Chapter 7

"Get up." Weiss tosses a jacket over the backside of the couch, landing directly on Blake's face.

"What for?"

"Put your jacket and your shoes on, we are going out."

"Why?"

"Because I'm tired of my best friend moping around for a week."

"I'm not moping." Blake says as she slips her shoes on as fast as she can.

"Yes you are. And it's exhausting. So we are going to your favorite restaurant for dinner. Get in the car."

"But I'm not hungry."

"You will be by the time we get there. So hush."

To be honest, it was kinda scary when assertive 'work Weiss' came out. Blake knew better than to argue, though she was probably the only one that could, and get away with it.

As they walk into the restaurant, Weiss greets the hostess and checks in.

"You know we didn't have to go out for dinner. I would've been fine eating dinner at home."

Weiss still had her work clothes on so she was nearly as tall as Blake, since she had on heels.

"And waste the reservation I made? I don't think so."

"Oh. I didn't know they did reservations." The place wasn't fancy enough, in Blake's opinion, to require a reservation.

"The lady on the phone said they normally didn't either but after some convincing, she saw reason."

"Miss Schnee? The table is ready, if you would follow me."

After they were seated, the waiter came by to get their drink order and scuttled his way back towards the kitchen when Weiss shot him a look.

"So." Blake says, as she sets her drink down on the table. "Since I know you so well. Why don't we cut to the chase and you tell me what it is that you would like from me, or of me, that you are going to try and schmooze out of me with dinner."

"I have no earthly idea what you mean." Even though they've already ordered, Weiss hides behind her menu as Blake's expression falls flat. "I just wanted to bring you somewhere that you enjoy, and do something nice for you."

"And?" Blake asks as the waiter sets down their food.

"And nothing."

"We both know that with you, it's never nothing."

"Maybe I would like to ask something of you, but it can wait til later."

"And why is that?"

"So that I can at least heighten my odds by making sure you eat tiramisu for dessert before I ask."

"Playing to win, I see." Blake finally cracks a smile, and Weiss feels relief wash over her. It had been days since she had seen her smile.

"Don't I always?"

"Fair enough."

When they walk back through the door into their house, Blake helps Weiss remove her coat and hang it on the rack near the door before doing the same thing with her own.

"Thank you for dinner."

"You're welcome."

Blake leans back against the edge of the kitchen counter and crosses her arms.

"You better ask now, before the tiramisu afterglow wears off."

"Okay." Weiss starts to pace the small expanse of their kitchen. "I wanted to start out by saying that even though I was initially stubborn and resistant to the idea of therapy."

"You, stubborn? Shocking." Weiss sends her a cutting glance which makes Blake smirk.

"Anyways. Even though I was resistant, I feel like I have been able to start making progress. And I know I wouldn't have made it this far without you. And I know I have a lot of work left to do and a long way to go still. But I would like to ask for your help with something."

"Weiss, you know I will do whatever I can to help you."

"My therapist thinks it would be a good idea if you came to a few sessions with me."

"M-me?"

"She thinks it will be good to work through our communication issues as a means to help me work through my inability to properly communicate with others in my life."

"We don't have a communication problem."

"The fact that you don't think we have a communication issue, is a problem."

"Are you sure this is something you are okay with? I don't want to intrude on the safe space you have there."

"I think that while it may be challenging and feel a little uncomfortable, that it will ultimately be for the best."

"Would you like me to check with my therapist as well, just to make sure it's okay?"

"Yes, if that would make you more comfortable."

"I will do that asap then."

"Thank you."

"Can you do me a favor in return?"

"Absolutely."

"Can you stop pacing? You're going to wear a pathway in the tile."

"Sorry. I was just nervous."

"About?"

"That you would say no."

"When have I ever said no to you?" Blake asks as she walks past Weiss and out of the kitchen.

"Never." Weiss whispers.

Today was just another one of those days. Weiss had woken up late and was running about ten minutes behind schedule.

To anyone else, this probably wouldn't matter, but for the level of perfection and punctuality she expected, this was unacceptable.

She had sent a text to Blake letting her know that she wouldn't have time to come home for lunch today, and she would see her later.

Normal roommate stuff, right?

