"Dinner." The soft smile on Blake's face is contagious, causing a matching one to appear on Weiss.'
"Well I know that, you dolt. I meant where are we going for dinner?"
"You are highly inquisitive. You know that?"
"Are you saying I ask too many questions?"
"The fact that you're asking that question is ironic. But anyways, we are going to my favorite place to eat dinner."
That's all Blake says, no specific location was given, and Weiss was still processing the exchange that just happened. Most people, truly nearly all people, bent to her will when challenged. But not Blake Belladonna. She couldn't figure out if it was because she had the excessive amount of patience required to deal with her berating questions, or if she was just as stubborn as Weiss.
They stop at a small, hole in the wall sandwich shop that Weiss never would've thought to buy food from. Once they walk inside the shop, Weiss is comforted by the fact that the interior looks nothing how she could've predicted based on the exterior. It's vibrant and bright, and most importantly, spotlessly clean.
"Don't worry." Blake reassures her as she holds the door open for her. "We aren't actually eating here, just getting the food and taking it somewhere else."
"I wasn't worried. I know a healthcare professional wouldn't bring me anywhere suspicious to eat."
"Your face was telling a different story." Weiss notices the tiny smirk on Blake's face. "I just meant it in the way that I wouldn't necessarily bring you here to eat as a you know, a first date or something. I mean, maybe if we were like fifteen."
Weiss can't hold back her giggle as Blake continues to fumble through her words.
"Blake, it's seriously okay. Just because it's not something fancy doesn't mean it's not more than acceptable." Blake immediately lets go of a heavy sigh.
"Okay. Would you like me to order first?" Weiss nods and lets Blake step into the line ahead of her. When they get to the register, Blake pays for Weiss' meal.
"You really don't have to. You already paid for the go karts."
"I also asked you to go out to dinner with me, so that means I accept the responsibility of paying for anything we do this evening."
"That's very kind of you." Weiss hopes that she isn't blushing.
"Well I think it was very kind of you to accept my offer in the first place."
There it was again. That little crooked smile.
"It was a good offer." Weiss nonchalantly shrugs her shoulders. "Who was I to refuse?" After leaving the sandwich shop, the drive to their next destination wasn't very long. But it did seem like a somewhat odd place. "Not that I mind, I'm just curious, but why exactly are we here?"
Weiss follows Blake as they walk up a steep set of concrete stairs to the top of a small hill. Once they reach the top, there is a fairly decent sized tree with a small open area and a bench beneath the extensive branches.
"Would you prefer to sit on the bench, or on the grass while we eat? I brought this, so that we wouldn't get dirty if we sat on the ground." She holder up the blanket she has in the small bag hanging off her shoulder for Weiss to see.
"Grass is perfect." Weiss says as Blake moves to lay the blanket out for them.
They sit down and begin to eat their sandwiches. The silence feels comfortable as they eat, but eventually Weiss can't help but mention something.
"You never answered my question."
"Which one?" There's a hint of teasing in Blake's voice, making Weiss playfully roll her eyes.
"Why are we here?"
"Oh." Blake sits up a little straighter and wipes her mouth with a napkin before continuing. "I said I was going to take you to my favorite place for dinner. And this is it."
"I thought you meant the sandwich shop."
"Definitely not. Don't get me wrong, the sandwiches are good. But today they were just a convenient food to bring here. I just thought that since we don't know too terribly much about each other, we could do something fun and then I could bring you here because I like to spend time here. And it was just something about myself that I could share with you."
Weiss takes another bite of her sandwich, chewing slowly so it gives her time to think. She'd left the family home to go to school, Weiss had dated a few people. None of them at all serious. They had all either just wanted to reap the benefits of being with someone who's family had money, or they just wanted to say they had dated a Schnee. But Blake didn't seem to be interested in any of that. Here she was, trying to share things about herself with Weiss, who could only sit there and chew her sandwich.
"Why?" Seeing the light fade from Blake's eyes, Weiss closes her own and quickly huffs out a tiny breath. "I apologize. I didn't mean it that way. I meant why is this your favorite place?" She's relieved when Blake immediately perks back up.
