Ruby was on her way to a boxing match. That's right, a boxing match. Now that she was more aware of Yang's outside activities, Yang had invited her to come and see an upcoming match she was in. Ruby didn't really care for boxing, but she loved her sister and wanted to support her in any way possible. So off she went.
Lately, Ruby had been feeling... Sad. Well, not sad persay, but not happy either. Empty? Melancholic? Something like that. She kept revisiting the kiss in her head. Watching as Weiss leaned towards her, and press their lips together with such gentleness... Feeling Weiss's breath against her nose for a split second before she pulled away.. She'd smelled so nice~
Ruby shook her head, trying to get her bearings straight. She had to backtrack a little, as her delve into her thoughts had distracted her long enough to allow her to walk a full two blocks past where she was trying to go. Ruby entered the building, and was immediately blasted with the sound of 200 conversations going on at the same time. Was this place soundproof? Because Ruby hadn't heard anything at ALL until she'd opened the doors.
It seemed she was just on time for, whatever was going on? Yang and some other girl were in a boxing ring, placed in the middle of the building. On the outside, this place looked like any random abandoned building. But inside, the whole place was cleared out except for a boxing ring, some ticket stands, and food stands. And the hundreds of people crowded together around the ring. Ruby was feeling, a little overwhelmed. There was so much noise, so many people, she could barely see yang anymore, and–
A hand grabbed Ruby's shoulder "Yo! Ruby!" A guys voice? Who would..?
"Sun!" Ruby tuned to see the scruffy haired boy from WcDonalds. She felt an immediate sense of calm, from his big brotherly aura.
"Whats up? Sorry about the whole WcDonalds thing, I still feel kinda bad about that.. What are you doing here? You like boxing?" Sun smiled energetically, almost jumping in place. Ruby couldn't help but smile.
"I don't know much about boxing, but, my sisters up there right now!" Ruby pointed to the ring.
Sun looked, examining the punching girls carefully. "The brunette?" He asked.
"Nope! The blonde!" Ruby said with pride, as Yang flipped her competitor over.
"Really! Must be cool to have such a strong sister!"
"Oh you don't even know the half of it, I can't even help bring in groceries because she gets them all before me!"
Sun chuckled and rubbed Rubys head. "Glad you're doing well. Did you find another job?"
"Ah, no. Its a bit difficult when you don't really have friends." Ruby said, not realizing the implication she just made.
Sun thought a moment, then held out his hand. "Can I woogle something on your phone for a second?" He asked.
Ruby handed her phone over without a second thought, Sun having asked in the same tone Yang would ask for the same favor. When Sun handed it back, Ruby raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you're holding your phone.."
Ruby received a text from 'god of sunlight'. she blinked a few times, and looked to Sun. He rubbed the back of his head a smiled. "You can delete it if you want, but I'll text you if I see some jobby thing come up anywhere I know! Now you can say you've got at least one friend, right?" he patted her on the back. "If you're ever in the mood, lets hang out! I'm up next, so see ya!" Sun jogged off to a door at the edge of the building, which looked like it lead to a hallway. Maybe for changing rooms? Who knows. Sun left just in time for Ruby to see Yang pumping her right fist in the air victoriously. Ruby waved, and Yang spotted her, giving a thumbs up and a toothy smile. She pushed any feelings about what had happened moments ago deep in her subconscious, and would revisit them later.
Ruby watched Yang walk off to the same door Sun had entered, helping the girl she'd just beaten over there as well. Ruby was planning on waiting for Yang to come back out, but seemed to be getting a little nervous by herself. Sun was up next, against another blonde guy, so she watched that for a while.. But as everyone else was entranced by the fight, Ruby snuck back and went into the back door Yang went to.
It was like a completely different building? The walls were clean, and grey. Doors marked 'male' and 'female' and '1 person at a time' lined the walls. Ruby wandered down the halls, getting lost almost immediately. Soon, it had been half an hour. Why was this place so big? Why did it need to be?
