Ruby sat alone in the cafeteria picking at her food.
Weiss has been ghosting her for a week since Ruby saw her leave the cafeteria with the Malachite twins. All Ruby ever gets from Weiss anymore are vague texts about some excuse or whatever.
There is something going on between Weiss and the twins. Ruby knows that much but nothing beyond that.
She hoped that the locket would bring them closer together but nothing has happened since then. Maybe Ruby expected too much from Weiss so soon into their relationship.
The Malachite twins worry her. Yang talked about a fight between the three of them last summer, right before Yang left for college. They look like your typical valley girls but those two can throw down. Why would Weiss mess around with them?
Ruby gulped down her milk and cleaned off her plate. She got up from her chair. Armchair speculation isn't going to give her answers about her girlfriend and the company she keeps. Time to use-what did Weiss call it- her reckless forwardness.
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Ruby kept close to the wall on the second-floor hallway. The class just let out for the day. Weiss's position as the class president made her schedule well-known throughout the school.
Ruby knew Weiss's last class was with, so she stuck by close to the wall until she came out.
Weiss came out a minute later and went straight down the hall. Ruby maintained a safe distance and followed her.
She hated to be a stalker girlfriend but Weiss gave her no choice. She can't possibly be in a relationship with someone who won't even talk to her.
She isn't going back to the dorms. Ruby thought. She was heading into the old school building. Signal High expanded and renovated a few years back but the old building remained. Few clubs go there now.
Weiss rounded the corner. Ruby almost followed until she ran into another student.
Both fell into the ground. Papers flying everywhere. Ruby shoved him out of the way but when she got back up, Weiss was gone.
"Dammit," Ruby said.
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Weiss made her way into the old school building. She hated keeping Ruby in the dark but she cannot know what happened to the locket. Good. No one followed me.
Those blasted Malachites had her dead to rights.
She kept walking until she reached a room on the second floor. Both Malachites were already inside the musty classroom. All of the desks were moved to the wall, creating an open space in the center.
"Do you have it?" Malanie asked.
"Where's my locket?" Weiss knew never to appear weak in exchanges like this. She folded her arms over her chest.
"Don't test us, Schnee." Miltia scowled cracking her knuckles.
Weiss kept her breathing calm. "This wasn't easy to procure. I hope this is the last exchange between us."
"Well," Miltia said. She glanced at her sister. "Not so fast, Prez."
"What do you mean?" Weiss said.
The twins began to move to tandem, moving closer and backing Weiss into a corner.
"I mean this locket was really precious to you even though you dropped it," Miltia said.
"So why stop at one test?" Melanie followed.
"That wasn't part of the deal," Weiss said, clutching the folder. The nerve of these girls.
The twins giggled. "Deals changed."
"You can't do that," Weiss tried to grab Melanie. Only for Miltia to strike Weiss hard in the stomach. All the wind purged out of her. Her left kneecap met her jaw on the way down. Weiss clutched her stomach.
Miltia used a mountain climber's hook clip as a makeshift knuckle duster. She went behind Weiss and held her down.
"Thanks sis," Melanie said. "Keep her still for me." She stretched her legs out. Weiss did her research. Before Melanie was kicked off the soccer team for smoking, she was one of the most gifted strikers on the team. Her punts had real power.
Weiss thought the girl would kick her head right off.
"Now then heiress," said Melanie. "When you wake up, remember to not mess with us or we'll spill your dirty secret to the whole school."
Weiss closed her eyes and waited for the impact from the kick.
None came.
"Get off me!" Melanie yelled. Weiss opened her eyes. Ruby latched on top of Melanie and choked her.
Miltia let of Weiss to help her sister but Weiss used her freedom to grab her captor's ankle. Miltia tripped into her sister and the twins fell into a pile.
"Let's get out of here." Ruby grabbed Weiss' arm. The pair speed out of the classroom. The folder was left behind.
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Ruby and Weiss made their way back to Weiss's dorm. They were out of breath and sat down on the bed.
Weiss didn't know why she dragged Ruby to her dorm room. If she had to guess, her room was safe. Completely isolated from the school and the rest of the world.
Ruby's never been to the dorms since she lives with her parents. They just kept running since they fought the twins. Now Ruby's alone with Weiss.
