Chapter Text
The rhythmic thump of the tires against the highway seams was the only thing keeping Ruby from drifting off completely. Head pressed against the cool glass of the passenger window, she watched the world blur past in a haze of vibrant crimson and deep burgundy. The forests of Vale were beautiful this time of year, the dense canopy of red leaves filtering the morning sun into a warm, dappled glow that danced across the dashboard.
For as long as she could remember, these trees meant one thing: summer. But as the familiar wooden sign for Camp Beacon drew closer with every mile, a knot of nervous excitement tightened in her stomach.
This year was going to be different.
She wasn't a camper anymore. There would be no scheduled arts and crafts forced upon her, no mandatory lights out enforced by strict older teens. At nineteen, Ruby was officially stepping into the role of a counselor. It was a milestone she’d looked forward to for years, yet staring out at the endless stretch of wilderness, she couldn't help but wonder if she was actually ready to be the one in charge of a cabin full of chaotic kids.
"Hey, eyes on the prize, Rubes. You're burning a hole through the window," a cheerful voice broke her trance.
Ruby blinked, pulling her forehead away from the glass with a faint smack. To her left, Yang was practically vibrating with energy behind the steering wheel, her golden hair tied back in a messy ponytail that whipped around in the breeze from the open windows. At twenty one, Yang was entering her second year as a counselor, and she wore the confidence of a seasoned camp veteran like a badge of honor. One hand rested loosely on the wheel while the other tapped a rhythm against the doorframe to whatever pop anthem was blaring from the radio.
"I'm just thinking," Ruby defended herself, sitting up straighter and adjusting the strap of her backpack sitting in her lap. "It's just weird. What if the kids don't like me? What if I accidentally lose one in the woods on day one? What if- "
Yang let out a booming laugh, reaching over to aggressively ruffle Ruby’s short, dark hair. "Relax, little sis! You’re going to be the favorite counselor by lunchtime, guaranteed. Besides, you’ve got me to show you the ropes. This summer is going to be unforgettable."
As the truck finally veered off the paved highway and onto the bumpy, unpaved dirt road that led into the heart of the campground, Ruby looked out at the dust kicking up behind them. Yang was unknowingly right about one thing. It was definitely going to be a summer she’d never forget.
With an exasperated grunt, Ruby hauled her duffle bag out of the trunk, situating it across her body to sit nicely with her backpack. Yang already had her stuff in tow and threw the car keys over her shoulder, not sparing a glance towards Ruby as she walked to the amphitheater. Ruby stumbled forward, but managed to catch the keys before they hit the dirt.
She mumbled after her sister under her breath, closing and locking the car before following down the path her sister had walked down. Camp didn't start until the next day when campers would arrive and Ruby realized she had never seen the camp so empty before. The lack of noise was almost unsettling. For a decade, her arrivals at Camp Beacon had been defined by a cacophony of slamming car doors, screaming children, and the frantic megaphone blare of the camp assistant director Goodwitch trying to establish order. Now, the only sound was the crunch of her own sneakers on the gravel path and the distant, rhythmic chirping of cicadas high up in the pines.
The main path opened up, revealing the heart of the campground. Without hundreds of campers filling the space, the landscape looked vast, almost majestic. To her left, the grand dining hall, a massive log cabin with a wrap around porch. Beyond it, the central grassy commons, usually a chaotic battlefield of kickball games and tag, was unblemished, stretching out toward the rows of identical camper cabins tucked neatly into the tree line.
Further down the slope, Lake Forevermore looked like a sheet of untouched glass, perfectly mirroring the crimson and gold forest that cupped its edges. The swimming docks bobbed emptily on the water, devoid of lifeguards or splashing kids.
It felt like walking through a ghost town, or a stage before the curtains were pulled open.
Ruby picked up her pace, her heavy bags bouncing against her hip as she headed toward the amphitheater. Nestled in a natural bowl of earth, the amphitheater was surrounded by towering, ancient redwoods that shot up toward the sky like nature's own pillars. Circular tiers of weathered wooden benches faced a large stone fire pit, which currently sat cold and filled with gray ash from last year's final night.
As she crested the hill, she finally spotted Yang. Her sister had already dropped her bags onto a bench and was standing near the center stage, talking to a few people who were already present. It was normal seeing Yang so at ease with the other counselors, she always had a knack for making friends, but when Ruby realized she would have to join them soon, a small knot tightened in her stomach.
Yes, all returning staff from the previous years knew who she was, but she told herself she would be different this year. No more standoffish Ruby Rose who spent most of her days on the outskirts of every activity chatting with her best friend Jaune. No. This year, she would be Fun Ruby Rose whose campers all adored her and thought she was the coolest.
Putting a smile on her face, Ruby breathed deeply, filling her lungs with the smell of the woods, before exhaling slowly. She stepped forward, making eye contact with her sister who quickly waved her over. Yang was with a group of counselors Ruby had known for a few years at this point, having at once been campers altogether.
Surrounding a bench with bags on it stood Nora, Ren, Velvet, Coco, and Pyrrha. Ruby could hear their light conversation about life out of camp as she approached. The group noticed her as she got closer and conversation stopped and turned to greeting as she arrived, settling beside Yang and Pyrrha.
"Hi guys," she greeted them together as she put her red bags next to Yang's yellow ones. "How is everyone?"
"Good!" Nora was quick to respond for everyone. "I'm so excited for camp to start this year! I wonder how many kids we'll have this year. Oh, and which cabin we'll be assigned to. I hope Ren and I can bunk next door to each other." At this, Nora clasped her hands together before siding up to Ren and waggling her eyebrows.
Ren, seemingly unaware of Nora's actions, spoke softly. "It will be interesting to see how the new counselors will do this year."
Everyone nodded as Velvet turned to Yang. "Didn't you say your girlfriend was going to work at camp this summer Yang?" the faunus asked from her spot tucked against Coco's side.
Coco, peering over the rim of her sunglasses, nodded as she gestured to the blonde with her thermos. "Yeah Xiao Long, what's up with that? You got yourself a girl and then got her a job here to spend the summer with her?"
Yang's grin was sheepish as she ran a hand through her bangs. Ruby watched her sister with rapt interest. Despite her sister being in this relationship for a few months now, Ruby had yet to meet the girl who seemed to steal her sister's heart. She noted the way Yang's lavender eyes seemed to sparkle as she chuckled at their friends.
"I mean, kinda," she admitted. "We were talking about the summer, and when she realized I'd be gone the whole time, she asked if there was any way we could see each other. I joked that she should just get a job here, but I didn't think she'd actually take me seriously! But yeah, she should be here in about half an hour. She even convinced a friend to come with her."
