It is February 1st, 2016. The one year anniversary of Monty's death. Thank you for everything, Monty. We love and miss you.


The next day after school, Yang anxiously waited for a certain class rep's arrival.

"Yang, stop tapping your foot," Ruby said. "It's annoying."

The two were sitting on a couch in the living room, so the furniture wouldn't stop shaking. Ruby knew that was one of her sister's nervous idiosyncrasies.

"Sorrrryyyy," Yang roughly rubbed her hair, "I'm so nervous!"

Ruby smirked and remembered Yang actually is nervous. The Yang Xiao Long. The girl who is a huge flirt to everyone around her. The girl who wouldn't take no for an answer. The girl who was always so sure of herself… was nervous, over a girl at that!

Ruby took comfort in the fact that at least something made her sister nervous. The brunette was excited to meet the girl who made Yang's heart flutter. The person who made her lose her cool.

The bookworm named Blake.

In preparation for the visit, Yang wore a yellow tank top with a black skirt. It was her favorite color combination. Meanwhile Ruby took a more casual approach since she had no one to impress and wore her favorite red hoodie and black jeggings.

"Just remember she's still a person," Ruby advised. "No big deal."

"But it is a big deal!" Yang exclaimed. "She's not a person! She's... she's a goddess!"

"You're exaggerating," Ruby deadpanned and looked at her watch for the time. "Oh, she should be here any minute!"

Yang bit her lip in anticipation as she waited for the doorbell to ring.

Ruby put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll be there in case you need saving. Don't worry."

That seemed to have cheered the blonde up since her stiff body slackened.

*Ding dong*

The blonde gasped. She didn't think it'd be so soon!

"I'll get it," Ruby offered and walked over to the door. "Come here!"

Yang stood next to Ruby. As soon as Ruby sensed her sister was ready, she twisted the knob and opened the door.

Blake was standing there wearing a long-sleeved black romper. A skinny gold belt was tied tightly around her waist, allowing it to show off her hips. The belt also brought out Blake's glimmering yellow eyes.

Yang's breath was taken away from her stunning beauty. She didn't think Blake would look even better without her track or school uniform, but she loved being proven wrong.

"Hey Blake!" Yang greeted, not wanting continue the silence. "Come in!" the two stepped away from the door.

Ruby was proud that her sister took the initiative and happily shut the door.

"You have a nice place," the ravenette commented as she stared at the modern based living room.

"Psh," Yang waved. "It's nothing special, but thanks!"

"Hi, Blake!" Ruby chimed. "I'm-"

"Ruby Rose," Blake acknowledged. "I'm aware."

Ruby tilted her head in confusion. "How?"

"Not very many people get put ahead two grades," Blake answered as if the answer was obvious.

"Oh," the brunette chirped. "Am I really that famous?" she asked jokingly.

"You would be surprised," Blake replied knowingly.

"Wait, how'd you know my name?" Yang asked. "You know, from when we talked earlier."

Blake slowly walked by the blonde. "Let's just say it's my job."

"Oh yeah, you're the class rep!" Ruby had the epiphany. "It really is your job!"

Yang heartily laughed. "Way to make it sound like you were a spy."

"You never know," the ravenette said evenly.

Ruby and Yang glanced at each other, judging by Blake's tone, she seemed serious about the comment. It was hard to tell if the guest was joking or not.

The three walked into the kitchen and sat on the bar stools with their hands on the light brown granite countertop.

"Were you…" Yang asked herself if she should ask this question or not, but decided to. "In my class last year?"

Yang gulped, maybe she shouldn't have asked the question. She feared that she might offend Blake if she actually was in her class last year. Then again, it would be hard to miss such a graceful presence.

"No, but I went to the school," Blake replied. "After class I'd always go to the library, so I'm not surprised you've never heard of me."

The blonde let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. It's a good thing that Blake is an understanding person.

Ruby snorted. "I think that's so weird. I mean, you are definitely not the worst looking gal around. I'm just wondering why I've never seen you with any guys."

Blake blushed at the compliment. "Actually, a lot of them asked me out last year."

Ruby and Yang leaned in with surprise. "Really?"

Yang was discouraged by this, but wasn't surprised other people also acknowledged her captivating looks.

"Yep," Blake nodded. "But rejecting all of them got tiring."

The blonde perked up from the statement. "Why'd you reject all of them?"

Blake simply shrugged. "I didn't have feelings for any of them. It was that simple."

"Ohhhh," Ruby added. "Ya, I get that. You don't want to date a person you don't like!"

"I'm glad someone understands," Blake said. "They probably thought I was heartless."

Yang knew the girl beside her was far from heartless… because she was going to capture that heart and let it melt.