Ruby turned a corner, but quickly hid as soon as she saw someone. It was that guy, that Sun had fought. He was sitting on the floor against the wall, his face buried in his knees.
Was he crying?
"Hey, you OK?" Ruby asked, casually walking around the corner as best she could. She wasn't loooost she knew exactly where she was going! Or at least that's what she tried to say, with her body language.
The guy straightened his posture and wiped his eyes. "Oh! Uh, hi, who are you?" He asked, sniffling away a tear.
"Oh my gosh are you alright? That's a huge bruise!" Ruby winced at the large purple mound on his jaw.
"Uh... Yeah..." The guy went back to sulking.
Maybe she shouldn't have pointed that out.. "My names Ruby, whats yours?" She sat down next to him.
The guy seemed surprised that Ruby was even willing to talk to him. "Jaune. Jaune Arc."
"Cool. That sounds kinda heroy." Ruby smiled. Her cheerfulness seemed to rub off on Jaune, as he found himself smiling as well.
"Well, if being a hero was a job I'd take it." Jaune joked.
"Whaat? Me too! Like, that's the one thing I feel like I could be good at you know? But of course there's no job description of just 'being a hero' in today's world." Ruby huffed.
Jaune laughed a little. He seemed to be in a better mood now. That made Ruby happy. "Yeah, I really wish there was something like that.."
Ruby nodded, "soo... You like boxing?"
Jaune's mood darkened. "Yeah.. But I suck at it."
"Just keep at it, you'll get better! It took me YEARS to be able to catch stuff my sister would randomly throw at me." Ruby mimed tossing something into the air. Jaune looked like he was about to speak, but Ruby started up again. "I'm sorry, this must be weird, you were just trying to sit in silence and some weirdo just sat down next to you and started talking about catching things ahhh I'll leave now–"
"No wait." Jaune reached out a hand to stop ruby from getting up. "Its kinda comforting, someone trying to cheer me up I guess. I just, I don't know, I feel like no matter how hard I try I'm not improving at all, and even though I have such an amazing coach I just can't get better."
"Well, how long have they been coaching you?" Ruby asked curiously.
"Well, only about 6 months, but I–"
"Whaaaat? Only 6 months? Well of course you Won't see drastic improvement yet! Do you have any video of when you first started? Look at those, compare it to how you are now! It wont be a lot, but there should be some changes!"
"Thats, what my coach said, but I.. I cant bring myself to look at them, they're so embarrassing..!" Jaune held his head in his hands.
"Well, if you can't even bear to look at it then that definitly means you've improved, right? You don't wanna look at it because its bad. But that means you're better now."
"For someone who doesn't look like they know much about boxing, you sure give good advice." Jaune shook his head and stood up, holding a hand out to Ruby.
She took the hand. "Well yeah, I guess so. I'm just here to see my sister, she was in a match! I think she won? Her match, that is. I can't find her..."
"Good for her, but I think the girls changing rooms are back that way." He pointed to the direction Ruby had just come from. "Thanks for the advice, ah, random as it was. Maybe I'll go train some more. Bye Ruby!" And Jaune trotted off.
Ruby felt good about giving some random person such confidence.. She felt a hand touch her shoulder. "EEP!" She squeaked, and turned around so hard she spun and fell to the ground.
"I'm sorry!" A muscular red headed girl helped her up. "Ruby right? I, heard you talking to Jaune.."
"Uh, yeah! Sorry, was he your boyfriend?" Ruby asked innocently. The girl blushed heavily.
"No no! I mean, we're just friends for now, uh, I'm his coach!" It was clear as day that she liked him. Ruby liked to think she had a good eye for spotting romance, from living with Yang so long. At least, good at spotting other peoples romances. Not her own."Ahem, I'm Pyrrha Nikos."
