Leaving Atlas for Beacon was definitely worth it.

I can't even imagine being in Atlas Academy. Never could after…

I sigh. I still can't believe - am betrayed, honestly - that Winter left with that man she married within the year of our sister's death. I get calls from her every so often. Haven't seen her in years. Or her husband, though, according to father, that's probably a good thing.

But I wish Winter had been able to bring me here. She called me last night to wish me luck, but is on a military trip. She always is.

It's not that I'm unused to being alone. Truthfully, my childhood could tell you something about that. But that doesn't mean I enjoy it. I barely recognise Whitley from the sweet but sad little boy he was. He doesn't talk much if at all anymore, and he just…takes whatever father tells him to do. Winnie is that way too, but even more so; a perfect little daddy's girl. She's perfect for the family, I guess; the sweet, seven year old who does adorable dances she makes up at balls and who loves being with both of her parents. When mother comes around, that is. I rarely see her when she isn't in the gardens, either in the enclosed porch or not, and I don't think I've seen her sober in years. I shouldn't care. I've got what I want. I'm away, able to make my own life, and proved myself to father enough to allow for that to happen. I don't need Winter. I don't need mother. I don't need Whitley. I don't need anyone but myself.

And yet I'm bothered by feeling lonely.

I also don't believe my sister's death was an accident.

The faunus in the company mines and on the company rigs used it to try and leverage for themselves.

My aunt was killed by a member of the White Fang when I was six. The White Fang has always relentlessly attacked the SDC with both violence and what media they disseminate.

Yes, I have a great deal of distaste for the White Fang, and a great deal of the faunus as so many unreasonably support them.

But I fully believe that they had something to do with my sister's death.

It was no accident.

It couldn't have been.

No matter what the coverup by the medical examiner said.

Well, at least, I imagine there was a coverup.

Father will be pissed when and if he comes to the same conclusion.

I hope he already has.

I hope he found out years ago.

I hope he's been able to start a push for the truth.

"Woah….."

I turn so quickly on my heel I nearly slip into a double or triple spin.

Ballet training is a blessing and a curse.

And, just my luck on a day like this, a small girl around my age has fallen on my luggage. I snatch up one of my bags and, while she gets up, I give her my best glare.

"What are you doing?" I demand.

I sound like my mother.

When she wasn't a ghost in a shell, that is.

"Sorry!" The girl seems to be almost afraid of me.

I don't care. Who is she anyway? Nothing, nothing compared to me, or -

"Sorry?" I snap, I don't mean it to come out so harsh, but I have no patience today, I just can't, and I can't help but wonder if she's clueless? "Do you have any idea the damage you could have caused?"

"Uh..." She stutters.

I sigh, forcing myself to calm at least my tone. But I can't bite my tongue.

"This is dust," I say, pulling out a vial. "Mined and purified from the Schnee quarry. What are you, brain dead? Dust! Fire, water, lightning, energy! Are you even listening? Is any of this sinking in? What do you have to say for yourself?"

The girl nearly falls over - again - but ends up doing something worse. She blows us up, and the vial falls out of my hand. I can't believe it. I start brushing myself off, cleaning my skirt, blouse, and jacket the best I can, my entire body shaking when I start to readjust Myrtenaster out of habit.

"You see?" I hide behind anger to force myself not to cry. "This is exactly the kind of thing I was talking about!"

She nervously fidgets, shaking out her hair. "I..I'm really, really sorry -"

"Ugh, you complete dolt!"

I then realise how small she is, although she's not too much smaller than me, and I realise she might be a little younger than me. It sets me off. I don't know why, but I can't even come close to biting my tongue. At least…at least it's better than breaking down and crying.

"What are you even doing here, aren't you a little young to be attending Beacon?"

"Well, uh," She stutters. "I -"

"This isn't your ordinary combat school, it's not just sparring and practising you know! We're here to fight monsters, so, so watch where you're going!"

"Hey!" She protests, shaking out the soot from her hair. Why she needs to with such dark hair, I have no clue; even those red streaks looked fine. "I said I was sorry princess -"

"It's heiress, actually."

Of course. Just what I need, another person to deal with.

"Weiss Schnee," She goes on, "Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company - one of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world."

"Finally, some recognition!" I feel relieved, to be honest.

I'm just glad I don't have to explain myself anymore when I feel so damn close to snapping, to crying like I did as a child.

It's easier to let other people explain my family.

Besides, I can hide behind them.

Hide behind our wealth.

Hide behind our status.

Big little lies.

I push away my sister's voice in my mind.

She's not dead, but she's not here either.

"The same company infamous for its questionable labour forces and shady business partners." The girl adds. "Particularly in quarries, mines, and rigs."

"What? How dare… the nerve of…"

Hearing the girl laugh behind me is just making things worse and with pure disdain I snatch my vial back and storm off with my things, trying very hard not to give a damn about them. There's something about the small, dark haired girl that I can't push away.

She's oblivious, sure.

She may be a bit irritating, too.

But she's also beautiful.

I push away the thoughts.

I'm more beautiful.

I wish I weren't beautiful.

I push that treacherous thought away too.

I wonder if she and I might…

No.

Am I attracted to her?

I set that aside too. It's not what my mind is trying to circle around the most anyways.

Because, truthfully, that is much darker, and much harder to confront.

For the first time in my life, I'm not upset about being alone.

I don't need anyone else…but I want - need - reassurance, comfort. Someone or something to tell me I'm worthwhile, beautiful, and to mean it.

I hate it to the core of my being, but I'm upset about being lonely.