I am immensely sorry for the long wait. This chapter was written before, but I was toying with the idea of making it two chapters. I then realized that I can't do that. Not because I wouldn't be able to, but... Life happened and I really don't have much time for writing. I am still sorry for the previous chapter.

"Ruby? What happened? Talk to me, god damn it!"

Gia's voice. Somewhere close behind her. She tried to ignore it and just run to the dorm and then just run away.

Gia wouldn't stop calling for her, though.

"Ruby!"

The dark-haired girl realized there would be no end to Gia's calling if she didn't respond. She let out a long sigh and stopped running. Not even a second later, Gia was embracing her from the front.

No, please, no. Not you. Ruby pushed her away, but didn't make an attempt to run away again. Gia realized Ruby was going to stay there, so she didn't try to restrain her again.

"Ruby, please, talk to me. I'm very worried."

"She cheated on me, okay? I was going around the bar, figured I saw a familiar figure, then I saw it was Weiss kissing some woman."

"Ruby, I'm sure it was all a misunderstanding…"

"Do you think having a tongue in one's mouth is a misunderstanding, Gia? Really?" Ruby was snapping, that much was obvious. But Gia had to press into her, no matter what.

"Are you even sure it was Weiss?"

"I know what my girlf- ex-girlfriend looks like, thank you very much!"

"Ruby, no! Don't be so rash, please!" Gia was completely helpless. She had no idea how to work with something as bad as that before, didn't even know what to say.

"Listen, just… Forget I kissed you. That never happened. It should have never happened and I'm sorry. But right now, I need to go home." With that, Ruby started walking towards the campus again, leaving behind a dumbfounded Gia, who was looking at Ruby leaving with an expression of confusion and helplessness. She felt so stupid, so helpless in that moment.

"It's all my fault," she managed to throat. "If I didn't want to find someone, this would have never happened."

Ruby turned around. "No, Gia. It isn't your fault. It's my fault for thinking I could be in a relationship with someone of Weiss' background and be enough for her. She clearly needs more than what I can provide, and that woman definitely can."

"Ruby, it cannot be your fault. If I didn't ask you for help, you two wouldn't have even been there today. I still think you should try to think it was not really her cheating on you."

"She didn't come running after me, did she? There's your answer. I appreciate what you're trying to do, Gia, but it won't work. Sorry."

Ruby walked away, not looking back, leaving Gia standing there, under a lamp post, staring at where Ruby stood a moment before in disbelief.

After ten more minutes of self-loathing walk, Ruby finally reached the campus. Gia caught up with her a while ago, but both girls realized that silence was probably the best course of action. Upon reaching the dorms, Gia said goodbye to Ruby, gently embracing her and quickly letting go when realizing she wasn't returning the touch.

Once she entered the room, Ruby immediately began packing. She was just done packing her underwear and socks and was about to move on the tops, when she heard a door open and in walked Weiss.

Ruby ignored her and continued filling her suitcase. She never noticed the pain on Weiss' face.

"Ruby… I'm sorry for what I've done."

Ruby didn't answer, but kept filling her suitcase.

"Ruby, I didn't want to do it."

Still no answer. The suitcase started to look very full.

"Ruby, please… You have to believe me it wasn't on purpose."

Ruby went for her second suitcase after filling the first one, tears falling down on the floor again.

"I didn't even know her."

Ruby snapped and threw the suitcase to the floor, turning at Weiss, anger very visible in her defeated eyes. Weiss actually flinched at the view.

"And that is supposed to make me feel better? The fact you cheated on me with someone you just met is supposed to make me feel better?"

"Ruby, please, believe me, I didn't want to kiss her. She just kissed me and wouldn't let go."

"Weiss, I know you need more than what I can give you, so spare me the lies. I was a dummy to ever think I'm enough for you and the lifestyle you're used to."

"Ruby…"

"I'm leaving this room. I'm going to ask for relocation once the study break is over. That way you can bring her here and you can have your fun."

"Ruby, please, don't do this. I love you."

