Weiss Schnee
I am totally incapable of paying attention in class today, being a senior and with it being so close to the end of the year there isn't really much point anyway. Our grades are pretty much set in stone at this point.
No matter what else I try to focus on, my thoughts just keep drifting back to the conversation Winter and I had this morning.
—-
"Hey Winter!" I smile at my big sister as she walks into the kitchen. She is still wearing her robe seeing as she doesn't have to go into the office today. For the first time in a while, it's kind of crazy how hard they work her. I'm glad she is getting some time off.
"Good morning." She walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. I made sure to brew a fresh pot for her.
"Just letting you know, Ruby invited me over to her house after school today." I don't even bother to ask for permission anymore. I already know she couldn't care less, she trusts Ruby and her family by now and doesn't mind me spending time over there so long as I don't neglect my schoolwork.
"That's nice Weiss." She sits down and starts eating the breakfast I made. She lets out a small sigh. "..By the way, I got off the phone with Klein last night."
"Oh.." My mood immediately dampens, assuming it can't be anything good. "What did you talk about?"
"Well…he has been trying to work his persuasive magic on Father but despite that and my insistence, Father won't budge on you returning home to attend business college."
"I see.." It's so frustrating. I mean I kind of knew what the outcome would be but I sort of hoped that there was a slim chance he'd actually let me decide what to do with my own future. It was a foolish thought..no, Father would rather plan my entire life out for me.
"Weiss…I can keep trying if you-"
"No it's fine..what would be the point right?" I am now more poking at my food than really eating it.
"I won't argue little sister…sometimes trying to reason with that man can feel like a never ending and entirely pointless endeavor. That said, I want what is best for you and I'm willing to keep at it for your sake."
"It's just..I feel like you have already done so much for me despite being busy with work all the time, how can I ask you to do even more."
"I'm your big sister Weiss, it's my job to look out for you and it's a job I take very seriously."
"Thanks Winter." I smile, knowing full well that if I ask her to, she'd throw everything she had into challenging Father for my sake. Even skip work or go so far as to beg him…but I can't ask that of her. "I'll be okay."
I gather my things and make my way to the front door, before I can even turn the door knob I feel Winter's hand on my shoulder.
"Weiss…I won't press the issue but if you intend to keep on this path then you have a lot you need to do, not the least of which is finally telling Ruby."
Oh yeah..I guess I still haven't really told Ruby about it…no I knew that already. I just keep pushing it down as much as possible because I am dreading having that conversation with her. She's right though, I have to tell Ruby but..how can I? She's my first and closest friend, how am I supposed to tell her that, come tomorrow, we'll have to say goodbye? Possibly forever.
"I know it won't be easy but she and the rest of your friends quite frankly, deserve to know before they wake up tomorrow and you aren't there."
"I know Winter, I promise I'll talk to Ruby today." I can't bring myself to look at her. If I do, my resolve may just crumble and I may ask her to keep trying to convince Father to let me make my own decisions.
"Very well.."
—-
I'm shaken from my memories by the sound of the final bell announcing the end of the day. Ruby and I quickly gather our belongings.
"So Weiss, whaddya say about stopping by the bakery on the way to my place, pick up a cake for dessert tonight. Preferably strawberry."
"Sounds good to me Ruby."
"Before that though we gotta stop and fill up White Rose, she's running a bit low."
"Yeah yeah."
We stop in front of our lockers to grab our things and put our books away. Before I close my locker door, I spot the group photo we took back at the beach house and suddenly my mind is filled with good memories. Not just at the beach but all the fun times Ruby and I have had, that I've had with all the new friends I have made here.
At first it puts a big smile on my face but as I remember that today is likely the last time I'll see any of them for a very long time, my smile fades. I feel a pain in my chest and I place my hand over the photo, looking extra hard at Ruby and myself. She is standing behind me, her arms around my neck and her cheek pressed against mine, that big signature Ruby grin on her face.
