Chapter 7: A Sea of Crimson

I sink to the ground, supported by a random tree. Bad things seem to just follow me, don't they? I'm pessimistic, caustic, never smile, and I swear to god, the next person who tells me that I should just dress all in black, I'm just going to kill them. I look around to see which forest I ended up in, and sure enough, it's Forever Fall. This is the place where we were last week, the place where I discovered the symptoms had a connection. Qrow's right. I wince at that statement. Never would have thought I'd ever admit that, but I am dense. I mentally connect the dots. I did realize earlier that I started to feel for Summer at initiation, but I passed that off as her being my first friend.

Standing up, I make my way farther into the forest, not really knowing where to go, just walking. I sigh as I make it to a small cliff with a large boulder on it. I sit on the boulder and pull my knees to my chest. Looking off into the distance, all I see is a crimson sea of trees. The wind blows, making it all seem like waves, scattering leaves into the breeze. I sigh at the sight. Summer would have loved this. Just the flittering of her name across my mind makes fresh tears appear. I cry as I watch the beautiful mastery that is nature unfold before me. Soon, the sun is setting, and I realize that I haven't moved for hours. I slowly lower my legs, experiencing the numbness for the first time. The tingling sensation travels up my legs, making an almost painful spasm start in the muscles. I've never been the one to be inert or anything. I'm always moving, always training, but now, I couldn't care less.

I look out into the distance, affectively scared of might happen if I'm left out here in the dark. I try to stand, but the feeling isn't back in my legs as of yet. I sigh as I'm forced to sit back down. This day isn't turning into what I expected. I should have just stayed at the library, but then again, if I had stayed, I would never have known of Tai's intentions. I clutch my head. But then I wouldn't have gone back to the library and seen that. I wouldn't have run. I wouldn't have ended up out here. I wouldn't have been stuck in the wilderness as the sun sets. I try to stand again, and this time, it's successful. There's still a slight tingle, but it's nothing I can manage. I go to my hip, feeling for the pommel of my sword only to come up short. I forgot it. I facepalm at the stupidity that I've been showing the past few weeks. This is just great. My sword was a focusing tool for my portals. I sigh and focus my Aura, trying to cast a votex without my sword. I raise my right hand and toss a vortex, only for it to flux then close immediately after I cast it.

I kick the ground and try again, only for it to be smaller than the last and have the same result. "God damnit! What did I do to deserve this!"

I hear a twig snap. I turn around at the only disturbance I've had this entire time I'd been out here. "Raven?"

I sigh. She followed me. She can't see past the treeline, but she still followed me. "What is it, Summer?"

She breaks the treeline, coming toward me at a slow pace, almost cautious in each step. "Why did you run?"

I turn away from her, new tears falling from my eyes. I don't want her to see me like this. "WHy are you out here, Sum. It's about to get dark."

She laughs a little but I can tell it's forced. "I could ask you the same thing."

I fold my arms over my chest, trying to appear like I'm not hugging myself as her voice just seeps into my very being. I came out here to get away from her. She made her choice, and I need to come to terms with that, but I can't tell her that. "Sightseeing." Damn my voice. It has to crack right now, doesn't it?

She closer to me. I can see her cloak flowing in my peripheral. "Bull crap, Ray. You've never been the one to admire the nuances of nature. Tell me the truth."

She did it again. She saw right through me. I take a deep breath and do my best to suppress the remaining tears. It takes a bit, but I can feel the wind drying those that have already fallen. No more spill forth, and I finally turn to her. "I had to get away."

She comes closer and clutches my cheeks. "Oh, Ray, you've been crying." With her this close, I can't really hold it anymore. More tears slide free as a small sob chokes me, preventing from answering her, to tell her that she doesn't need to worry about it. She wipes one with the pad of her thumb, carefully spreading the salty tear out of its droplet form. "Why?"

I swallow and look down. "It doesn't matter."

