The next day, Weiss found herself feeling a certain gaze cast on her during class.
It wasn't a good feeling, unwelcome even.
She felt it the first day, too.
Call it a hunch.
Her suspicions were confirmed when she caught a glimpse to the right.
Cardin's hand was on his chin when the two made eye contact. He tried to send a flirtatious wink, but it ended up being perceived as lustful.
That sent a shiver down her spine. She openly rolled her eyes at the poor attempt to flirt and went back to listen to the lecture, but her thoughts said otherwise.
Orange-haired boy? Weiss asked herself. So he's the one that's been ogling me. It's also that strange Arc fellow, too. At least he tries to be discreet about it.
Weiss was far from stupid. She was typically aware of her surroundings.
Why are some guys desperate?
"Pst!" Yang's whisper caught her attention.
She faced the blonde and received a note.
It read: Yo, princess. Ruby and I want to hang out with you after school when track practice is over! Whad'ya say?
Weiss was taken aback. She barely knew these people! And the only time she talked with them was when she was curt on purpose yesterday. What did she possibly do to make them want to be her friend?
I don't need friends.
She wrote: Don't call me that. I'm going to have to decline. And don't pass notes, you're just asking for trouble!
She swiftly set the note on Yang's desk when Glynda turned around to write a mathematical equation for the class.
Yang unwrinkled the paper and briefly frowned. The transfer was going to be difficult.
Come onnnn the blonde begged. pwetty pwease?
She threw the note on Weiss' desk, not caring if the teacher would see or not.
Weiss glared daggers at the blonde.
Does she WANT detention?!
No matter how much Weiss didn't want to, she read the note Yang threw back and wrote.
No.
Weiss slid the note on Yang's desk in a hurry so she wouldn't get caught… but Glynda turned around on time when Weiss reached over.
"Are you passing notes?" she stared directly at Weiss with a scowl.
"I…" Weiss was at loss for words, but she wasn't a liar. "Yes," she lowered her head in shame.
The teacher narrowed her eyes. "Instead of detention, you'll be helping me with paperwork after school. Which reminds me… it is a lot of paperwork so would anyone like to volunteer?"
Jaune didn't need to think about the question and shot his hand in the air. "I would be glad to help."
Ruby coughed into her hand. "Teacher's pet," she coughed again.
"And Yang isn't?" Jaune fired back.
Ruby just giggled.
Jaune frowned at the brunette and looked back to the teacher who said. "Thank you, I'll see you two after school. Now about the equation…"
Glynda inwardly smirked mischievously. Everything was going according to keikaku.
Jaune didn't pay attention after that. He could finally spend some time with Weiss! The boy was practically beaming with delight, especially when she spared him a glance when he volunteered.
Weiss cursed herself. She was supposed to be the perfect student, but that blonde brute distracted her!
Now I have to spend time with the Arc boy… He was awfully quick when she asked for a volunteer, she rolled her eyes. Why are some boys desperate AND weird?
Ruby leaned over to speak with her sister. "Did she say yes?"
Yang unwrinkled the note. "Nope," she sighed. "The princess will need some work."
Ruby grinned and gave a thumbs-up. "Challenge accepted!" she stared at Weiss, who was paying attention to the lecture, so she whispered loud enough only for Yang to hear. "You will be our friend… and you'll like it."
Yang chuckled and pat Ruby on the back. "That was just a tad creepy, sis," she leaned over to face Jaune. "Aren't you lucky? You get some time with the princess."
Jaune put his finger to his mouth to shush her. Weiss was next to Yang, after all. He slyly sent Yang a wink since he felt like he was nailing the deal so far.
After finishing her warm-up lap, Yang found Ruby and the two conversed before track practice began.
"Yang!" Ruby chirped. "Don't kill me, but Jaune told me you have a thing for Blake."
Yang clenched her fists, of course he told her sister. "Yeah, I do. Why?"
Ruby couldn't contain her squeals. "She's right over there!" she pointed to the other side of the track. "See?!"
Yang's breath hitched when she saw Blake stretching her legs to prepare for the first practice race. "How did I not know she was on the track team?!"
Ruby shrugged. "No idea, she just kinda blends in," she wryly smiled at Yang. "This is your chance."
"My what?" Yang asked. "Oh no, you can't-"
"Yes I can~" Ruby sang and pushed her sister to the direction of Blake. "Come onnnn."
Yang could easily overpower her sister, but she felt like she needed a little push, even if it was literally.
