In the upper parts of Vale, on a long paved road that led to a street of many luxurious homes that stood desolate, cold, lifeless save for the single window of light that shined in comparison to the sea of darkness that surrounded it. One house stood out from the rest as the windows of this home shone bright filled with life and laughter. The air clouded as streamers, balloons, confetti, and other miscellanious objects flew through the air, descending as a rain onto the garden and pool below.
Among the party and the life that dwells with it. Among the many rooms and the people who traversed them. In a room sat three, hunched over their chairs as they glared at the board, paper cards in hand and plastic figures being shuffled about. One had given up, their cards strewn across the floor as they slumped over their chair. The other two were still going at it though there was a clear distinction between the forces.
One was gritting their teeth, eyebrows scrunched as she glanced desperately at her cards and the board tiles to see if she could pull off a miracle as her armies were cornered in a circle, trying to hold off the large invasion forces of Atlas, The other was encircling the other, a triumphant look on her face.
"After so many games, I should have seen this coming" Jaune groaned, he sipped at his drink as he observed the two players still going at it.
Ruby gritted her teeth as she moved her forces for an attempt of a way out. Penny gave a smile as she played a card which decimated half of the forces and Ruby gave an irksome glare at her friend and she threw her cards at the table conceding defeat.
"How can you be so good at this game, last I checked you were friends with me and Nebula, and I'm sure Nebula wasn't patient enough to allow you to become this good." Ruby pouted and Jaune gave her a pat on the back.
"You know you can always team up and whisper sweet nothings into each other's ears to come to a desirable conclusion." Penny said matter-of factly. This caused Jaune to spit his drink and Ruby's face to turn a color most similar to her name.
"Wha...Wai...Wait Penny... Don't say things in a way like that." Ruby stuttered and Jaune was busy trying to get air into his lungs and his drink out of it.
"Penny you only say those type of things to your lover." Jaune spluttered. "Where did you even learn that type of phra... Your father isn't it."
Ruby gave a knowing look at the mention of Penny's father. He certainly was an ... eccentric? aloof? insane? lets go with mysterious. He was certainly a mysterious man.
"Yes. Father deemed to pro... teach." Penny caught herself there. "Teach me about all sorts of knowledge now that I was going to be of age soon." Penny said.
"Penny... you're fifteen."
"Father says that the age of consent is 16, so I should prepare myself as soon as possible... or so he told me."
The trio fell into a silence with the group looking at each other, mainly Jaune and Ruby staring at Penny.
"I don't know if your lucky or not. My parents and Yang absolutely refuse for me to know anything of that type. A risky movie may pop up and they shoo me away. Yang is only 17 yet she can watch them no problem for all I've known her." Ruby complained.
"My sisters would know the moment something like that popped up in the house. Its impossible to hide anything at home." Jaune grumbled.
"Its alright dear Friends. I can teach you all." Penny announced and the room fell silent once more.
"Penny... maybe another time." Ruby blushed and there was an announcement in the home.
"Alright everyone. I want to thank you all for coming to the party, be sure to pick up your drunk friends and make your way out. If you leave anything then its ours because this party never happened okay." A male voice spoke and the house groaned as people shuffled from all over the place toward the exits, searching for friends or lost belongings.
"Guess its the queue to leave, see you around at school Rubes." Jaune said with a wave. "And to you Penny, see you at the community center."
As the blonde boy left them to their own devices, Penny and Ruby walked toward the exit, hoping to find Nebula at the door.
"So... You and Jaune." Ruby asked curiously.
"Ruby. I would never steal your first crush."
"I know I know... its just he seems much more chummier with you than I."
"Remember Ruby, you went on a date with him."
Ruby felt her breath hitch as she thought back to the day. It was fun... it was great. Why was she having doubts though? He seemed to have a good time.
'Did he though?' A dark voice spoke inside her head. 'Was he only putting on a face to make you happy? How was he feeling that day?'
Ruby shook the voice from her head and she turned to answer her friend.
"Was it a date? We went to the movies and eat at a restaurant just because Yang couldn't show."
"Eating at a restaurant and seeings movies are normally things families and couples do. You guys aren't family are you?"
"What about you and Jaune huh? Seems like you guys hang out at a community center." Ruby retorted, trying to change the subject. Her beating heart had quickened and she could feel her face burning. 'Why was my heart fluttering so much' She thought to herself.
"Jaune and I frequent a home to help out, the poor souls need friends and we met there. I just didn't want to bring it up in case it interfered with your romance. " Penny said.
"You could have mentioned it, I could volunteer and hang out with him there." Ruby pouted.
"We don't do group sessions, each elder gets one of the volunteers to help them for a time. Volunteers hardly have time to interact save for lunch, break, before and after the job is done. "
Ruby felt herself deflate and she kicked a pebble.
"I just want to hang out with Jaune more, they always say that in love, the more times you hangout with a person the more they will fall for you." Ruby declared with determination.
"Doesn't that mean they can also see all the bad sides of you" Penny said and Ruby stumbled.
"Come on, don't put that sort of pressure on me Penny."
"Sorry Friend Ruby."
The two girls walked and their scrolls rang.
A message from Nebula. "Sorry, leave without me. Mercury needs someone to care for him."