"Of course, it matters, Ray." I look up to see her silver eyes fill with tears of her own. "You matter, and if someone hurt you or if you have a problem, I'm here for you. Always." She whispers the last part, and I feel the last of the dam break. New tears spring forth as I move forward and clutch her to me. She wraps her arms around my waist. I can feel her tears start to soak through my shirt. Why is she crying?

I shake my head and pull back. "Why are you crying, Sum?"

She gives me a teary smile. "Because you are, silly."

"I'm silly? You're the one crying for no reason." My tears have dried up. I don't feel them falling anymore. What is it with her that can just pull me apart and stitch me back up so thoroughly? I was just crying over her, and now, I'm almost smiling. She messes with my head, and I'm not all that sure it's a bad thing.

She nods her head once as she dries her tears with the heel of her palm. "Yes, you're silly, and maybe even impetuous and bullheaded. Oh, and you're definitely a hazard to your own health. Do you not realize where you are, and with no weapon, nonetheless?" She gestures widely at the forest surrounding us. Darkness has fallen, finally. All of the red is deeper, unbelievably deeper, like blood. The crimson waves become a sea of blood in the small bit of moonlight shines down. It's enough to make anyone quake in fear.

"Point, but that doesn't explain you coming after me."

She just hugs me again. "You're my partner. I'm supposed to have your back."

Right, partner. I sigh. "Well, as your partner, I suppose I should advise that heading back now would be a good idea."

She shakes her head. "You never did tell me why you ran and came here or why you were crying."

I look down at the ground, nervous and embarrassed at my response to that situation. "Don't worry. I think I can put it behind me now."

Summer looks at me worriedly. "You ran out, CRYING, Ray. That's not something I can ignore." She stomps her foot and gives me that look, the one that can make even a hardened criminal do her bidding.

I stare into her eyes, determined to get the upper hand in this conversation. I can't just tell her, can I? I can just enjoy the half a year we have left at Beacon, and then we can go our separate ways, right? Wrong. Those goddamn puppy dog eyes are going to be the death of me at some point. I sigh and sag in defeat. "I just, I saw Tai kissing you."

She looks at me, confused. "When?"

I look away from her and mumble my response. "In the library."

"But I've never kissed Tai."

I shake my head. "Please, don't lie, Sum. I saw it."

"I'm telling you the truth. I never kissed him, and he never kissed me. I wouldn't lie to you about something like that." I close my eyes. That voice, there's no denying the validity of her statement when she uses that voice.

"Really?" My voice is low, pleading, really.

"Really, really, Ray. I wouldn't be able to kiss him. He's like a brother to me."

"Then why was he pushing you against the wall?" I choose now to look at her. The startled expression. Well, it's more of a surprised expression, really, like she was being asked a question that she doesn't necessarily know the answer to.

She shakes her head. "He was trying to ask me out."

My brow furrows in both anger and resignation. "Oh."

Her brow furrows, too. "But, then, I threw him into the stacks."

I turn around to her, disbelief etched onto my face. "No, you didn't."

She smiles proudly. "Oh, I did."

I laugh, imagining that. That must have been the huge booming I heard. "Why?"

She waves a hand of mock dismissal. "He was trying to keep me from finding you. His ego really needs work, and I decided to help deflate it for him." She gives a smug grin.

I can't help but smile back. "You didn't accept?"

She scoffs. "How could I? I'm pretty sure I'm in love with someone else."

I look down at her swallow. "Who?"

She laughs a little before looking up at me. "Oh, I'm sure you know them. They can be caustic, pessimistic, and pretty self centered sometimes, but they can also be sweet and caring. They're beautiful when they smile, and they make my heart pound and stomach flutter every time I look at them." She moves closer to me, inching her way toward me with every word. Is she serious? She's getting so close. I can feel my heart trying to come out of my chest.

"Oh." I can't say much else as she starts to lean into me. My mouth goes dry as her face is just inches from mine, her lips are just inches from mine. Our lips almost connect when there's a roar in the distance. We're both startled out of the trance that we were in to look in the direction of the sound. "Shit."

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A/N: Awww, they were totally interrupted! I am such a tease. lol. I'm on , guys. I'd appreciate donations. ;) Follow, favorite, review.