Everyone nodded at her explanation and Ruby silently scolded herself for not asking her sister more questions about what this summer would look like now that she had her girlfriend at camp. Not that it had never happened before. Yang had had plenty of flings in the past at camp. Girls she'd kiss in the summer before moving on in the fall. But that was when they had still been campers and Yang would still crawl into the bunk over Ruby at night and whisper a goodnight before crashing. Now they were both counselors and there would be no more sharing a cabin at night. No more whispering from across the cabin in the dark, no more debriefing the day from the bunk below Yang's. The knot in Ruby's stomach tightened as she glanced at her blushing sister, suddenly hyper aware that Yang's late night company wouldn't be her anymore
Her worry didn't have a chance to overwhelm her as a yelp could be heard coming from the trail. The group turned to the sound and Ruby broke into a smile as she leapt over a bench to reach her best friend as he rubbed his shin.
"Ow," Jaune whined to himself as he picked his bags up again. He managed to look up in time as Ruby tackled him in a hug. She was aware of his sigh as they crashed together and laughed. Jaune managed a breathless laugh too, dropping his bags to wrap his arms around her. Pulling back, Ruby grinned up at her best friend. Looking at him now, it was hard to believe he was the same scrawny kid she’d met years ago at the Welcome Week Dance.
Jaune had been the first person outside of Yang that Ruby had gotten to know at camp. Ruby had been standing by the punch bowl, eyeing the clock and willing the time to go faster. Jaune had slowly walked over to get himself something to drink, found out the punch was spiked the hard way, and threw up all over Ruby's shoes. While an odd start to their friendship, they were inseparable from that moment on. Well, until Ruby went to Atlas for university. Since she left for her first in person year, this was their first time seeing each other in person.
"I can't believe you're finally back," Jaune said, offering a goofy, lopsided grin as he bent down to retrieve his dropped duffel bag. He rubbed his shin one last time with a grimace. "And I see your tackling skills haven't diminished at all since you went off to Atlas."
"University hasn't changed me that much," Ruby laughed, helping him carry the heavier of his two backpacks. "Though, I did learn how to dodge when someone looks like they're about to hurl, so your signature move won't work on me anymore."
"Hey, that was one time over ten years ago, and I blame the mystery punch," he protested, though his blue eyes were bright with genuine happiness. He fell into step beside her as they turned back toward the amphitheater. "Seriously though, Rubes. It’s been weird not having you around. Things just aren't the same."
"I know," Ruby admitted, a small wave of relief washing over her. The lingering anxiety about growing apart from Yang faded just a bit as she looked at Jaune. He was taller, his shoulders a little broader, and he was pale, no doubt about to burn before getting his tan, but he was still entirely Jaune. "But I'm back for the whole summer. No Atlas, no exams. Just Camp Beacon."
"To the first year of Counselor Rose," Jaune said, raising an imaginary glass as they crested the hill and stepped back into the circle of benches.
"Look who finally decided to show up!" Nora hollered, immediately abandoning her spot next to Ren to engulf Jaune in a bear hug that looked significantly more painful than Ruby's had been. "Did you bring the good snacks this year, Jaune, or am I going to have to raid the camp kitchen again?"
"Good to see you too, Nora. And please don't break my ribs before the kids even get here," Jaune gasped out, casting a helpless look toward Ren, who merely offered a sympathetic nod in greeting.
Pyrrha stepped forward next, her expression warm as she offered Jaune a bright smile. "Welcome back, Jaune. We were just talking about the potential cabin assignments."
"Oh, thank goodness," Jaune said, finally escaping Nora's grip and dropping his bags next to Ruby's pile. He slid onto the bench beside Pyrrha, offering her a thankful grin. "Please tell me I'm not in charge of the ten year olds again. I still have nightmares about the glitter incident from last August."
"Keep dreaming, lover boy," Coco chimed in from across the circle, adjusting her sunglasses as she checked the time on her phone. "Seniority gets the quiet kids. You and Rose over there are the rookies this year, which means you get the chaos."
Yang laughed, slinging an arm over Ruby’s shoulders and pulling her into her side. "Don't worry, Rubes. If your kids get too wild, you can just send 'em to my cabin. I'll make 'em do push ups."
"I think I'd rather take my chances with the glitter," Ruby joked, leaning into her sister's side.
The comfortable banter of the group washed over her, making the empty campground suddenly feel incredibly full. For a few minutes, everything felt exactly as it should. But as Yang casually checked her watch and glanced down the main trail, Ruby knew the peace was only temporary. The countdown to the arrival of Yang's girlfriend was officially ticking. Ruby didn't know what she should expect on the other side.
Ruby took the time to glance around the amphitheater, taking note of people she remembered and those she'd never seen before. It was the sound of a sharp, metallic clink that echoed through the amphitheater, cutting right through the counselor chatter.
At the front of the stone fire pit stood Director Ozpin, casually stirring a ceramic mug with a long metal spoon. He wore his usual dark green cardigan despite the summer heat, cane leaning against his side, looking entirely unbothered by the humidity. Beside him, Glynda Goodwitch stood like a pillar of strict professionalism, a clipboard tucked securely under her arm and a whistle resting against her collarbone.
"Welcome back, everyone," Ozpin said, his voice calm but easily carrying across the wooden benches. "And to our new staff, welcome to your first season at Camp Beacon. I trust you've all had a pleasant off season, but it is time to look forward. Tomorrow, the peace of these woods will be replaced by the beautiful chaos of our campers."
Glynda stepped forward, her eyes scanning the group sharply over the rim of her glasses. "We will begin with cabin assignments and instructor introductions. When I call your name, step up to receive your set of keys to the cabins."
Ruby watched with a mixture of nostalgia and curiosity as Glynda began reading off the list.
"For the Red Cabin: Ruby Rose."
Ruby perked up, a thrill of excitement shooting through her. She hopped off the bench, jogging down to Glynda, who handed her a key on a red carabineer. "Don't let them stay up past flashlight tag hours, Rose," Glynda warned gently.
"I won't, Miss Goodwitch!" Ruby promised, pocketing the keys as she walked back.
"Orange Cabin: Yang Xiao Long," Glynda continued. "Yellow Cabin: Jaune Arc. Green Cabin: Lie Ren.
Jaune proudly showed off his keys with a spin, giving Ruby a thumbs up, while Ren calmy tucked his into his pocket.