"On days where I don't have to work or have class, I come here to read or study if the weather is nice. And sometimes I'll come here and wait for the sun to set. The lights from the city look cool from up here. It's just relaxing, and quiet."
"We could stay for that." Weiss clears her throat. "If you have the time to, of course."
"We can stay as long as you like." Blake takes a smaller bite of her food and eats it before looking up at Weiss. "So what about you? What is your favorite of something?"
"Like my favorite color, or something?"
"Yeah, or something. But I think I already know that you like to listen to classical music while you study, so it can't be that."
"How- how do you know that?"
"I'm pretty sure that your living room shares a wall with Yang's bedroom. Which is why her music is so loud. But I believe your bedroom shares a wall with mine. Because sometimes I can hear it in the afternoons. Which makes sense because you're probably done with class. And sometimes when I work day shift I hear it when I get home in the evening."
"Now I feel awful for complaining about Yang's music, when I've been doing the same thing to you for months." Weiss shakes her head in disappointment.
"I didn't say it bothered me." Blake shifts a little in her spot on the blanket. "It was actually relaxing sometimes. Still is."
There is a beat of silence. And it only takes that one moment for Weiss to catch something worth staring at in Blake's golden amber eyes.
"Light blue. My favorite color is light blue. My favorite food is sushi. I like to listen to classical music when I study because I can't listen to music with lyrics or else I'll get distracted and start singing. And I'm probably telling you way more information than you wanted to know."
"Nope." There it was again. That smile. Weiss would've told her anything she wanted to know if it was asked with that smile. "As long as you want to tell me, I will listen to anything you would like to tell me. And because I'm just generally interested in you." That makes Weiss' eyebrow raise.
"Generally interested." A blush falls across Blake's cheeks.
"W-what I meant was that, not really in a general sense, that was a poor way to say it."
"Are you saying that you are interested in me, Blake Belladonna?" She can't help but smirk as Blake squirms in her place.
"I was hoping that was kinda obvious when I asked you out on a date."
"You can never be too sure with some things."
"If it makes you feel any differently, I'm certain."
"You are very interesting." Weiss leans back, nearly squinting her eyes as she continues looking at Blake.
"Hopefully you're interested in interesting."
"I think I am."
—
When they walk back to Weiss' apartment door, there is a short silence as Blake rocks back and forth on her heels while Weiss leans back against the doorframe.
"Thank you for spending the evening with me." Weiss can't say with complete certainty, but Blake seems a little nervous.
"You are very good company. So thank you for showing me a lovely evening."
"O-okay. Do you have class tomorrow morning?" Blake was definitely nervous.
"I do. At eight."
"Then you probably want to get some sleep or something for tomorrow. Um, goodnight Weiss."
Weiss had had enough first dates to know that this was awkward for a reason. But she didn't want to pressure Blake into something she wasn't ready for.
"Goodnight, Blake." She says with an airiness to her voice as Blake takes a few steps backwards towards her own apartment.
"Goodnight." She says to her one more time before shaking her head to herself. "I already said goodnight. I'm an idiot. I'll text you?"
"Sounds good. Sleep well." Weiss hears Blake sigh deeply just before she closes the door behind herself.
As she gets herself ready for bed, Weiss thinks back over her evening with the girl next door. There had been little moments where she had wanted to reach out and hold Blake's hand. Like when they walked back to the car or up to her apartment door. And why was she disappointed when Blake said goodnight?
Because for Weiss, first dates typically ended with a first kiss. But Blake was different. And Weiss wanted to know more.
~ I'm unfamiliar with the standard post first date protocol, but would it be too forward to ask if you are available tomorrow anytime for coffee or something?
+ I have a clinical exam at nine that is 2hrs. But I'm free the rest of the day, if you have a time that works, I'll be there.
~ which building is your exam in?
+ the health sciences building on west campus.
~ would it be okay if I meet you there after your exam?
+ sure, sounds great.
~ then I will see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Blake. Sleep well.
+ sweet dreams.
After she sets her alarm and places her phone on the charger, Weiss lays back into the pillow. Tomorrow she would do what she couldn't today. She was dead set on it.
Tomorrow she was going to hold Blake Belladonna's hand.