WEEEEEEEEEEEE! Another chapter! Yes! I got it written... *dances strangely, garnering looks from surrounding people* Woo!

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Chapter 4: Who The Hell Are You?

I blink, focusing my eyes. I look down at the person that came crashing through the bushes. "Who the hell are you?" It's a kid, a girl. She has short, blonde hair and is wearing glasses.

She clutches her torn, white dress nervously. "Are you a Huntress?"

I'm taken aback. This little girl, what is she doing way out here? "Forget that, kid. What are you doing out here?"

She bites her lip, and I can see her holding back tears. "I live here."

"Here?" I look down at her incredulously.

She laughs. "Well, not here, specifically, but nearby."

I look her up and down. She can't be more than ten years old. "What's your name, and why are you our here?"

She clears her throat. "Oh, where are my manners? My name's Glynda Goodwitch, and, um, this is my home now." She stares me straight in the eye. Not many people can do that. They say that the red unnerves them, reminds them of Grimm eyes. I'm certainly impressed by this midget.

I give her a rare smile. "Hmm. How long has it been since you ate?"

Her stomach growls, making her blush. "I'm quite fine, thank you. I'd rather not go into the city, if you please. They're looking for me."

I sigh. The girl's obviously hungry. I can't just leave her out here. What the hell am I going to do with her, though? Maybe Ozzie will let me keep her. Wait, why would I want to keep her? I shake my head and sigh, resolved to get this girl out of such a Grimm infested area. I grunt. "We're not going to town. Come on, I'll get us to Beacon."

The girl's eyes light up, and I'm not entirely sure why until she opens her mouth. "Beacon!? Really? I've always wanted to go there." She looks up at the cliff dreamily. "What are we waiting for? Let's get going."

She starts walking toward the cliff at a very controlled pace. I can't help it. I bust out laughing. This little girl thinks that she can climb the cliff? Oh, this is hilarious. "Okay, kid, but why are you walking away? We're going by portal."

She stops and turns around, confused. "Portal?"

I throw a vortex up, making her gasp. "Yeah, now come on. I'm hungry, too, now." I reach my hand out instinctively.

She takes it very hesitantly, almost worryingly. "Are you really taking me to Beacon?"

I look down at her and raise an eyebrow. "Why would I lie?"

"Adults lie. I've been caught up in them too much for me not to know that."

What has this girl been through? I feel pity start to grow for her, but I tamp it down. It's not a good idea to show pity for her. She's not going to be around, so I don't need to feel anything for her. It'll just hurt worse when I have to let her go, like hving to let a pet go or something. I frown down at her. "I'm not lying. So, are you going to get in? I can't hold it open forever."

She looks at me skeptically, almost like she's older than ten, like she's seen enough for a few lifetimes. "Fine, but I don't trust you right now."

I roll my eyes. "Duly noted. Now, jump in."

I set the exit gate to land in the middle of the dorm room. I can't have a dirty, wild looking girl roaming around Beacon. People will get suspicious or whatever. When we land, I have a startled Summer looking at the girl that's clutching her head on the floor. She, always the mothering type, runs to the girl. She looks up at me very angrily. "What the heck are you throwing children through your portals for?"

I hold up my hands in defense. "Hey, I found her. She came here willingly."

Summer rolls her eyes. "I didn't say you kidnapped her, Ray. In all seriousness, though, where is she from?"

I shrug. "I have no idea. She lives in the Emerald Forest, she said. I just brought her here to clean up and get food."

Glynda groans. "God, you should have warned me that it would give me a headache. Sheesh."

I laugh again. "Yeah. Would you have gone if I said that one consequence of the portal was pain?"

She looks at me with defiant eyes. "Maybe."

"You tell yourself that, kid. Now, go into the bathroom. I'll root around for some clothes for you." I gesture to the door to my right. "And don't forget to scrub. You can use my stuff. It's the red containers and all."

The girl only looks at me once before running into the bathroom. I laugh softly when she shuts the door. Summer comes in and lays her hand on my arm. I look down into her eyes and swallow. "You're doing a very kind thing, Ray. The only question I wanna ask is: why?"

I don't really know. There's just something about her, something that reminds her of me but more alone. At least I had Qrow. This girl doesn't have anyone. At least, I don't think she does. She never really told me why she was in the forest. What could drive a girl to those lengths? I just shrugs. "She snuck up on me, and I figured I'd just take her with me."

