the foster homes?" she asked.

I nodded.

"I have to know," I told her. "Everyone's been keeping this secret from me and I have to find out."

Her eyebrow gave a weird twitch before she said, "If you ever need my help, I can try to figure something out."

I smiled.

"Thanks. I'll see if there's anything you can do."

Unlike Sun, Blake didn't have her own problems or at least I don't think so. She's never really told me what was going on with her.

"You know," I began, looking down at my hands, "if there's anything ever going on with you, you can tell me, okay?"

Her eyebrows rose when I looked up.

"Yea…I-I will."

It sounded so forced, but I decided not to question it.

Maybe she wasn't ready.

Author's Note

And that's it for now. So Penny's problems are fine for now and Ruby's learned something else about her mom. Ruby's also finally told Blake what's going on with her. That'll actually be the last of Blake until we get to the final chapter of this act. Ruby will still be on the phone with her but that's it.

Anyway, how was this chapter? Good? Bad? How's the story so far? Please review and let me know what you think. Any questions please review or PM me and I'll kindly answer them.

Until next time! See ya!