We are almost done but not quite there yet!
"I don't care if he's your headmaster or not. I'm giving him a piece of my mind!" Claire yelled as she stomped down the hall to Ozpin's elevator to his office.
Summer was trailing behind her with her team and boyfriend behind her. No, none of them could actually stop Claire from attacking him but they could at least try. Raven was all for Claire whopping his ass. She wanted to join in too.
They rode the elevator up. It seemed like it was taking forever. He probably already knew she was on her way up. Raven tapped her left foot impatiently. Taiyang looked at Qrow for some assistance but he had already decided to back off.
Qrow's shoulder had torn muscle and he wasn't down for making it worse. The doors opened after the ding sounded for when they reached his office. They all walked into his office and he sat there calmly drinking his coffee.
"I will beat your old ass!" Claire yelled.
"I would prefer talking first before that. I have no doubt you could defeat me."
"What the hell is there to talk about?! Why were they alone?!"
Ozpin stared at his students.
"I wasn't sure if they had left or not-
"Bullshit."The temperature in the room started to drop.
"I am not stupid. I am not dense or gullible. Even I knew they were going to even without Summer telling me!"
Ozpin locked eyes with Summer. She quickly looked away.
"We are older than them- they shouldn't be dealing with past problems such as that witch."
"I don't see Lily at all."
"It's because she's old as dirt in Rose Village!"
Once again he looked at Summer.
"I warned Miss Rose not to do anything."
Frost started to build up on the walls. Claire slammed her fist into the chair in front of his desk shattering it to splinters. He did jump slightly at her action but held his emotionless expression. He knew she was angry.
"Oh yea? What if she went after them here?"
"Then it would have been dealt with."
The windows shattered from the ice sitting on it.
"Since Miss Rose disobeyed my warning and rules, I have decided she must make a decision."
Claire glared at him but kept her mouth shut.
"She must pick between her school or her boyfriend. I am well aware of who he is. I know he was friends with the young man who was murdered. I've had strange men looking for him and I cannot have that here at my school."
Summer looked over at Roman who was surprised to hear this news.
"I haven't made any contact with anyone for over a year now!" he said.
Ozpin shook his head, "It doesn't matter. I cannot have this going on here even if I know my students can handle it."
"You can't do that to me!" Summer cried staring at her headmaster, "I can't pick-
"You have too."
She bit her lip and looked at Roman again. He was angry. His bright emerald eyes had darkened almost to black. Her gaze softened. She couldn't be without him even if she tried. School was important to her but... The idea of being without him was unbearable.
"Then I pick Roman."
"What the fuck?!" Qrow yelled and Raven punched his chest.
Ozpin's jaw dropped open but no sound came out. He wasn't expecting that.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Claire wasn't surprised at all. To make someone who never had anyone for most of life to give up someone she loved was a dumb move. Roman could feel all eyes on him. He couldn't even look Summer in the eye.
"Miss Rose I don't think that would be a wise thing to do."
"What would you know?" Summer asked.
Ozpin sat back in his chair and turned towards his broken windows.
"It would be a shame to lose someone with so much heart. Who has the ability to rise above everyone else and see what humanity needs."
"Sometimes you have to be selfish," Taiyang said looking slightly upset, "I trust him as much as I trust my team."
"I feel the same way and he knows not to step out of line with me," Raven said stepping forward.
Qrow made a face and nodded.
"Miss Rose, I would like you to please reconsider."
Summer stepped backward and grabbed Roman's hand. She gave him a small squeeze. Her heart was pounding furiously because she knew what she wanted. She didn't care, she would follow him anywhere.
"Let's go."
Summer started to pull on his hand but he didn't budge. She looked back at him seeing the conflicted look on his face.
"Roman?"
"Summer... I can't let you give up everything."
Qrow threw his arms into the air wondering what was going on between the two them.
"Roman-
"Look... I watched you die and come back from the dead. I never felt so lost and confused before in my life. Now... I..."