Yang wished she looked a little nicer and not in her track clothes, but then again, everyone else was in a t-shirt and shorts too.
"Fine!" Yang stopped abruptly and deeply inhaled with determination. "I'll talk to her. I'm gonna stop her in her tracks," she sent a wry smile.
Ruby sighed. "That was horrible and you know it."
Yang couldn't help but chuckle. "Now that the pun's outta the way, I'll go talk to her."
"Good!" Ruby put her hands on her hips. "Because if you didn't, I woulda forced you!"
"Forced you to do what?" a new voice chimed in the conversation.
"Nora!" Yang exclaimed. "When'd you get here?"
"Doesn't matter my dear friend!" Nora exclaimed. "So who do you have the hots for?!"
"Jesus," the blonde muttered. "Does everyone know!?"
Nora tilted her head. "There's just something about you that's different is all! I can't quite put my finger on it."
Ruby leaned in and whispered the news in Nora's ear.
Nora gasped. "You do?! Well she's over there! What're you waiting for?!"
Yang sighed and straightened her posture to at least try to look presentable for her crush. Even though she was sweating, she had confidence since she certainly wasn't the ugliest girl around. Only slight sweat beaded on her body, she counted her lucky stars it wasn't too hot outside.
"I'm going right now," the blonde smiled. "Watch the master," she feigned confidence and strutted her way towards Blake.
Blake was stretching when she looked up and saw flowing golden hair in her view.
"Hey! Your name's Blake, right?" a calm voice reached her ears.
Blake stood up fully when she was done stretching. "Yes, I'm Blake. And you're…" she examined the blonde's face and said with familiarity. "Yang. Yang Xiao Long."
The blonde's eyebrows rose. Blake seemed to have known her name long before Yang knew Blake's.
Yang couldn't take her gaze off Blake's amber orbs. "Uh..I- yeah!" she held out her hand. "The one and only!"
The blonde found it hard to talk to such a beautiful girl. For some reason she got tongue-tied and her stomach felt really fuzzy… it wasn't a bad feeling, she just wondered if it would ever go away.
Blake hesitantly shook Yang's hand. "What brings you here?"
The handshake briefly distracted Yang. Blake's hands sure were soft...
The question caught Yang slightly off guard. "Oh uh, I was just wondering. How long have you been on the track team?"
Blake stifled a laugh. "This is my second year."
"Oh."
"Why?"
"I just feel bad, ya know?" Yang said. "We could've been great friends by now if I noticed sooner!"
Blake wondered why Yang was talking to her. "Where are you going with this?"
Yet another question that caught the blonde off guard, she didn't mind that Blake seemed to have that effect on her.
Yang tried to play off the answer as casual as possible. "We should hangout some time! Like tomorrow after school, that is, if you're not busy."
Blake looked as if she was considering the offer. She could tell Yang was trying to act casual, but was utterly failing.
"Before I answer, I have another question."
"Shoot," Yang permitted.
Blake crossed her arms. "Why ask now? Of all times?"
Yang swallowed bile that was in her throat from being so anxious. "Like I said earlier, I feel like we can be really great friends. If you'd be willing to give it a shot, I promise it'll be worth your while," she gave her puppy dog eyes she spent years perfecting with Ruby.
Blake narrowed her eyes, she had to admit, Yang was adorable when she did that. "Okay, tomorrow after school then."
Yang gasped. Did she really just get the gorgeous class rep to hang out with her? This was like a dream come true!
"I promise you won't regret it!"
Just as she said that, the coach blew the whistle to start track practice.
Typically the students would gather in the middle of the field, and Yang was eager to start their friendship as soon as possible.
"Shall we go?" Yang asked and nodded to where the students gathered.
Blake's poker face broke for the first time that day as she briefly smiled. "We shall."
I can't believe I'm stuck with this blubbering idiot! Weiss chided herself. I need to get home so I can get my work done! Father won't be happy about this...
Jaune tried not to stare at Weiss too much, but he couldn't help himself. He didn't know anything about the girl, other than that she used to be a fencer.
"How long have you fenced?"
This was about the fifth question he asked so far.
He kept justifying in his mind that it was okay since the two were waiting for the teacher to show up to give them their work. Weiss wasn't initiating the conversation so Jaune took hold of the reigns.
"A while," she deadpanned. "It's none of your business."
"I'm just curious is all," the boy said. "What do you mean used to fence?" he referred to yesterday when she introduced herself.
"Like I said," the white-haired girl stated with a bite in her tone. "It's none of your business."
