"And then I slipped on a slice of pizza and fell down the stairs." Automne told Eve with a grimace as he rubbed his back.

"Why was there pizza on your staircase?" Eve asked in a small quiet voice, which Automne was just about sure was her normal speaking voice.

"Why wouldn't you leave pizza near the staircase? It saves you a trip from going down to the kitchen." Automne stated as if he were the mastermind behind some kind of genius breakthrough.

"Wouldn't it spoil?"

"Not if you put plastic wrap over it. Besides pizza's a vegetable; vegetables never spoil. Now where was I…?" Automne trailed off as he leaned against a beam between a set of windows.

"You had just slipped on some pizza."

"Right, thank you, so after I slipped on the pizza I found a note from my dad telling me that he had gone to work early. So then I gathered up all my clothes, supplies, and other junk and sprinted downtown to get to the air station, which was extremely exhausting, and that's why I was napping on the floor."

Eve blinked a few times, "Well that sounds… unfortunate." Eve paused for a moment before she snapped her fingers in delight "Maybe you should put batteries in your alarm clock next time." She added cheerfully, holding a finger up like she had answered some kind of difficult query.

"I'll keep that in mind." He replied with a hint of sarcasm. "So, I've told you a bit about me let's hear a little about you. Are you training as a field medic?"

Eve nodded her head, a bit of surprise visible in her bespectacled eyes. "How did you know?"

"The red cross on your shoulder."

Eve turned to look at her own shoulder and giggled a bit, "Oh yeah, almost forgot about that; yeah I am." She said with a cheerful nod. "My dad's a doctor and my mom's an officer in the military, so I figured why not save people and fight monsters, have the best of both worlds? And if you think about it even heroes need medical attention."

Automne gave a small smirk as he walked over to the window, the water below them rippling with a sense of muted majesty as the sun scurried across its surface. "How noble of you; I'm sure you'll be saving lives in no time. Speaking of which, I think we're almost there." 'That or those cliffs are getting bigger.'

"Really," Eve burst out in excitement as she bumped Automne to the side to get a better view out the window. "Sorry, it's just... I've been dreaming about this for years." Her eyes still glued to the fast approaching landing pad.

Automne's smirk slowly faded as he stared out at the colossal towers standing as a symbol of hope and security for all. "I know the feeling… Well let's get goi- Eve?" Automne muttered in confusion as he looked around for the quirky girl who was nowhere to be seen. "Oh," he said quietly as he lowered his head.

'No no it's alright go ahead and leave, just thought we were friends.' Automne thought to himself as he shuffled towards the exit to the ship. 'Well we did just meet, but we talked for a bit and that's what makes people friends… right? Or would that make us acquaintances.' Automne gave a small sigh as he walked off the ship. His skin was graced with warm rays of sunlight while the air was filled with the grotesque noise of some guy vomiting into a trash can. 'I know we only talked for a little bit, but she didn't even say goodbye. It's a bit rude to just leave so abruptly, but I kind of get why she wouldn't want to hang around with me, I probably smell like sweat and-'

"Hey, wait up!" A familiar voice shouted from behind.

"Huh" Automne turned back towards the ship the see none other than Eve with a narrow, medium sized white box hanging by off her shoulder with an old camera in her hand.

"Sorry about that, I forgot that I set my stuff down earlier and I needed to go get my things."

"Oh, well I wasn't worried too much I was sure you had friends to meet up with or something." Automne said as casually as he could in an effort to hide his social ineptitude. He gave a small nod towards the school and once again they were headed off.

"I actually don't have any friends." Eve added with a soft smile and sad eyes. "Studying medicine and combat doesn't leave a lot of leeway for a social life." She gave a couple of chuckles as she adjusted the strap around her shoulder.

'Ask, aaaaaask!'

"Weeeell since I don't know anybody from around here and you seem pretty cool so… Do you wanna be friends?" Automne asked as he rubbed at his neck and stared down at his moccasins. He began darting his eyes back and forth between the ground and Eve with the hope of seeing some kind of reaction.

The seconds seemed to stretch on for minutes before her soft voice broke the silence in a polite and chipper tone. "Yes, I would like to be friends." She said with a warm smile.

A large grin grew across Automne's face as he restrained the urge to jump with joy. "Alright!" he shouted happily. "Now, let's seal the deal." He held his fist out in front of Eve, stopping both of them in their tracks.

