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Also, I there's a reference to a song I enjoy in this chapter. If you know the song I'll give you a million internet points!.
Slowly cracking my eyes open, the first thing that greeted me was a pounding headache and a dry throat. Worst of all, my sleep-addled mind could barely remember what had happened last night. It must have been bad if I was feeling this bad. Thankfully, I didn't have to work today so I could relax and ease my troubled mind. With a few minutes of mental preparation, I lethargically rolled out of bed and made my way to the bathroom. Brushing my teeth and flossing, I was about to get in the shower when I heard it. A light and jaunty song was being sung from the kitchen. Singing? Who sung anymore? More importantly, who was in my house? Putting my clothes back on, I went to the top of the stairs to determine this intruder. Was that the smell of... toast? And eggs?
Suddenly, last night's events came rushing back to me. Sun, the Sound-Set, calling Ruby, and the wonderful scent of strawberries. Did I seriously call Ruby and did she seriously run over here just to check on me? Great. With what I said, she'd probably hate me and go back to whatever she did before and I couldn't report her and there was no way anything would ever change. Same Weiss with no Ruby. Stagnate as ever. I didn't mind the static nature of my life before her. But now that I've seen what it's like to bask in her light. Her life. How could I go back? Maybe... maybe I shouldn't report her. How could I? She has not done anything wrong. Not only that, but she's helped me so much. I couldn't, in good conscience, just kill her. Why was everything so complicated with her?
As I slowly crept down the stairs, I heard a muffled buzzing noise coming from the kitchen. Turning the corner, I found Ruby with her back facing me She was humming a tune to herself while swaying her hips back and forth. I found myself draw to those pendulum-like hips as they swayed back and forth. They were just so...hypnotizing. The fact that she was only wearing tight pants didn't help either
Shaking my head, I focused on reality and Ruby's decidedly NOT enchanting hip movements. I was about to go greet Ruby when she answered the phone call. I suppose listening wouldn't hurt anyone, After all, it was just one phone call. Who knows? This could all be a ploy to gain my trust then shatter it on the ground. I must act accordingly until I gained more knowledge of her intentions.
"Hey, Yang." She said into the phone.
Yang? That was her older sister, wasn't it?
"Yeah, I'm at her house. OF COURSE, I DIDN'T. Don't say stuff like that. She had a panic attack. I had to help. That's right you better apologize."
Lightly rubbing my temples, I contemplated just going around the corner. This was just eavesdropping and I wasn't going to learn anything valuable from a conversation between two sisters. My foot was just beyond the edge of the entrance into the kitchen when I heard something that made me stop
"Yeah yeah I know. Within the week. Relax Yang. I'll be fine. The old man can go screw himself. I. Don't Care. I'm not leaving without saving as many as I can. Even if it's only Weiss, I have to save at least her. She's... special. Yeah yeah, laugh it up. We both know I've been doing this for a long time and that I can handle myself. Weiss is different. For the last time, I'll be out before the week is done. I'm taking Weiss and whoever else I can too. Anyways, she's gonna get up soon. I gotta go. See ya, Yang."
Within the week? What nonsense was she talking about? I should probably just not mention it. After all, it wasn't my place to hear it in the first place. Taking a breath, I cleared my throat. Hopefully, she heard that.
Crash!
Perhaps she heard a bit too well. Taking a peek around the corner to assess the damage, I saw total chaos. Bowls, ladles, spoons, and all manner of breakfast items were strewn about the floor. Eggs, waffles, toast, juice, etc. Standing in the middle of it all was a sheepish looking Ruby. A tray of toast and eggs and bacon was placed upon the table. Her hair was caked in flour and other random food items. Shocked, I just stood there. Please, let this all be a bad dream and I don't have to clean up a huge mess on my first day off work in two weeks.
"Hey, Weissssss. Funny seeing you here"
Nope. Definitely not a dream. She could only be this adorable and this infuriating in the land of the living.
"Hello, Ruby. I'm glad to see you're as coordinated and graceful as I remember you being. Now, would you mind explaining to me why you were cooking?"
"Wellllll you see I was tryna make you a super duper awesome breakfast cause I figured the best way to make you feel better was breakfast in bed with a side of care and kindness. Buuuut I forgot how clumsy and how much o-
"Ruby. It's fin-"
"And I'm just really really really sorry I tried to make a good meal fro you and now I messed everything up like gosh I'm so sor-
"Ruby!"
"Please please please don't hate me. That would suck so so so muc-"
Realizing that this was going nowhere, I quickly walked over to her and pushed my finger to her lips. This was followed by a light blush overtaking her face. Gods, she was adorable. It was criminal.
