Panting and out of breath, Ruby grabbed her knees and gave herself a minute to compose herself. She was sweating like crazy, wearing her school uniform, and about ten minutes late.
Knowing how punctual she likes everything to be, Weiss was probably having a seizure in the bathroom right now. Ruby brushed aside her sarcastic thoughts and stepped into the theatre. She looked up to the board that displayed the show times, but the one she was looking for wasn't on there.
Ruby sighed and paid for a ticket for the same movie at a different time. Hopefully whoever was checking the tickets wouldn't be too stingy about it. Ruby walked past the ticket counter and into the main area, where staff sold concessions and old video games lined up against the wall. Standing in the middle of the open room, Yang was tapping her foot impatiently. She wasn't one to lose her cool over being late, but showing up in her school uniform might just be enough to tick her off this time.
"Ruby, where were you?" asked Yang, hands placed thumbs-forward on her hips.
Ruby reached around to scratch the back of her neck when Yang's eyes widened. She pushed Ruby's hair out of the way and by the look in her eyes, she would guess that Yang was quite aggravated.
Grabbing her by her upper arm, Yang dragged Ruby into the girls' bathroom. Once inside, Yang squatted low to the ground and checked for people in the stalls. She whirled around and faced Ruby.
Yang hissed as if there was actually someone in the bathroom. "Why is there a hickey on your neck?"
"What?" Ruby slapped her palm over the part of her neck where Roman kissed. She hustled over to the mirror and held her neck out under the light. Sure enough, there was a small mark on her neck that looked like an angry bruise. "Oh, come on," she muttered.
Yang pulled powder out of her bag and tilted Ruby's head to the side. As she powdered Ruby's neck to the best of her ability, Yang lectured her. "When Pyrrha told me that you had a crush on someone, I didn't think I would have to worry about anything anytime soon!"
"Pyrrha told you?" Ruby whined.
"Well, duh. Speaking of, why did you go to Pyrrha before you talked to me?"
Ruby shrugged. "I've already been bothering you guys enough with this whole Roman business." Crap, why didn't she say 'Torchwick'?
Yang made a face in the mirror. "I'm your sister, Ruby. I'm not gonna turn you away because you have a lot of things to deal with."
"Yeah, well, I just wanted a fresh perspective."
"There, done." Yang added the final touches, sealing her powder and dropping it back in her bag. Yang met Ruby's eyes in the mirror. "Is he the first guy you've had a crush on?"
"No, there were others," Ruby responded.
"Who is he?" Yang said, popping up onto her toes and leaning forward.
Ruby blushed. Yang smiled as Ruby quickly covered her cheeks with her palms. "I don't want to tell you."
"Aw, why not? You already know it's going well." Yang gestured loosely to Ruby's neck. "Everyone else would have, too. So who is he?"
"How much did Pyrrha tell you?" Ruby had to admit that she was a little peeved that Pyrrha went right to Yang, but it's probably for the best.
"Just that he's older, potentially by a lot. Can you at least tell me how old he is?" Yang listened eagerly as if she was waiting for juicy gossip.
"Uh…" Ruby bit her lip. "I never asked."
Yang's eyes widened. "So this guy could potentially be—"
"No, no!" Ruby waved the image away from her mind. "He's definitely under 30."
Yang laughed uneasily. "Ruby, that's not exactly reassuring."
Ruby shifted. "I'll be sure to ask next time."
Another person walked into the bathroom and moved to the mirror, primping and reapplying lipstick.
"We're not done talking about this," said Yang.
"Please don't tell Blake and Weiss until I figure this whole thing out."
"You got it as long as I'm convinced you're doing the right thing."
I guess the truth does have a funny way of coming out, Ruby thought.
Roman woke up to someone shaking him until he opened his eyes. Neo stood over him with an upsetting expression on her face, holding a rose petal in her hands. Roman couldn't even swear before Neo started on a vicious tirade incorporating quite colorful vocabulary.
What the fuck is this shit? Didn't you say the both of you were going to stay away from each other? God, sometimes you're reckless, but are you fucking retarded?
Roman pushed the heel of his hand against his eyes. "Please slow down. It is way too early in the morning for me to be dealing with this shit."
You gotta be fucking shitting me right now. She was here, Roman. Why the fuck was she here?
"What is the big deal?" Roman asked.
It's a big fucking deal because you haven't been sticking to a game plan, Roman, you got out of fucking prison and you're practically ASKING to go back! Then the girl who tried to throw your ass under the bus rolls around and you suddenly just decide, hey! Let's be friends.
Roman scoffed. "Weren't you the one who sent her the text telling her to go to the East Ordinance Bank?"
I had no other choice, you fucking asshole. I was speeding at 120 miles per hour in 45-mile speed limit zones to cover your ass. I was doing everything I could to save your ass, and this is how you fucking thank me? By throwing it in my face?!
"All right, I'm sorry." Roman sat up. "Look, it's really not that bad. Neither of us is looking to sell the other out."
And how the fuck do you know that? Neo crossed her arms defensively.
"Let's just say I have good reason." Roman started to get up.
His head suddenly flew to the side, and he felt a sharp stinging sensation prickling in the left side of his face. "Did you just fucking slap me?"
Hell yeah I did. Wake up!
"What are you talking about?"
I didn't exactly agree with Junior a few weeks ago when he said your head was on backwards. Now, I'm convinced someone drop-kicked your head in prison.
"I was in solitary confinement, remember?"
Maybe you went a little crazy. I don't know what fucking happened, but I'm really concerned that you don't know what the fuck you're doing anymore. Now how the fuck are you going to convince me that she isn't going to be a problem?
"Neo, chill. Everything's handled."
No, it's not! You have an assignment that requires you basically to sell her out, and you have still done nothing.
"I'm working on that."
Neo rolled her eyes.
He sighed heavily. "All the research is done. I just have to figure out what to include and what not to."
No. You have two options here: sell Red out or sell yourself out. So what's it going to be?
Ruffling the hair on his head, Roman said, "I have everything under control."
The incredulous look on Neo's face didn't dissipate in the slightest. No. No! No, that cannot be fucking possible!
"What's not possible, Neo?" Roman groaned.
You actually fucking care about her. What the hell?
"Sue me."
Are you seriously willing to throw yourself on Cinder's chopping block for some girl?
"Let's be real, Neo, I'd do it for you."
And honestly, I wish that wasn't the case. Now why the fuck are you risking your neck for some random girl?
Roman set his jaw. "You really do not want to hear it."
Oh, yeah, no, you're fucking right about that, but this is happening anyway.
Roman rolled on his side, grabbing a pillow and falling back on the bed. He thought about Ruby for the hundredth time since last night. Her pale skin, her silver eyes, the way he could see everything in her face. "Fuck my life," said Roman.
God's certainly put it on his agenda.
I'm just so happy :)