"Ruby Rose! Or, you already knew that, heh." Hehehehhhhh awkward...! Ruby mentally kicked herself.
Pyrrha seemed confused to Ruby's reaction of her name. Was Pyrrha a big deal or something? Ruby didn't know, she wasn't good with celebrities... Pyrrha bowed to Ruby. "Thanks so much! For, giving Jaune advice..! I'd been trying to tell him that for weeks, but hearing it from more then one source must have made it more credible in his mind."
"Oh, you're welcome, I guess! I don't usually come to these sorta things, so I guess I won't really see if it helps him or not though, heh." Ruby thought out loud.
"Would you like to exchange contacts?" Pyrrha asked sweetly.
"L-like frinds?" Ruby almost choked.
Pyrrha smiled and gave a small laugh. "Yes, if you'll have me." Ruby fumbled her phone, and traded numbers with Pyrrha. They parted ways soon after.
What... Had happened..? Ruby, who had previously only had her family members as contacts, now had Weiss, Sun, and Pyrrha in her phone! In such a short amount of time?! Ruby felt floaty... All the friendy emotions from getting Sun AND Pyrrhas numbers as friends, came crashing down on her. She wandered the halls until she bumped into Yang, who had to almost drag her home because of how distracted Ruby was.
When at home, Ruby found Weiss sitting on her bed reading. "Weisss!" Ruby chirped, and flopped on the bed next to her. "I think I made friends!"
"Oh? Good for you." Weiss tilted her head. "Who?"
"The guy from my old work and a girl with red hair who's probably a boxer!" Ruby kicked her legs excitedly. "I haven't had contacts other then my family since middle school!"
"So you have two friends now?" Weiss seemed a little huffy.
"Yeah! Wait, three! You were my first Weiss!" Ruby smiled, and Weiss's cheeks tinted red. "Though, maybe I won't have to bug you as much if I have other people to talk to now!"
Ruby was to busy rolling around the bed in happiness to notice the slight aura of jealousy rolling off of Weiss. Ruby's phone buzzed. She sat up immediately and stared at her phone, excitement washing off her in waves.
Pyrrha: hello Ruby!
Oh my gooooooosh she'd made first contact! And so soon? Ruby had just gotten home!
Ruby: hello! How are things?
Why don't you just shoot yourself in the face BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DID WITH THAT TEXT
Pyrrha: things are well? I suppose. Me and Jaune are going to be training in the park tomorrow. If you don't have anything planned, maybe we could hang out?
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Ruby: Yes
Ruby: definitwly sure
Ruby: *definitely
Of course NOW was the time for Ruby's fingers to shake and commit heinous spelling errors.
Pyrrha: wonderful! Bring a friend if you'd like as well, in case its to weird being around two people you just met, if you want. No pressure.
Ruby: yes will do so thabkyou
Pyrrha: See you tomorrow (:
Oh woa. That was the first time Ruby had seen someone use that smiley face as just 'casual happiness' and not sarcasm in years. Pyrrha was so sweet... She must've picked up on Ruby's awkward friendlessness..! Ah, but it was also great that Pyrrha didn't see Ruby as a romantic rival. That would have put a damper in their relationship!
"WEISS" Ruby leaned super close into Weiss's personal space and stared into her eye's, an inch away from her own face. "Are you doing anything tomorrow."
"..no." Weiss answered. Ruby could feel Weiss's breath against her lips, they were so close. Ruby jumped back, looked away, but continued asking.
"Ah! Ah, uh, the girl asked me if i wanted to hang out! That's what friends do right? She uh, said to bring a friend if I wanted! Do you want to! Do you, um, go to the park tomorrow!" Ruby kept sneaking glances at Weiss. She looked happy?
"A walk in the park sounds refreshing." Weiss said calmly, going back to her book.
Ruby perked up "So that's a yes?" Weiss nodded. "Alright! Thanks Weiss! You're definitely my bff!" Ruby trotted off to go play video games, leaving Weiss in her room, struggling to understand the acronym 'bff'.
