"Ew, seriously? First period with Professor Port?" Yang groaned, eying her schedule on the way to her first class period. She should've looked at her schedule weeks before school, but here she was. Looking at it fifteen minutes before class time.
Her amber-eyed friend, Blake Belladonna, glared at her. "Yang, you know, I feel like you do this every year. But senior year? Come on." She shook her head, now returning to the contents of the book she held in her hands.
Letting out another groan, Yang continued, completely ignoring her friend. "Oobleck for third?! Seriously, what is this scheduling? Are they trying to kill me?"
Without looking up from her book, Blake asked, "Weren't you the one that signed up for all AP classes?"
A small cackle came from Yang. "Yeeeaaa…" she trailed off, starting toward her first classroom. "You think I'll get class with Pyrrha?"
"How will you not get class with Pyrrha? She's valedictorian material. While you're…" Blake paused, eying her book intently. She was clearly at a good part.
"Salutatorian!" Yang proudly stated. While Salutatorian wasn't really 'first' place, it was still a very good standing in a school of over eight-hundred students. Yang fully knew that Pyrrha was and would always be the top-tier student, but it didn't make Yang think any less of herself. She just had to try harder. "It's a shame we're not in the same first period."
Blake looked up once more. "We have third together." She thought for a moment before shooting her friend a deadpan expression. "At least we can suffer together."
Both girls simultaneously shuttered and groaned. "Oobleck…"
Yang shook her head and shrugged, turning to Blake as she arrived to her first period. "Thanks for escorting me, Blakey." She winked.
Blake merely rolled her eyes. "I've got two dumb blondes to look after. Luckily, you're the smarter of the two, and the other one…" Blake closed her book loudly, catching the attention of several students nearby.
"Blaaaaake!" a rather loud boy shouted from behind them, tackled Blake and wrapping his arms around her shoulders. Yang grinned at the boy, who grinned back at her. Blake looked unimpressed, but Yang knew her better than that.
"The other is Sun." She looked up at the grinning mess of a boy. His bright blue eyes were squeezed tightly shut as he beamed at her. His scraggly blonde hair had grown out just a bit since Yang had seen him last. His lack of proper clothing for an academy was still ever-apparent. How he had not yet been expelled for it was beyond Yang and Blake.
He pulled away from Blake, now giving her a respectable distance. "Ehhh? What's this?" He gave the bookworm a light nudge. "Talking about me?"
She chuckled in response. "Oh, you know how it is, Sun. Girls talk and everything. Now why don't you do me the favor of escorting me to class?" She held out her arm, which he linked in his own. "We'll catch you later, Yang... or, well, I will. See you in third."
Sun waved goodbye to Yang with his free hand, and Yang waved back. She stood there, watching them leave with a fond smile. She admired the duo. While they weren't yet an official couple, or at least hadn't pronounced any sort of relationship status, it was clear as day that the two had a thing for each other. They were almost like soulmates, a pair that didn't need labels, or status quos, to know how the other felt.
Yang wanted a connection like theirs. One could say she was jealous, but in fact she was very happy for her friend, who always seemed to be happier in his company. There was nothing wrong with that. Hopefully enough, she would one day find someone she connected with the way Sun did with Blake.
Yang stepped inside her first period class and immediately recognized the Amazonian-looking woman known as Pyrrha Nikos. "Hello!" her sweet voice rang throughout the nearly empty classroom as she greeted Yang. Early birds usually sat in the front, and Pyrrha Nikos had already taken her throne in front.
"Hey, Pyr—" Yang was in the process of making her way into the classroom, but the girl's taller body had been blocking the way of someone she almost didn't recognize. Her hair in a tight ponytail and nicely dressed up in the school's uniform, light amounts of makeup covered her face. The only thing it didn't cover was the scar. "Weiss?"
Hearing her name, her head perked up, and she held the same hesitant gaze as the first time Yang had met her. Ever so slightly raising her hand beneath the desk, she gave the smallest of waves before glancing back down into her lap.
Yang immediately took the desk behind Weiss. Pyrrha now turned to both her and the white-haired mystery girl. "Pleasure to see you again, Yang! I see you're already a step ahead of me with the friend-making." Pyrrha smiled sweetly as she nodded to both Yang and Weiss. "Weiss, is it? Pleasure to meet you. I'm Pyrrha Nikos."