Eve stared at his fist blankly for a couple of moments. "Umm, what does-"

"Haven't you ever heard of a fist bump before?" Automne raised an eyebrow, his fist awkwardly hanging in the air.

"Umm, kind of," she said nervously as she began to curl her fingers into a fist and slowly, ever so slowly, extend it towards Automne's fist.

Automne let out a bored sigh as she slowly directed her gloved fist towards his with the steady precision of a surgeon, trying to guide it in juuuust ri-

BOOM

Eve and Automne glanced around in a panic as a thunderous explosion filled the air.

"What was that?!"

"I don't know!"

The two of them looked around for the source of the noise, but Automne stopped abruptly and looked down at his fist.

"Hey Eve," Eve stopped and turned to Automne. "I think- I think that was a sign that this… is the start of a good friendship." Eve stared quizzically for a moment before a warm, jubilant smile swept away her worries. "So… what now?"

"Well, my dad wanted me to take a few pictures of the campus and send them to him."

"That sounds cool, but what's with that camera?"

"My dad and I prefer film over that digital stuff; it just feels more real."

"That's a nice way to think about it." Automne said with a whimsical sense of joy as they began to stroll off in the direction of some ponds that looked like they'd make for some nice scenic pictures.

"Hey, Automne, don't you think we should be worried about that-"

"No no it was a sign; don't worry 'bout it."

"… It is up to you to take the first step." Ozpin concluded as Eve and Automne watched the headmaster eagerly from the crowd.

"Well," Eve started; discouragement heavy in her voice. "That was…"

"Uplifting," Automne interjected with a bit of sarcasm as he watched the headmaster walk away.

"There you go, that works."

"You will gather in the ballroom tonight," Professor Goodwitch added, "Tomorrow your initiation begins, be ready. You're dismissed."

'Well that hollow, ominous, foreboding speech totally got me hyped to take on this school.'

"So Eve, how are you- Eve?" once again there was no sign of Eve to be seen anywhere. 'Dust, she's like a ghost or something, or a really sneaky cat. Well, I might as well go and find my luggage.'

Automne figured as he began to mindlessly follow the bustling crowd of first years into the next room. 'Maybe if I slip a bell into her pocket it'll be easier to notice when she walks away. Or maybe I should just listen to quieter music, gotta protect my hearing. I wonder when-'

"Dude!" an irate student clad in purple and green yelled, seemingly coming out of nowhere.

"What?" Automne said blankly.

"You spilled my drink all over my Scroll, knocked my Scroll out of my hand, and stepped on it!"

Automne looked down at the ground to see a sopping wet Scroll with a large footprint on it. "Oh jeez, I'm sorry it was an accident, here let me-" Automne bent down and picked up the Scroll, "Umm, uh don't worry it'll be perfectly fine if you let it sit in some rice over night." Automne tried to reason as he flailed the young man's Scroll back and forth, droplets of soda flying everywhere, including the student's face.

"Where am I supposed to get rice?" Irritation growing in his voice.

"Rice rice rice, OH uh maybe the Cafeteria has some rice or uh maybe there's a store around here or something." Automne handed the Scroll back to the young man and shoved a hand into his pocket. "Uhhh- here! Here's some money to buy some rice, I'm very very sorry." Automne babbled as he shoved the money into the young man's hands.

The young man looked down at the money and let out a groan. "If I can't find any rice you're going to owe me a new Scroll." He stated sharply as he began to walk away.

"That's fair," Automne mumbled to himself. "That's completely and utterly fair." He said in defeat as the guy in purple and green walked away with the money he was hoping to use later.

"Hey Automne sorry, but I forgot to get a picture of the main tower from the front of the school." Eve said happily as she held up her camera. "What'd I miss?"

"Not much," Automne said miserably as he slumped over a little bit.

"Oh, okay" Eve sniffed the air a couple of times, "Why do you smell like grape soda?"

Automne let out a tired sigh and fell on the floor.

'Finally time for some sleep.' Automne thought to himself contently as he strolled down the hall towards the ballroom in his PJ's with his sleeping bag tucked under his arm and his goggles still perched on his head.

"Automne, wait up!" Eve quietly shouted ('Didn't even know that was possible.') as she jogged up behind Automne, holding her sleeping bag against her chest. "Sorry I took so long."