"Don't you dare say that to me! Not after what happened today!"

With that, Ruby started packing her second suitcase again and Weiss sat down on her bed, defeated.

Weiss was completely heartbroken at Ruby's last words. She started crying in silence, like she was taught to ever since she was born. She was completely helpless, unable to do anything but look at livid Ruby throwing her clothes into her suitcase.

A momentary lapse of judgment… It was nothing more than a lapse… I didn't feel anything. But it was enough.

"I'm going to be at home until the school starts again. This way I won't bother you two. To think I thought a simple girl like me would be enough… How stupid of me. Goodbye."

Before Weiss could react, Ruby was out the door, having slammed them shut. For a long while, the girl in the room wasn't able to even move, she just stared at the door where Ruby left, out of the room, out of Weiss' life.

The one girl that made me feel alive after all the stuff I had to go through. The one who had faith in me, who comforted me, who loved me with all her heart. And I threw her away. Just threw away, because I was unable to do anything about what happened.

When tears subsided, Weiss went to take a shower. She undressed and was about to turn the shower on when she remembered what Ruby did to her in there and how she was quivering from the happiness and lust that day. The day that seemed so long ago, it might have been in a previous lifetime.

The shower turned on, but Weiss made no motion to wash herself. All she did was slump down in the shower, letting the drops fall on her skin and hair, all the while crying into her hands. It was no longer the silent crying from before. By then, it was pretty much a full on despair, her voice was completely unrecognizable to her, completely alien.

Twenty minutes of sitting under the shower was enough for her to calm down somewhat. But after getting dry and dressed and coming back to the bed to fall asleep, memories of love she threw away came back to her and from then, there was no more respite. Weiss cried herself to sleep.

Ruby was moving as quickly as she could with her two heavy suitcases, trying not to cry over spilled milk, as she remembered her mom talking about it once before she died.

Spilled milk. Is that all she is to me right now?

Yes. She betrayed my trust. I don't have to feel sorry for what I did. She broke my heart first.

Am I sure she did, though?

She was kissing that woman, didn't she? She cheated on me, no two ways about it.

That and more was going through her head until she finally reached the house she called home. There was still light in the living room, she noticed. Dad's still watching movies on the TV, I see.

She opened the door after making sure that she didn't look too bad, that the tears she was crying weren't showing. Father noticed her immediately, though.

"Ruby! What a nice surprise!" He then noticed the suitcases and his eyes visibly fell. "Oh? Something wrong, sweetie?"

Ruby took a deep breath. "I just need a breather. Please, promise me, if Weiss comes, I'm not here." Taiyang made a move to go closer and hug his daughter, but Ruby stopped him, lifting her hand. "Dad. Please. I don't want to talk about it. Not now. I'll just go to bed. Tomorrow. I promise."

"It just pains me to see you hurt, which you obviously are."

"Dad, spare me. The last thing I need right now is pity."

Ruby made a move to go upstairs and Taiyang didn't try to stop her. For all his time he spent around women, he didn't know a single thing that would be appropriate to do in a situation like that.

Ruby, on the other hand, knew. She went straight to Yang's room. The blonde sister was obviously surprised, Ruby noticed her quickly minimizing her web browser as soon as Ruby entered.

"Ruby! What a surprise! Come here, my favourite little sister!" Before Ruby could disagree, she was pulled into a bear hug that nearly crushed her bones. She started absentmindedly tapping her sister on the shoulder.

"Yang… I'm dying."

The blonde let her go and apparently only then noticing that something wasn't fine with Ruby. And Ruby knew what she was thinking. Must be something about those two suitcases, something bad happened.

Yup. That was definitely something Yang would be thinking in that moment.

"Rubes, do you need a shoulder to cry on?"

Did she? She dropped her suitcases on the floor and they landed with a thunderous boom. She followed the suitcases and dropped on the floor herself.

"I don't know anymore, Yang. I really don't. All I know is that I don't want to see Weiss right now."

