Pristine white counters. Brown stools with a classy pink cushion.
Booths of pink with brown wooden tables and white table cloths.
An elaborate ice cream parlor with a small girl running the counter.
A few people were scattered throughout the restaurant and a line was starting to form as more and more people decided to show up to such a small joint.
Sniff.
It was quiet, the subtly of the sound made it easy to be missed in the general ambiance of the restaurant but to the two girls, one orange-haired girl with a pink bow; the other with a deep violet colored hair, sitting next to the small girl with raven-black hair, silver eyes droopy and puffed. A red cape was wrapped around the girl as if it was shielding her from the world around her as she took small spoonful of a strawberry ice cream sundae, it was as loud as a the fireworks on a day of celebration.
"Come on Ruby, it can't be that bad, Guys are attracted to women all the time, its common for Mercury to take glances at others from time to time."
"But a personality change?" Ruby complained
"I think you're overreacting, that was not a personality change" Penny said.
"But he went all entranced mode with the "Wow! What a woman"" Ruby slumped in her seat. "How can I even compete"
"Both of your are small"
Ruby lifted her face to give her friend the death glare. "Come on Ruby, it was just one comment, things like this happen everyday." Nebula reassured her.
"What... my heart breaking into millions of pieces." Ruby grumbled
"Eh... No... well that comes as part of the package but what I am trying to say is that people find out their crush likes someone else." Nebula became flustered.
"Look Ruby, maybe its a small crush, he only just met her."
"I'm doom, its love at first sight." Ruby moaned.
"Love at first sight doesn't exist, Scientifically proven" Penny said
Nebula and Ruby coughed.
"I'm sure there is a logical explanation on why you both fell in love with your respective partners." Penny told them and she took a bite of her orange sherbet.
"Penny, we know you say you're crushing on someone but your explanation make it seem as if you liked him for a long time now." Ruby asked suspicious of her friend.
"It is true that I've liked this boy for quite some time, but for now we are focusing on making you feel better Ruby, you have a date coming up with Jaune." Penny replied and Ruby scoffs.
"Ugh you sound like Yang. I don't need to talk about my love life to make me feel better; talking about your love life will make me feel better. And quite frankly it is not even a date between me and Jaune, Yang will be there."
"Proper grammar is Jaune and I, but are you sure you want to know about my love life Friend Ruby?" Penny corrected.
"Dying to know" Nebula retorted and Ruby nodded her head. "See we both can agree, that we want to know about your love. I mean me and Neb found someone to like in the last few days."
"If you insist, I'm not going to list any names but we met quite a while ago, I believe it was a summer festival in a dainty little town I forgot the name of. I know we stopped in the town to visit a retired huntsman and that there was a festival happening at the same time. I went out and met the boy and we became fast friends. I loved his clumsy nature and eyes a deep blue irises that I could get lost in." Penny swooned.
"Alright you bucket, out with his name" Nebula tapped the table impatiently and Penny gave a shy smile. "Maybe on a later date, doesn't someone have a date with Jaune?"
Ruby blushed. "I told you Penny its not like that. Jaune is hanging out with me and Yang and we are going to see Xray and Vav. Awsome." Ruby struck a pose and the other two giggled.
"Sure sure, tell us about your date afterwards." Nebula retorted and Ruby flicked a ball of napkins toward her friend.
"I'm telling you, its not a date. Well I have to bolt, see you tomorrow." Ruby waved her friends good bye and as she turned to leave a voice called her name.
"Yes Penny?"
"Proper grammar is Yang and I"
"I'll just not tell you how the date went Penny" Ruby deadpanned and Penny looked at her.
"Oh... I see someone thinks its a date despite heavy opposition.
"Penny..."
"Guess I'm not revealing my childhood crush to you Friend Ruby."
"Was that a threat?" Ruby asked and Nebula shooed her away. "You have places to be get going. Don't want to keep the people waiting eh."
As Ruby exited Neo's Nebula asked Penny a question. "What are the chances that Yang "claims" she couldn't make it"
"My calculations predict a 97.7% chance of it being a possibility."
"The systems rigged I tell you."
Ruby waited patiently outside of Vale's Cinema. A crowd had gathered for the Premier of Xray and Vav 2: Mogar's Betrayal
Ruby normally is excited to see movies like these on premier day. Ruby normally be excited to witness and enjoy content of Xray and Vav first hand. Ruby normally would have been with family such as Yang her mom Summer.
Today Ruby was nervous for many reasons and a few of them may including Yang or Summer not being here, Jaune had shown up, Jaune was sitting next to her, and many more.