"Blue Cabin: Neptune Vasilias," Glynda called out. Ruby watched a guy with bright blue hair and a cool leather jacket slide off a bench to claim his blue set of keys, giving a charming, two finger salute to the crowd. "Pink Cabin: Nora Valkyrie." Nora immediately took her pink keys an shoved them between her boobs, smile spreading across her face. "And White Cabin: Ciel Soleil." A girl with a severe haircut and an incredibly precise posture marched down, taking her white keys with a crisp, military grade nod.
With the cabin counselors sorted, Glynda moved to the activity instructors.
"Our instructors for the specialized camp tracks," Glynda read aloud. "Art Instructor: Velvet Scarlatina." Velvet gave a shy wave, her long rabbit ears twitching as she accepted her staff shirt alongside Coco Adel, who smiled sharply as she was announced as the Music Instructor. Pyrrha Nikos was named Sports Instructor to loud cheers from Jaune and Nora, while a terrifyingly poised woman named Cinder Fall accepted her Archery Instructor shirt with a slow, enigmatic smile that made Ruby shiver just a little.
"And our final instructor," Glynda said, "Rock Wall: Sun Wukong." A blond guy with a athletic build and a long monkey tail grinned, tossing his staff shirt over his shoulder with a laugh. He and the blue cabin counselor tussled a bit as he walked by after receiving his shirt.
Just as Glynda was about to check her sheet for the final missing staff members, the heavy crunch of gravel signaled an arrival. Ruby looked over her shoulder to see two figures walking down the wooden steps of the amphitheater, heavily weighed down by matching luggage.
Yang practically leaped over a bench, her muscles tensing. "Blake!"
The first girl dropped her duffel bag just in time to catch Yang as the blonde threw herself into a hug. She had long, wavy dark hair, a pair of dark sunglasses, and a tired but incredibly fond smile as she buried her face in Yang's shoulder. But it was the girl standing right behind Blake that made Ruby’s breath hitch.
She was gorgeous. Strikingly, almost impossibly beautiful. She wore a pristine, sleeveless white blouse and high waisted shorts that looked entirely too fancy for a dusty campground. Her snow white hair was pulled back into a high, flawless ponytail, and a faint, intriguing scar ran vertically down her left eye. She was currently glaring at a smudge of dirt on her designer suitcase with an expression of pure, icy disdain.
Beside Ruby, Jaune let out a sound that was half gasp, half choke.
"Oh my god," Jaune whispered, his eyes locked onto the white haired girl. He grabbed Ruby’s arm, his grip entirely too tight. "Ruby. Ruby, look. Who is that? Is she an angel? Did an angel just get lost on the way to a country club and accidentally end up at Camp Beacon?"
"I- I think that's Yang's girlfriend's friend," Ruby stammered, unable to take her own eyes off the newcomer.
Ozpin cleared his throat loudly, bringing the amphitheater back to order. "Ah, the final additions to our summer staff. Welcome. Miss Goodwitch, if you please?"
Glynda sighed, checking her sheet. "Blake Belladonna, you are assigned to the Purple Cabin as a counselor." She handed Blake a purple set of keys, which Blake accepted with a quiet smile before sliding onto the bench next to an ecstatic Yang. She slid her keys into her pocket as Yang peppered the side of her face with soft kisses.
"And Weiss Schnee," Glynda concluded, handing over a crisp blue and white staff shirt. "You will be our Swim Instructor for the season."
Weiss, Ruby thought, the name echoing in her head. It suited her perfectly.
Weiss gave a stiff, polite nod to Ozpin and Glynda before looking around for a place to sit. She chose an empty spot on a bench across the circle, smoothing out her shorts before sitting down and crossing her legs elegantly.
Jaune leaned in close to Ruby, his voice a frantic, desperate whisper. "Ruby, I am completely, one hundred percent infatuated. Look at her! She’s perfect. This is it. This is the summer I find true love." He turned to Ruby, pleading blue eyes wide. "You have to help me. You're my best friend, my rock. Will you help me? Please?"
Ruby looked from Jaune's desperate, hopeful face over to Weiss, who was currently swatting a mosquito away with an expression of utter betrayal. A strange, unfamiliar flutter danced in Ruby’s chest, but she quickly pushed it down. Jaune was her best friend. Of course she'd support him.
Putting on her best, most encouraging smile, Ruby slapped Jaune on the back. "Of course I will, Jaune! I've got your back."
Jaune beamed, letting out a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Rubes. You're the best."
Ruby nodded, but as her eyes drifted back over to the new swim instructor, she couldn't help but wonder what exactly she had just agreed to.
By the time the afternoon sun began to dip behind the towering redwoods, painting the camp in long, golden shadows, the staff was huddled in a massive circle on the main cabin porch. Goodwitch had strictly mandated a "bonding icebreaker," which naturally meant a grueling, hours long game of Two Truths and a Lie.
Surprisingly, it hadn't been entirely terrible.
Ruby had learned quite a few interesting things. Blake, for instance, had successfully tricked the entire group into thinking she had never read a romance novel, when in reality, she had once spent three consecutive years living on a house boat and actually knew how to expertly gut a fish. Ruby had to admit, seeing the way Blake quietly chuckled at her own victory made her feel a lot better about her sister's choice in a girlfriend. Blake seemed grounded, smart, and genuinely sweet.
On the flip side, Ruby's instincts about the archery instructor were entirely correct. When it was Cinder’s turn, her truths had included an incredibly casual mention of "accidentally" setting her high school chemistry lab on fire, delivered with a slow, unblinking stare that gave Ruby a distinct, spine chilling vibe. Ruby had silently made a mental note to stay as far away from the archery range as humanly possible this summer.
"Alright, let us move on with this exercise," Glynda announced from the edge of the porch, crossing her arms and tapping her clipboard. "We have three staff members remaining. Xiao Long, you're up."
Yang stood up, stretching her arms above her head with a grin. "Finally! Okay, team, listen up. One: I once broke my arm trying to wrestle a stray goat at a petting zoo. Two: My record for eating camp burgers in one sitting is fourteen. Three: I have a secret tattoo of a yellow dragon on my ankle."
"The goat!" Nora yelled immediately. "You definitely wrestled the goat!"
"No way, Yang would never lose to a goat," Coco countered, leaning back on her hands. "It's definitely the burgers. Fourteen is rookie numbers for her."
After a flurry of guesses, Yang laughed, pointing at Coco. "Coco's right! My burger record is actually twenty one. The goat story is completely true."
As Yang sat back down, throwing a playful arm around Blake's shoulders, Glynda gave a sharp nod. "Next. Rose."
Ruby stood up, rolling her shoulders back. Beneath her counselor tee, the muscle tone from her years of track and field was hidden, and she was thankful after early having to hear Neptune tell arguably three lies about how much weight he could lift while glancing in Weiss's direction. She offered the circle a bright grin.