Weiss's eyes widened, and she gave a small wave toward Pyrrha. The girl had tried to talk to her earlier before Yang had entered the classroom, but to Weiss it was unwanted attention. Was everyone here really that open to talk to anyone, and to notice someone like Weiss? It wasn't like Pyrrha had been rude or mean in the slightest, it was just that Yang, and now Pyrrha, were openly associating themselves with her, with the new girl, the mute. There must have been no such thing as a status quo at this school.
Pyrrha smiled at Weiss, who had turned her body to be able to see Pyrrha and Yang a little better. Weiss, still looking rather uncomfortable, glanced up at Yang. Yang tapped on Weiss's shoulder to make sure she kept her attention.
With hand movements and silenced mouth movements, Yang began to sign. Albeit a little slowly, but it was all understandable. "Hey, Weiss, how are you feeling? You're not thinking about passing out in class, now are you?" She seemed to be joking, even in sign language.
Blinking erratically, Weiss sat there stunned. Did Yang just… sign to her? Weiss had trouble processing what just happened. While she clearly understood the signing and Weiss was in no way hard of hearing, the effort that Yang had taken just to sign to her was unexpected, and highly unusual for someone she had just met a few weeks prior. And what was most shocking of all was the fact that Yang actually seemed proficient in the language, as though she had been using it regularly on a daily basis since they had first met.
A small voice broke up the silence. "Yang?" Pyrrha lowly whispered. "What did you say to the poor girl?" Pyrrha and Yang stared at Weiss with similar confusion, who seemed to have a thousand-mile stare. Too far lost in a thought, that bringing her back might explode the universe… or something like that.
Yang shook her head. "I just asked her how she's feeling." Yang paused, a small smile creeping across her lips. "I also added an inside joke."
Pyrrha raised an eyebrow, tilting her head. "I didn't know you knew how to sign. I also didn't realize Weiss was deaf." Pyrrha began to mouth 'sorry' to Weiss.
Yang shook her head once more. "No, She's not deaf. She just doesn't talk. I also recently learned, and by recent I mean the whole last four weeks of vacation." Yang leaned back in her chair and shrugged.
Weiss had now shaken herself out of her daze. Luckily, she had been listening, and luckily, Pyrrha had been asking the questions she was too timid to ask herself. But Yang had learned to sign? What if they had never met again? Wouldn't it have been a waste?
Weiss turned to Yang now, slowly signing so the blonde could keep up. "Why would you learn to sign?"
It was Yang's turn to be momentarily shocked. Weiss had signed more than just one word to her. Yang smirked as she was able to understand Weiss. Pyrrha, on the other hand, looked upon the secret conversation before her in confusion.
Yang shrugged before she began to move her hands again. "To help speak for you. I know you already have this voice, but I want to make it louder!" she smiled enthusiastically, hoping her expression showed Weiss just how genuine her intents were. She just wanted to help. Or, at least, she wanted to be a friend. She lowered her hands, her mouth resting as she awaited Weiss's response.
Weiss lowered her own hands, a pensive look on her face. Make it louder? Signing couldn't be made to be 'louder' — unless movements were exaggerated — but of course this probably wasn't what Yang had meant. Whatever she meant, it was lost on Weiss. Though parts of her appreciated that Yang had made an effort. She was clearly still a novice, but if Yang was serious, then she would improve in no time.
Pyrrha glanced between the two, making a light 'oooh' sound. "Yang, you have me beat in the language department. If you worked that hard at studying just a little more I'm sure you can take my title," she jested with a polite smile. Her tone was still light and sweet, but she and Yang had an unannounced competition between them every year. It was never in malice, and Pyrrha only did it because Yang had always asked her to, and now seemed like the perfect time to bring it up.
Yang turned to her with a snarky grin. "You know me, Pyrrha, I can do it all."
The beginning of the class had gone like every other class at the start of the year. A syllabus and introductions. Yang and Pyrrha had no problem with the introductions, but Weiss… Weiss had originally sent a letter in to the school mentioning that she was mute so that all of her teachers would be prepared. But while her teachers accommodated her, it didn't mean the whole school would, too. Soon enough, they would all know about her condition, and that scared Weiss more than she was willing to admit.
