When she wakes up the next morning, Blake is already gone.
If she had to be at the hospital for her shift at 6 o'clock, then she would've left the apartment an hour to forty five minutes before that. Well before Weiss would've gotten up.
Blake was always careful to let Weiss sleep while she got ready for work. It didn't hurt that Weiss slept harder than most dead people.
Their conversation from the night before still weighed heavily on her mind. Heavily was an understatement. It felt like the weight of the entire world was bearing down on her chest, specifically on her heart.
She felt lost in her thoughts. Weiss needed help, advice. But her go to person for that advice wasn't answering her calls.
Winter must be out in the field on assignment. It was the only reason she wouldn't promptly return Weiss' calls or texts.
She had also text Coco to see if they could meet up for lunch, but the message only showed as delivered.
Weiss was running out of options, and getting desperate. She did have one left, and her thumb hovered over the contact in her phone.
Tapping the screen, the contact opens and she debates whether a call or text would be less painful.
The honest truth was that while their friendship had vastly improved over the years, she would rather cut off her own foot with a rusty butter knife than ask Yang for relationship advice. But her options had because highly limited.
Just as she was about to press the message option, a banner pops up at the top of her screen, a response from Coco with a restaurant suggestion and a time.
Bullet dodged. She sends a confirmation for her attendance and sighs in relief.
—
Their lunch begins with the usual pleasantries they were both brought up to honor.
Weiss asked about Velvet and how the tow of them were doing. Velvet had moved to Vale after graduation, to be with Coco, who had much like Weiss, delved into the family business.
"It was an adjustment for us. But we are doing well. She's turned part of our house into a makeshift studio while she looks for one." Coco take a glance over at Weiss, who appears more distracted than interested.
"I'm sure. Her photos are amazing."
"I told her she would be first in line for your wedding photos." Weiss' lack of response confirms her suspicion that she's lost in her thoughts. "So, when will that be?"
"When will what be? I'm sorry, my mind was drifting."
"I could tell. I said, when are you and Blake getting married? You been together for a small eternity."
"We have really discussed it, not seriously anyways."
"Not once?" Coco shifts in her seat, now wondering if she regrets bringing it up at all.
"We've discussed it but it was more of a distant future scenario."
"The two of you have been in the distant future for a year or so by now, I would think."
"Don't be ridiculous." Weiss rolls her eyes and tries to preoccupy herself with the menu she's been holding out in front of her.
"Do you not want to spend the rest of your life with her? Or am I missing something?"
"Of course I do. And I would marry her right this instant, right at this table, right here in this restaurant if she asked me to."
"But?" When she looks back up at Coco, she is greeted with an unemotional and expectant look.
"But it's actually the reason I wanted to have lunch with you today." Coco audibly sighs from across the table. "I don't know what I'm doing wrong. But I am doing it wrong. And I need help, I need advice. Something. Because however I'm doing it isn't working. I need perspective."
Weiss gives Coco a brief retelling and overview of what happened during their trip to Atlas, and the discussion that she had with Blake the previous evening.
"So why do you do that?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why do you hide things from her?
"I'm not hiding anything. I'm just-"
"Intentionally not telling her things that you would want to know if you were in her position?"
"Well when you put it that way, it makes me seem awful." Weiss pulls her shoulder back slightly, not really caring for Coco's insinuation, but not denying its truth.
"I'm not saying you are awful. But you are needlessly guarded. Especially with Blake. I mean, I would trust her with my life."
"That's not saying a lot, she's a doctor. But I get what you mean. I just, what if I tell her something and she loses faith or trust in me? What if I say something and then she realizes that I may not be the persons she thinks I am?"
"Are you hiding anything crazy like that from her?"
"No, of course not."
"Then why are you so worried about the absolute worst case scenario, when all you have is the best case in front of you?"
Her thoughts funnel quickly through memories and involuntary instances of her childhood and those relationships being imposed over the ones she has now. Of course, that isn't what she is about to tell Coco.
"Because I'm foolish." Weiss sighs and looks at her watch. It's nearly time for Blake's shift to be over at the hospital. "Hey Coco, I have somewhere I have to be."
"I guess lunch is on me today."
"I will send you some money." Weiss says as she scrambles to grab her things and leave the table.
"No worries, you can pay next time. I got it."
"Thanks. I'll text you later. Thanks for having lunch and the advice."
Coco says something else but Weiss has already made her way through the front door and out into the fresh air, walking as quickly as she can, with purpose.
What she doesn't see is the guy riding his bicycle down the cross street, because she crashes into him on the sidewalk.