The next day, it happened. "Come on Weiss! This way!" Ruby held Weiss's hand, pulling her through the park. It didn't take long for Ruby to spot Pyrrha, her red hair was just as prevalent as Weiss's white hair (which she was hiding under a rather soft cream colored sun hat)
"Hey! Pyrrha!" Ruby waved, and Pyrrha greeted her with a smile.
"Hellooo~!" Pyrrha sung. Jaune was mime punching the air, but he smiled at Rubys appearance as well. Friends! These were Ruby's friends! Sure, they were all two years older then her but still! Friends!
"Pyrrha Nikos?" Weiss tilted down her sunglasses and looked Pyrrha over.
"Weiss Schnee?" Pyrrha looked equally confused.
"Ruby Rose..!" Ruby chirped in, unsure of what was happening.
Pyrrha spoke next. "Its uh, nice to see you. Are you alright? I saw about the bombing, and–"
"Weiss Schnee? THE Weiss Schnee? Oh my gosh! Can I have you autograph?" Jaune popped into the conversation.
Weiss looked like she wanted to crawl into a black hole. Ruby put a finger to her lips. "Shhhh!" Jaune tilted his head slightly. "Pyrrha's right, there was that whole bombing thing.. so, maybe don't yell her name in public.." Ruby offered her opinion gingerly.
Jaune nodded, suddenly realizing how loud he'd been. "...I'm so sorry!" He whispered.
Pyrrha chuckled. "I don't think we need to be THAT quiet."
"Right.." Jaune rubbed the back of his head and smiled awkwardly. "Ah, do you guys want to grab something to eat?" Just as he said that, Ruby's stomach growled.
They settled on WcDonalds. A different WcDonalds then the one Ruby and Weiss first met at, thankfully. They ordered food, and chatted as they ate.
"I'm curious, how did you two meet?" Pyrrha asked Ruby and Weiss. "When I said 'feel free to bring a friend' I certainly wasn't expecting you to show up with Weiss." She smiled motheringly Why is Pyrrha a literal angel
Ruby looked around at their surroundings. "We, actually met at a WcDonalds.." Jaune stared at her quizicly. "Well, I saw her–" Ruby looked over to Weiss. "Can I tell it?"
"I don't mind." Weiss sipped some soda from a straw, seeming just as interested in the tale as Jaune and Pyrrha were.
"Alright. Well, I'd just gotten a job at WcDonalds. And I was working at the cash register when I saw Weiss come up with some guy. They were arguing, and it looked like he was going to hit her? So i kinda.. Threw a soda at him.." Ruby twiddled her thumbs as she said that last part.
Everyone was silent.
And the next moment, Jaune was covering his mouth to keep from laughing. Pyrrha was having trouble keeping it in as well. Weiss spoke up just as Jaune was starting to breath again. "And right after that, when he turned to yell at her, she threw ANOTHER soda at him, directly in the face."
Jaune had literal tears in his eyes.
It was the first time Ruby and the people she was with were kicked out of a WcDonalds for laughing to much. She and Weiss were walking home, and Ruby kept sneaking glances at her. The fading sunset made her look almost pink. It was like she was glowing, her smile radiating warmth. Ruby couldn't look away.
They both didn't realize, but they were holding hands. Ruby had a habit of holding Yang's hand while out with her, and Weiss was too happy to notice anything. Why was she so happy, Ruby wondered? What about today had made her so happy? They'd gone to the park, met two very nice people who (who would make a great couple, ruby thought) ruby told herself they could consider friends, and went to a fast food place to eat. Ruby just couldn't understand It. But, despite her wondering why Weiss was so happy, Ruby made no effort to ask herself why she was feeling the exact same amount of happiness from today's events. Just being near Weiss, filled her chest with a crushing happiness.
...that's how friendship works, right?