Chapter 6
Ruby let out a sigh listening to the woman's explanation on the school's map. Beacon High was a big school, bigger than her old school.
A frown tugged at her lips as she grabbed the papers the counselor was handing to her and Blake.
"If either of you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask, my name is Miss Gwynn, I'm here during lunch hours as well."
Both gave the woman a nod thanking her before they walked over to where Weiss was standing. "Got everything you need?"
"Map, schedule, instructions that I've already forgotten." Ruby shrugged folding the paper a few times before stuffing them into her hoodie pocket. "All good I guess."
"To be honest I've never gotten such a detailed explanation on a 2d map before." Blake said, looking over the multiple highlights before shaking her head. "But it was helpful." She flipped the page over looking over her schedule again before poking Ruby's shoulder getting her attention.
The redhead raised an eyebrow before seeing her sister hold up the paper, she frowned before pulling out the folded paper plopping it into her hand. "Go crazy, I only care about a few classes on my schedule and of course they are closer to the end of the day." She muttered as she stuffed her hands into the pockets of her hoodie.
They followed Weiss out of the office as the woman gave small bits and pieces of knowledge of the school, simple things. What bathrooms are good to use, locations of certain things. More information Ruby would have to remember. All she wanted to do in that moment was go to the library either read a new book or even draw during the free time.
"Looks like we have the first few classes together." Blake said handing the redhead back her papers.
"Which ones do you have?" Weiss asked as they stopped in front of what Ruby assumed to be their lockers, without saying a word she handed the white haired woman the paper before going to work on attempting to unlock the locker.
She honestly didn't know what to think of Weiss sometimes. When she first met the white haired woman she felt as though she held herself higher then everyone else, it was obvious to her that she was just a rich kid who had their parents money. Acting as if she was better than anyone else, it pissed Ruby off.
However, over the last few weekends Yang decided to drag Blake and Ruby out, she slowly saw that it was just a mask, a facade. At that moment it was one thing Ruby could truly understand. It was also the only person out of the group of Yang's friends she met that could handle her sister.
"I see, I have both of those classes as well actually. I'll be able to show you to them." Ruby gave a thumbs up taking the papers back before looking into the empty locker, if she really felt like it she could fill the space with her drawings over the year. She frowned, shaking her head, she swung her backpack in front pulling out a few things for later classes before sliding them in.
"So Weiss, is Yang joining us at all?" Ruby asked, glancing at her phone looking at the time. "It's getting close to class time and I honestly don't think any of us want to be late on the first day."
Weiss frowned doing the same before looking over her shoulder. "We will just see her at lunch then, I'll show you both to our first period."
The blonde stared at Cinder before pinching the bridge of her nose. She took a deep breath before sighing, going to pull on the woman's arm to stop her. "Please repeat that again, I missed it the first time."
Cinder shook her head frowning before she shrugged off the blonde's hand. "I know you heard what I said, maybe you need to get your ears checked, I heard you're supposed to have an acute sense of hearing. Guess that's wrong." She muttered adjusting her bookbag.
Yang felt her eye twitch as she shook her head. "You told my sister, Ruby, that we are friends? In what world do you think we would ever be friends?"
"This one of course," Cinder paused, smiling. "Come on blondie, being friends isn't that hard, we say hi, you introduce me. 'Hey Ruby this is my friend, Cinder.' Whatever whatever." She said trying her best to impersonate the blonde.
Yang frowned, crossing her arms over her chest staring at the woman like she had three heads. "Honestly Cinder, you're more confusing than my last girlfriend. One moment you're brooding the next you want to be 'friends' as you put it." She said putting up her hands for air quotes. "What's my business is mine and what's yours is yours." She said, mocking the woman.
Cinder rolled her eyes, stuffing her hands into the jacket pockets. "Yes, some of my business is my business. You'll know what you need to know and that's it, listen as of right now you're the only one who can enter the home without any complications." She said, clicking her tongue looking towards the school. "It's for her protection that I too get her to trust me, what happens if Adam is in that home and you aren't available, supposed to trust that dead beat of an uncle you have?"
The blonde sighed. "It's our dad that's a deadbeat, even then he's trying. Honestly you're forgetting my uncle was the one who taught me to fight, you step into that house once and he will know you've been there. He will track you down-"
"And do what?" Cinder snapped, clutching the strap to her backpack. "Last I heard this thing called a treaty is still in place, it has been for hundreds of years."
"So then what? I'm supposed to lie to my sister for your sake? What are you going to do Cinder? Get close to her, get her to trust you then what? You kindred are all the same when it comes to humans, they play with their food until they no longer need them." She said in disgust as she stopped in front of the woman. "I've said this before and I'll say it again, you've never once agreed with human relations, what's so important about my sister?"
Cinder took a deep breath staring into the woman's eyes as she slowly sunk her teeth into the walls of her mouth. "I've said it before I don't agree with how my mother handles things, I know you'll also agree if we don't deal with whatever this little fiasco is I won't just be dealing with Qrow down my neck, we'll be dealing with the Association. You also seem to forget as well I have a… distaste for the White Fang and I want Adam to die… for good." She paused adjusting her backpack strap. "Also this is also our job, we made an oath to kill the rogue and those who do not follow those orders that were given to us when we became what we are. You hunters made the same one." She said going to step away again only to be stopped by Yang.