Summer looks at me with those eyes again. She's seeing right through me. "Right. Anyway, shouldn't you be looking for her some clothes?" She leaves the room, laughing at my expense. This is going to be torture. I just know it.

I find the girl a suitable-like shirt, Summer's, and a pair of mid thigh shorts that are actually just below the knees on her, also Summer's. It can't be helped that Summer is the smallest on the team. The girl is now towel drying her hair while humming, sitting on my bed. "That was so great. I haven't had a shower in months. I especially liked your scents. Roses, I presume?"

I look at her and almost blush. I'd switched scents a few weeks ago, maybe subconsciously, because of a certain someone. "Where does a kid learn to talk so properly?"

She adjusts her glasses. "I read."

I roll my eyes. "Right. Well, you look kinda dumb in those clothes, but it's the best we have. I'll go into Vale and get some more after we go eat." I check the clock. "Lunch is just now being served. So, let's get to it."

She shrugs. "I look silly? Have you looked in a mirror?"

I look down at my combat attire then back at her. "Touché."

She grins in victory, and it reminds me of Summer's smile way too much. "So, you said 'eat?'"

I laugh again and open the door, gesturing for her to go through. "Yeah. The cafeteria is that way. Let's go."

The walks tensely, with her back straight. "What are the choices?"

I quirks my eyebrow. Wouldn't she not care if she hadn't eaten well in a while? What is her story? My curiosity is put on pause as soon as I open the door to the cafeteria. The general chatter is enough to give me a headache. I head over to the plates and take one for me and one for Glynda. I look at the selection of food and back at Glynda. "Well, It seems like we're having spaghetti tonight. You want with meat or without?"

She really looks like she's thinking it over. "What kind of meat?"

I shrug. "Mistralian meatballs, I think. Don't quote me on that." I point at her to emphasize my statement. This kid is really weird, and I'm having a very hard time trying to figure out if it's good or bad.

She scoffs at me, scoffs! "It doesn't seem like you're right a whole lot, so I won't."

"Why, you little." I flick her on the forehead.

Her hand moves to her forehead to rub at the spot that I hit. "Hey! What was that for?"

I stick my tongue out at her. "For being annoying. So, meat or no meat?"

"Meatballs, please." She holds up her plate for me to fill it. I give her a generous portion. She is a growing girl, after all. After her, I put a good bit of it on my plate, too. "Can I have some fruit, too?"

"Sure. You go sit over there with the lady in the white cloak. What fruit and what drink?" I point off into the distance at a table in the corner with my team and a couple of others.

She smiles up at me. "An apple and some tea?"

She had to pick a hot beverage, didn't she? "Sure. Now, go on. I'll be there in a second." I look down at my plate. "Could you carry my plate, too?" She nods and carefully takes my plate in her hand. I watch her go, maneuvering around the students like nobody I've ever seen. I roll my eyes and turn to get our drinks and her apple. I don't really know how she takes her tea, so I just grab a bunch of sugar and a carton of milk, too. Walking over to the table, I automatically sit next to Summer, with the girl on my other side. "Here ya go, kid." I hand her her tea and milk and empty out the sugar packets from my pocket. "I didn't know how you liked it, so I got you these."

She smiles at me. "Thanks." Strangely enough, she's really polite while eating, with manners and everything. It's sort of scary, really. She doesn't have a single sauce splash or even a ring around her mouth. She's like a freaking queen or princess or something.

I feel Summer lay her hand on my shoulder, and as I turn, our noses almost touch. I blush furiously and lean back. "I haven't seen you smile this much, ever, Ray."

Qrow decides to chime in, then. "It's kinda creepy, really."

I look at her, confused. "I'm smiling?"

Summer nods. "You've been smiling since you dropped that girl in the room."

My brow furrows. "I have?"

"You don't feel it?"

This time, I frown. "No."

Summer rolls her eyes. "Come on. Smile. You're pretty when you smile." I just sit there, shocked. She called me pretty. I blush and turn away from her.

Why did she have to do that now, in front of other people? Ugh. I swear that, if I didn't know her better, she's evil, but she's just too nice and sweet for that. I could go on and on about her, and that's just too much for me. Glynda looks up at me when I turn away. She smiles and leans in to whisper to me, "Is she your girlfriend?" I'm shocked, yet again, but by a tiny, evil person. Wow, have I fallen low today. I shake my head furiously. The girl looks confused. "Why not?"