"Okay, here are mine," Ruby said confidently. "One: I graduated high school at sixteen and started my mechanical engineering degree at Atlas University two years early. Two: I still hold the official town record back home for the fastest hundred meter sprint. And three: I own a perfect, movie certified prop of the giant scythe prop from my favorite sci fi film."
The circle went quiet for a second as the counselors absorbed the information.
"Wait, you're a literal genius?" Sun asked, scratching at his head.
"Talk about a powerhouse, Rose," Coco commented with a grin.
"I know the sprint record is true," Jaune chimed in, pointing a finger at her. "I watched her leave dust in everyone's faces at the district meet."
Neptune butted in, "I'm guessing the college thing is the lie. There's no way you were doing calculus at sixteen."
"Wrong!" Ruby laughed, crossing her arms proudly. "I really did go to college two years early, just online. The lie is actually the prop. I don't own a prop of the scythe, I completely designed, forged, and built a replica myself from scratch in the engineering lab."
A collective murmur of impressed disbelief ran through the group. Across the circle, Ruby noticed Weiss's posture shift slightly. The white haired girl, who had spent most of the icebreaker looking thoroughly bored and aloof, was suddenly looking directly at Ruby. Her icy blue eyes narrowed slightly, tracking Ruby as she sat back down, as if she was re-evaluating the girl in the red hoodie entirely. There was a newfound spark of genuine curiosity in Weiss's gaze.
"And finally," Glynda said, her strict voice cutting through the murmurs as her eyes shifted. "Miss Schnee."
Weiss tore her gaze away from Ruby and sat up remarkably straight, smoothing down her immaculate denim shorts. She cleared her throat, her voice crisp and clear.
"Very well. One: I am a classically trained operatic soprano. Two: I have only ever vacationed in all inclusive resorts. And three: I spent my fourteenth birthday getting lost in the Dunes."
While the rest of the counselors began whispering in disbelief about Weiss's absurdly wealthy upbringing, Ruby didn't look at Weiss. Instead, she looked to her right and missed a glance in her own direction.
Jaune was practically melting. He was leaning forward so far he was at risk of falling off the porch, his jaw slightly slack and his blue eyes wide with absolute reverence. When Weiss mentioned being an operatic soprano, Jaune let out a tiny, breathless sigh, clutching his shirt as if the sheer grace of her existence was causing him physical pain.
He caught Ruby looking at him and frantically nudged her arm with his elbow, whispering out of the side of his mouth. "Did you hear that, Rubes? She sings opera. Opera. And she's a literal princess. You have to help me. What's the wingman play here? Do I ask her about Vacuo?!"
Ruby forced a bright, supportive smile, though that strange, uninvited flutter returned to her stomach as she glanced back across the circle. Weiss was still looking toward her, their eyes meeting for a brief, intense second before Blake next to her claimed her attention.
"Uh, maybe hold off on the Dunes, Jaune," Ruby whispered back, gently patting his shoulder to bring him back to earth. "Let's start with a simple 'hello' first."
Jaune nodded enthusiastically, looking back over at Weiss who was engrossed in conversation with Blake and Yang. Ruby followed his gaze before Goodwitch stood and instructed them to set up in their respective cabins before dinner. She announced she would show the instructors to their cabin separate from the campers and walked off without another word. Coco, Velvet, Sun, Neptune, Weiss, Pyrrha, and Cinder walked after Goodwitch, bags in tow.
Ruby waved bye to her friends before making her way to the Red Cabin. The trek was a quiet one. Lugging her heavy duffel bag and backpack down the gravel trail, Ruby watched the camp layout unfold beneath the cooling evening sky.
True to the camp's tradition, the cabins were built in a wide, sweeping arc framing the glassy waters of Lake Forevermore. They were positioned in perfect rainbow order. The main lodge and dining hall sat squarely in the center of the camp, acting as the heart of the grounds, while the specialized instructor cabin was tucked privately away in the woods off to the side. Because Ruby was in charge of the Red Cabin, her summer home sat on the absolute furthest edge to the left, nestled right where the forest was most dense.
When she finally pushed open the screen door of her cabin, the familiar smell of aged cedar and fresh pine greeted her. It was completely empty aside from seven sets of wooden bunk beds waiting for the chaos of tomorrow’s campers.
With a sigh, Ruby dropped her bags onto the mattress of the single counselor bed near the door. She unzipped her duffel and began the grounding routine of unpacking. She neatly folded her swimsuits, stacked her running shorts, and carefully lined up the drawers already filled with the red counselor tee.
As she unpacked, her mind began to drift, sorting through the events of the afternoon.
It was going to be a strange summer, she realized. Usually, she and Yang were joined at the hip, but Yang’s attention was completely captured by Blake now, and honestly, seeing how happy her sister looked, Ruby couldn't even be mad about it. But it did mean she was a bit more on her own. And then there was Jaune. Her reliable, goofy best friend was currently completely derailed by a beautiful, white haired swim instructor. He was so laser focused on Weiss that Ruby knew she’d be flying solo as a rookie counselor more often than not.
A small, nervous flutter twisted in her stomach as she smoothed out her red comforter. She was nineteen, isolated on the edge of the camp, with her safety nets suddenly occupied by other people.
But as she hung up her keys by her bed, a familiar spark of optimism took over. Ruby Rose didn't back down from a challenge. She was a genius who could build scythes from scratch and a track star who knew how to push through the hardest miles. If this summer was going to be a messy, unpredictable ride, then she was just going to have to be ready for anything.
Giving herself a firm nod in the small cabin mirror, she flashed a determined smile. "You've got this, Rose. Bring on the campers."
Glancing at her watch, she realized dinner would be starting soon at the main lodge. Satisfied with her setup, Ruby stepped out of her cabin, letting the screen door click shut behind her as she headed back down the trail.
Ruby's eyes drifted between her food and the schedule in hand. The light chatter of the main dining lodge bounced off the exposed wooden rafters, but at their table, everyone was entirely hyper focused on the printed sheets of paper Ozpin had handed out right before the dinner bell.
"Oh, this is beautiful," Yang declared, practically slamming her fork down in triumph. She leaned over the bench, entirely invading Blake’s personal space to point at her sheet. "Look at you, babe. Ruby's cabin is paired with yours for the Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule. That means you guys get to spend time together."
Blake offered a soft smile, her cat ears flicking as she glanced at the schedule and then back at Ruby. "And by spend time together, you mean survive the kids right?" Ruby nodded nervously and sent a smile Blake's way. Yang laughed, bumping her shoulder against Blake’s, sending a beaming smile Ruby's way.