Roman let go of her hand.
"I am a selfish person. I had no issue watching you battle Grimm. That woman was something else and I'm sure she'll be after me since I burned her face off. I can't allow you to fall into enemy hands like that because I'm not strong enough to save you.
"Lily is on her deathbed. She can't bring you back again and I won't risk your life. I love you more than anything. My love for you is nothing compared to the need of you for the people of Vale."
Summer felt like her heart was torn in half.
"They need you more than I do. I'm so selfish and I would want to keep you for myself. I would want to hide you away from the world because I know they'll always need you more. You do deserve a lot better than me. I'm some lowlife off the street."
Raven punched him in the side of the face sending him to the floor.
"Miss Branwen!" Ozpin yelled.
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" she yelled, "She's one of the best students and you're going to make her choose?"
"The rest of you can leave."
Summer ran to the elevator and disappeared on her own. Roman sat up, feeling his face starting to swell from the hit. What he said was true but he would rather keep her all to himself.
"You know Oz, some of us live only once or twice. We don't get the chance to love again and again like some people."
He turned around in his seat ignoring them all until they left.
X
X
"I hate you! You're an idiot! A fucking idiot!" Raven screamed pointing at him, "You and my brother are one of fucking kind for sure!"
"Hey now-
Raven slammed her fist into the side of the elevator busting through cutting up her hand. Everyone fell silent until they reached the bottom floor. Raven didn't even give the elevator the chance to open up as she kicked the door out. Luckily no one was there as it slammed into the wall.
Roman was nearly ready to piss himself. He had seen her angry but this was way too much. Raven picked up the elevator door and through it through the glass doors to the side of the school shattering it to pieces. She whipped around glaring furiously at Roman.
"She didn't deserve this. Summer never deserved this. We are a bunch of horrible fucking people. How much more are we willing to let her sacrifice before we stand up for ourselves?!"
No one had an answer.
"Well... That's why I would rather her go to school."
Raven took in a deep breath.
"She really wants this," Roman said, "It's all she ever talks about. I want what's best for her."
"Fine. Go ahead and tell yourself that so you can sleep at night."
She stepped through the shattered door and pulled out a sword. A portal appeared and she was gone. Taiyang looked at Qrow but he was just as pissed as his sister.
X
X
-Graduating Day-
Raven burst through their dorm room holding up a pretty dark grey dress. Summer looked up from her book giving her a weird smile.
"My best friend is going to look hot on her graduation day!"
"Why don't I just wear my bridesmaid dress?" Summer asked.
"Hey now. I'm changing into a white dress later. You do the same... Please?"
Summer rolled her eyes and smiled, "Fine."
Raven threw the dress on top of her head. She pulled out her light blue dress she and Taiyang picked out together a week ago. He had insisted she didn't look like death on the day they were going to graduate together. Raven glanced at her friend who just sat there staring at her dress.
It had been tough. Summer had shot everyone down who asked her out. She was already top ten and now she was number one. She had outclassed everyone in her school thanks to Lily's gift. But behind her silver eyes was anger.
She had not gotten over the crap Ozpin had pulled on her. She was angry at Roman but she missed him a lot. She would still cry anyways. Summer had literally stopped going out in public altogether. She just stopped being herself almost.
"Are you ready for your speech?" Raven asked braiding her hair.
"I told them I didn't want too."
Raven threw a slip on shoe at her.
"This is your chance to tell everyone how you really feel. Be honest."
"I don't think anyone would like that."
An evil grin spread across Raven's face, "I would."
Summer pulled off her clothes and slipped on her dress. It fit just right. Raven had gotten just the right size and Summer had been in the same size for the past two years. She couldn't ask for a better best friend.
"You ready gorgeous?"
Summer smiled, "Of course."
