Chapter II

Ruby hummed and tapped her foot against the car floor in time to the music on her headphones, while her mother drove through the early morning traffic to get to the airship station. She had her two bags in the backseat of her mother's convertible she chose to use today.

It was still too cold to have the too down, but nonetheless Ruby was enjoying the short drive she got to have with her mother. Summer was usually quite busy throughout the week, arranging and executing hits. She would come home late on the weekdays, having little time for her youngest most of the time. The car drives together and her one free day is all they had together since Ruby started going to the Junior Academy.

She really did cherish the time they could just sit together in comfortable silence. Two roses just in bloom together.

. . . .

They arrived at the station just as the boarding officer was beginning to load all of the bags onto the airship. Summer unlocked the doors before tapping Ruby on the nose, who looked towards her and smiled.

"My little rose, take care okay? For today only the first years will be at Beacon, Yang will come tomorrow so she can join you then. Make a bunch of cute friends Red!"

Ruby smiled. She didn't have to answer her mother, for they both knew what she wanted to say. Ruby got out and grabbed both of her bags and began to walk towards the airship.

It was a cold fall morning so Red dressed for the occasion—A baggy cardinal red hoodie, along with a white undershirt that peeked every so often when she raised her hands. She finished the look with black leggings and her white and red trainers with black soles. She wanted to wear her uniform but knew she didn't want to be the only one there wearing it.

That would just be too embarrassing for little Ruby to deal with already.

And thankfully so, she guessed it right. Everyone was dressed up in their regular clothing. Ruby lowered her hood a bit, not wanting to be noticed already.

It was the worst thing about being a Rose for her, the constant staring. It was like the eyes just surrounded her. People would just stop talking and stare, not realizing how disgusting it made her feel inside, and how examined her life was.

Her mother owned it like a tool, her sister flaunted it like it was expected, but Ruby just wanted her work to be what was looked at, not her.

She darted quickly towards the boarding officer, handing him her ticket tucked into her hoodie pocket and her two bags. He was a regular person, so of course, he didn't know the Rose name. He took the bags and told her to go wait with the rest of the kids.

Ruby nodded and kept her hood low, she wanted to hear the conversations around her and wanted to keep the attention focused elsewhere. If anything, she knew at least a few of the kids, so she could use them to distract herself.

A rose always keeps her cards close so they can be used whenever.

She walked towards the jumbled mix of kids that were waiting in the dock. A few girl groups, some coeds and a couple of boy groups dotted the sea of cobblestone flooring. She went towards the edge, where the metal railing stood, letting people watch the airships come and go and leaned against it, going onto her phone.

Her headphones were already in her ears, so she lowered the volume to a point that she can focus on conversations around her while using the music as white noise to distract herself.

While it might not show right now, Red was excited, to the point that she wanted to squeal out and jump for joy. She's always dreamed of going to Beacon Academy, it was her dream...well at least one of them.

"Hey, did you hear, A real Rose is going into Beacon this year!"

"What really? Let's hope we're on their good side then..."

Ruby sighed, no matter what she was gonna be the talk of the week, a Rose entering into Beacon. It was annoying, to say the least.

She just raised up the volume a bit before feeling the presence of somebody, a presence that was familiar.

"Say, did you know a ROSE is a first-year this year? Wow, how amazing~! Hey hey, I'd love to meet her~!"

"I bet she's just adorable...especially in that cute, way to oversized hoodie..."

Ruby scoffed and looked at who was mocking her only to get a poke to the nose and a face full of piercing green eyes.

"Haha Nora, you look cute in that outfit too."

Nora Valkyrie was one of Ruby's only real friends during her time at the Junior Academy. They got along from the start, and Nora was the only one who didn't care about Ruby's background.

She was wearing light denim shorts with overall straps, along with a white shirt that showed off her toned abs if she raised her hands. The design on the shirt was of an electric hammer; a signature of Nora and what could be called a calling card of sorts.

"So, wheres your boyfriend~?"

Nora scoffed, before playfully shoving Ruby, who was mindful to make sure her hood didn't move too much, less it comes off.

"You know him and I aren't like that! Silly~!"

Ruby laughed before returning to her leaning position with Nora joining her, opting to rest her head on Ruby's shoulders.

"NORA!"

Out of the corner of Red's eye, she saw an exasperated boy, huffing and puffing his wag towards them. She chuckled a bit seeing his usual well-kept hair look a bit frizzled.

Lie Ren hailed from Mistral but moved to Beacon when he was quite young. Ever since she could remember, Ruby always saw him and Nora together. They were inseparable for the most part, nobody could break them apart.

Ren was in front of them at this point, taking a breath before what was expected to be a scolding. Nora just giggled at the sight of him now.

He was wearing a light green and white vertical striped dress shirt, leaving the top two buttons unopened. His jeans were distressed black denim and his sleeves were rolled and cuffed. He was wearing black sneakers and looked every bit the handsome fellow he was. His hair was in a ponytail, leaving his one pink strand in front of his head.

"Nora...please...don't run away once we get to the station..."

Ruby couldn't hold in her laughter anymore and laughed at how tired Ren looked. She was about to say something when she heard the three bells that signaled that the ship was ready for boarding.

"All passengers, flight to Beacon Academy is now boarding. I repeat all passengers, flight to Beacon Academy is now boarding."

Everyone began to start to move into the line that was forming as each student got onto the airship. Ruby giggled at Nora patting a tired Ren's head before she grabbed Ruby's elbow and Ren's.

"Are you guys ready~? 'Cause I'm ecstatic~~!"

Ruby smiled and nodded and Ren nodded as well while Nora basically dragged them towards the line.

In just a few more steps, Beacon Academy was about to be there.

In just a few more steps, Ruby was ready to train and show the world how deadly she can be.

. . . .

A woman wearing an elegant tan blouse, matched with white capris and white flats walked into what looked to be a girl's bedroom.

"Sweetie? Your airship is here. Ready to go?"

Said girl looked towards her mother and smiled, signifying a yes. Her mother smiled before giving her a once over. Her hands ran through the soft, silky brunette hair that they shared before deeming her ready for what was next.

"Your gonna do great sweetie! Your mommy's little leader. Be sure to make a lot of friends okay?"

She smiled and nodded at her mother as they walked towards the front of the mansion they were in. The winding rooms eventually led to the front door, where just through the windows, one could see the small private airship that was docked outside. Ready and waiting for its single passenger.

She grabbed her two bags and opened the door while her mother returned inside, she saw her daughter off and loved her so, but much work was needed to be done today.

Her daughter was used to this and paid it no heed.

For today...today was her first day at Beacon Academy.

. . . .

Both girls stepped onto the Airships, their minds filling with the joy, their nerves being shaken, but put on a smile for nobody but them to see.

"It's finally time.."

AN

Hey, earlier than I expected this to come out. I was angry at the time of writing this, so it really helped like control my anger. Anyways I hope you all enjoy. I love chapters like these because I can write so much about nothing and it brings me joy. It's like that one filler episode that you need to watch lol. Leave me reviews and we'll see where I go from here. Expect something (hopefully!) in the next two weeks, if not, then it should be in a month. Anyways, cya!