"Ruby. It really is fine. We can clean this mess together. It will give me something to do on my day off instead of being unproductive."
"R-right. Of course. Yes, let us proceed to clean this juncture whilst maintaining our.. uhh...facades. Yes. Our lovely facades."
Not really knowing how to process that word vomit, like most things Ruby did, I simply smiled and said "Yes. Let's."
And so we cleaned. The floors, the tables, and everything in between. While I was dreading the time it would take to clean up such a massive mess, Ruby made it somewhat enjoyable. Her constant jokes and over-the-top gestures transformed a mundane chore into an enjoyable afternoon.
"Aaaaaaaand done. That wasn't so bad was it, Weiss?"
"No, I suppose not, your company did make it more enjoyable."
"Ahhh Weiss you're too nice. Really, I should be thankin you for being such an amazing and pretty and awesome friend!"
There was that word again. Friend. I rather liked it. Especially from her. Still, I did feel slightly sad. But why? Was there something more I wanted? I wasn't sure. These feeling were all new to me.
"I am not the amazing one here Ruby, you are."
"Oh stop it you." She replied as she began giggling and lightly blushing.
Ha! Now, who was the one blushing!
"But, I think it's time that you did what I originally planned for you to do. Eat!" She proclaimed as she picked up the tray of food from the counter and put it on the table.
"This was for me? Ruby, you really are too sweet. Thank you."
"Oh, it's nothing. Now, you need to eat up and help your mind after last night."
I winced slightly at the mention of last night's events. I hoped she didn't judge me too much. How embarrassing to be seen like that.
"Oh, and if you're worried about me thinking less for you, don't worry. Everyone has bad days and everyone needs help sometimes. I'm just glad you weren't hurt. I'd miss you somethin fierce Weiss."
Damn it. Now I was blushing and I was smiling. She knew exactly how to push my buttons, that dolt.
"Y-yes, well, Let's eat." I replied
Thus, the plate of food was laid out before me. Scrambled eggs, toast, bacon and orange loud rumble from my stomach and my unconscious licking of my lips made me realize I was starving. Without much fanfare, I began to inhale the meal. The bacon as my first victim followed by the eggs with small breaks to chug orange juice. It was heaven served to me on a porcelain platter. When and where did she learn to cook this well? Soon enough, the toast was all that remained. Unconsciously licking my lips, I prepared for the final crescendo to this symphonic meal. But, when I took a bite, my tongue was greeted by a most unsavory taste. Over-cooked toast. Swallowing the lump of black carbon, I glanced up to see Ruby looking at me with an expectant look on her face. I'd hate to break her heart. She invested a lot of time and effort into this meal and I would hate to waste it. Sending a small smile her way, I decidedly ate the rest of the toast. Gulping down the last bite, I finished it off with the last of the orange juice.
"Soooooo, what'd you think?" She asked me
"The eggs, bacon, and juice were all excellent. I can really see that you put a lot of dedication, into your work. They were all top notch."
"Yes, score! I'm super duper happy that you enjoyed those. But what about the toast?"
What should I say? Should I be honest? To anyone else, I'd just grin and say that it was delicious. But could I do that to her? She has been nothing but honest to me. It would only be proper to return the favor. But was being honest worth hurting her feelings? I had to. If nothing else, to show her that I'm listening. After all, it's only toast. She couldn't get too upset.
"The toast was...slightly overdone for my tastes. I'm sure other enjoy it but it wasn't for me. Put simply, it could have been better."
Rather than getting mad or apologizing, she simply smiled softly and began cleaning the table.
"Thank you, Weiss. For being honest. It's a rare commodity these days. I'm glad you liked everything else though."
That was most assuredly not what I was expecting. Then again, she was the most unexpected person on Earth. As I got up to help with the final cleaning, a thought, or rather several thoughts, struck me.
"Wait, Ruby, if I slept in my bed, where did you sleep. What did you eat? I didn't see you eating any breakfast?"
"Oh, don't worry about me. I just slept on the chair in the Sound-Set room. And I ate earlier. Don't worry. I'm good" She said with a small smile.
There it was again. That... feeling. That wan-, no, need to see her smile and be close to her. In that moment, all I wanted was to walk up to her and... I wasn't sure what to do after that. But I definitely wanted to do something. She was just so selfless. How could anyone be that selfless?
"You didn't need to do that. I'm fine home alone. Really." Honestly, I wouldn't mind her staying over. But not now. Not when I was so vulnerable and unprepared.
"No", she said as frown overtook her face, "you're not. You had a panic attack. There was no way I was leaving you home alone. Come on Weiss, be honest. You were honest about the toast so why not this?"