"Weiss..are you okay?" I turn and see Ruby looking pretty concerned. I reach up and touch my face, realizing that I had started crying without realizing it.
"Y-Yeah I'm okay." I say, quickly wiping the tears away. I feel bad that I am still hiding it from her, what am I gonna do when the day comes? Just walk away?
"You know Weiss, you can always talk to me about stuff." She reaches out and touches my shoulder. I'm not sure what to do so I just close my locker and start walking away.
"I'm fine, I'm going straight home today, sorry." I feel bad but I just can't talk about this right now, it hurts too much. At least that was the plan until I felt her hand on my wrist.
"Weiss, don't shut me out…please. If something is upsetting you I want to help."
"Ruby…there isn't anything that can be done."
"What do you mean?"
"It's just..there is something I have to tell you and I'm just not sure how." There is a moment of silence before she starts pulling me toward the exit. "R-Ruby, what are you doing?"
"Just come on." Is the only response I get out of her. I almost tried protesting more but I got a brief look at her face. It's rare to see her take on such a serious expression but I know that when it does happen, the argument is basically over.
She hops on White Rose and silently signals for me to get on behind her, which I do. She waits for me to put my helmet on and put my arms around her waist before peeling off down the street. She usually rides pretty recklessly but she is going a little extra fast today.
Eventually, as the sky changes from a bright blue to a fiery orange with the setting sun, she stops us in front of a small park. Specifically the park we went to that night we left the movies early, ever since it's been a place for us to come and just talk. No one else ever really came here so we usually had it all to ourselves and it was quiet.
"I think I can guess why you brought us here Ruby." I take my usual spot on the swings. Ruby quickly follows suit.
"Yup, I can't think of a better place for a serious heart to heart." She slowly kicks her feet back and forth.
"I suppose." I tighten my grip on the swings ropes. I'm trying to work up the courage to just tell her, after all I have to at some point right? I can't just keep dancing around it but..everytime I open my mouth to try, the words get caught in my throat.
"Weiss.." she reaches over and grabs ahold of my hand. "Whatever it is, you can tell me."
"Ruby.." My chest tightens and tears start to form in the corners of my eyes. I take a deep breath and despite the fact that I still can't force myself to look her in the eye, I finally manage to choke out what I have to say. "..when the school year ends, my Father is forcing me to return home to study business."
"So that means..?" I can hear the disbelief in her voice as her grip on my hand tightens.
"Yes Ruby..it means we won't be seeing each other, probably for a very long time."
"I…I see."
"So..?"
"I…" there is a long pause. She's obviously shocked, I would be too in her shoes. When she finally keeps talking, she puts a smile on and stands up out of the swing. "I'll miss you Weiss…but it's not like we won't be friends anymore and I'm sure we'll see each other again some day."
She says all this with her back to me, the last light of the sun casting a shadow over me. I know her words were meant to be comforting. I know that but…for some reason, it hurts. Almost worse than if she had gotten mad or yelled.
"Y-Yeah…can you take me home now?" I ask.
"S-Sure, no problem." She seems almost surprised at my request. We don't say anything the entire way there. I do find myself clinging to Ruby a little tighter than usual, it takes everything in me to not just cry into her back.
"Thanks for the ride." I hop off as soon as she pulls up in front of the apartment.
"N-No problem." I refuse to turn back and look at her. I just walk up to the apartment as fast as I can.
I close the door behind me and quickly lean against it, sliding down until I'm sitting on the floor. I clasp my hands over my face and the tears I had been holding back this entire time come pouring out.
"That isn't what I was hoping you'd say Ruby…" I didn't think it was possible for my heart to hurt this much. I don't know why and I didn't even realize it until then but…part of me wanted her to beg me to stay. To do whatever I could to not have to leave, that she wanted me to stay beside her no matter what…
I know it's selfish but I can't help it..I realize it now. My feelings for Ruby…it's not just friendship. It's a lot more than that. It's a connection I've never felt with anyone else. At first I thought it was just because she was my first real friend but now I know it's much deeper than that.