Across the table, Jaune was staring at his own schedule like it was a sacred text, his finger tracing the days of the week. "Wait... let me check this. Red and Yellow are paired on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays." He abruptly paused, his blue eyes snapping over to Weiss, who was elegantly cutting her grilled chicken into perfectly identical, bite sized pieces. "Uh, Weiss? What is your Thursday afternoon slot?"
Weiss didn't look up immediately. She finished chewing, patted her mouth with a cloth napkin, and then cast a cool, polite gaze across the table. "I am the swim instructor, Jaune. I am at the lake for every single slot, every single day."
"Right. Of course. Obviously," Jaune stammered, a flush creeping up his neck. He aggressively nudged Ruby's ribs under the table, his eyes wide with a manic mix of panic and excitement. "Ruby," he hissed out of the side of his mouth, "Thursday afternoon. Swimming. We have her. Together. This is the master plan."
Ruby winced slightly from the elbow to her ribs, forcing a small chuckle. "Yeah, Jaune. I see it."
She looked back down at her paper. It was a solid schedule, but as she mapped it out, she realized how intertwined her summer was about to be. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the Red Cabin was paired with Blake’s Purple Cabin. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays they were paired with Jaune's Yellow Cabin. Monday would have swimming in the morning followed by music in the afternoon. Tuesday called for the rock wall and art. Wednesday was bound to be exhausting with sports in the morning and archery in the afternoon. Thursday and Friday seemed to offer some relief with art one morning and music the next, with swimming designated for the afternoon on both days. Not to mention the reset Saturday offered as the all day beach trip, before starting the loop all over again on Sunday with morning swimming and the rock wall to finish out the night.
"Well, I think the schedule is perfectly adequate," Weiss stated, folding her paper with precise, sharp creases. "Though I am still questioning the wisdom of a mandatory beach trip every single Saturday. Logistically, supervising a hundred children in open ocean water sounds like a liability nightmare."
"Aw, come on, Ice Queen, it’s a camp tradition!" Yang teased, leaning across the table to grin at her. "Besides, you're the swim instructor. If anyone can keep a bunch of kids from drowning, it's a classically trained alpine survivalist like you."
Weiss rolled her eyes, but a tiny, almost imperceptible twitch of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. As she set her folded schedule down, her icy blue eyes flicked across the table, bypassing a grinning Jaune entirely, and landed directly on Ruby. She gave Ruby a long, calculated look, as if remembering something about her.
Ruby caught the look and felt that strange, unfamiliar flutter kick up in her chest again. She quickly offered Weiss a small, friendly smile. Weiss blinked, surprised, before giving a single, dignified nod and turning back to her food.
"Hey," Jaune whispered, entirely oblivious as he leaned heavily into Ruby’s space. "Did you see that? She looked over here. I think my charm is already working. What do you think our first move should be on Thursday? Should I learn how to do a backflip off the diving dock?"
Ruby tore her eyes away from Weiss, looking at her best friend's completely earnest, hopeful face. She swallowed the weird tightness in her throat and slapped a supportive hand on his shoulder.
"Let's maybe stick to a normal cannonball first, Jaune," Ruby joked, forcing her brightest wingman smile. "We don't need you breaking a leg on week one." She folded the paper in half, sliding it into the pocket of her shorts with a quiet sigh.
Before she could fully process the reality of her upcoming week, a shadow fell over the table. Ruby looked up to find Nora standing at the head of the bench, a dangerously bright, highly suspicious grin plastered across her face. She was swaying slightly on her heels, her hands tucked sneakily behind her back, Ren joining her.
"Alright, gather 'round, counselors of Camp Beacon," Nora lowered her voice to a dramatic, conspiratorial whisper, leaning over the table so suddenly that Jaune flinched. "Old man Ozpin and Mama Glynda think a few rounds of Two Truths and a Lie on a dusty porch counts as bonding. But we all know the real counseling tradition starts after hours."
Yang’s eyes immediately lit up, a matching grin breaking across her face. "Nora, my girl. What did you do?"
With a theatrical flourish, Nora whipped her hands from behind her back, revealing a heavy, slightly clinking canvas grocery bag. Through the gap in the handles, Ruby could see the distinct tops of a few glass bottles and a massive pack of red solo cups.
"I call it: Counselor Orientation, Part Two," Nora declared proudly, holding her two fingers up in a peace sign. "A little would you rather, a little never have I ever, and a whole lot of contraband I may or may not have smuggled here in the spare tire compartment of Ren's car."
"Nora," Ren sighed, though there was zero surprise in his voice. "We discussed this."
"And we agreed it was a great idea! Right, Ren?" Nora patted his cheek affectionately before turning her gaze to the rest of the table. "So, who's in? We’re meeting down at the amphitheater near the lake in twenty minutes. It's far enough from the director's cabin that Glynda won't hear us unless someone starts singing at the top of their lungs." She pointed a strict finger directly at Jaune. "Looking at you, Arc."
"Hey! I only sang once, and it was a very emotional camp ballad," Jaune defended himself, though he was already grinning and looking over at Weiss to see her reaction.
"I'm in," Yang said instantly, tossing her arm back over Blake's shoulder. "I never turn down a challenge. Blake's in too."
Blake raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "I didn't agree to anything yet."
"You don't have to, babe, I'll drink your share if you get tired," Yang winked.
"Count us out," Coco chimed in, sliding out of the booth and adjusting her sunglasses. Velvet nodded alongside her, a small, smile on her lips.
"We need to go through our cabins tonight to get things set up for tomorrow," she explained for them.
Everyone's eyes naturally drifted to Weiss, who was looking at Nora's canvas bag with an expression that suggested she had never seen alcohol that didn't come with a cork and a vintage label.
"A drinking game?" Weiss repeated, her tone dripping with skepticism. "In a public park, right before the children arrive? That sounds highly irresponsible."
"Oh, come on, Ice Queen," Yang chuckled, leaning back. "Afraid a bunch of public school kids are gonna out drink a tragic Atlas princess?"
Weiss’s icy blue eyes narrowed instantly, the bait working perfectly. She sat up straight, crossing her arms. "I am not afraid. And for your information, my tolerance is impeccable. Very well. I shall attend, if only to ensure none of you accidentally fall into the lake and drown before tomorrow morning."
Jaune practically choked on his own spit, giving Ruby a frantic, wide eyed look under the table that screamed, This is my chance!
Ruby laughed, the last of her lingering anxiety completely melting away. A late night drinking game at the amphitheater with all her friends was exactly the kind of unpredictable activity she had been hoping for.
