The house before her seemed foreboding as ever. "haaaa" Ruby sighed and she slumped forward. "They can always tell when something is wrong, how long do they find out I like someone" Ruby slapped herself. "No I can keep this one a secret I know I can."
Ruby stomped forward and threw open the door.
"I'm home" Ruby announced and she realized no one was there. "Ah right, teacher meeting after school hehe" Ruby scratched her head in embarrassment and she walked to her room and threw herself on it.
"Lets see, Book report for Mr. Tukson, Dr. Watts wants a three page paper on electricty. Syllabus for all other classes. And Oobleck already assigned a five page paper?" Ruby groaned at the sight of multiple homework.
"Good thing they are due not tomorrow" Ruby looked at the bright side of things and reluctantly pulled out a book to start on Tukson's work.
"The man walked down the hallway, confused on how to approach the problem. He himself was reluctant to go, however the other soul was urging him to go. A chance like this is once in a lifetime, to not take it is to miss out" The man has been noticing that lately, how the other soul is trying to convince him to abandon his current lifestyle..." a soft knock interrupted Ruby's reading and she turned to look at her mother. "Hey Ruby, how was school?"
"It was good, a lot of homework and syllabuses but go...ooohoooda." Ruby blushed as she started to remember how the day started.
"Something wrong?"
"No! I mean its nothing, just first day chills." Ruby's face was red. "Alright, just bring the syllabuses downstairs, we will go over them and then I can sign them okay."
"You got it mom."
"Dinner is almost ready as well."
"Understood."
Summer chuckled as she looked at Ruby before she softly closed the door.
Summer headed downstairs to see Qrow setting the table.
"Ruby is growing." Summer smiled and Qrow gave her a puzzled look. "What do you mean Summer?"
"I think she's having boy troubles."
"Did someone hurt Ruby?" Qrow growled and he went over to pick up his scythe. "Honestly you're so hotheaded, that or drunk pissed. Sit down and let me explain" Summer said and Qrow sighed. "Look, I care for Ruby very much, if someone hurt my little rose then they should see the angry dad coming."
"We both know Ruby is... less knowledgeable about certain topics that circulate this world. So we have to make sure this guy she might be seeing is going to be a good influence."
"Can't exactly question her Summer. If she wants something hidden she will try her hardest to keep it that way even if the whole world already knows about it." Qrow moved to put his scythe back on top of the fireplace. "Look any parent, I especially, would love to know the true nature of those around us and the people they want to get close to. However, as stated before. Questioning will get us nowhere."
"We will be questioning though, I never said we had to ask our little rose ourselves" Summer said and Qrow gave her a look. "I know your curious, I get it, but if Ruby finds out then you better prepare a batch of cookies large enough to cover from now till June."
"And you better prepare to help her use that dreaded scythe you tote around, I'm against it but for this I'm willing to compromise."
"Its almost like you want me to let her know we're investigating mysterious boys and her interests in them."
"Anything to get you two out of the house and not just sitting around. Honestly one drinks all day the other draws designs for weapons that will be taken away the instant it reaches the streets."
"I love you too honey." Qrow laughed and he went up the stairs. "Ruby. Dinners ready, come on down sweetheart."
"Coming dad." A voice calls from upstairs and Summer begins shoveling food onto serving plates.
The meal consisted of Tuna Casseroles with a side of corn, peas, carrot bites, glazed with melted butter. There were peppered rolls to the side with small dipping sauces for everyone to share as well as a bowl of soup that anyone can grab from.
Ruby briskly walked down the stairs and sniffed the air. Her eyes turned to stars and she quickly headed over to the table. "Ruby. Hands" Summer glared and Ruby revealed her hands to be shining and clean. "You remembered to wash them this time, I'm so proud of you." Summer went in and smothered her young daughter in a crushing hug.
"Mom... Please I want to eat food" Ruby groaned and she attempted to push away Summer with no luck."
Summer continued to smother her while Qrow ignored the duo and started to pile food onto his plate.
"Come on Summer, its no fun if you keep babying her." Qrow said after he swallowed a bite.
"Why don't you take responsibility and teach her some lessons to help her outside of our care so I don't have to."
"I can't really do that if you baby her."
"Mom, I'm a grown women, I can take care of myself."
"Oh really, then how many dishes can you cook?" Summer questioned and Ruby started to sweat.