While Pyrrha and Yang had made it a little easier, the glares from the rest of her classmates made her uneasy. Plus, having to 'introduce' herself to the class, and the fact that she'd have to do that for every class, was definitely the worst feeling and thought in her world.
The three of them walked out of first period together, Pyrrha immediately splitting off from the group as soon as she saw some scraggly-haired blonde. "See ya, Pyrrha." Yang waved her off, to which Pyrrha quickly turned to her with a quick smile and wave.
Yang now walked in sync with Weiss who seemed to know where she was going. "Sooo… Weiss, what's your schedule look like?"
Weiss pulled a scrap of paper from her pocket and handed it to Yang. Yang quickly scanned through it. "Huh, damn… Looks like this is the only class we have together." She rubbed her chin and handed the paper back to Weiss. "We do have lunch period together, though. You can meet my other friends." Yang grinned at her. "Do you know how to get to your class?" she asked as they walked into a different part of the hall.
Yang's words were of no relief to Weiss. She had already been nervous walking into first period, and the fact that Pyrrha had decidedly talked to her out of the blue hadn't helped, but now the rest of the day relied solely on Weiss in getting through the day. By herself, as she always had done. But no matter how used to it she got, it didn't make being alone any less difficult.
This wasn't what scared her. It was the fact that no one knew her and she couldn't say anything about it. People in her old school were free to assume, just as the they were able to now. But the fact that she had been with those people since elementary made it easier for those people not to bother her. They had simply chosen to ignore her instead.
Now she had been garnering too much attention. The new girl. Always an intrigue to a new populace. While Yang and Pyrrha were certainly positive yet surprising attention, she could only imagine what sort of negative attention she would end up getting in return. She just wanted to be left alone. By both parties. But it was a little too late now.
Weiss finally responded in a nod. She already knew the way, she had made sure to come early in the morning before everyone else — or at least what she thought would be earlier than everyone else. Pyrrha didn't seem to have a problem arriving to class bright and early herself. Either way, Weiss knew where everything was. She made sure she would make it on her own.
"Do you mind if I walk with you there?" Yang nonchalantly asked, shoving her hands into her back pockets as they walked together. It seemed as Yang had already invited herself either way as she knew her own class was on the opposite end of the school.
Weiss nodded. She knew she could've said no, but part of her always felt bad for saying it.
Yang grinned. "Cool! Well, it's nice having first period with you and Pyrrha. I think you'll like Pyrrha a lot. She's a part of my friends group. That guy she ran off with is Jaune, who you'll probably eventually meet, too! Pyrrha's also the valedictorian. I'm just the salutatorian, but I know I'll beat her one day!" Yang rambled on.
Weiss had felt a little used to this, it was Yang after all. But had her ears heard her correctly? Yang was the salutatorian? This goofy girl who had managed to learn about sign language in less than four weeks was one of the top ranking students in the school? It was hard to wrap her head around. It made sense, but at the same time it didn't. Weiss, as always, remained silent during their exchanges.
Passing through the hallway was an interesting experience. Yang was acknowledged by just about everyone. Weiss merely hid behind her, trying to blend in and trying to not be that person next to Yang. Just however popular Yang was, Weiss didn't like it. So instead of sticking by Yang's side, she seemed to bolt ahead and passed Yang with long strides.
Yang, immediately noticing Weiss move ahead, reached out, but just managed to miss. "Weiss!" she called out to her, only to be ignored as Weiss wiggled through the crowd, and into a classroom. Yang stood there in the middle of the hallway, students clamoring about around her. She frowned and let out a disheartened sigh. "Guess I'll see you at lunch…" She rubbed the nape of her neck before she turned around, and walked to her own class.
Weiss could feel herself begin to sweat, a small panic growing inside of her. Too much attention. Too many people. Too much. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Laying her head down on her desk before class started, she just wanted the day to be over already.
The rest of the day for Yang was a breeze. Seeing Blake, Pyrrha, Weiss, and even having Sun in one of her classes definitely made her senior year exciting.
Lunch was one different story. Weiss had gone MIA. Yang had spent half the lunch period searching for her, but to no avail. It wasn't like Yang had asked for her number, either. Blake and Sun had to get Yang to eat instead of worrying for the strange girl that they weren't sure existed. Although Pyrrha had vouched for Weiss's existence, Jaune, Blake, and Sun had remained jokingly skeptical.
