Ruby was chatting with Penny, the foreign exchange student. Ruby giggled at something Penny said.

Weiss observed the pair from the corner of her eye. She tried to prepare her notes for Ruby's tutoring but their laughter kept distracting her. Ruby really opened up to the new girl. Weiss thought. Faster than she did with me.

She shook her head, hoping to get rid of such thoughts. It didn't really matter. Ruby opening up more easily is a good thing. Weiss remembered Ruby being so withdrawn from everyone at the beginning of the year.

Weiss walked over to Ruby's desk. Penny gathered her things.

"Ready to go?" Weiss asked.

"Hey Weiss," Ruby said. "Say...can we postpone our session for today? Penny wants to go to the mall."

Weiss glanced over to Penny. This makes it the third time Ruby postponed their sessions. "No Ruby, I'm only free for today and you've said you did poorly on the last algebra exam."

"Aww...okay." Ruby looked over to Penny. "Sorry Penny, maybe next time."

"No problem," Penny gave a thumbs up. "About what I asked...will you think about it?"

Ruby blushed. "Ah yeah, I'll let you know tomorrow."

"Great, See you guys tomorrow." Penny waved as she left the classroom.

What did she ask Ruby? Weiss thought.

"Ready to go?" Weiss said. She slung her book bag over her shoulder.

"Wha…?" Ruby said. Her head snapped up. She shook her head for a bit and stuffed all her notes and materials into her bag. "Yeah, let's go."

Coco's CFVY was a new cafe tucked between Tukson's Book Trade and the Crow Bar. Ruby and Weiss go here after school for their tutoring sessions.

Weiss and Ruby sat in a small booth with plush seats. There were high partitions between the booths. Lo-Fi jazz filtered through the cafe. Now and then, the espresso machine would hum to life for the barista.

Weiss had an affogato. Ruby wasn't much of a coffee person. She thought the espresso ruined the ice cream. She had a strawberry milkshake with a cherry on top. They shared a croissant.

Ruby's distracted. Weiss thought fifteen minutes into their session. More so than usual. They were going over algebra. Ruby nodded when Weiss explained the concepts but she just stared at the problems before her.

This went on for several minutes. Weiss had to do something.

Weiss snapped her fingers in front of Ruby. She broke from her stupor.

"Ruby," Weiss said. "What's wrong? You've been distracted since we left school."

"It's nothing Weiss," Ruby said.

"If you're not going to focus," Weiss picked up her notes and books. "We can pick this up tomorrow."

Weiss stood up from the booth. "Wait," Ruby said. Weiss sat back down. "It's about Penny."

Ruby looked at her notebook. "Penny asked me out on a date."

Weiss didn't say anything.

Ruby shook her head. "She wants an answer but I don't know what to one ever asked me out before. What should I say, Weiss?"

Weiss was smiling, but her face was tense. "Ruby, answer honestly. I'm sure Penny would understand either way."

"I know that Weiss," Ruby rolled her eyes. "Penny's nice and all but I got someone else in mind. They haven't made a move yet."

Who is she talking about? Weiss thought. Not her business. Ruby's just a fellow student.

"Maybe you should make the move, instead," Weiss said. "I know you can be recklessly forward when you need to."

"Okay," Ruby took a deep breath. She walked over to Weiss's side and sat down eye to eye with her.

"Weiss," she said, sitting down next to her. "Will you go out with me?"

Damn her reckless forwardness. Weiss backed further into the booth. "What brought this on?"

Ruby maintained eye contact. "I noticed that your face lingers on mine whenever you think I'm not looking and you're always brushing my hand against mine." Ruby played with her hair, breaking away from Weiss.

Weiss hated Ruby had read her so easily, but she was too proud to outright admit it. "Perhaps maybe you were mistaken?"

Ruby's eyes widened a bit but she pressed on. "Weiss you were the first person I talked to when I came here. Yang already graduated and moved out to college. You're my best friend.."

Weiss stirred her affogato. The ice cream all but melted. "You've been doing fine on your own Ruby," Weiss said. "You got along with Penny fine. Been spending a lot of time with her."

"You keep track?"

"No!" Weiss snapped. Ruby giggled. "Why ask me though?" Weiss never thought Ruby liked her for her family's money, but affection via proximity wasn't going to cut it.

Ruby took a deep breath, "Wellmostlyitsbecauseyouseem so…."

Weiss put her finger to Ruby's lips. Weiss realized what she did and pulled back. "Ruby, give your best reason-slowly."

Ruby gulped. "Well because you seem so confident and self-assured. Maybe If I hung around you I could be like that too."

Weiss did not know what to say. Most people would call her frigid or standoffish. Before Weiss could respond, Ruby pressed in more and pushed Weiss against the partition. "Your turn," she said. "Why do you like me?"

Weiss raised her eyebrows. Ruby's silver eyes seem to be glowing in the soft light. Weiss was mesmerized by them. Ruby waited still.

Weiss sigh. "It's stupid but," Weiss looked away. "You give good hugs."

Ruby tilted her head. Weiss continued. "My family is not exactly affectionate. We all got an image to maintain even among each other. When we first met you would cling to me. I was annoyed but I got used to the way you smelled pressed against me. You feel warm and safe. Nobody has ever made me feel that way before." Weiss looked at Ruby. "You like me?"

"Yes," Ruby let out a laugh and a soft snore. Weiss flinched at Ruby's honesty.

"Well, I like you to." Weiss went to grab Ruby's hand but Ruby dove into a hug.

They pressed close together, feeling their skin meet. Weiss was soft. Ruby could have melted into her.

Weiss said, "I like the way your hand fits into mine." She drew up close and placed a thumb on the side of Ruby's hand, then she kissed her.

Ruby licked her lips again and rubbed her thumb against Weiss's hand. "You…you mean it?" she whispered.

"I do," Weiss smiled and leaned forward to kiss her again.