Back at the Dorms
The Malachite twins were getting ready for bed. Melanie just finished with her shower and wiping her hair with the towel.
"Mom finally texted us back. She's not going to send us anymore pocket money," Melanie said. Their mother covered only their tuition with a small allowance at the start of each month.
She saw her sister holding something in her hand.
"What do you have there?" Melanie asked her sister.
"Don't know," Miltia said. "Found it near the riverbank. I think it belongs to our class prez." She twirled the object around her fingers.
Melanie got a closer look. "You sure? Doesn't look like something she would have. Looks cheap."
Miltia rolled her eyes. "Well, Prez was searching up and down the bridge earlier. Was under the bridge taking a drag when I saw her. We could get a couple of bucks in the pawnshop."
"Let me see," Melanie said. Miltia tossed it to her. She felt all around it until her fingers found just the right spot and the lid popped right open. "There."
"How did you…?" Miltia looked impressed.
"One of those losers mom dated explained it to me one day before she kicked him out."
Both twins shuddered at their mother's disastrous dating history.
Melanie peered inside the locket. "OMG." she dropped it.
"What is it?" Miltia said.
Melanie started to giggle. "You're right, this did belong to the heiress. Look inside."
Miltia picked it up and looked inside. Her eyes widened and a wicked smile spread across her face. "Oh, my this is positively scandalous."
Melanie stopped giggling. "Indeed, what's more, we may have solved our cash flow issue."
The two twins stayed up all night, plotting.
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Weiss sat in front of her dresser and combed her hair in the mirror. She was getting ready for bed.
Weiss sighed. She couldn't keep searching for the locket before curfew. The school enforced that strictly and she of all people couldn't break it.
Ruby's going to be disappointed. Weiss thought. She'll think I'm not taking her feelings seriously. Got to retrace my steps first thing tomorrow.
She was one of the few students who had a room all to herself. No doubt because her father bribed- donated to the school.
Having finished with her hair, she went to her bed. She couldn't sleep. Instead, she stared at the ceiling, remembering when she kissed Ruby for the first time three weeks ago.
"That was amazing," Ruby said. Her silver eyes glowed. "I can't wait to tell everybody."
All the air escaped from Weiss. Her mouth tightened. She realized the wider implications of what she just did. "Ruby wait," Weiss said. Ruby got silent. "Can we keep it between us, for now?"
Ruby cocked her head. "What, why?" Her first girlfriend. Why wouldn't she tell her friends?
Weiss lowered her voice almost to a whisper. "Certain... people may not be supportive of us. I'm not ready to face that yet. If you please, can we keep quiet for now?" Weiss was almost pleading at this point.
Ruby looked at Weiss and gave her a small smile. "Okay, Weiss, just between the two of us."
The next three weeks of rendezvous at the cafe were wonderful to Weiss. The most fun she ever had since she arrived at Signal High. She got lost in those happy memories as she drifted to sleep.
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The cafeteria was abuzz with chatter as the Spring dance approached. Posters and streamers were strewn all over the place.
Weiss finally got a moment to herself. Most of the planning was taken care of. Now it was just up to the individual committees to do their part.
Weiss took a stab at her salad. She just needed to get through the rest of the day and she'll retrace her steps from yesterday. The route between the cafe and school is rather large but Weiss couldn't lose the locket Ruby worked so hard on.
She already texted Ruby that she can't meet up today with some excuse. Weiss hasn't seen Ruby all day. A fact she was thankful for once. She was just about to leave.
"Hey, Prez," said the Malachite twins in stereo. Weiss looked up. They had bags under their eyes and plastered recognized the look whenever her mother had to greet guests.
She heard of the Malachites. A pair of trouble makers but they keep to themselves. Weiss always had trouble telling them apart. Malanie had her long hair and Miltia cut her's short.
"Can I help you?" She never dealt with the pair before so she doesn't know what to expect.
"Actually," said. Melanie. "We're here to help you." The twins sat down on the table.
Militia nodded in agreement. "Have you lost something recently. Like yesterday?"
Shock ran up Weiss's spine but she schooled her features. No way they would have it. Weiss put her hand to her chin and stroked it in faux contemplation. "Can't say I have."
The twins looked at each other. Then they both sighed.
"Well I guess we were mistaken," Militia said.
"How embarrassing," Melanie said with a shrug of her shoulders and palms upturned.
"Just so we're sure," Militia pulled out the locket from her bag. She made sure to put it right up to Weiss's face. "This isn't yours?"
Keep it together Weiss. "That doesn't even look like mine." She smirked. "It's a little off-brand for me."
"Our mistake. Say Miltia," Melanie turned to her sister. "Doesn't this rose etching remind you of someone?"
Militia comically looked at the locket. Then she put her hands to her cheeks for effect. "Oh my gosh, your right. This rose motif reminds me of that one girl Rose something…"
"Right. Let's ask her about this locket." Melanie said. The twins started to get up.
Weiss had no choice. "Wait." The twins' smiles widened. They smelled blood in the water. "Let's talk somewhere else."
/-/
Ruby just arrived in the cafeteria when she saw Weiss leave with the Malachite twins.
Another chapter is done. This story won't be a long one. Not exactly ready for those epics right now.
I do wonder about the twins in canon. Why be bodyguards for some guy if your mother is running a gang in a completely different part of the world? There's a story there.