Huh. I had never seen her frown before. She must be serious.
"Well, you can't just compare a piece of overdone toast to a panic attack! And besides, you shouldn't have to see me in such a state. It isn't pro-"
"Oh come on Weiss. Please, just be real. I know you can do it. I don't care about your looks or what 'state' you may be in. I just want to be with you, Weiss. That's all I care about."
"What does that even mean? First, you go on about this happiness nonsense. Then you want me to be real? What does any of this mean? What do you want?"
"That's exactly what I want Weiss. I want you to question things. I want you to wonder. I want you to want. I want you to get rid of this fake love for life. You think you love life so much that life never has to love you back. That's the way things are. But they don't have to be. You can express yourself. You can show the world exactly how much you care."
A deafening crack of thunder and lightning signaled the pelting of rain upon my window. However, the Thunder had no weight compared to Ruby's eyes. They turned from silver into steel. Hard and unyielding they demanded a response.
"I..I don't know. This is all so confusing. I can't think straight. And who's to say I wasn't happy. Nothing new ever happened before you. Now I am panicking, I can't use my Sound-Set without succumbing to madness and migraines. I can't define happiness but it sure isn't pain."
"No. You're wrong Weiss. These things don't mean you're unhappy. It means you're not happy. It means you've been steeped in misery, boredom, and normalcy so long you don't have any comparison. You've accepted this as the normal and when I challenged your worldview you didn't know what to do. SO you panic. Life isn't about being normal all the time. You are happy and sad. You are angry and mad. You are living. You can be content forever, but being happy forever means getting rid of everything that shapes and defines us. You can't tell me you've felt more emotions than these past few days. Don't tell me you haven't questioned and reasoned and thought and shouted and screamed and felt explainable things that you have no name for. Don't lie to me. Please."
Suddenly, I realized we were both standing. When did we get so close to each other? Why were her eyes so damn enticing and her strawberry-scented shampoo so inviting? Why did I feel things with her and nobody else? I had to sit. This was too exhausting. Lumbering over to the nearest table chair. I fell into it and put my head in my hands.
"I...you're right. I have these feelings I can't explain. I have questioned and thought more. I just don't know if this is right. I have you screaming at me one ideology and the rest of the world yelling at me to do the exact opposite How do I know what is right and what's wrong? My whole life I've lived one way. It was comfortable, cushy, and easy. Now, you come waltzing into my life and you merrily dance up on the graves of everything I knew. It's so sudden and quick and surreal. I feel as if my life isn't my own. Up is down and right is sideways and left is God knows where. I'm just so unsure." I mumbled into my hands.
A quick, fleeting emotion passed over her face before she smiled. That easy smile that made my heart race and my cheeks warm. She could disarm me with that smile and she didn't even know it.
"That's called life Weiss. It's unbound. A ride that we steer through our lives. It leads into darkness sometimes but the light always emerges. Some people live so wrong. But living in fear and endless shame for countless years. I've never been afraid. I've never viewed my life as something slipping away."
Suddenly, she stretched her hand out to me.
"Weiss, if you take my and hand follow me. I swear you'll feel every day. You'll experience life as it's meant to be experienced. You will be hurt. You will feel pain. You will want to give up. Of course, that's life. I can't protect you from everything. But, I can guarantee that you'll feel and that I'll be honest with you. That's more than most nowadays."
I thought about it for a moment. Who else. Would do this for me? Who else would be so brutally honest while being so damn adorable? Nobody. That's who. I barely spoke to my co-workers and most of them were numbskulls as it was. And anyone from my family had left me to find my way in the world at 16 as was the tradition. Who else did I have to trust except Ruby? She had proven herself to be a trustworthy person. More importantly, she was my friend. At least, I think she was. I wasn't sure if this qualified as friendship. I'll see in time I suppose.
Standing up once again, I placed my hand on hers.
"I, Weiss Schnee, being of relatively sound body and mind, do solemnly swear to place my life, trust, and future into your hands. I hereby propose that we-"
Laughter interrupted my speech. Not a light laugh. A full-blown, belly-bursting, gut-wrenching laugh. Ruby doubled over and began to laugh vicariously and without any sign of stopping. That absolute dolt. How dare she.
"Weissss. Weissss. Stoppp. I get it. If you keep doing that I'll have a hernia. But, thank you. I really needed that."
Turning away from her, I crossed my arms over my chest and adopted a sour expression.