"You touch my sister," she said, tightening the grip on the woman's shoulder. "I'll kill you before they can even burn you alive." She muttered letting go of the woman's shoulder before walking past Cinder. "Thanks for making me late for my class by the way, I'll be there tonight." Yang called out over her shoulder as she picked up her pace running up to the building's front door.
"Was that a yes or a no." Cinder muttered watching the door close with a sigh.
"Why are you resisting the feeling? I got a call from your… friend early concerned with how you were doing. What happened"
She frowned, letting her hand rest lightly on her left shoulder before she closed her eyes.
"Do they hurt?"
She took a deep breath fishing out a small metal container from her pocket shaking out two small pills, she made a face as the smell hit her nose before she popped them into her mouth. She tried to ignore the taste they left in her mouth as she swallowed both of them.
Time to start the day.
Ruby let out a long yawn as she rubbed her eyes, she picked up all her items she set out for her biology class putting them into the binder she designated for this class.
'Only three classes down, thankfully it's my free period.' She thought pinching the bridge of her nose feeling a slight sting behind her right eye, she felt her heart skip a beat as she took a deep breath.
"The nurse will have your medication, all you have to do is tell her-"
"Your name and date of birth." Ruby sighed, poking her fork into the green bean. "New school, new nurse. I got it, I remember how this works dad."
She frowned, clicking her tongue as she pulled her hood up keeping her head down as she passed students going to their next class. She was hoping that she could make it to the nurses office based on the memory of Weiss's instructions this morning… but somehow she was unsure of that.
The one she was glad however was the office had a very obvious sign to indicate that it was the front office. Now she could either remember what Weiss said, or wander around aimlessly until she saw a sign that indicated it was the nurses office.
It didn't take her long to choose the latter as she walked into the office, the office was quite a maze if you didn't know where to go and sadly that was the case for Ruby.
She would hate to admit to anyone defeat however, with a sigh she pulled out the map trying turning it over a few times until she found the right side.
She cursed under her breath staring at the paper before she sighed.
"You look a little lost." Someone said, making her frown. A part of her recognized the voice slightly, she shook her head keeping her eyes down on the map.
"How can you assume I'm lost? Maybe I'm just chilling here." She said hoping whoever was trying to engage in conversation took it as a sign.
"Well considering you're staring down at a map talking to yourself in the middle of the hallway… kind of is a sign."
The redhead rolled her eyes looking up from the paper ready to go off on whoever was in front of her, however as soon as her eyes met theirs she stopped herself feeling a shiver go down her spine.
"You look surprised." Cinder said with a smirk on her face. "Did you honestly believe I didn't go to high school?"
Ruby sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "To be honest, I kind of forgot about that."
Cinder nodded, crossing her arms over her chest. "Don't blame you, it was a few weeks ago." She shrugged. "Now before I interrupted, what were you looking for?"
"The nurse's office." She muttered feeling her face heat up as she stuffed her hands into her hoodie pockets.
The woman nodded, adjusting her bag before turning to go down the hall. "It's this way, conveniently I just came from there."
Ruby hummed following Cinder a few steps behind watching her surroundings making sure to remember where she was going considering she would be going to this office quite a few times throughout the school year.
"So, I mean besides the blatantly getting lost part, which keep in mind is normal in a new school, what do you think of Beacon High?"
The redhead frowned, giving a small shrug watching as Cinder stopped next to a door. "It's a decent sized school to be honest, very grand for this kind of town. I don't remember this school when I was younger." She said stopping near Cinder.
"Well it was rebuilt maybe six or seven years ago, replacing the old high school that used to be here." Cinder said, pointing her thumb to the door. "Also this is the nurse's office by the way, another thing," She pointed to a door down the hall. "If you know where the gym is, there is an entrance near it, it's the back entrance but easier to find the office here. I believe Miss Gwynn would have told you."
Ruby sighed, giving another shrug. "I'll be honest, I was half paying attention to what she was saying this morning. But thank you for showing me Cinder, don't you have a class to get to?"
The woman shook her head. "This is my free period, so I had some time. Plus what kind of person would I be if I didn't help a pretty lady in need."
The redhead felt her face heat up a laugh coming from Cinder. "You're very straight forward." She said scratching her cheek looking away.
"Some say I am, I don't beat around the bush." Cinder said, checking her watch. "Listen, I'll catch you around Ruby. It was nice to meet you again though." She said, giving the redhead a wave before walking down the hall towards the gym.
She frowned watching as the woman walked out of the door before disappearing around the corner, after a seconds a sigh escaped her before she slid a hand through her hair making her hood fall down.
She took a deep breath before bringing her hand up to the door, she hesitated for a moment before knocking a few times.
"Come in."
She opened the door before slipping into the office, a woman sitting at a desk to the left of the door. The woman looked up from her work looking at the redhead.