"Alright, count me in too," Ruby said, sliding off the bench and offering Jaune a supportive nudge. "Let's go before Goodwitch sees us."
Nora cheered, hoisting the bag over her shoulder like a pirate with stolen treasure. "Meeting adjourned! See you at the fire pit, losers!"
The amphitheater was entirely different in the dark. Without the roar of a camp bonfire, the stone pit sat cold and hollow, a dark circle in the center of their gathering. The only illumination came from the brilliant silver glow of the moon reflecting off the glass surface of Lake Forevermore and the occasional, erratic beam of Jaune’s flashlight when he bounced it against the wooden benches.
They sat clustered together on the lowest tier of benches, the forest around them humming with the steady, nocturnal thrum of crickets.
Nora had wasted no time. She sat cross legged right on the edge of the stone pit, acting as the self appointed dealer of whatever cheap, horribly sweet liquor she had smuggled in. Ren sat directly behind her, acting as her quiet, grounding shadow, while Pyrrha sat to his left, sipping politely from a red solo cup with a warm, content smile.
"Alright, rookies and veterans!" Nora whisper shouted, gesturing dramatically with a half empty bottle. "The rules of Never Have I Ever are simple. Hold up five fingers. If you’ve done it, you drink and put a finger down. If you want to drink, take a drink. Last person with fingers up wins absolute bragging rights for the rest of the summer."
Ruby pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms tightly around them as she watched the circle. She held up her five fingers, feeling a familiar, nervous tightening in her throat. Back at Atlas, she spent most of her time locked away in the engineering labs or running laps until her lungs burned. Parties hadn't really been her thing after poor experiences at the first few. But looking around at the relaxed, laughing faces of her friends, she swallowed the hesitation. She wanted to be a part of this. She wanted to show them she wasn't just the quiet little sister anymore.
"I'll start," Yang said, leaning back heavily against Blake’s shoulder. She held up her hand, a wicked grin flashing in the moonlight. "Never have I ever... gotten a tattoo I had to hide from my parents."
Nora immediately drank.
"Aha! I knew it!" Yang cheered, pointing at Nora. "Where is it?"
"Classified, Xiao Long," Nora laughed, bumping her cup against Ren's. Ren didn't drink, but the amused, knowing smirk on his face told Ruby everything she needed to know.
Ruby watched Blake and Yang, a soft smile tugging at her lips. The ease between her sister and Blake was beautiful, completely devoid of the loud, performative energy Yang usually put into her flings.
"My turn," Pyrrha said softly, her green eyes glinting. "Never have I ever... broken a bone."
Almost the entire circle groaned and took a sip, save Weiss and Ruby. Ruby proudly kept her hand completely still, flashing a grin across the circle.
"Just wait until you try to navigate the campgrounds in the pitch black after hours, Rubes," Yang teased, tossing a stray twig at her sister.
Next to Ruby, Jaune was practically vibrating. His hand was up, but his head was turned entirely toward Weiss. Weiss sat on the bench directly opposite them, looking like a literal moonbeam in the dark. She held her solo cup by the very rim with two fingers, treating the cheap alcohol like it was an expensive champagne, her posture still perfectly rigid.
"Okay, my turn," Jaune announced, his voice cracking slightly before he cleared his throat. He locked eyes with Weiss. "Never have I ever... been to Vacuo."
Weiss paused, her cup halfway to her lips as she was about to take a non game obligated sip. She leveled Jaune with a flat, incredibly unimpressed stare. "That is a pathetic attempt to force me to drink, Arc."
"Did it work though?" Jaune grinned, completely unfazed by her icy tone.
With a dramatic, heavy sigh, Weiss took a delicate sip of her drink and lowered one finger. "Yes. Clearly. I hope you're proud of your lack of creativity."
"Incredibly proud," Jaune beamed, practically glowing in the dark as he nudged Ruby's knee with his own. Did you see that? his face screamed. We're communicating!
Ruby laughed quietly, shaking her head. But as her eyes drifted from Jaune back over to Weiss, she caught the white haired girl looking right back at her. Her icy blue eyes were fixed entirely on Ruby, tracking the way Ruby was huddled in her oversized red hoodie, a faint, curious tilt to her head. The look sent that strange, electric flutter right back into Ruby's chest. Determined to step out of her shell and break the tension, Ruby took a deep breath, lifted her solo cup, and spoke up before she could lose her nerve.
"My turn," Ruby said, her voice clear and confident enough to make the whole circle turn to her. She looked right at Weiss, a playful, challenging spark in her eyes. "Never have I ever... been classically trained in opera."
Weiss froze. Across the circle, Yang and Blake instantly burst into loud, echoing laughter. "Oh, that is foul, Rubes!" Yang wheezed, clapping her hand on her knee. "Direct hit!"
Weiss’s cheeks flushed a prominent, dusty pink in the moonlight. She glared at Ruby, though there was a sudden, sharp amusement dancing in her eyes beneath the annoyance. "You," Weiss pointed a manicured finger at her, "are entirely unfair, Ruby Rose." Weiss took a begrudging, larger gulp of her drink, putting another finger down. Ruby ignored the flutter in her chest at the sight.
Instead, she grinned, taking a victory sip of her own horribly sweet drink. The burning sensation in her throat was completely eclipsed by the rush of warmth in her chest. She was doing it. She was fitting in, playing the game, and for a brief, thrilling second, she had held the undivided, captivated attention of Weiss Schnee.
"See?" Jaune aggressively whispered into Ruby’s ear, his breath smelling faintly of Nora’s mysterious, sugary concoction. He was practically bouncing on the weathered wooden bench, his eyes darting back and forth. "She remembers your name! You're completely in with her, Rubes. This is huge for us. You’re doing a fantastic job."
Ruby offered a slightly strained smile, her eyes darting briefly back to the white haired girl across the circle. "Yeah, Jaune. Just doing my civic duty as your wingman."
Before Jaune could cook up another tragic line of questioning, Weiss sat up even straighter, her icy blue eyes scanning the gathered counselors with the calculated precision of a chess grandmaster. A small, competitive smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Since it seems the theme of this evening is direct sabotage," Weiss said, her voice dripping with elegant amusement, "I believe it is my turn to level the playing field." She raised her cup, her gaze sweeping across the circle. "Never have I ever... actually been to this camp before."
A collective groan echoed through the dark amphitheater.
"Oh, come on! That's cheap!" Yang complained, though she was already laughing as she tipped her cup back.
One by one, fingers dropped. Yang, Ruby, Jaune, Nora, Ren, and Pyrrha all took a drink, the shared history of their childhood summers binding them together in a unified gulp of cheap alcohol. Across the circle, Blake simply offered Weiss a toasted raise of her cup, neither of them moving a muscle.
