Beautiful Roses (RoseGarden)

Chapter 5: Will You Say Yes?

Deciding to whether to leave my bed and take a midnight stroll or to stay and try to sleep. Ozpin was nowhere in my mind, he probably doesn't know what's going on. I can never sleep well on the night I go to a different place, so of course I can't sleep right.

'Ozpin?' I ask in my head. No response. I sigh as I removed the blankets from the bed and started to leave to the dresser. I dressed myself and slowly creep out of my room. 

I tip-toed passed everyone's rooms as I went down the stairs. Remembering Ozpin's advice, I took the cane with me for protection. I took an apple and a banana into my backpack as I was preparing to leave the motel.

"Oscar?" I jumped as I heard Ruby's voice.

"R-ruby!" I wanted to yell out, but managed to muffle my voice just a bit. "What are you doing down here? I thought you were sleeping."

She turns on the kitchen light. "You should know that I have sweet tooth, and I was just hungry."

"Basically, you were trying to find some cookies at this time?"

Ruby nods, "Yep! But, there's no cookies here..." She shakes her head. "Never mind me, what are you doing this late?"

"Huh?"

"I don't know why you're all dressed and prepared, why are you like that?"

"Couldn't sleep."

"Will you let me come with you?"

"Huh?"

"I'm asking you something, Oscar. Can I come with you?"

"Y-yeah, you should change..." I looked away, avoiding her as I grew warm in my cheeks and ears. I hardly see her in her pajamas, and seeing how her sleeve was so short, I couldn't stand staying in the same room as her. 

"Alright, I will. Don't leave me behind!" She turns into petals and disappears. Must've been a few minutes or something because she was gone and back, fully dressed. "Ready!" She closes her eyes and gave a smile, I see her weapon was peeking behind her back and under her tattered cape.

"Come on then, we don't want to wake the others." I turned the light off and we both walked outside. 

"Hey, where are we going?"

"Maybe a small stroll in the forest? Is that okay?"

She nods, "Of course. I like midnight strolls."

"Okay, let's go then."

The shattered moon guided our way through the forest. The crickets started to chirp and the wind blew gently, brushing the leaves from the trees. Ruby was in awe as small petals wrapped around her, giggling in glee and happiness.

"Ruby, you're having fun." I smiled as I walked next to her.

She stops twirling and smiles at me. "I am, I don't think I ever been this happy for a long time, Oscar."

"Well, glad you're happy now. If I remember from some people, there's a hidden grove somewhere."

"Ooh! A grove?! Let's find it!"

Searching for the grove, Ruby found it by squeezing through branches and bushes. Ruby took a scarlet blanket with white spots and laid it down on the green grass. The moonlight shone on the hidden lake within the grove, water falling from the waterfall.

"Oscar, it's so beautiful..." She lays down on the blanket, looking up to the sky. "Let's keep this grove between us."

I nod, "Yeah, don't want others to spoil this beautiful view." I lay down as well, looking up.

"Hey Oscar?"

"Yeah?"

"Tell me, will you stay with us?"

"What do you mean?" I turn to see her still staring at the sky.

Ruby turns to face me. "When we defeat Salem... will you stay with us? You know, train to be a huntsman and be part of a team. Graduate from a huntsman school?"

"I dunno... and I would be passing everything on the first day."

"How- oh... right, I forgot about Ozpin."

"Yeah... it's just gonna be easy. But, yeah, maybe I'll stay and be a part of a team. I'll train to be a full huntsman." I smiled at her. "But only when we defeat Salem. Maybe at this rate, we'll be full huntsman when Salem is defeated."

"Right! But I would love to graduate from Beacon as a true huntsman. "

"Once Salem is no more, we'll rebuild Beacon Academy. We'll get more huntsmen there and you'll graduate from the school."

"Really?" Her eyes gleamed as I made that promise. "You'll help rebuild it?!"

Nodding, "Of course."

"Thanks!"

Should I ask her out? 'Ozpin, are you there?' He doesn't respond. I could ask her, but the real question is... will she say yes? 

"Oscar? Are you alright?"

I gasp as I snapped out of my head, shaking my head. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just... I wanted to ask you something."

"Well, go ask me."

"I-I'm... not sure..."

"About what? Oscar, there's nothing to worry about."

"Ruby... that's not what I mean..."

"What do you want to ask me?"

"Ruby... I... I..." I looked straight into her eyes. "Do you want to... go out with me?" She was silent for minutes. I groaned, "I knew you wouldn't say yes..."

"Oscar, I would love to."

"What?"

"I would go out, but the problem is not me..."

"Who's the problem?"

"I could give you a list, but I think it'll be easier to say that everyone would be a problem."

"Oh... right."

"But, if they didn't mind... will you say yes?"

Ruby nods, "I will. We can still date, just... keep it a secret. Between you and me."

"Like the grove." I smiled at her as she nods. "I promise that I'll never tell, as long as you don't tell."

"Would I ever tell?"

"Then, would you tell them this?" I don't know what controlled me, but I moved close to her and holding her chin. Why? Why did I kiss her? Her lips touched mine, but she never pushed me away. We stay still the whole time, only moving to breathe.

"No... I won't... I will say yes to whatever you want me to say yes, Oscar."