"Lover's quarrel?"

Ruby sighed and said nothing more.

"Rubes, I get that from time to time there are fights, but to leave your dorm with two suitcases and come here just because of one…"

Yang was going to continue, but she saw the desperate look in Ruby's eyes. She said nothing more, she just walked over, sat down next to her and pulled her little sister so that Ruby's head was on Yang's shoulder. Ruby took a deep breath and just stayed like Yang contorted her. Yang squeezed her closer to her and started singing a lullaby she would always sing to Ruby when she was little and wouldn't fall asleep.

It was exactly what Ruby needed. Something to keep her mind off Weiss and everything that happened that evening.

After the lullaby's tenth repetition, Ruby's breath became uniform. She fell asleep. Yang, being the good sister she was, lifted Ruby up in her arms and took her to her room, where she put her sleeping sister on her bed and kissed her forehead before tucking her in, almost as if she was Ruby's mother. And she was that, sort of. After Summer Rose died, Yang took on the role of the mother and did it impeccably.

There was time for Yang to find out what exactly happened. And she knew that the stories get the most meaning after you've slept on them for a night.

Weiss woke up slowly and instinctively started to press into what usually was Ruby. For a moment after feeling only cold next to her, she got scared. She quickly remembered what happened and why Ruby wasn't there and it took all her willpower to not start crying the first thing in the morning.

She quickly stood up from the bed and sent a message to Blake. If anyone can help me, it's her.

Blake. I need to talk to you. Quickly. The campus bar in 20 minutes.

She received a confirmation not a minute later, so she went to get prepared. She quickly washed her face and brushed her teeth, barely bothered to tie her hair in a ponytail, that day not her signature off-centre one, but a classic one.

After putting on some casual clothing, she went out of the room and was on the way to the bar.

She was pretty surprised to find Blake already there. After greeting her in the most neutral voice she could muster, they went inside to find an empty table. After ordering, Weiss was still silent, and so was Blake.

Curiosity got the better of the black-haired girl though.

"So, Weiss? How can I help you?"

"I… I need you to tell me how badly I fucked up and what can I do to fix this."

"Hm?" She had Blake's full focus.

"I accidentally kissed someone yesterday and lost my girlfriend because of it."

Blake's eyes widened. "What?"

"Just like I told you."

"How do you accidentally kiss someone?"

"Blake. She practically jumped at me. I was unable to run away before it happened. But Ruby saw it and apparently thought I was cheating on her. Which I did, I realize. But… I didn't want to."

Blake lowered her head and took a sip of the coffee that arrived in the meantime. She was obviously deep in thought.

"Did you try to explain all this to her?"

"Who do you think I am, Blake? Of course I did. But she was too upset to listen to a single word I said. She even…" Weiss had to fight back tears at that moment, "She even told me not to tell her I love her after what I did."

Blake extended her hand towards Weiss' and took it. "She didn't mean it, I'm sure. Why don't you talk to her when you get back to your room?"

"She's not there," Weiss answered with a bitter voice. She looked up to notice Blake's quizzical look. "She went home. Said she doesn't want to share the room with me anymore so I could freely bring…" Weiss was nearly choking at this point, "So I could freely bring that woman with me."

"She said that? I mean, I don't know her, but that's completely unlike the Ruby I had the pleasure of meeting."

"Well, Blake, she said it. And left."

"Maybe you should go see her at her place."

Weiss wiped her nose in her tissue and Blake noticed little streaks of tears running down Weiss' face. Weiss felt them too and wiped them away.

"Maybe I should. But what if she doesn't want to see me? What if she told Yang what happened? Her sister will kill me."

"I'm pretty sure she won't. You just have to be completely sure that your story is the correct one. If you can be positive you speak the whole truth, I'm sure her sister will understand." Blake's voice was very assuring, and mad as it sounded, Weiss had a feeling she was right. She should definitely try and pay Ruby a visit. She had nothing to lose anyway, she was no longer a Schnee, she had no home outside of the college dorm now that Ruby was angry, she was basically on her own.