Not now Weiss, this isn't the time to let her mind wander to things that weren't getting to work in time.

"Good morning Miss Schnee!" The doorman says as he holds the door open.

"Is it really though?" Weiss says with an exasperated breath and she sprints for the elevator, which she just barely catches.

She had a presentation in less than twenty minutes. She had to be prepped and ready.

When she exits the elevator, her assistant, Neptune, greets her immediately.

"Good morning. You're.. later than I expected."

"Yeah tell me about it." He takes her coat and hangs it on the rack that is placed in the corner by her office door.

"I will let you know when the clients arrive and I will place them in the conference room so they will be ready for you."

"Okay, thank you."

"Oh, and you had a delivery first thing this morning, it's on your desk."

"Weird. I wasn't expecting anything." Neptune's slight eyebrow raise and knowing look is enough to make her curious.

When she opens the door to her office she finds a single, blue orchid on her desk.

She slowly walks around to the front of her desk and grabs the note attached.

'Good luck today, even though you don't need it. - Blake'

Weiss sighs and rolls her eyes as a small smirk creeps across her face.

A small knock to her door grabs her attention.

"Weiss, clients are here."

The presentation takes roughly an hour and Weiss is confident they will accept one of her offered proposals. She made sure each came in strictly under budget.

"Good sell, boss." Neptune says as they walk out of the conference room.

"It's always a team effort."

"Yeah Ciel and Flynt did a great job."

"So take them to lunch today"

"Seriously?"

"Yes, use your company card. You've all earned it."

"You don't want to come with us?"

"Not this time, I have a lot of stuff to work on. I need the time to catch up. And no one likes hanging out with the boss anyways."

"You got me there." Weiss looks up at him. "Oh you know what I mean."

"I'm just teasing, you know." She says over her shoulder as she returns to her office, closing the door behind her.

Over the next few hours, Weiss hones in on her work. Neptune tells her when they are leaving for lunch, offering a final time for her to join them, and she passes once again.

Color swatches begin to run together and fabric textures feel the same, so Weiss slides back a little bit from the edge of the desk and opens the cabinet that she secretly hides snacks in, in the very bottom left corner.

"Scrounging for one of those granola bar things that leave a million crumbs, no doubt."

"Good god you scared me." Weiss places a hand over her heart as she looks over the edge of her desk to see Blake leaning against the door way to her office.

"I uh, I brought you lunch." Blake holds out her arm, which is holding a glass Tupperware dish. "How did the meeting go?"

"It went smoothly." Weiss stands up to meet Blake midway, taking hold of the container, her hand briefly resting over Blake's. "Thank you for bringing me lunch. I'm starving."

"Mhm." Blake gives her a soft smile.

"And for the flower."

"Oh. Yeah." In an attempt to ward off her awkwardness, Blake rubs the back of her neck with one hand while she shoves her other in the pocket of her jacket, rocking back and forth on her heels.

"Blue orchids are rare, you know."

"Well so are Weiss Schnees so maybe it was a perfect choice."

"Way to try and flatter your own intellect."

"You made it easy for me."

"You have my thanks anyways."

"It's just a flower and some leftovers. I'm sure in the spectrum of gifts and gestures, they rank fairly low."

"It's not always about the gifts, but the intention behind them."

"Quit trying to make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside."

"Is it working?"

"That is irrelevant." Blake conveniently becomes preoccupied with something on the shelf on one of the walls in the office.

"Are we still good for tomorrow?"

"You mean for our friendship therapy date?"

"Precisely."

"Yes." Blake straightens up, preparing to leave. "Are we going together? Do you carpool to therapy? Is that a thing?"

"Only you would ask something like that. I will come home and pick you up and we can drive together."

"Perfect. So when you want to kill me afterwards, we will be stuck in the car together."

"Don't joke about such things."

"Oh, you're stuck with me. That's for sure." Blake's voice trails off as she makes her way out of the office.

Weiss hears the sound signaling the elevator has arrived, to take Blake away.

A little while later she hears everyone else return from lunch, as she continues to work the remainder of her day through from the confines of her office.

Occasionally, she glances over at the orchid she has placed off center on her desk. She didn't actually mind the thought of being stuck with Blake.