"So... I got a text from Yang saying she something came up, she won't make it in time for the movie but she can catch up with us afterwards." Jaune said and Ruby felt betrayed by her own cousin. 'I see what you're trying to do here Yang, and its not going to work' Ruby thought to herself, but oh how she wished this was an actual date and not some elaborate set up her cousin put together.
Wait... Why do I consider this a date? Isn't this just an outing with friends? Ruby thought to herself as she kept on pondering the question
"Want popcorn?" a voice asked her and Ruby waved her hands.
Ruby and Jaune proceeded to enter the movie theater and sat down in seats to watch the movie.
"Have you seen the first movie?" Jaune asked and Ruby gave him a look.
"You wouldn't normally see a sequel without watching the first one first."
"Ah my mistake."
"I loved the fact how they took out The Mad King with the help of Mogar, Mogar was super awesome."
"I know right! Mogar IS READY" Jaune exclaimed and a few people turned to look at the young man. Jaune shrunk in his seat embarrassed when he heard the giggles.
"Can you please pretend that didn't happen."
"Mogar can't understand big words" Ruby giggled and Jaune smiled.
"Mogar is ready for this movie."
"Mogar is also ready for this movie."
The duo giggled and they quieted down as the lights dimmed for the movie to start.
"That was AWESOME" Ruby shrieks as she ran out of the theater.
"That twist at the end, who knew Mogar's mom was the mastermind this time around." Jaune said.
"Maybe the Mad King had still brainwashed her, She too tried to make an army of Mogars though."
"If milk like that existed then maybe I'll get the girl of my dreams." Jaune gave a goofy smile causing Ruby to frown.
"Lets grab lunch, its better if we sit to talk about the movie." Ruby said and she tugged him along to go to a cafe.
"Welcome to my favorite place to dine, Velvet Teal Diner."
"Wow this place seems cozy."
"Wait till you meet Velvet, she is a godsend to this Remnant."
The duo sat down in a booth and a tall girl with rabbit ears came over with menus in hand.
"Hey Rubes, back again for more of the usual?"
"Yes Please Velvet, meet my buddy Jaune." Ruby puffed her chest to show how proud she was of herself.
"So someone other than friends and family" Velvet smiled mischeviously. "Is he your boyfriend?"
"What... No!" Both of them exclaimed and then they shrunk back with red faces.
"Jaune here just went to the movies with me to see the new Xray and Vav movie."
"You mean a date." Velvet retorted
"It was an outing." the young girl argued
"You came to a restaurant afterwards, its a date if anything."
"Velvet..." Ruby pleaded.
"Its fine, its okay to let people assume, it is only important that we know we went as friends." Jaune said and he looked at Velvet. "Can I have the Simon's Burger, tomato on the side please."
"Sure thing Ruby's Boyfriend, what sides would you like?"
"How about some friends, extra salt if you can."
"Watch the cholesterol, you sure you don't want fruit?"
"I workout, I'll need these extra calories."
"Alright, look at you girl you got yourself a man."
"Velvet stop" Ruby begged.
"Okay okay just for you. And I assume the usual."
"If to get you away faster then yes please." Ruby said.
"Order be out in a moment, see you in a jiffy."
As the rabbit faunus bounded away to place the order both of them let out a breath.
Turning to face each other Jaune smiled. "That was something."
"Yeah..." Ruby gave a nervous laugh "It was."
"Have you ever dated before Ruby?" Jaune asked and Ruby grew a shade of pink found normally on sakura petals.
"N...no, My parents were to protective to let boys near me but I have crushes on people."
Ruby didn't mention that she only ever crushed on one person and that person in question was sitting across from her, people assuming he was her boyfriend and vice versa. How she wished that was true.
"And that has changed now?"
"Well..." Ruby hesitated.
"I see, hard crowd huh. I can understand."
"Your family is like that?" Ruby was incredulously surprised by the news
"More like they all don't believe in me, it was hard to convince them to enroll me in public school, all my families ever been was a private school."
"Sounds harsh."
"It is, I can't even make regular friends if they keep me coupe up at home."
"I'm your friend Jaune. If you ever need help then ask me anything."
"Thanks Ruby, mind if I take your offer up now?"
"Sure, anything for a friend."
Ruby was glad Jaune could trust her, maybe this sort of trust can extend to have them become life long partners. Maybe they can go on more dates, one where Yang and other people interfered in, and maybe even hold hands and...
Ruby's face exploded into red as she thought about the stages that came after holding hands and Jaune took notice.