"Laundry, do you know how much soap you have to add and water per each load?"
Ruby looked down towards the ground
"Do you have a job to support yourself to buy the things you need?"
Ruby sunk further into her chair.
"Oh, what about house cleaning, can you make sure everything is spotless?"
"I can at least do that much" Ruby mumbled.
"Then I expect the house spotless this whole week, you can start after dinner. Though there is one way you can escape." Summer said nonchalantly.
Ruby gazed up with hope in her eyes. "A little birdy told me you found a cute looking boy as a friend."
Ruby's hopeful gaze sunken into a look of horror.
"I'll make sure the house is clean" Ruby mumbled and she started to eat her plate of food.
Dinner passed with relative peace, Ruby was unlike herself where she sat quiet and shifting her food around. Qrow gave a glare at Summer but didn't say anything and finished his food.
"I'm setting the dishes by the sink, Ruby since you offered, its your turn for the dishes." Qrow announced and he went into the parlor with his flask of alcohol.
Qrow didn't have to wait long before another figure emerged from the dining room. Qrow downed his flask and he turned to see who had entered.
The silver eyes and the black hair that covered her eye, revealing a singular silver eye to see the world. "Summer, I thought we agreed not to question her."
"You should know me, if something interests me then I go all out, no use holding back."
"One of these days that is going to get you killed." Qrow groaned and he turned his gaze to the empty fireplace.
"Do you ever wonder what would have happened if I never took the chance to get close to you" Summer asked and wrapped her arms around Qrow from behind. "That we never got married, or never went on that date I wanted so much."
"That was then, this is now. I don't dwell on the past."
"Could have fooled me, with all that booze you're drinking, its a wonder if you remember the present at all."
"As if I could forget my family, my beautiful wife and daughter, anyone touches them and I'll see to it they don't have arms."
"As brutish as ever, but that is one of the reasons why I love you honey" Summer whispered and she kissed his cheek. "Don't stay up to late contemplating the past, whats done is done."
"One second to late and I would have lost you forever, I'll never forgive myself."
"Which is also why I don't go on excursions anymore, you'll be called in later though, you know Ozpin and his expeditions to explore the unknown."
"You mean the Grimmlands, the final unconquered continent where humanity hasn't reached."
"How many of our old buddies will be going I wonder?"
"Maybe Taiyang, or Raven. I can see Peter wanting to go."
"Good ole Peter, with his fantasies."
"That is also why he is the Creative Writing Teacher."
A figure emerged from the kitchen drying her hands.
"Kitchens done, anything else that needs to be done" Ruby asked and Summer turned around. "I'm going to double check the kitchen, be sure to dust, vacuum, mop and wipe down everything. I want to see the house spotless remember."
"Ugh, yes Mom." Ruby groaned and she ran toward the stairs to go to her room.
"And I said no running in the house." Summer called and a faint noise gave notification that Ruby had heard her.
"Honestly this girl, I know she wants to go on the excursions but at that age, she needs to grow a little."
"I thought we agreed to stop babying her."
"We never agreed to anything like that, I have to go check on the kitchen, afterward we can plan on how to find out about that boy Ruby is seeing."
"Let me get my scythe and threaten the students, they can give us the details."
"That is a perfect idea, extra credit to help with an investigation."
"Good night dear"
"Good night honey, and be sure to hold back on the alcohol, I'd rather not waste money restocking the cellar."
This chapter was a bit less Ruby-centric but it plays into things, shorter chapter overall, but the 1st day was how Ruby interacted with seven classes. Of course home drama may or may not fit the word length of such a thing. I could extend it but this feels right to end it here.
Thankfully I was able to write this in time since my weekend was very busy. Fourth of July is also coming up so I couldn't do much.
I was planning on releasing a 4th story but the concept fell short and the direction was unclear. The premise was Jaune Arc wanted to be a huntsman so badly, when he died his spirit stayed behind. He then finds out he can control other people to fulfill his wish. So now he goes around taking over people's body for a short amount of time to hone his skills. Until eventually he can control people's body to fight as a full fledged huntsman. How will this change things? who knows. I'm still planning.
I have trouble with writing sometimes. I have an awesome beginning but no end game. I have an awesome ending with no way to set up such events. Or I have an awesome beginning and ending but no way to connect the two.
Writing is hard, and I envy those who can write well.
Enough rambling. Expected Released Date: 7/9