The next day during the first passing period, Weiss was at her locker gathering books for her next class.

She typically didn't talk to anyone in the hallways. The only exception was during class, even though that was the worst possible time to talk to someone.

But it seemed that Yang and Arc made her life a lot more difficult in the worst ways.

First that blonde brute gets me in trouble for passing notes. Then that scrawny Arc volunteers and constantly asked me questions… It's official. Those blondes will be the death of me.

Weiss was too trapped in her thoughts to realize the hallway was mostly empty now.

Just as she turned around to head to class, a voice sent shivers down her spine.

"Hey," the guy greeted.

Weiss' eyes widened when she turned around to get a view of the person.

What does orange-haired boy want?

"Can I help you?" Weiss asked while gripping her books.

"Actually, you can!" the boy replied and smoothly leaned on the locker next to Weiss. "You, me, and a date over the weekend."

Weiss certainly didn't like how the guy introduced himself. He didn't even phrase it like a question and more like a command.

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

"Cardin Winchester," he crossed his arms and smirked. "Come on, it'll be fun."

Cardin… sounds like a stupid bird. What soul names a kid that? It's like setting them up for failure! And his last name… that's a type of gun, isn't it? A bird and a gun… great combination. I swear, there's idiots everywhere.

Weiss inwardly cringed. First this guy failed to introduce himself properly, and then he has the AUDACITY to ask her out so nonchalantly like he owned her!?

The answer was quite simple.

"No."

Cardin looked surprised. "What?"

"I said 'no' to your offer," the white-haired girl repeated.

The bell rang, signalling the students should already be in class.

It's like the world is after me lately, but that was good timing.

Cardin grit his teeth in frustration from the blow. He wasn't used to rejection, especially when it came to females.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be going," Weiss sped to class, cursing herself for being late.

Winchester was left standing there in the hallway with crushed hopes, but newfound determination.

Little did both of them know, Jaune saw the whole thing from the opposite end of the hallway. He sulked away, thinking Weiss and Cardin were an item.


Ruby, Blake, Yang, and Jaune met up after their last class of the day in the hallways.

"Any progress with the princess, lady killer?" Yang asked.

Jaune frowned when he remembered what he saw earlier. "I thought I was making progress, but then…"

"Then what, Jaune?" Ruby asked with curiosity evident. "What happened?"

He heavily sighed at the memory. "Do you guys know anything about Cardin Winchester?"

Blake narrowed her eyes from the name. "You mean other than the fact that he's a jerk?"

Yang shook her head. "Yeah, I heard he's a bully."

Blake swallowed hard when she remembered what he did last year. "He used to bully my friend Velvet."

"Velvet?!" Ruby gasped in astonishment. "But she's so sweet!"

"I know," the ravenette seethed. "It's sickening that it happened."

Jaune at least wanted her new 'boyfriend' to be a nice one…

He sighed. "Have you guys seen Cardin with Weiss recently?"

Blake held her chin in thought. "No, actually. Not at all. I usually see her alone, even more isolated than I was last year."

Jaune held on to a little hope and took that statement to heart. Since he was persistent, he would only stop pursuing the transfer if she herself said that she was dating Cardin.

"Weiss doesn't seem like a social person," Ruby added.

"Haha," Yang chirped. "Too bad she'll be our friend in no time," the sisters high-fived each other.

Blake narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "What did you two plan?"

"Oh, Blakey… Blakey, Blakey…" Yang shook her head at her friend's obliviousness. "Rubes and I have made a pact that we'd be friends with the princess."

"Is there a time limit?" Blake asked.

"No," Ruby said, "but it will be soon. Count on it."

"I can speed that along," Blake offered. "It'll be easy."

"How?" Jaune asked. "It can't be that easy. I would have known a way by now."

"Just leave it to me," the ravenette replied.

"Heck, I have no complaints," Ruby said. "I'm excited to see what you do!"

"Blakey's plans are fool-proof," the blonde slung her arm around the ravenette's shoulders.

Blake happily allowed the contact with a smile, and seeing that smile caused Yang's heart to flutter.

"I wish it was that simple," Jaune sighed.

"You said you made progress though, right?" Ruby asked the boy.

"Yeah!" Jaune smiled. "I have. Although I haven't learned much, she's at least talked to me and given me sass."

Yang giggled. "Only you would be happy to get sass from someone."

Jaune pointed at Yang. "Only because she's gorgeous… and perfect, and sounds amazing, and smells nice..."

"Did you just say she smells nice?" Blake asked confusedly. "When'd you smell her?!"

Ruby grimaced. "That's a bit creepy, even for you."