"A flawless execution," Weiss murmured, looking thoroughly pleased with herself as she noted the depleted hands around the fire pit.
As the game continued to circle around, the atmosphere grew looser and the laughter grew louder. Secrets were spilled, embarrassing camp memories from years past were dragged into the light, and cups were continuously refilled by a manic Nora.
But as the rounds ticked by, Nora’s enthusiastic grin began to morph into a squint of pure, unadulterated frustration. Her eyes kept locking onto the far side of the bench, specifically targeting Ruby.
"Wait, wait, hold the phone," Nora suddenly interrupted, slamming her solo cup down onto the stone edge of the fire pit with a dramatic thud. Everyone paused, looking at her. Nora pointed a fierce, accusing finger directly at Ruby. "Ruby Rose. Look at your hand. Look at it!"
Ruby blinked, holding up her left hand. Four fingers were still proudly standing tall. "What? I'm looking."
"You've only put one finger down this entire night!" Nora shouted, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "We've been playing for an hour! I smuggled this alcohol into the woods for bonding, and you are actively resisting the bond!"
"I'm not resisting!" Ruby defended herself, a bright laugh bubbling out of her as she pulled her red hoodie tighter around herself, slowly feeling the effects of the alcohol. "You guys are just asking things I haven't done!"
"That's it. It's personal now," Nora declared, her eyes narrowing into slits as she leaned forward, completely ignoring the rest of the circle. "Yang! Help me out here. You're her sister, you know her secrets. Give me something to break her record!"
Yang’s eyes flashed with a wicked, predatory gleam in the moonlight. A slow, mischievous grin spread across her face as she leaned back against the bench. "Oh, you want a Ruby secret? I've got a lethal one." Yang held up her hand, locking eyes directly with her little sister. "Never have I ever... made out with a Camp Beacon counselor before."
A sudden chorus of oooohs and laughter erupted around the circle as Ruby’s jaw dropped, her cheeks instantly catching fire. "Yang! That is so unfair!"
Across the pit, Nora and Ren both raised their cups with synchronized, unbothered expressions, taking a sip together. "We account for each other," Ren said with a casual shrug.
But nobody was looking at Nora and Ren. Every single eye in the circle slammed onto Ruby, who was currently trying to bury her burning face into the collar of her red hoodie. Under the intense peer pressure, Ruby slowly, agonizingly lowered her second finger and took a begrudging sip from her solo cup.
"No way!" Jaune yelled, his jaw slacking as he stared at his best friend. "Ruby?! You? Who was it?!"
"Details, Rubes! The public demands details!" Yang cheered, leaning forward with rapt interest.
Even Weiss had tilted her head, her icy blue eyes fixed entirely on Ruby, waiting with an unexpected intensity.
"Okay, okay, fine!" Ruby squeaked, her voice a little high pitched from the blush. She rubbed the back of her neck, refusing to look anyone in the eye. "You guys remember Neon? She was the counselor for the Pink Cabin last year. The one who literally roller bladed everywhere?"
A collective nod went through the camp veterans.
"Well," Ruby stammered, her voice dropping to a shy mumble, "she goes to university up in Atlas too. When she was working here at camp, she barely ever noticed me. She just thought of me as Yang’s dorky little sister. But then, a few months ago, she showed up at this college party I was dragged to."
Ruby took a small breath, her memory making her blush deepen. "She kept drinking, and she kept offering me drinks, and... out of nowhere, she just dragged me into one of the spare bedrooms. And we made out. For like... a really long time."
The amphitheater exploded into a mix of impressed cheers and rowdy applause. Yang loudly threw her hands in the air, yelling, "That's my girl!" while Nora let out a low whistle of approval. Pyrrha was blushing furiously on Ruby's behalf, and Jaune was staring at Ruby like he was seeing her in a whole new light.
"Man, Ruby," Jaune laughed, shaking his head. "You've got some hidden depths."
As the boisterous laughter echoed through the trees, Ruby finally risked a glance across the circle to see how Weiss had reacted to the story.
Weiss wasn't laughing. She was leaning slightly forward, her chin resting elegantly in her hand, staring across the empty fire pit directly at Ruby. There was a sudden, intense heat in her icy blue gaze, her eyes practically screamed that she was suddenly, deeply interested in the girl in the red hoodie. The sharp, re-evaluating look from dinner had transformed into something much more magnetic.
Ruby caught the gaze, and her heart did a frantic, chaotic spaz against her ribs. But as she looked at Weiss's unblinking, focused stare, Ruby's classic oblivious nature took over. It would be surprising to someone who didn't know her that small Ruby Rose could survive a college party. As such, Ruby offered Weiss a small, self deprecating smile and a tiny shrug, as if to say 'yeah, I don't know how it happened either.'
Weiss blinked, a fleeting expression of slight disbelief crossing her face at Ruby's total obliviousness, before she masked it with her usual dignified composure and took a slow sip of her drink.
Next to her, Jaune clapped a heavy hand onto Ruby's shoulder, completely missing the entire silent exchange. "Alright, my turn again. Let's see if we can get Weiss to drink again..."
The golden moonlight had shifted, casting long, dramatic shadows across the amphitheater as the night finally caught up with them.
The game had officially ended when Jaune, after bravely attempting to match Nora drink for drink, had abruptly ran to the edge of the wooden docks nearby and violently emptied the contents of his stomach into Lake Forevermore. Now, Ruby stood a few paces back, watching with a mixture of pity and amusement as Yang and Pyrrha practically carried him between them. Jaune’s legs were like overcooked noodles, his body limp as he mumbled something incoherent about "the stars spinning."
"We've got him, Rubes," Yang called back over her shoulder, hoisted Jaune’s left arm over her neck while Pyrrha expertly supported his right side. "Go get some sleep. We’ll dump him in the Yellow Cabin and make sure he doesn't choke on his own tongue tonight."
"Thanks, guys!" Ruby called out, waving a slightly tired hand as the trio disappeared up the gravel path toward the main camp arc.
Left alone in the quiet dark of the amphitheater, Ruby let out a long breath, the cool night air brushing against her flushed cheeks. The alcohol had left a pleasant, buzzing warmth in her veins. She stretched her arms over her head, letting out a small yawn, and turned around to begin her own trek back to the isolated Red Cabin. Nora offered to bring Blake to the Purple Cabin and they departed with Ren in tow, leaving Ruby alone.
"Excuse me. Ruby?"
Ruby jumped, a tiny yelp escaping her throat as she whirled around.