"I…I love her." I guess I hoped maybe she felt the same way but…I guess not.
Ruby Rose
"Hey Yang, I'm home!" I call out as soon as I walk inside. I get no response so I check the kitchen and find a note on the kitchen table.
'Went to the store to grab a few things, be back soon. -Yang'
I sigh and walk upstairs to my room, plopping down on the bed and mushing my face into my pillow. Honestly I still don't know exactly how to feel right now. It's almost..almost like I've just gone completely numb.
I mean how am I supposed to react to finding out that my best friend is moving away tomorrow…on the last day of school, she's not even gonna stay to attend graduation. It's just…it's just unfair.
Still..I guess it's not exactly easy on Weiss either. That's why I tried my best to stay calm and not make it any harder on her than it already is. I don't want to see her go but what can we do? It's not like crying and begging her not to go would do anything…
All it probably would've done is made things worse for her…
"Ruby, I'm home!" Yang calls from downstairs. Even though I'd really rather just stay here and sulk, I suppose I should go greet her. I pull myself out of bed and sluggishly make my way down stairs.
"Oh hey Ruby, sorry but Dad is working late tonight so I'm cooking din-" she takes one look at me as I walk into the kitchen and quickly drops what she is doing. "Ruby, are you okay?"
"Yang…" I reached up and touched my own face. I guess without realizing it, tears had started falling down my face..dang it. I tried, I really did. I tried as hard as I could to hold back the tears, to tough it out and try to act like this wasn't bothering me as much as it was but I guess I just couldn't do it.
"What's wrong Ruby, what happened?" At this point I am sure the tears are pouring down my face.
"My heart hurts..really bad." I put my hand on my chest and Yang quickly pulls me into a hug. Now any barrier I had left is completely demolished.
I hug her back and bury my face in her shoulder, crying my eyes out as she gently strokes my hair.
"Shhh it's okay." she whispers to me. "Tell me what's wrong sis."
"It's..it's Weiss…" I choke out in between sobs.
"What about Weiss?"
"She's leaving…maybe forever."
"Leaving?" she sounds almost as surprised as I was. "Why?"
"Her Dad.." I lean back out of the hug slightly, wiping my eyes and sniffling. "He's making her move home and go to business college, even though it's obvious she doesn't want to…"
"What a dick.."
"I know..based on what Weiss has told me, he's an overly controlling and neglectful jerk and now he's forcing her to leave us all behind.."
"Ruby…have you tried telling Weiss how much you want her to stay?"
"What good would that do?" I look away.
"Weiss is old enough to make her own decisions…but she's clearly afraid to stand up for herself." Yang gently turns my head so I'm looking at her. "Maybe if you told her how much you mean to her, it'd give her the courage she needs."
"She's leaving tomorrow..it's too late anyway."
"Ruby."
"W-What?" She has the stern big sister voice now.
"How important is Weiss to you?"
"She's one of the most important people in my life..she's my best friend."
"I know that but more importantly, do you..do you love her?"
"W-What do you mean?"
"I mean are you IN love with Weiss?"
"I…I don't know, where is this coming from anyway?"
"Just checking, I've had suspicions for a while, big sisters' intuition."
"What difference does that make though?"
"It makes a big difference, Ruby…I'm just saying Little Sis, if you let her leave tomorrow without telling her how you feel then you are gonna regret it for a very long time."
"But.."
"Sis, it's not too late, if you love her then you should tell her…so I'll ask again, do you?"
I think hard about it. About every time Weiss' smile made my heart flutter. About how happy it makes me just being near her. How it felt when she kissed me on the cheek and…how it felt when we kissed that night on the beach. At the time I told myself it was just a game and it didn't mean anything but..
"I…"