Blake did just as she said she would. Ten minutes to the near second, Weiss hears a knock on her front door and grabs her backpack and makes her way out for the evening.
"Nice to see punctuality is important to you." Weiss tosses the compliment towards Blake, instantly regretting it once she notices how sly it sounds. But Blake shrugs it off.
"It's always good to fulfill a commitment once you make it, no matter how small." Blake's own school bag is slung over one shoulder. She shifts the weight slightly as they make their way towards the parking lot. "Also, timing is pretty important for my job. Someone could get hurt or something if I'm not where I'm supposed to be and when."
"That is very true." Weiss hadn't thought of any implications beyond this moment. Just before they reach the parking lot, she looks back over at Blake one more time. "Ready to go?"
"If you're ready, I'm ready." Blake turns and heads in a different direction across the parking lot, coming to a stop in front of what Weiss assumes is Blake's car.
Blake's car is a darker grey color sedan and it's nice. But it's not overly nice. Not something her father would ever buy for himself. It was something else Weiss appreciated about Blake. She could tell Blake liked nice things, but she wasn't flashy about it. While the outside of the car itself was nice, the interior was just as well kept. Immaculately clean. Weiss looks into the backseat and sees neatly folded scrubs and there are hospital id tags hanging from the rear view mirror. Blake's photo on the id captures that genuine small smile that isn't quite a smirk, but is just so Blake.
"If you want to set your bag on the backseat I can toss my scrubs in the trunk, hold on." When Blake reaches into the back to grab the clothes, Weiss reaches out and places a hand on her arm.
"No it's alright. I can hold my bag or just set it on the floor. It's not that big of a deal."
"Okay cool." Blake fumbles around for another minute setting her own bag down and getting the car started. Once they're ready, Blake begins their short drive to one of the Beacon campus libraries.
"So, what made you want to become a doctor? If you don't mind me asking." Blake huffs out a small laugh before answering, her eyes never leaving the road in front of them.
"It's going to sound cheesy, but I really just like helping people." Weiss notices Blake toss her shoulders upward in a small shrug. "What about you? I'm sure it's every kid's dream to get a master's degree in business management. It's right up there with firefighter, superhero and astronaut on career day."
"How cheesy, yet noble of you." Weiss rolls her eyes at the latter portion of Blake's response. "Yes, if I can't manage to pass any of my exit exams this year, I suppose I can always have the backup career option of fighting street crime in a ridiculous outfit."
She sees Blake smirk and it makes her smile. A smile that fades as soon as she remembers Blake's question.
"I'm studying business to appease my father. And so that I'll be prepared to step in and run the family business whenever I am needed to do so." Blake only hums in response.
"Is that what you want to do?" This time, Blake turns her head to look at Weiss, only to turn her attention back to the road in front of her once Weiss returns the glance.
It was a simple yes or no question. But for some reason, Weiss was struggling to answer. No one has ever asked her that question before. Not Winter. And certainly not either of her parents. Blake must've sensed her uneasiness because she quickly moves to backtrack on her question.
"You don't have to answer. It's none of my business. And I didn't mean to pry."
"No, it's alright. It's just that no one has ever asked me that before so I had to think about it." She lets go of a deep breath. "I think it's something that I would've likely pursued, regardless of my parent's influences."
"Good. If you're going to invest so much time into it, might as well be something you're passionate about or at least enjoy."
By now they had arrived at the library and had started the short walk from the car.
"It may not be as exciting or as admirable as saving lives, but I would be able to make changes in my family's company that would make life better for countless numbers of people."
"I think it's just as admirable." Blake admits as they settle down at a small table.
After a few hours of quiet, productive studying and paper writing, they decide to call it quits for the day and pack their things to head home.
"Thank you for inviting me to study with you. So that I could avoid Yang's preparation for whatever it is that she has to get ready for."
"Oh yeah, no problem. She can be a lot sometimes. Well, most of the time really. It's also nice to spend time with someone else that enjoys the quiet."
There it was again. That small smile.
"Yes, well I'm sure she has other redeeming qualities. She must, in order for the two of you to be so close." Weiss turns the key in the lock on her front door and pushes the door open, but doesn't step inside.
"She does." Blake nods confidently. Something about it makes Weiss' heart sink and she takes a step through the doorway, stopping when she hears Blake's voice again. "But we are just roommates. Yang and I. I mean, we are friends. She's probably my best friend. But that's it. Nothing else."
Just as quickly as her heart had sank, it had begun to float back up, getting caught in her throat.
"Okay. Well, have a good night, Blake. I guess I'll see you around."
Weiss sees Blake give her a small wave and hears her say goodnight before she steps the rest of the way into her apartment. She hears the door click shut and drops her bag to the ground, resting her back against the door. She was still struggling to discern what these feelings and emotions spinning around inside of her were.
A few moments later, maybe seconds, Weiss hears a few short knocks on the door behind her. Quickly she spins to open it, revealing Blake once again.
"Hi again." Blake nervously shifts on her feet and rubs the back of her neck with her hand. "I uh, I realize that I may be totally misreading the situation. And I would completely understand if I were wrong and you were to say no. But um, I was wondering if you would like to go to dinner or something with me this week?"
The hint of hopefulness in Blake's voice isn't lost on Weiss. It takes her a few seconds to realize just exactly what Blake is asking. Maybe she was also a little shocked. Weiss tries to recover quickly by clearing her throat.
"I would like that very much."
"You would?" She sees Blake instantly perk up. "O-okay. Awesome. We can figure something out and find out which day works best for both of us."
"It's a date then." This time, it's Weiss that can't help but smile.
"It is. Well, goodnight Weiss. I will talk to you soon."
Blake takes a step backwards and begins to make her way back toward her own apartment.
"How am I supposed to talk to you soon if I don't even have your phone number?"
"You do. I wrote it on a sticky note and stuck it on your organizational behavior lecture notes. Chapter twelve." Blake winks at her before she disappears into her apartment.
Once she's back inside of her own apartment, Weiss unpacks her bag. She quickly shuffles through her papers, looking for the sticky note Blake said she had left for her. She finds it, exactly where Blake said she had left it. She adds the number into her contacts app on her phone and sends a short message to Blake so that she would have her number as well.
When Weiss lays down in her bed later that night, she thinks about her day and about Blake. The thoughts and feelings still wash over her like the waves of the ocean. And suddenly she realizes what it is.
Weiss has a little more than a crush on the girl next door.