Ruby looked around. The dorm room felt too big. A single bed left a wide empty space on the far side of the room. The dresser occupied the same side as the bed, leaving the room unbalanced.
"Would your roommate mind me being here?" Ruby asked.
Weiss sat on her dresser chair. "Don't have one. My father insisted that I don't mingle with the rabble." Weiss rolled her eyes. "I had to agree to it in order to study here."
Ruby heard about Weiss's father every so often but whenever she tried to probe deeper, Weiss would put up a wall or deflect to something else.
There are more pressing matters to attend to.
"Thanks Ruby. She would have knocked my head off," Weiss said.
"No problem. But why were you dealing with them in the first place?" Ruby said.
"They have something I need. And I have something they want. It was a mutual exchange." Weiss said.
Ruby blew a raspberry. "A week without a word and you're giving me that." She threw her hands up. "A mutual exchange shouldn't have one side hurting the other. What were you giving them?"
Weiss squirmed under Ruby's gaze.
"Actually, Weiss. I overheard something. Miltia mentioned that you went to all this trouble for a locket you dropped." What did she mean by that?
Weiss winced. Guess there's no hiding it now. I didn't throw it away. Ruby, it fell out of my pocket."
Ruby couldn't believe it. "What are you talking about? I saw you put on when we left the cafe."
"I took off when I headed back into the dorms." Weiss placed her hands on her skirt. "One of the Malachite twins must have found it. That's when they approached me."
Ruby finally understood what has been happening this past week. "Why would you even put it in your pocket in the first place?"
Weiss found herself squirming, not entirely sure of what to say to that. "Ruby, I've made mistakes. I mean, I've made some major ones but I've never actually meant to hurt you." She didn't quite seem sure of herself when she said that.
She nodded, still not quite sure how to respond, "But Weiss, why did you hide it in your pocket in the first place?"
It took Weiss a second to process that last bit. "Ruby, the locket's etching had the same symbol as the pin you're always wearing. People would have figured it out.
Ruby stood up. "That's the point Weiss. If you were too afraid to say anything, giving a clue would ease everyone into it." Ruby suddenly realized something. "Unless you didn't want anyone to figure it out."
It might have been true. Not that Weiss would admit to it.
"Ruby you wouldn't understand," Weiss said. The words felt weak coming from her mouth.
Ruby turned around with her eyebrow up in defiance, rolling her shoulders like she was winding up for a punch. "I'm not a dummy Weiss. Try me."
Weiss took a deep breath and exhaled. " It's not...normal for someone like me," She looked away from Ruby. "...to be with a girl."
Ruby tried to protest but Weiss cut her off.
"Atlas-where I grew up- is conservative, to say the least. There's a certain order to things. Men with women-"
"Weiss, that's a whole different continent. What's that got to do with us?"
Weiss turned away but she couldn't ignore the question. "Nothing really. It has to do with my father. I'm the heiress since my sister joined the military. He can disown me as well if he feels me 'incapable' of carrying out my duties."
The silence stretched on as Weiss waited for Ruby's response.
Ruby sat back down before she responded. "What just because you like girls, you can't run a business? That doesn't make sense."
Weiss' brow furrowed. "You're not listening. My father can renounce me and I lose my spot in line to my brother." Weiss stood up now, her patience wavering. "This is important to me. I work so hard at school joining every club to make myself the perfect candidate to succeed him." Her voice was rising with each word.
Weiss was on a roll and couldn't stop herself. "And you're getting in the way of that!" Weiss realized what she just said and tried to get the words back.
Ruby reeled back in shock. This is how Weiss truly feels, she thought. She closed her eyes, concentrating. Ruby shot up from the bed and squared up to Weiss. "Well, if I am in the way, then I'll just leave Weiss." Ruby made her way out of the dorm room.
Weiss reached over and pulled Ruby back. Weiss saw Ruby's face scrunch up in frustration, without a hint of sympathy. "Just wait, Ruby." Weiss pleaded.
Ruby pushed Weiss off. "Good luck being a CEO. Goodbye." Ruby exited the room and slammed the door. Her steps echoed from the hallway.
Weiss just stood there and watched the door.