"No worries I didn't-" Automne stopped for a moment and looked Eve up and down. A large smirk started to grow across his face as he studied Eve's sleepwear.

"What is it?" Eve asked in concern as she squeezed her sleeping bag a little.

"Oh it's nothing; I just enjoy your grandma's taste in fashion." Automne snickered as he took in the spectacle of Eve's long sleeve, ankle length, thick, plain white nightgown.

Eve blushed a little and lowered her chin onto her sleeping bag. "Don't be mean." She said weakly, like Automne had just poured a bucket of cold water onto a bunch of sad puppies.

'Way to be a douche.' Automne gave a sigh, "Look, Eve I'm sorry, I was just joking. Here go ahead say anything you want about me. I deserve it." He said as he gestured up and down his body.

Eve looked Automne up and down for a few moments. "Your shirt is kind of faded." Eve said with what Automne assumed was a venomous tone.

"That was… an insult?" Automne asked with a raised eyebrow and a confused grimace.

Eve gave a small shrug, "I like your pajamas." Eve admitted sadly, "Your shirt's pretty cool."

Automne gave a heavy sigh, a broad frown replacing the smirk that had been there moments ago. "Well, now I feel like a huge jerk. You don't have a single mean-bone in your body do you?"

Eve shook her head, "Being negative doesn't solve anything. You got to look at everything positively if you want things to change." Eve finished with a small miserable smile.

Automne let out a long groan as he slapped a hand over his face. "Augh, now I feel like a monster."

Eve straightened up a bit and lowered her sleeping bag. "Are you sorry?"

"Mhmm,"

Eve paused for a moment while Automne slowly slid his hand down his face. "I accept your apology." Eve said with a small, sweet smile as she held her fist out.

Automne gave a small chuckle and lightly bumped his fist against hers. "How did you not already have any friends?" he asked half-seriously with a soft smile, "Wait a minute… Are you wearing gloves?"

Eve's cheeks turned a light shade of pink, "Th-they're sleeping gloves." Eve didn't wait for Automne's response though and continued to walk off towards the ballroom.

A large grin spread across Automne's face, 'Oh my Dust she's so weird.' Automne thought happily as he tried to catch up to his best friend.

"So, I never asked how that shot of the tower came out."

"I don't know," Eve chimed happily, "that's the mysterious joy of film."

Automne looked at Eve blankly and blinked a few times. "…What?"

"Oh, I think we're here!" Eve shouted as she ran into the entrance to the ballroom, Automne following shortly after her.

Automne looked around the room to see that dozens of other students had already set up their sleeping spots and that there were only a few spots left. "Hey Eve I think there are a couple of spots over by that blonde guy let's- Eve?" Automne turned to see Eve gasping for air as she crushed her sleeping bag against herself.

Her eyes darted back and forth between groups of fellow students. Her face beginning to slowly turn red as she constricted her arms around her sleeping bag.

"Eve?! Eve what's wrong?!" Automne reached a hand out towards her shoulder, but she jumped back quickly.

Her lips started to quiver and her whole body began to tremble. "C-c-c-c-c-Co-ed," She said breathlessly as she dropped her sleeping bag to the ground.

Automne gave her a clueless stare, "…Wha-"But Eve had already bolted back down the hall before he could finish his question.

"Umm… I guess… I'll find us a spot." Automne said completely perplexed as to what just happened as he picked up Eve's sleeping bag.

'Honestly, I don't think I could've made a weirder friend if I tried.'

Automne shuffled over to the open spots and tossed the sleeping bags down next to each other. 'I wonder where Eve ran off to.' He thought as he unrolled and straightened Eve's sleeping bag. 'Something was definitely bugging her, but I couldn't tell what… Oh well she should be back soon, hopefully.' Automne gave a large sigh as he rolled over and laid back on his plush sleeping bag.

'Well, I'm here,' pure satisfaction washed through Automne as he closed his eyes and rested his arms behind his head. He wiggled a little bit to try and get as snuggly as possible. Tomorrow was the big day and he wanted to be well-rested, but something just didn't sit right with him as he stared up at the dim ceiling.

"Where is she?" he muttered to himself as he sat up to see Eve's sleeping bag was still vacant. Automne began to scan the room for any sign of Eve, 'I hope she's alright, she hasn't been gone for too long but- ohhh my Dust.' Fire coursed through Automne as he was gifted with a clear view of her.