"Something bothering you." Jaune asked with mild concern.
"Ye... yeah just thought of something embarrassing."
"Anyway, here is my question so help me out."
"Okay, hit me with it."
"I want to ask Weiss out, do you have any tips?"
Ruby felt her ears go numb as all the sound around her blurred.
Ruby felt many things in her body shatter, some of which may include her brain, her eyes, her soul, her heart. Just to name a few.
"Ye.. Yeah I don... don't real...really know Weiss that well. She a...always fights wi...with me." Ruby manages to stutter out.
"Oh, sorry for asking then, Do you know anyone who does know Weiss well?"
"Yang knows... Blake does as well." Ruby murmered, her mood went a full 180 when he mentioned Weiss and Ruby now wanted to get home as fast as possible.
Sadly her escape was cut short when Velvet bounced over with their plates.
"The Simon's burger for you sir, and for you my Friend Ruby. The Deluxe Sweet set.
Ruby's dish was a large peach and strawberry fruit dish with sugar over it. To the side was a small cookie sundae.
"Wow Rubes, you look miserable did you guys fight?" Velvet exclaimed and Jaune took a closer look.
Ruby shook her head. "No, we were just discussing somethings."
"Like what?" Velvet asked curiously and this time Jaune spoke up.
"We were talking about who I could talk to to ask a girl out." Jaune said matter-of-factly.
"Really!" Velvet glared at him, disappointment permeating through her being.
"Talking about going to other girls in front of your own girlfriend." Velvet was pissed off.
"I told you Velvet, its not like that. We're friends." Ruby tried to say, but when she said friends Ruby felt her heart breaking into further pieces. If she kept this up then maybe they truly will stay as only friends. A fate where she suffered alone as the person she wants to be with coast away to a happy family.
Velvet sensed Ruby's pain and slapped Jaune, and she slapped him hard.
"Mo, I'm taking the rest of the shift off, I can't service right now." Velvet exclaimed and she stomped away from their table. The door slamming in the distance was enough to break the silence that remained in her wake.
"Sorry about Velvet, she can be reactive at times when people truly anger her. She is normally passive and fun loving."
"Its okay, she cares deeply for her friends. Sorry if I hurt you in anyway. We still good?"
"Yeah, Lets eat and head home, today was... eventful."
The couple at in silence, both trying to ignore the looks the other patrons in the diner was giving the two of them.
Before Ruby knew it, a month has passed at school. It became common knowledge that Jaune attempted to court Weiss through various ways. Poetry, song, serenading with roses.
Each account Ruby heard only had her more and more depressed. It didn't help when the boy in question occasionally stops by her table to ask for more advice on Weiss.
As Jaune left for the day Nebula slide closer to Ruby. "You should really tell him to leave you alone."
"But I like him, the more he comes to me the more I can hang out and try to convince him to like me instead." Ruby's excuse even sounded weak to her own ears, much less to the other party.
"Yeah... but you are getting worst and worst with each encounter you have with him. If you don't stop this soon then I'm dragging you to a therapist."
"I don't need counseling, I just need some time."
"I don't think Velvet is going to give him anymore time. Ever since that stunt he pulled at Velvet Teal's Velvet is hostile to him."
"But It was a misunderstanding, I'm sure they can work past it."
"Sure, tell yourself that Ruby. Look Mercury is having a party at Sun's place tomorrow. How about You, Penny and I head down there and have a good time, we can find you a new man. Get Penny to reveal who she likes, and then dance it off all night long."
"I..." Ruby paused, she thought about how Jaune will probably never return her feelings now. "I think I'll go, you're right Neb, lets party ourselves to death."
"That's the spirit, I can't wait for tomorrow."
"Me too Neb, me too." Ruby smiled
Maybe tomorrow will be a new chapter in her life. A new page to start fresh upon.
If only she knew how this party will impact her life.
A party to ease a brokenhearted, and depressed Ruby. Will Ruby triumph and get Jaune to like her back, or will she find a new man to crush on? Is this the end of of the Lancaster ship in this fic? Who knows, All I know is that I planned for many things to happen and this party is a key turning point for Ruby.
Originally I never planned for the date to actually happen. It was suppose to be Jaune meets Weiss, he then spends the next month Courting Weiss while Ruby mopes around. Ruby goes to a party because Blake was forced to go to Sun's party, as a requirement for her to go Blake had everyone go with her. Ruby goes because Yang drags her along for her to experience her first "Real" party.
Anyway Favorite/ Follow and Review for more When I See You
Expected Release Date: 7/31