Chapter Text
Sunday dawned cold and dreary. The sky hidden behind thick gray clouds like a soft blanket and coating the city in a misty haze. The kind of mist that chills down to the bones and lingers long after retreating indoors. Blake stood by the window, a quilt wrapped around her shoulders as she watched Ilia’s distinctive red truck disappear down the street. She sighed and squeezed her tea cup tighter, willing the warmth to sink into her skin.
She took a sip and glanced down at her brand new scroll on the counter top. She had been keeping it close all morning, anxiety making her stomach uneasy.
What if they don’t call? What if you don’t get the job? You’ll just disappoint everyone again…
Blake frowned and moved away from the window, taking her scroll with her into the living room and sitting down on the couch. She switched on the tv to a random channel to try and calm her racing thoughts.
Unwittingly, her eyes strayed to the plain brown paper bag sitting innocently on the floor beside the coffee table. Blake’s eyes flickered between it and whatever mindless talk show was playing on the screen. She pulled in a slow breath and leaned down to pull the bag towards her, the paper crinkling under her hands. She reached in and pulled out the glossy brand new book and set it down carefully in her lap like it might spring to life at any moment and bite her.
What To Expect When You’re Expecting
The book had been a well-intended gift from Ilia a few days after Blake had first moved in, but Blake had yet to muster up the courage to actually look at it. Or even acknowledge it.
Because that would mean this was actually happening.
Her grip tightened on the book and she blew out a breath, having not realized that she was holding it in.
A sudden, loud ringing sound pierced through the air, shattering the tension. Blake jumped and let out a yelp, dropping the book on the floor with a thud.
Her hands automatically started to jerk up toward her face, her heart pounding a million miles a second. But reality quickly returned and Blake dropped her hands into her lap, shaking.
Her scroll vibrated on the couch cushion beside her, an unknown number flashing across the screen. The obnoxious ringtone grated on Blake’s ears and she grimaced as she picked it up. I’ve got to change that she thought as she clicked accept and held it up to her ear. “Hello?”
“Hello, Blake?”
Every nerve suddenly perked up as she sharply remembered why she was waiting by her scroll to begin with. “Yang?”
“Yup. How are you doing?”
“Good good, I’m just...” Blake glanced down at the book she’d dropped, now splayed out pages down on the floor. “Just relaxing.”
“Good good. Well I have good news! I talked things over with my partner and we want to give you a shot!”
“Really?!” Blake’s voice came out squeakier than intended. Yang laughed.
“Yes really. We’re closed today but we open in the evening tomorrow. Can you come in around 4? We can go over how everything works.”
“Sure! Sure, I can do that. Tomorrow at 4?”
“Yup. Make sure you wear comfy shoes alright?”
“Alright. I’ll see you then?”
“See you then!”
The line went dead, and Blake sat for a second simply absorbing what just happened. It felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and she felt lighter than she had in years. A sudden burst of joy had her pumping her fist in the air.
Maybe everything will be alright.
For the second time that week Blake found herself standing outside the bar, looking up at that lit up stylized rose above the door. Except the cold gray clouds had finally broken into a light rain, and she peered past the edge of her borrowed umbrella.
Ilia waved at her from her truck window. “Call me when your shift is done okay? Good luck!"
Blake waved back, smiling as she tried to hide her nerves. As she watched Ilia’s truck drive away the nerves got worse. She turned back to the door and took a deep breath. A glance down at her scroll showed the time as 4:05 PM. She squared her shoulders. And pulled the door handle.
It opened easily, with the same cheerful ding of the bell above the door frame. She pulled the door shut behind her and the sign reading closed swung on its hook.
“Hello?” Blake called out. The bar appeared totally empty. But the lights were on, and she could hear what sounded like muffled music coming from towards the back. She followed the sound and found a door with a small plaque reading ‘Kitchen’. Blake tentatively pushed the door open. “Hello?”
Standing with her back to the door was a young woman, dancing and singing loudly (and slightly off key) to the unfamiliar rock song blaring from the speakers on a nearby shelf. Blake could see that she had short dark hair that bounced as she moved to the music.
From where she was standing Blake could see that the girl had various vegetables strewn across the counter top and she was chopping and slicing with a speed that made Blake nervous.
“Hello?” Blake struggled to raise her voice above the music, but it looked like it was enough. The girl turned, startled, but her face broke into a wide grin when she saw Blake in the doorway. She bounded over to the speakers and turned off the music before turning back to Blake.
“Hi there! You must be Blake!” The girl peeled off a pair of gloves and took Blake’s hand in both of hers and shook it enthusiastically. “Yang told me all about you!”
The girl was still shaking Blake’s hand, and Blake was vaguely alarmed.
“I’m Ruby, Yang’s sister and co-owner of this fine establishment! Yang’s in the back! Come with me!”
All of this was said at a rapid-fire pace, and Blake nearly took a small step backwards. “Umm...”
Ruby grabbed her wrist and tugged her out of the kitchen, missing Blake’s flinch. Ruby pulled her out the room and across to another door, which Blake recognized as the same one leading to the back office where she had her interview. Ruby pounded her fist on the door and shouted - making Blake wince - “Yang! That pretty girl you won’t stop talking about is here!”
The door flew open and Yang stood in the doorway, cheeks flushed. “Th-thanks Ruby. I’ll take it from here.”
Ruby grinned, and Blake noticed it had a bit of a cheeky edge to it. She winked and bounced away back towards the kitchen and Blake turned to Yang with an eyebrow raised.
Yang rubbed the back of her neck, cheeks still flushed. “Um, sorry about that. I swear she’s not on anything, she’s just… like that.”
“That pretty girl?” said Blake, tilting her head.
Yang’s flush got worse and she looked away. “Well, I -”
“Yang.” Feeling oddly bold, Blake placed her hand on Yang’s forearm gently. “It’s fine. I’m teasing.”
Yang glanced down and her eyes widened.
Blake removed her hand and curled it into a fist. Yang looked back up at her and opened her mouth, but a sharp cough cut them off. Weiss stood in the office doorway, frowning suspiciously at them. “Well?”
Yang straightened and coughed. “Right.” She straightened her shoulders. “Come on, Blake. Let me show ya around.”
Blake felt her own cheeks warm, though she didn’t quite know why.