I lean in to whisper in her ear. "She couldn't possibly like me."

She just tilts her head in that cute way that kids do. "Why not?"

I sigh and put my head on the table. This girl just doesn't get it. I can't possibly believe that Summer Rose could ever like me. She's too… her, too sunny, too caring, too perfect, to ever look at me as more than a friend. Wait a minute. Wasn't I supposed to be against being more than friends with her to begin with? I thought I came to agreement with myself about this. I can't let this stupid crush ruin my friendship with my best friend. I don't want to lose her.

The girl leans in and whispers in my ear. "I think you should go for it."

I turn my head to the side and look at her in disbelief. "No!" I say that too loud. The people at our table turn to look at me. I sit up slowly, take Glynda's hand and start to go. She reaches for the table. "But I haven't finished my tea!"

I practically growl. "You can get some later." I pull her into the hallway and past the procession of students streaming into the cafeteria. They stared ,too, but for a whole different reason. I was pulling a little girl down the hallway with a strange, angry looking determination. That's not suspicious at all. I shake my head, dispelling those thoughts. It's not like I'm dragging her off to torture or something. I spin her around to face me. "Why did you bring that up in there?"

She just folds her arms across her chest and looks up at me, rolling her eyes. "You weren't doing anything about it. It's obvious you have a thing for each other. Go for it."

"I don't want to 'go for it.'"

She snorts. "You do. You're just scared." She raises her eyebrow at me, daring me to deny it.

I look away from that knowing look in her eyes, blushing. I'm not scared, am I? Is all of my insistence to preserve our friendship just an excuse? "I don't want to be." Meeting her eyes, I see a determination that wasn't there before. "You're insistent for an eight year old."

She huffs and crosses her arms. "I'm ten, thank you very much."

I can't help it. She just looks so cute. I ruffle her hair, making her give a startled gasp. "Oh, don't push it kid, but how'd you get so smart?"

She rolls her eyes and adjusts her glasses again. "I read a lot." She shrugs it off.

I quirks my eyebrow at her. "When?"

Her head falls, hiding her eyes. "Since I was little." She shakes her head and turns her attention back to me. "We digress. So, do you want to do something about your… whatever it is?"

I quirk my eyebrow. "Crush?"

She points at me. "Yes, that."

I laugh a bit. "What am I supposed to do about it? She's never going to return the feelings, so there's no point in it." She pinches me, PINCHES ME! "What the hell, girl!"

She holds up one finger. "One, my name is Glynda, not girl." She holds up another finger. "Two, you are being a complete idiot."

"Hey!"

She smiles and holds up another finger. "Three, I'm making you my new mission."

I roll my eyes. "You didn't have a mission to begin with."

She crosses her arms. "How do you know that?"

I poke her nose. "You're ten. There's not much that you could even do."

She gives me a devious smile and looks at me from over the top of her glasses. "Oh, there is a multitude of things that I can accomplish. My priority at the moment seems to be your love life, miss."

I roll my eyes. "Don't call me miss. Raven's fine." I scoff. "And what do you mean about my love life? I don't have one."

She pinches the bridge of her nose. "Yet. The key word that you should have said is 'yet.'" She smiles again. "I believe that you can definitely win her over, especially with how she looks at you."

I look at her even more confused. "How the hell does she look at me?"

Glynda has that evil-like smile on her face again. "Oh, I don't know, lovingly?"

I give a snort of laughter. "Right, right. And maybe there's a unicorn Grimm that farts rainbows and licks peace." I roll my eyes.

She laughs. "Destroy a young girl's optimism and hope, why don't you? I could have been searching for one of those things my entire life, and you would have never known."

I snort a harsh laugh. "I can imagine you looking." What is it about this girl that brings out the sarcasm in me?

"As I was saying, I can help. All we have to do is set it up, get Summer to meet you, and you confess your feelings. Easy as pie."

I shake my head. "Pie isn't as easy as that. How the heck am I supposed to just confess?"

Glynda rubs her hands together. "Oh, don't worry about that. I've got a plan to up your confidence. Just leave it to me." This girl is going to be the death of me, but I don't see how I can get out of this. Somehow, I sense a foreboding doom ahead of me.

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A/N: You were right! It was Glynda! Though, I suppose it was rather obvious. lol. She is the story under the story... So, yh. I just liked her, and I wanted her to be cute and little and totally Glynda, so, we get 10 year old Goodwitch! Follow, Favorite, Review!