Standing just a few feet away, practically glowing under the silver moonlight, was Weiss. She looked entirely out of place in the rugged woods, her white ponytail flawlessly intact and her hands clasped elegantly behind her back. Ruby hadn't even heard her approach.
"Oh! Weiss!" Ruby stammered, her heart doing a sudden, violent thud against her ribs that had absolutely nothing to do with being startled. "Hey! Sorry, I didn't see you there. Is everything okay?"
Weiss shifted her weight slightly, her icy blue eyes scanning the dark tree line behind them. "Everything is adequate. However, I seem to have underestimated how incredibly dark these woods become after hours. Miss Goodwitch escorted us to the instructors lodge earlier, but I am entirely turned around. Could you perhaps direct me to the cabin?"
"Oh, absolutely!" Ruby said, instantly falling into her helpful, eager to please counselor persona. She stepped forward and pointed toward a narrower, less traveled trail that split off away from the main cabin arc. "It's actually super easy. You just take that path right there, follow it past the old equipment shed, and keep heading straight into the woods for about two minutes. It's tucked away over there so you guys get some privacy from the kids." Ruby lowered her hand, offering a bright, proud smile.
Weiss didn't move. She didn't look toward the dark, intimidating trail Ruby had just pointed to. Instead, she stood perfectly still, leveling Ruby with a flat, expectant, and incredibly unimpressed stare. One of her perfectly shaped eyebrows arched upward.
Silence stretched between them for a long, agonizing five seconds, the crickets filling the noise gap.
Ruby blinked, her smile faltering as she looked from the dark trail, back to Weiss, and then back to the trail. Suddenly, a lightbulb went off in her brain. Oh. These are dark woods at night.
"Uh- or!" Ruby corrected herself quickly, her cheeks burning with a fresh wave of embarrassment. "I can just... walk you there? If you want? I mean, I'm already up, and I know these trails like the back of my hand, so..."
The flat expression on Weiss’s face melted away, replaced by a satisfied, almost smug little smile. "That would be highly preferable. Lead the way, Ruby Rose."
"Right! Leading the way. On it," Ruby mumbled, turning on her heel and guiding them onto the narrow dirt path.
The walk was quiet at first, the canopy of towering redwoods cutting off most of the moonlight and plunging them into deep shadows. The proximity to Weiss made Ruby incredibly nervous. Desperate to fill the quiet and break her own internal tension, Ruby’s brain immediately reverted to its default setting: rambling.
"So, yeah, the instructors' cabin is really nice!" Ruby blurted out, her hands shoving deep into the pockets of her red hoodie as she walked a step ahead. "It actually has indoor plumbing and its own water heater, which the camper cabins definitely do not have. Trust me, cold showers in the morning are a great way to wake up, but they're not very fun. And Velvet usually leaves art pieces drying on the porch, so just make sure you don't trip over any paintings. Oh, and Cinder, she's the new archery instructor, she's kind of... intense? I mean, you saw her at the icebreaker, right? Total arsonist vibes. But I'm sure she's great! Everything is gonna be great. It's a really fun camp, I promise."
Ruby finally paused to catch her breath, realizing she had been speaking at a mile a minute. She risked a glance over her shoulder.
Weiss was walking a comfortable pace behind her, watching Ruby with an amused, incredibly soft expression that Ruby couldn't quite decipher. "Do you always speak this quickly when you're navigating the wilderness, Ruby?"
"Only when I'm trying to make sure bears don't eat us," Ruby joked weakly, her voice trailing off as the path finally cleared into a small, private opening. Nestled in the clearing was a large, modern looking log cabin with a small porch. A single golden lightbulbs hummed above the front door, illuminating the space. "And... here we are," Ruby said, stepping to the side and gesturing to the porch. "Safe and sound. No bears."
Weiss stepped past her, but instead of walking up the wooden stairs, she stopped right in front of Ruby. She turned around, stepping close enough that Ruby could smell a faint, elegant scent of peppermint and expensive lotion. Weiss tilted her head up, her icy blue eyes locking onto Ruby's face, deliberately examining her from her messy dark hair down to her red hoodie, and back up to her eyes.
Under the intense, unblinking scrutiny, Ruby felt her throat go entirely dry. A heavy, furious blush rushed up her neck, painting her face bright red. She faltered under the gaze, her hands fidgeting in her pockets as her heart hammered against her ribs.
"Um," Ruby squeezed out, her voice cracking slightly. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat. "I, uh... I hope we all have a great summer. You know. Together. At camp."
Weiss didn't break eye contact. She let out a small, slow hum, her eyes tracking the heavy blush on Ruby's cheeks. She gave a single, dignified nod. "I imagine it will be quite interesting."
The intense atmosphere was making Ruby's chest feel tighter and tighter. Suddenly, the image of Jaune’s desperate, puppy dog eyes from dinner flashed in her mind. Right. She was the wingman. She had a job to do. She needed to fix whatever this was and redirect it to where it belonged.
"Oh! And, um, also," Ruby forced herself to say, the words tasting heavy and bitter on her tongue. "Jaune... Jaune is really, really excited to get to know you this summer. He thinks you're amazing."
The second the sentence left her mouth, a sudden, sharp ache flared squarely in the center of Ruby's chest. It tightened uncomfortably, a dull, hollow hurt that made her want to take the words back immediately. She didn't understand why saying it out loud made her feel so miserable, but she forced her best, supportive smile anyway.
Weiss's eyes narrowed. The softness in her expression instantly vanished, replacing itself with a sharp, calculating look as she stared at Ruby. She stayed completely silent for a moment, processing Ruby's statement, her gaze drilling into Ruby as if trying to read a complex equation.
"Is that so?" Weiss finally said, her voice dropping to a cool, unreadable tone. Then, to Ruby's absolute bewilderment, Weiss let out a short, quiet laugh to herself, a sharp, amused sound that didn't carry any real warmth. Before Ruby could ask what was funny, Weiss abruptly turned on her heel, her white ponytail whipping through the air. She marched up the cabin stairs, opened the screen door, and stepped inside. "Goodnight, Ruby," Weiss called out over her shoulder, her voice crisp and final as the heavy wooden door clicked shut behind her, cutting off the golden light from the cabin.
Ruby stood frozen in the dark clearing, the crickets humming around her. She blinked at the closed door, utterly paralyzed by the sudden, freezing departure.
What just happened? Ruby thought, her hand rising to subconsciously touch the tight, aching spot over her heart. Completely confused, and carrying a strange, heavy weight in her chest, Ruby slowly turned around and began the long, lonely walk back to the Red Cabin in the dark.
By the time she settled in her bed, her mind was fully occupied with the thoughts of blue eyes.