Raven grabbed her hand and they headed outside to join Taiyang and Qrow. The place was crowded with people. Summer spotted her Aunt Claire in the crowd and waved to her. Neo, Glynda and Bartholomew waved to her as well. Summer wished she saw Roman in the crowd but she knew that wouldn't happen.
They called every team up one at a time. Team STRQ of course was one of the last. It was no surprise people had gotten a little quiet when they went up there. After the last team went, Headmaster Ozpin walked up there and gave a small speech before calling Summer up to the stage.
Summer made her way to the stage. She stared at the hundreds of people sitting there. She really didn't want to do this. She saw Raven give her a thumbs up and she took a deep breath.
"I came to this school not knowing anything. I came out on top despite the fact almost everyone either fears me or hates me. I'm quite fine with that. I hope that all of you are strong enough to save yourself because I won't be there to bail out your ass like I have every year."
Summer held up her middle finger and walked off stage. Raven stood up cheering and whistling. A satisfying smile appeared on her face as she watched astonished looks on everyone's face. Ozpin looked a little annoyed but he walked back up to give the closing speech.
X
"Are you sure Raven?" Qrow asked, "You just graduated? Are you that nervous? Why are you sweating so bad?"
Raven was sitting down trying to catch her breath. She wiped the sweat on her forehead away with one of her shirts and grinned at her brother.
"No, no... I had to do something really fast. I am ready. I've been ready since last year."
"Well... Ready?"
Raven stood up and linked arms with her brother. They walked out of the small room into the hallway. She took a deep breath and they walked through the big doorway. Summer stood up there by Taiyang waving.
Qrow gave his sister away and they did the vows and everything. Raven jumped into Taiyang's arms and kissed him several times making him laugh. Qrow and Summer followed behind as Taiyang carried his bride out of the small chapel. They stepped outside into the sunlight.
"It's funny really."
"What is?" Summer asked looking at Qrow.
"I thought you would be here with me by this time."
She snorted and walked ahead of him, "That's your fault. But you could always marry Glynda. She's stayed by your side even after Salem."
"Yea but she was two years left and she's not in the mood for long commitments at the moment."
"If you love her then wait for her."
"I think it's her waiting for me actually... She may want to do more after Beacon. She's really motivated."
"I'm glad for her. She's really smart and she's stronger than most. Especially Neo."
They got quiet for a few minutes.
"I was hoping Roman would've showed up. I miss the way you were. You were always so nice and now... You act like my sister," Qrow said wrinkling up his nose.
Summer smirked and stayed quiet.
"But most of all... You really cared about him."
Summer stopped, "Yea."
X
X
They all pitched in for a small four bedroom house and it was small. They gave Raven and Taiyang the biggest room. Qrow had left to be with Glynda during the summer time. Summer was alone.
She had dozed off and woke up an hour later. Summer pulled on her robe and slippers heading to the kitchen. She made some coffee and decided to sit outside for a while. It would a week before the newly wed couple would come home.
Without looking down she kicked something into the grass. She frowned and sat down her cup. She searched through the grass something a small two inch box. It had her name in bright red writing with a small white rose on the box.
Summer picked it up and looked at the hand writing. It was fancy... And looked just like Roman's. Her heart started to pound furiously. If it really was from him... Why did she have to nap? Why?
Summer pulled it open carefully revealing a set of keys on a small satin pillow. Her eyes began to water. There was no note but she knew what the key belonged too. It was the key to the house Roman had bought and wanted for their future.
X
Summer ran through Vale without taking a break. It took thirty minutes of getting around people before she reached the house. It looked just the way they had left it before the big battle with Salem. Even though she was scared to go inside... She had too. What if he was in there?
She reached the door and slid the key into the door knob. Summer let the door swing open. Her eyes started to water as she looked up at the banner in the living room: Welcome Home Summer!!
Summer fell to the ground crying.
Her only hope was that Roman would be there waiting for her.
But... Of course he wasn't.
Don't worry! The story isn't over yet! We'll have a nice and heartbreaking jump to the future!