"You absolute dolt. That was a heartfelt declaration of our bond. You can't just interrupt my spee-"
Without warning, a pair of strong and warm arms wrapped around my midsection and that melodic voice that I have come to enjoy began talking in my ear. God, why was it so warm and so hot. When did she have arms with muscle? I hope that she doesn't notice how weak my knees are. That dunce loves interrupting me today, apparently.
"Weiss, it's fine. I get it. It's just you don't need all those big fancy words. 'Yes' works too. Also, I hope you don't mind the hug. I've always been a physical touchy-feely person.
Freeing myself from her impromptu hug before my legs turned to jelly, I faced her and ignore the desire to leap back into those well-toned arms.
"I suppose, but weren't you the one who wanted me to express my emotions? How am I supposed to do that without words? And I don't mind the hug. Just give me a warning next time."
"Alright, alright. You win. Next time you can use your big fancy words and junk. And no promises on that warning." She said with a cheeky smile.
Suddenly, she straightened out her shirt and puffed out her chest. Which, admittedly, made her slightly larger-than-mine assets stand out. Staring for half-a-second longer than acceptable, I hastily looked away with a faint blush on my cheeks. She was gorgeous. In a friendly way.
"Alright, as your official guide to living. I have but one request for now. Say it."
I blinked once, twice, three times before I realized she wasn't going to continue. Say what?
"Excuse me, but say what?"
"Say you're unhappy. I want to hear the words."
"I'm unhappy."
"Louder."
"I'm unhappy!'
Louder! And no contractions!"
"I am unhappy!"
"LOUDER!"
"I. AM. UNHAPPY!"
It was so liberating! Nothing felt this good since...ever. Releasing my thoughts to the world instead of keeping them in. Nothing felt so good.
"SAY IT AG-"
"I AM UNHAPPY I AM UNHAPPY I AM UNHAPPY!"
As I spoke, the urge to just do something besides stand and yell at each other became too great. I had to move, damn it. I had to feel my blood pumping for once. And so, I began my run around the house.
"I AM UNHAPPY I AM UNHAPPY I AM UNHAPPY I AM UNHAPPY!"
Soon the door was in my way. Not for much longer.
"I AM UNHAPPY I AM UNHAPPY!" I screamed into the night sky
The rain was pouring, the sky was being ripped asunder y thunder and lightning and my clothes were beyond ruined. But that was alright. I was unhappy and it was the happiest I've felt in a long time.
For the second time that night, two strong arms wrapped themselves around my body and began to spin me around into a tight hug.
"I am so proud of you Weiss." she whispered into my ear, "Seriously, you've come so far. You are incredible. But, we do need to get inside. I'd rather not catch a cold. Plus we don't want people to stare."
Quickly making our way inside, we dried off with towels from the bathroom and sat at the kitchen table. To break the silence, I began talking.
"So, what now?"
Now, we get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be very exhausting. I have some things I need to talk about with you tomorrow. Things that may break out relationship. But, I have to be honest with you. It can't be any other way."
Picking my jaw off the floor, I shot her a look of disbelief. She just said it so casually. I just met her 3 days ago and I she was an integral aspect of my life already. How could she just leave?
"How could you. What was the point of all of this of you were just going to leave?" I whispered.
"Because, Weiss, I needed you to at least realize what you really felt. If nothing else You may hate me, but at least you never have to live a lie again." She explained
Was she willing to do that? Was she willing to ruin our relationship in order to save me? Did she value our friendship so little or id she value my safety more?
"So what is it. Do you hate our relationship and want to leave me or do you want me safe more than anything?"
"No no no no no Weiss. I truly enjoy what we have. It's so special to me. Truly. But your safety is far more important than my own happiness."
"I'm satisfied for now. But, you will explain everything in the morning." I said as I turned to go to bed.
"Thank you, Weiss. For trusting me. For believing in me."
"It is the least I could do. Now, are you coming?"
"Coming?"
"Yes, to bed. If you think I'm letting you sleep on that ratty chair you are mistaken. You are sleeping in my bed whether you like it or not."
I had no idea what I was doing inviting her to bed. It was lunacy. Yet, it felt so right. Even if she ended up betraying me or she revealed some information tomorrow which damaged our relationship beyond repair, I wanted to test this and see if I enjoyed it a much as I thought I would. However, the burning in my cheeks didn't help anything. I saw her shake her head in a playful manner and mutter something under her breath. To avoid embarrassment, I quickly trudged up to bed and laid down. Shortly thereafter, I felt Ruby carefully climb into the other side of the bed weigh the mattress down.
"Thanks, Weiss."
"No problem, Ruby."
Soon, my eyes closed and I drifted into sleep.
Hope you enjoyed. Once again, please comment, leave kudos, and subscribe. They mean the world to me.
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