No, not Eve, Automne still had not even the faintest idea of where she was, but his concerns for Eve began to dissipate as he watched a gorgeous angel of a young woman from across the ballroom. Automne couldn't help but be captivated by her well toned, muscular body which she barely concealed under a sherbet pink tank top that didn't reach her midriff and a pair of lavender colored sweats that had been cropped to about mid-thigh. A shiver went through Automne as he basked in the radiant glow of her supple blemish-free skin. From the tangerine highlights in her electric blue hair to her sculpted abs she had completely enraptured Automne with her presence.

Automne let out a long sigh, 'She's beautiful…' He thought to himself completely love struck as he crossed his legs and stared at her from across the room. 'What if she sees you staring? She'll think you're some kind of creep. Look away… But I can't be denied the siren like call of her body. No, look away! ...Okay it's probably safe to look- She's looking over here!' Automne let out a gasp and slammed his head down backwards into his pillow to pretend like he was sleeping. Unfortunately due to all his shimmying from earlier he must have pushed his pillow a little to his left, because instead of the soft embrace of a down pillow he hit his head against the stiff, cold stone floor.

"Hey Automne," Eve's unforgettable voice rang out as Automne rubbed the back of his head.

"Hey Eve," Automne grunted through grit teeth as he pried one eye open. "Where'd you-" Automne stopped for a moment to register what exactly he was looking at. "Eve, what are you wearing?" He asked in confusion as he tried to figure out why Eve looked so… thick.

"If I'm going to be sleeping in the same room with boys I need to be properly dressed." Eve stated in a very prudent manner as she waddled over to her sleeping bag and attempted to bend down low enough to sit down.

"Soooo you decided to put on a ski jacket under your nightgown?" he said skeptically as he kept a close eye on Eve's nightgown in fear that it would burst open at any moment.

Eve giggled a little, "I'm not wearing a ski jacket; I'm wearing 2 t-shirts, a sweater, a jacket, 3 pairs of pajama pants and oof 2 pairs of underwear." Eve said with a jolly little smile as she fell onto the ground. Automne simply stared at her with a straight face and a raised eyebrow. "What?" She said curiously as she looked down at her sleepwear, "Do you think it's enough?" Her concerned question was only met with a quiet stare that basically read as 'seriously?' Eve looked down at her clothes again, "No?"

Automne gave a tired sigh, "Goodnight, Eve." He said listlessly as he began to crawl into his sleeping bag.

"Umm, Automne would you mind zipping me up? I can't bend my arms."

Automne gave a heavy sigh, "Alright, roll over for a second." Automne pulled the sleeping bag out from under the pile of fabric that was Eve and began to unzip it. "Roll in,"

"Thanks for this." Eve chimed happily as he began to zip up the sleeping bag over her.

"Don't mention it. Do you want me to leave the top open so you can have some fresh air?"

"No, there's a hose in my hand, just put that in my mouth before you zip it closed."

Automne just shrugged, 'At this point nothing really surprises me.' "Alright," he added as he took the hose from her hand and placed it in the corner of her mouth. "You good?"

"Can you take my glasses off, please?"

Automne gave a small smirk, "Only since you asked nicely." He gingerly lifted the glasses off of her face and folded them.

Eve blinked a few times, "Thank you; just set them down next to me." Eve garbled happily as Automne set them down beside her head and placed the end of the hose outside of the sleeping bag.

"There, need anything else? Glass of water, a late night snack, a freshly made chocolate soufflé coated in rich caramel syrup and topped with the finest of strawberries from the west acres?"

"Uh uh,"

"Okay then, good night Eve." Automne finished politely as he zipped the sleeping bag closed.

"Good night, Automne." Her muffled voice called out from inside the sleeping bag.

Automne let out one final sigh and fell back on his sleeping bag. He lowered his goggles over his eyes and adjusted them to their darkest setting as he fluffed his pillow.

'Welcome to Beacon.' He thought triumphantly as he began to slowly drift to sleep.

Hey everyone thanks for reading. I'm eager to hear what you have to say, so leave a review and if you want go ahead and follow the story. I want to thank my editor NinjaSlayer4x who's been a big help and always manages to find the time to edit my stories. Go check out his fanfiction called "Crossing Swords" if you have the time. And if you're liking this story maybe check out my other story, "A Frozen Heart". Well that's all I have to say, until next time, Peace out.

-CS