"Can I help you?"
Ruby gave her a small smile rubbing the back of her neck. "Coming to take my prescribed medication for my headaches."
The woman nodded, grabbing a small binder from one of the many drawers in the desk. "What's your name and birthday?"
"Ruby Branwen, October 31st 1998."
She watched as the nurse skimmed through the book before stopping on a page. "Okay, this will be your 5mg for the day. Does it hurt too much where you cannot go to your classes today?"
Ruby shook her head sitting down in the chair next to her desk. "I'm used to it, I just don't want it to get worse than it already is so I can finish my classes."
The nurse nodded, going over to a cabinet off the slide. She slipped a pair of keys out of her pocket. It didn't take her very long to find what she was looking for since everything was in alphabetical order. From what Ruby could see.
As the redhead watched the nurse sort out her medication into a paper cup she couldn't help but feel she knew this woman from somewhere, it wasn't often you saw people with bright emerald eyes and red hair. She frowned looking over to her desk, a few pictures here and there with some desk supplies as well, along with a nameplate. Athena Nikos.
'Why have I heard that name before?' She thought looking back over to the woman who walked up to the redhead with two cups in hand.
"Thank you." Ruby whispered taking both cups, she tossed both back in quick succession trying her best not to gag at the taste.
"Trash can is around the corner," she said pointing to the side as she put the binder back in the desk. "I just have to verify you've swallowed the pill before you leave."
The redhead gave a thumbs up following the woman's instructions letting her check what she needed before grabbing her stuff. "Thank you again." Ruby said, waving as she exited the office.
Her back slammed against the wall as she took a deep breath, her hand resting on her throat, the burning sensation causing her to cough. Her free hand fumbled in her pocket gripping the metal box, she pulled it out quickly shaking two pills out before popping them into her mouth.
"These pills are just minor substitutes, a test." Neo said, resting the box into Cinder's hand. "They are not as potent as the synthetic blood you drink."
The woman nodded sliding the box open, her nose wrinkling at the smell that hit her. "They don't exactly smell good." She muttered picking one up. "And these are surprisingly small."
Neo nodded, swirling the liquid before taking a sip. "Well another easier way then you having to leave class constantly, and I heard you're… having a little trouble."
Cinder sighed letting the pill fall into the container. "Mother sure does talk it seems."
"It's only because she cares and she has every right to, with what you've done." Neo hummed, setting the glass on the table looking at the woman in front of her. "I'm surprised however the situation you've been put in, you are in between a rock and a hard place it seems."
"I'd rather not have this conversation right now please, I already get enough from her." Cinder muttered stuffing the container into her jacket before getting up from the sofa. "I appreciate this honestly."
"Cinder," Neo called out, making the woman pause in her step. "Those won't last forever you know. More doses in an order of time, drinking synthetic or even blood bags will last longer. There is also a possibility your body will straight up refuse it."
"I'll keep that in mind." Cinder said before she was gone making Neo sigh.
"You're playing a dangerous and rather reckless game, Cinder." She muttered picking up the glass taking another small sip.
"Damn it." Cinder huffed, letting her back slide down the wall, the small box fell to the ground with a clang before she brought her hand up to her face.
"I want you to realize what you're doing Cinder, it's killing you. How long are you going to keep this up?"
"I'm not going to fuck up." She muttered running a hand through her hair, she took a deep breath standing up grabbing the metal box stuffing it into her pocket.
"So what do you think of the school?" Blake asked, setting a few things into her locker before peeking around the door to the redhead.
Said woman gave a small shrug, closing the door with a sigh. "It's a maze, I hate it. But besides that it's okay, I haven't seen anything over the top exciting." She said leaning back against the lockers looking up to the ceiling.
"Anyone cool in your classes?"
"You mean the one class you weren't in today, biology had no one cool. No one really talked to each other, we just listened to the teacher go over their syllabus." She groaned, crossing her arms over her chest. "I spent my free period in the library, how about you?"
Blake hummed, closing her locker, zipping up her backpack. "I met an interesting guy in my last class, of course for the rest of this semester we will be partners in that class."
Ruby raised an eyebrow as the two made their way down the hall towards the cafeteria. "Interesting how?"
"Very talkative, straight to the point."
The redhead snorted, rolling her eyes. "Seems most people in this town are like that." She muttered as they rounded a corner.
Heyo everyone! It's me again ;-;, I promise I didn't forget about these stories. I love writing these too much right now to give them up.
During the last month or so I was able to post an update to AO3 but not to fanfiction. I normally don't like to post personal stuff on fanfiction, but recently I went through Hurricane Ian which is why I was gone for so long. Thankfully we are safe and my house does not have much damage at all to it.
I'm slowly getting back into writing. I wanted to rewrite my chapters because I wrote them before the hurricane and I was sick at the time. I apologize for the delay and thank you for the kind words 3.
I will try to stick to my current every other Friday schedule for Bloody Roses and I currently have one more chapter planned for Our Surprise *along with something cute I want to show when it's done! ;-;
Thank you for understanding 3.