Weiss nodded at Blake's judgment and managed a weak smile, which Blake returned with one of her own. Weiss could swear she had never seen Blake smile before, at anything.

The girls continued the chat until their cups were empty. Most of the chat was Blake reassuring Weiss that everything would turn fine in the end. Weiss then paid the coffees and said goodbye.

She had one mission. Her mission was visiting Ruby's home. She started walking the streets Ruby showed her when she took her there during Christmas break after her parents broke all contact with her upon learning she wasn't "cured". After a few minutes of walking, she reached upon a small house that Ruby called home.

She took all her courage and put it behind the knock. Soon after, the door opened and Weiss saw the older sister of someone she used to call girlfriend. Surprisingly for Weiss, Yang didn't have the murderous eyes she was half expecting her to have.

"Good morning, Weiss!" Even her demeanour was no different than the last time she spoke with her. Oh god, did Ruby even come home?

"Is… Is Ruby home?"

Yang slightly closed her eyes. "She is. She said to me yesterday that she doesn't want to see you, though. I, on the other hand, really wanted to see you, if not today, tomorrow."

I'm dead. The fear must have shown because Yang grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Listen. If you'll be honest, I don't think you have to worry. I'm sure this is all just a big misunderstanding."

Weiss was surprised. "Y-You do? S-She didn't tell you?"

"She didn't tell me anything yet. When she came home she wasn't in the mood to talk, and she's still asleep now. She's prone to overreacting, though, so I'm not too worried."

Yang moved from the door and made a motion for Weiss to enter, and she reluctantly did so. Yang took her to the kitchen where they sat down by the table.

"Y-You sure Ruby will be okay with this if she wakes up?"

"She only said she didn't want to see you. But if you're my guest, which right now you are…"

"Thank you, Yang, I really appreciate it."

"So, speak. What made her so defeated?"

Weiss looked at the floor, looking for words. "I… Might have broken her heart a bit. And by 'a bit' I mean completely." She looked up, expecting some sort of divine punishment for what she just said, but was met with Yang's soft gaze.

"Continue," Yang said in a soft voice. Is that a threat? I can't tell.

"Well… There's this friend of hers, Gia." Yang nodded. "And me and Ruby planned on getting her with someone yesterday. And… While we were searching around, I…" Weiss swallowed hard. There was no other way of saying it. "I… Kissed someone." Yang's gaze stiffened. "But, but!" Weiss lifted her hands up, as if defending herself. "I didn't want to! The woman practically trapped me and did it. I couldn't say anything. You have to believe me, Yang, please. I didn't want it."

Yang's gaze wasn't as motherly as before. She was no longer the mother figure. She was the older sister then, ready to disembowel Weiss for hurting her little sister. "And why didn't you tell that to Ruby?"

"I did! Or at least, I tried to. But she didn't want to listen, Yang. I ran after her immediately after I heard her call my name in that distraught tone. I know I broke her heart, but she broke mine too when she told me I wasn't allowed to tell her I love her anymore. I love her, Yang. I love her more than anything. She is my world, especially now that I'm an orphan. Without her, I don't exist. I know it's all my fault, but I didn't want to do it. Is it right for me to be judged because of that?"

"Weiss. I will believe you. For now. When she wakes, I'm talking to her about this and if her story is different from yours, you will be sorry."

"Yang, I… When you speak with her, take into consideration how weak I am. That woman was much stronger, I really couldn't escape."

"Hey, if you're telling the truth, you don't have to be worried. For now, though, I must ask you to take your leave."

Weiss nodded. "Thank you, Yang. Thank you for giving me a chance, even if I maybe don't deserve one. Thank you so, so much." Weiss moved on to hug the older girl, but Yang stopped.

"I don't want to talk to Ruby with your scent on me, I think you can understand that."

"Oh… Right. Sorry. I'll be going now."

There was hope in Weiss' eyes as she was walking towards the dorm. Hope that everything was still able to resolve in a good way. Immediately after coming back to her dorm, Weiss sat down behind her desk and started writing.

