The Roses Outside My Window

Chapter 1 - The Garden

 Penny Polendina could consider her life well. She was pretty, at least people would say so. She had short curly red hair that rested just above her shoulders, darling green eyes, freckles sprinkled across her pale face, and she always wore graceful long dresses, her most common accessory being the pink bow in the back of her hair. She was 16, a student at Atlas Academy in one of the most well-known cities in the world. Atlas. It wasn't the largest, but it was known mostly for its technological advancements, most recently known for its progress in making military-related items.

Penny was well known because of this, her father was Pietro Polendina, a heavily respected scientist who was considered the right-hand man to the general of the military itself, General Ironwood. Penny was what most would call perfect. Smart, graceful, pretty, and of high status. One thing changed one day when she ran into someone who helped her realize a part of herself she never had thought about.

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The birds that morning chirped as Penny stood outside. She wore a simple green dress that reached her knees, along with black flat shoes. The greenery surrounding her provided herself with entertainment as she named the plants within the garden. She never went to Vale much, but her father had business with the headmaster. She'd come with to get out of the cold air of the inside of Atlas Academy. There she stood now, alone in a garden with nothing to do but name the flowers. Eventually, the boredom with that grew and she took a seat, taking out a book to read while she waited.

"I've never seen you before," Came a voice. Penny's eyes looked up as she made contact with silver. There stood a girl she'd never seen herself. She had short black hair that faded into a deep red, and definitely was short overall as a person. She wore the uniform of Beacon Academy, so Penny was quick to realize she was a student.

"I'm not from here, what's your name?" Penny asked. The girl quickly replied.

"It's Ruby!" The girl who was named Ruby replied. Penny smiled before standing.

"Salutations Ruby! I'm Penny," Penny introduced herself, adding a little bow at the end.

"Well what are you doing here, are you a transfer student?" Ruby asked, tilting her head.

"No no, my father was here to speak with Headmaster Ozpin and I decided to come with him," She said, "Don't you have classes?"

"Nope! Free period, my sister and I would typically hang out but she's with her other friend," Ruby grumbled at the last part, almost in a teasing manner, "Do you mind company?"

"Not at all!" Penny said. The two sat down on the bench together for a while and chatted. The conversation ranged from studies to Atlas and Vale's differences, and then to technology.

Penny discovered that Ruby had gotten moved ahead in school for her intelligence and was mostly studying technology. She was a small-town girl, coming from the city of Patch. Her sister apparently was a few years older than her, but because Ruby had been moved up she was in the same grade as her. To say the least, Penny was impressed.

"So, Miss. Penny Polendina, what do you have to tell me that will impress me?" Ruby prompted once she had stopped speaking of her own studies.

"How did you know my full name..?" Penny asked. Part of her realized before she even got a response.

"Your red hair is incredibly unique, it's easy to recognize you," Ruby chuckled, "Though, I'd say your eyes also gave it away."

"My eyes?" Penny asked.

"I never realized this, but in person, your eyes reflect like the leaves do in the warm summer sun, it's pretty," Ruby said, staring Penny dead in the eye for a second. Silence sat as Penny felt her face grow slightly warm.

"Well, I'd say your eyes are pretty recognizable too," Penny added, "Silver eyes are incredibly rare."

"That's what my uncle always told me!" Ruby smiled. After a while more of talking they were interrupted by Penny's dad entering the garden. After Penny introduced her father to Ruby, the two were leaving when Ruby slipped a sheet of paper in Penny's hand.

"There, we can keep in touch!" Ruby whispered. Penny didn't look into her hand until she got home and sat on her bed. Unfolding it she saw a phone number labeled on it. There was a note underneath it.

'Sorry, I felt weird giving you my house phone's number with your dad there, call me sometime! My dad may pick up but tell him you called to speak to me and he'll give me the phone.'

'P.S. I was serious when I said your eyes are pretty.'

The feeling that followed reading the extra note at the bottom was a feeling Penny had never felt before. The same feeling she was unsure of earlier when her cheeks heated up when she was given the same compliment. There was something different about the silver-eyed girl, something Penny couldn't figure out just yet.

Maybe calling her would help her find the answer to that question.