"Wait, woah, woah!" Jaune waved his hands desperately. "She tripped and I caught her! That's it!"

"Sureeee," Yang rolled her eyes. "Are you sure you didn't trip her on purpose so you could get all touchy feely?"

"What?! No! What kind of a person do you think I am?!"

"You're right, Jaune," Ruby chirped. "That is progress," she wiggled her eyebrows.

"Sometimes I think you guys are more perverted than me," Jaune sighed.

Blake joined the teasing. "You sound so defensive it's suspicious."

"Aw come on! Blake, not you too!" Jaune whined. "It's three against one!"

RBY let out hearty giggles. Yang was glad Blake felt accepted and a part of their friend group. She was even teasing Jaune along with them!

She felt a hand on her shoulder and saw Blake's entrancing yellow orbs. "I need to ask you something."

The blonde perked up. "What is it?"

"Come to the student class representative meeting with me tomorrow," the ravenette stated. "I guarantee they aren't what you'd expect."

Yang was confused. "Aren't those for class rep's only?"

"You'll have to see," Blake smiled. "So what do you say?"

"Heck yes!"


After school that day, Weiss found solace in the library. Somehow, Cardin got ahold of her number and had been repeatedly asking her out over text. It was getting exhausting.

Her newest tactic was to ignore him instead of constantly shooting him down.

She was human, too! She had feelings like any other person, so she felt heartless when she rejected him several times already.

She sighed and flipped open one of her textbooks to study. Her father allowed her to stay after school just this once. She was glad he didn't know about her being stuck after class that one time, but she'd never mention it.

Her mind was distracted. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't focus on the book in front of her, so she ended up staring blankly at the pages.

Nothing's going right lately…

"Hey," a monotone voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Having trouble?"

Weiss looked up and was surprised. "Don't you have track, Belladonna?"

Weiss knew Blake was smart, she is the class rep after all. The white-haired girl knew that Blake was a bookworm, but was very confused as to why she had taken an interest in her.

"Our coach took a sick day," the ravenette replied and sat across from the girl. "You look troubled by something, what's up?"

Weiss knew her class rep was a decent person from what she gathered. She'd done a background check for the majority of her classmates and Blake had an impressive record. She's been a class rep for two years in a row, is on the student council, and is enrolled in mainly AP classes with a steady 4.0 GPA.

However, Weiss was surprised the class rep was concerned for her of all people. Figuring out why was like a rubix cube she couldn't solve.

"I'm distracted is all. It seems I can't get anything done."

It's much more than I can handle, Weiss thought.

"Everyone has those days," Blake replied and put her hands on the table. "But what exactly is bothering you?"

Everything.

However, two blondes popped in her head before she gave an actual answer.

"I suppose Arc and Yang are a part of it."

She wasn't keen on mentioning her troubles with Cardin or at home.

Blake tilted her head. "How so?"

"They're so… friendly." Weiss answered with a shudder. "It's unsettling and disturbing. Yang does nothing but distract me in class and Arc is constantly asking me questions."

Blake smiled. "I get that it must be annoying, tiring even. But you need to understand something. They do it with good intentions."

Weiss was shocked from the information. "What kind of intentions?"

"To be your friend," the ravenette replied as if it was obvious.

Weiss leaned back, still trying to process the words. "They want to be my friend?"

"Yes," Blake revealed, "I do too, and so does Ruby."

"But why?"

"Can you blame us for wanting to know more about the new transfer student?" Blake asked.

"That makes no sense," Weiss shook her head. "There's nothing about me to like."

Blake's mouth dropped from the statement. Weiss said that so casually that it caught her off guard. Even though the white-haired girl walked with a purpose, self-confidence was the issue. Weiss felt like she wasn't capable of making friends because of where she came from.

Blake wasn't keen on prying into her personal life, but she knew that people needed to at least be comfortable with themselves.

Blake experienced that problem last year. The last thing she wanted was for the transfer to go through the same thing, especially if it was by herself, all alone.

No one should have to go through that.

"What kind of a statement was that? You need to own you," Blake advised. "There's plenty to like! I know I had trouble making friends, but every day they help me discover something about myself that I didn't know before… and that's a really good thing."

Weiss carefully weighed the girl's words. "Thank you, Blake… I… I needed to hear that."

Blake smiled. "No problem, just promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"Don't be so hard on yourself," the ravenette said. "It gets exhausting."

Weiss smiled and sensed the ravenette spoke from experience.

"I'll try."


Cliché rom-com rules this chapter: stereotypical jerk for no reason other to be a jackass, and classic misunderstandings.

Thank you mak133 for posting this chapter.

Keep moving forward.