Weiss had managed to sneak her way into an empty classroom. There were perks to being invisible, and without Yang by her side, it was extraordinarily easy to be ignored. Bringing lunch was also a perk.
Seventh period for Weiss, however, was going to be hell. The class was filled with primarily boys, one that she could already tell was trouble named Cardin. Another boy, although oddly different, but just as much of a nuisance, was Neptune.
Neptune had dawned her the nickname 'Snow Angel', to which Weiss could only shoot him distasteful glares. Cardin was a bit ruder, and he had immediately called her 'stupid' and a word that Weiss would only repeat as 'intellectually disabled'. Welcome to Hell's seventh circle.
As soon as the bell rang, Weiss bolted off from the classroom and out to the buses. She passed Yang without even acknowledging her.
In her peripherals, Yang turned a one-eighty and ran off from talking to Blake as she caught up to Weiss.
"Weiss, wait up!" Yang called out.
Weiss froze, standing in place. She didn't want to stop and she knew this. Yet, she was trained like this.
"Uhm, I didn't see you at lunch today. I hope everything went okay." Yang looked around her and then towards Weiss, now signing, 'I'm sorry if I said anything rude. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable.' Her signs were slow and a little awkward, but still understandable
Weiss looked down at her feet after reading what Yang had said. None of this was Yang's fault, but Weiss always wanted to leave. To be alone. Weiss still couldn't understand why Yang had been so interested in her. Kindness was a foreign notion to her.
Now looking up at Yang, who had been patiently waiting, she shook her head. 'It's okay. Just a rough first day.' Her eyes told the real truth, it was more than just rough. It was dreadful and exhausting.
Yang nodded in understanding, now grabbing her own backpack and taking out a pen. "Your hand. Can I see it?" she asked.
Weiss looked down at them, then at Yang hesitantly. Now slowly reaching out her left hand with her palm uplifted, Yang gently grabbed onto it.
The contact made Weiss flinch, her hand tensing and slightly closing. "Whoa, sorry. I know I should probably get some paper, but this way is quicker. If you don't mind I'm going to write my number on your hand. You can either wash your hand and forget about it… or you can text me if you'd like," Yang responded softly.
Weiss blinked and opened the palm of her hand. The contact the pen made with her hand was an odd sensation. She hadn't experienced this feeling before as it tickled her hand ever so lightly.
She looked at the numbers being written on her hand then back up at Yang. The sunlight hit her in an angle that made Weiss momentarily lost in the girl's facial movements. Weiss noticed her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth, a slight grin rising as she wrote. Weiss could feel Yang's thumb rubbing against the side of her hand. Yang's eyes scrunched just a bit as she wrote, her head slightly nodding. It was as if this whole moment was in slow motion.
Everything had suddenly become so intimate to Weiss that she had froze. It wasn't until Yang's own movements of her backing away that Weiss immediately pulled away as well. Weiss gazed at the number in the palm of her hand.
It was as if she held all the power of getting to know Yang in the palm of her hand.
"Old fashioned, I know. But I couldn't help it." Yang chuckled and looked behind her, noticing Blake walking up to them.
But as Yang had taken the moment to look behind her, Weiss had snuck away to her bus. Her heart pounding, the sensation of newfound anxiety had filled her.
Yang turned only to see Weiss was long gone. "H-huh?!" Yang looked around her in a cartoon-like fashion.
"Well, you look like you've seen a ghost. Actually, I think you were just talking to one. Who was that?" Blake stared into the distance, glimpsing a head of white hair disappear behind a lined bus.
Yang sighed. "That was Weiss."
"Mystery girl, ooooh." Blake waved her arms around in a ghost-like fashion.
Yang turned to Blake with a frown. "Blake, am I scary?"
Blake covered her mouth to keep in a snort. "Scary? Yang, you've been voted most huggable person three years in a row. I can bet on this year being four."
Yang crossed her arms and sighed. "I guess."
Meanwhile, Weiss took the furthest seat from the front. Her hand continued to tingle, she could still feel the sensation of Yang's musings on her hand.
Opening her hand, she stared at the number. The ink slightly smudged, but legible. Grabbing her phone from her pocket she slowly entered the number to her contacts.
She would keep it.
Just in case.