Chapter II: Acquaintances

When I woke up the next morning, I only took out the things I needed, like my clothes and bathroom hygiene supplies, just like Ms. Goodwitch suggested. After I showered, I donned my white trench coat and put on my favorite pair of black jeans. I have no idea why they're my favorite, it's just some subconscious attachment, I guess. I stretched my white fingerless gloves up to my wrists, strapped a digital watch to the base of my left hand and slipped my feet into black-and-white checkered sneakers. I guess you can tell by now that I really dig the whole monochrome color scheme. Finally, to complete my look, I grabbed my grey fedora with a sky blue band and placed it gently on my head. Record time, I thought. I looked at my watch to confirm. It was 8:05 AM. I decided that it was best to go now, in case I got lost in the school or something. Plus, I could probably grab something to eat on the way.

Well, as it turns out, I did get lost in Beacon. The school's pretty big, in my opinion. Let me just say one thing before I go on: Beacon's cafeteria (once I found it) had the best food of any school in the world. Even a simple breakfast sandwich tasted like heaven. Better than any coffee shop could make, that's for sure. Soon after I sat at a table with my own sandwich and a cookie I mindlessly took, a student dressed in red sat herself down right beside me as I was reading a book and chewing on the rest of my sandwich. Her outfit vaguely reminded me of some very-possible fairy tale I heard way back in my past.

"Do you need something?" I asked as I cleared my throat.

"Are you going to eat that?" she questioned, pointing at the cookie I neglected to eat.

"I don't think so. You can have it if you want."

The girl snatched the cookie mid-sentence and took a giant bite out of it.

"Mmphl," she mumbled through a mouthful of chocolate chip cookie. I think she was saying "Thanks," but I wasn't too sure.

"You know, I don't think I've seen you before," she said.

"We're in a school this big and you pick out my face?" I asked, putting down my book with a curious grin. "Do you know absolutely everyone who attends Beacon?"

"Of course not!" she exclaimed. "You'd have to be insane to spend the time getting to know every single one of Beacon's students. It's just...after a while, you start seeing faces over and over, and you get a sense of who's here to stay."

"I suppose," I agreed. "Anyways, I'm Adrian. Adrian Frostgale."

"Ruby Rose," she said proudly, as if it were a medal of some sort.

"Nice to meet you." I subtly looked at my watch and took note of the time. 8:46 AM. I'd better get going, I thought. "I'd love to stay and chat some more, but I have to be somewhere. See you later, Ruby!" I called back, already on my feet and headed out the door.

"Adrian, wait!" she hollered. "You forgot your book!" But it was already too late. I didn't hear her shouting after me. "Guess I'll hold onto it for him…" Ruby said to herself.

"Ruby, I thought I told you not to go up to strangers and ask them for cookies," a voice behind her scolded.

Ruby turned around and was immediately greeted by her blonde teammate. Beside her was another girl clothed in a white dress.

"Sorry sis, won't happen again," Ruby reassured.

"Who was that, anyway?"

"That was the new student. Adrian Frostgale." Ruby said, glancing at the exit I walked through. "By the way, where's Blake?"

"She's at the cliffs," the girl in white stated. "I have to take notes for her while she's gone. She owes me one…"

When I arrived at the cliffs for Initiation, it was 8:55, right on schedule. I saw Ozpin and a girl, with her most prominent feature being the black bow on her head.

"Ah, Adrian. We may now begin." Ozpin announced. "This is Blake Belladonna, and she will be your temporary partner for Initiation as there is an odd number of students attending Beacon due to your arrival."

I took the moment to extend a handshake to Blake, which she quietly returned.

"Should you pass Initiation," Ozpin continued, "you will be assigned a team. Now, on to the task at hand. I want you two to locate an abandoned temple and return to the cliffs with a relic I have placed there. You will face the monsters of Grimm as you move forward. Strike them down or they will kill you. Do either of you have any questions?"

And of course by "either of you" he meant me.

"Yes, actually," I admitted. "I already passed an entrance exam at my previous school. Why am I undergoing Initiation?"

"I have to make sure you're up to Beacon's standards," Ozpin stated. "Beacon is a very prestigious academy, and I, personally and professionally, have to confirm with my own eyes whether or not you are fit to attend classes here. Now, any more questions?"

I shook my head in denial as Blake did the same.

"Good. You may launch yourselves when you are ready."

I gave Blake a thumbs up before I was hurled into the air.

Any criticism or reviews you have to offer would be extremely helpful in my writing.