Ruby stirred and looked at the time. Eleven. What the hell? When was the last time I woke at eleven? She didn't have much time to pander on that as she heard a knock on the door.

"What?", she croaked.

"Sis, it's me. Want to talk?"

"Just let me wash myself first. I've just woken up."

After hearing nothing, she jumped out the bed and went to the bathroom. As she was brushing her teeth, she remembered why she was at home, but fought back the tears. No, Ruby. No use in crying. It's in the past.

Is it, though? Are you sure you didn't make a mistake?

There can be no mistake. She was cheating on me.

You know, she did say it wasn't on purpose.

When her morning routine was done, she went down to the kitchen and there was Yang, who already made coffee for the two of them. Ruby sat down on the chair next to Yang.

"So," Yang spoke, not waiting for Ruby to get accustomed to her surroundings, "can you please tell me what happened?"

Ruby took her cup of coffee, let out a long sigh while looking into it. It may have been a mistake. She didn't speak.

"Ruby?"

She huffed. "Fine. I caught Weiss kissing another woman and I may have overreacted when she tried to make it up to me. I may have called her a liar and told her to stop saying that she loves me as well."

Yang took hold of her hand. Ruby didn't resist. The two sisters looked each other in the eyes. Yang's face was unreadable.

"Ruby…" Yang finally broke the silence. "That just might have been the biggest mistake you've done yet."

"What do you mean? She cheated on me, didn't she?"

"Sure. And you were right to be angry at her for it. But you really should have listened to her."

For a while, neither of the girls said another word. Yang was watching Ruby, who was busy looking at the table and floor while emptying her cup of coffee.

I did make a mistake. A huge mistake. I love her. I still love her. And she loves me.

Tears started welling in Ruby's eyes, but she fought them back. Since the technique consisted of angrily wiping her tears away with the sleeve of her sweater, Yang noticed what was happening.

"You know," she said slowly, "she was here before."

Ruby jumped at the sentence. "She was? When? Is she still here?"

Yang chuckled. "You're so hopelessly in love with her."

"Yang…"

"Okay, okay. Yes, she was here. About two hours ago. She was on the verge of crying when she was talking to me. She seemed sincere, Ruby. She wanted you back. When I told her you don't want to see her, she nearly broke down."

Ruby was crying silent tears that left a streak of wet down her cheeks.

"I know you've been angry with her kissing that woman. Hell, anyone in their right mind would be. But you just might have gone too far if you really told her what you said you did."

Ruby nodded, tears now closer one after another.

"She still loves you, you know. Judging by her looks and voice, I think she loves you more than you can imagine. Maybe you should stop being angry and think for a moment, Ruby. I know how much you love her. And you know she loves you just as much. Why don't you go to her and apologize? Maybe you two can start things again. I know you want them to start again."

Ruby weakly nodded. "I will. Thanks, Yang. I knew why you were my favourite big sister," she managed to smile with that last sentence.

"You cheeky little devil you," Yang playfully teased her. "Now go, find your girlfriend and start things anew."

"Yes. Right now."

Ruby was nearly jumping with joy as she left her house and started running towards the campus. The way there passed in a minute moment and Ruby was fully ready to get in the room and start apologizing like crazy to mend what she had broken. But when she opened the door to her room, she found out it was empty.

"Weiss?", she asked, half-scared. Nothing was missing from her wardrobe, nothing from her drawers, her bed was neatly done, but Weiss was nowhere to be found. Ruby checked even the bathroom, but to no avail. At last, she noticed something that resembled a piece of paper on her pillow. She took the paper in her hands to read what it said.

Ruby, if you have ever loved me, read this. I am immensely sorry for everything.

Ruby turned the page, trembling, and started reading.

Thanks for reading! Next chapter we will find out what Weiss wrote. Just what could it be?

Thank you for the follows and favourites, they mean a lot. Reviews mean a whole lot too.

Until next time!