"That means we can depart. Are you ready Ruby?" Penny asked and with a nod from the young reaper they both walked out of the gate to a waiting car.
After a drive Ruby got out of the car when she felt a hug from behind. "Thanks for tonight Ruby, I got to hang out with at least one of my friends." Penny smiled.
"Same Penny." Ruby said and with a wave she walked toward her front door. Before entering she gazed at the night sky, stars barely visible due to the street lamps that were at the end of the block.
A light streak flashed across the sky and Ruby smiled.
"I wish nights likes... with friends and a lover, to last forever." Ruby gave a grin and she entered the door, and it swung shot with a silent yet deafening bang.
"And that is how we met up with Penny to play a board game." Ruby held an arm out, one foot raised and stepping on her chair as she narrated her adventures of the party last night.
"Wow, I know that Weiss has it out for your guts but to be this much of a bi..." Nebula started when a figure slide behind her and placed a hand to her shoulders.
"Hey babe" a silver-haired man grinned and gave Nebula a quick peck on the cheek, causing the purple-haired girl to blush deeply.
"Hey yourself, what do I owe the pleasure?" Nebula asked and Mercury just grinned.
"I saw the posters so I wanted to ask."
Nebula gave him a inquisitive eyebrow and he could only laugh. "Hey you haven't seen them? The Fall Dance. You. Me. Together." He wiggled his eyebrows and Nebula wiggled hers back. The table laughed at their silly antics before Nebula gave him a kiss.
"Of course, should we go shopping for matching outfits then?"
"The date is up to you darling." Mercury got up after that and he headed out of the cafeteria.
"A date to the dance, how nice" Ruby gushed and her two friends chuckled at her display.
"Your free on that day, why not ask Jaune?" Nebula asked and Ruby hide her face in her arms.
"I can't do that, we only just started talking."
"You went on a date and practically danced with the guy, its just a dance. You said you're going as boyfriend girlfriend?" Penny said.
"Easy for you guys to say, Nebula has someone and Penny is straightforward, who wouldn't want to date you Penny." Ruby lamented and she heard footsteps approaching.
"Hey guys, whats up Ruby you feeling down?" A familiar voice asked and she looked up to see Jaune and another boy next to him. A bronze skin and green hair man carrying multiple books.
"Jaune... Its nothing I was just thinking about the Fall Dance and how I don't have a date to go with."
"Well Ruby, If all else fails you can ask Sage here. His family is getting on him to find someone to take to the dance. Something about how he should attend school events instead of just sitting in their library all day."
"What about you Jaune? You going to the dance?" Penny asked.
Jaune shuffled his feet, a pause as his face faulted to a frown before he wore a smile again. "Nah, I'll attend but I don't think anyone would like to go with me."
"You never know, someone might ask you. I wonder who the lucky girl could be?" Nebula smirked, giving a knowing glance toward Ruby who decided to keep her mouth shut lest she embarrasses herself again.
"Anyway, later guys. See you in English. And you Penny in Workshop." Jaune gave a wave and he followed after Sage.
"How nice, knowing that Jaune is going with no one." Penny sighed as she nudged.
"Don't force me to do this, it would only end badly" Ruby
Her friends snorted.
"Yeah, we've seen your efforts and we know how poorly they go." Nebula said as she took a bite of her breakfast sandwich.
"At least support me here. Draft plans to make this a big success." Ruby asked and Penny gave a nod.
"There are thousands of possibilities that we can try to court our fair knight. Each with varying degrees of success, which one do you want" Penny inquired.
"I want to make a lasting impression on him"
"You can always do a confession for the entire school to witness" Nebula pipped up.
"Wah... No.. NEB!" Ruby blushed
"The acceptance rate would be around 12%, if both of you do not die of embarrassment beforehand" Penny added
"Then what do you plan on doing?" Nebula argued
"You said you wanted to be bold right?" Penny asked
"I want to be the only thing on his mind." Ruby confirmed.
"I have the perfect plan" Penny
Her two friends perked up at the news and they leaned in to listen closely.
"So you go up to Friend Jaune right." Penny starts off and the two nodded their heads.
"You say that you got a surprise for him, and for him to close his eyes."
"Are we giving him a love letter? Because I just want to ask him to the dance... as friends. I said as friends right?" Ruby exclaimed.
"It is inappropriate to interrupt someone when they are speaking." Penny retorted.
"Sorry..." Ruby slumped in her seat.
"Anyway, when he closes his eyes you kiss him and whisper I love you"
"I thought I said it was only to go to the dance as friends" Ruby created an outburst attracting the attention of many people.
"you want to do something that will make you memorable. I have it saved that Jaune never kissed a girl before." Penny stated.
"Then the plan is even worst, First kisses are very important."
"They leave an impression" Nebula said, her two friends now glaring at her. "Shutting up now, i'm just space."
The two friends bickered with each other, trying to find a plan that didn't involve kissing Jaune but did involve leaving an impression on the young man.
At the signal of the bell, Nebula had to drag away Ruby else they'd be late for class.
Another chapter released, and few days, weeks or months of waiting. College is hectic, However its only the first few weeks, meaning that the workload hasn't piled up yet. Finished recovering from a serious flu so finally being able to write things with a clear head would make this so much more enjoyable, and less full of mistakes.
Till the next time I release. - Author Sederance