Jaune sensed he was walking on dangerous waters, so he avoided the subject completely.
"Why did you transfer here?" he asked, keeping his voice leveled. "Sorry if that's a personal question."
Seeing as the boy was persistent, Weiss figured answering one of his endless questions wouldn't hurt. "This school is proven to be academically superior than the last one I attended," she answered. "Now can you please stop asking questions? It feels like an interrogation."
I still can't believe he was THAT quick to volunteer for such trivial work. Is he interested in me? There's nothing about me to like, and I can't be caught dead with such a scrawny guy.
"I see," Jaune leaned back in his chair. "Beacon High is a pretty good school."
Before Weiss could respond, the teacher strolled in holding her usual clipboard. "Good news, this shouldn't take long," she pointed to two separate stacks of papers on her desk. "Take these to the principal's office and then you're free to leave."
Weiss let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
Good, I might be able get home on time.
"Sounds good, thanks Ms. Goodwitch!" Jaune said.
"No problem, Mr. Arc," she waved her hand. "Now get going."
Glynda's ship would officially set sail from here, and it was all thanks to her. She inwardly gave herself a pat on the back for her efforts.
Jaune and Weiss stood up and walked over to the stacks of papers. Jaune scanned for the heavier one so Weiss wouldn't have to lift it, but they were both evenly matched.
It didn't even matter when Weiss swooped in to take the nearest stack and dashed out the door.
Jaune didn't have time to talk to her and was left in the dust. He wanted to get to know her, so he hurried as fast as his legs could carry him and sped out the door. He followed her tracks with the stack in his arms.
He finally caught up to her. "Why the hurry?"
"Unlike you, I have responsibilities that require my attention after this," Weiss answered vaguely and kept her pace.
I already got three texts from father. I need to rush.
Jaune wondered what kind of things she had to do. "Oh, okay. What kind of things?"
Weiss gave him a look.
"Let me guess… none of my business?"
"You have a brain after all!" Weiss was shocked the boy caught on. "You're somewhat more intelligent than you let on!"
Jaune took the sass as a good thing. It was better than nothing.
"Hey you'd be surprised," he chuckled.
"I really do need to hurry, though. I swear if you slow me down-"
Before she could finish the sentence, Weiss tripped over her own feet from walking too fast. This caused her body to fall forward.
Jaune moved purely on instinct by dropping the stack of papers without thought and diving to catch the girl before she could hit the hard marble floor face first.
The two landed with a thud as the papers scattered everywhere. Jaune noticed his hand was curled protectively over the back of the girl's head as she laid on top of him.
The fall was loud, but Weiss was pretty light. He wouldn't have noticed she was on top of him if it weren't for her sporadic heartbeat. He blushed crimson when he took note of their position in the middle of the vacant hallway.
A scent of lavender made it to his nostrils. It was her shampoo, no doubt.
It was definitely his favorite smell now.
Jaune lifted his head when he noticed she hadn't made a sound.
"Are... you alright?"
Weiss slowly lifted her head to meet Jaune's gaze. As soon as she noticed the position they were in, she let out a gasp, as if she was mortified with the situation.
She rapidly jumped off him and gathered the papers while she heard Jaune mumble something. Whatever it was, she could care less. She just wanted to get away from the awkward situation and get home as soon as possible.
"Weiss, are you hurt?"
She finished gathering her share of the papers and stood.
Weiss noticed the boy didn't use the nickname he gave her and secretly appreciated that.
"No, but that's thanks to you."
I'll only give you this one, Arc.
Jaune slowly got up, it wasn't a direct thank you, but it would do. "I'm glad you're okay," he smiled.
The boy was ecstatic that Weiss sort of thanked him for the save. He didn't sense a hint of bite in her tone, either, so that was an accomplishment all on its own.
Weiss acknowledged him by sparing a glimpse and sped-walked down the hall, not waiting for Jaune to get the remaining papers.
"Wait up!" he yelled and hastily grabbed the last of the papers that were scattered on the floor.
The scene was all too familiar to him. He was left in literal pursuit of the new transfer student...
Rom-com rules this chapter include: caught while passing notes, random sport to provide relationship development, being a dumbass around your crush, guy caught staring at girl, stuck after class to help teacher with supposed love-interest, and lastly, the clumsy fall from the not-so-clumsy girl.
You didn't think it would be easy for a person like Weiss to fall for a dense idiot like Jaune, did you?
See what I did there? Guys?
