Dinner

----------------------A few hours ago, after the conversation in the hallway,----------------------

Ruby POV:

This is all just too frustrating. Another pointless conversation with no real conclusion. I don't know how to stop Sapphire from avoiding us, to bring back the cheerful smile that would almost always be found on her face. I barely interacted with people before I came to Beacon, how am I supposed to talk to someone about topics they are obviously uncomfortable about. How can I talk someone out of their unhealthy headspace? I just don't know.

In silence, I and the team slowly made our way to the cafeteria with hope in our hearts that the food would allow some sort of reprieve from the worries in our heads, though, we do realize that we are deluding ourselves.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I don't even need to look to see who it is. Yang always seems to know when I'm stuck in my own thoughts, and, admittedly, it's been happening a lot today. Well, I glance over at my sister hear exactly what I thought I'd hear.

"Don't worry so much, we'll figure it out," she says, but even I can hear the unconfident waver in her voice, or maybe I'm just projecting; I can't tell anymore.

Anyway, I do my best to put together a confident smile and nod my head, but her expression shows my inability to convince her of its sincerity. She slightly tightens her grip before releasing my shoulder entirely and dropping her hand to her side.

No one else says a word as we melancholically arrive at the cafeteria. We open the doors to reveal the lively crowd of students. No one bothers to quiet their conversations, but there are so many going on that you can't understand them without being close. I've noticed that everyone always seems to sit with the same people every day with little change. The table they sit at may change, but the people they sit with seldom do. Not that we're any different. It's always Team RWBY and Team JNPR.

Speaking of which, there they are occupying the same side of a mostly empty table near the middle of the room. Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha, and Ren, all facing each other as they enjoy an unheard conversation before Ren and Jaune glance this way and see us entering the cafeteria. Jaune casually waves at us while Ren gently nods his head before returning his attention to whatever they were talking about. I, along with Yang, wave back at Jaune, but Blake and Weiss just politely nod before moving to get in line for dinner; we quickly follow.

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It doesn't take us long to reach the front of the line and get the food we want for dinner, but what worries me is that during that whole time I didn't see Sapphire in the cafeteria. I didn't see her walk in, nor did I see her anywhere else in the cafeteria; She isn't here, and It's worrying. But, maybe I'm just overthinking this, I mean she could have just gotten her food and returned to the dorm, or maybe, she is just taking her time and hasn't gotten here yet. Excuses and reasons run through my head but even as we arrive at the table Team JNPR is sitting at, I can't shake that feeling that something is wrong.

"---y," I hear someone speaking, but as my thoughts are occupied I ignore it.

"Ruby!" I hear the person speak again but this time much louder, breaking me out of my thoughts and bringing my attention to the speaker, Jaune.

"Jeez, what's got you so distracted?" He asks worriedly, and I almost answer truthfully before I remember Weiss's words from this morning and bury that urge.

With an awkward smile, I answer vaguely, "Today's been a long day, by the way, have you seen Sapphire?"

I quickly change the subject, to something I was worried about, but the look on Jaune's face betrays his suspicion and worry. I'm sorry, but Weiss is right, I shouldn't get you involved without permission.

A second of silence seems to pass before Jaune accepts my change of subjects and answers my question.

"Uh, No. No, I haven't, why?" He answers with sleight reluctance in his tone but continues to speak anyway.

"I was just wondering, thanks," I reply in a tone of voice even I the speaker can tell is unnatural and I watcha Jaune furrows his brow but says nothing.

A painful awkward silence envelopes the table, even the normally oblivious Nora is dead silent. I feel more than a little guilt for ruining the mood, but...Haaah.

In order to give me some sort of reprieve from this agonizing atmosphere, I secretly check the time on my scroll.

-6:32

Still plenty of time for dinner, but I can't stop my worry. This is the first time that Sapphire is late for a meal. Even after this morning, Sapphire still ate normally, even if away from us physically.

-6:38

I keep finding myself glancing at the entrances of the building, and looking for her distinct presence. Nothing.

-6:46

Even as conversations at the table recovered slightly, I paid them little attention; just giving halfhearted replies as I am addressed.

-6:55

I have barely even touched my food, and I realize it. Still, I just can't work up an appetite.

-7:03

That's it. I get up from my seat drawing my table mates' attention. I thought I heard someone ask me something, but I ignore it and walk up to the staff behind the cafeteria counter. There is almost nobody in line this ate, but I wasn't here to order, I wanted to ask a question.

I addressed a short stocky guy behind the counter with graying-brown hair and brown eyes, "Excuse me."

While he continues to work behind the counter he spoke in a gruff voice, "Yes?"

"Have you seen my teammate, Sapphire, come up and get dinner tonight or no?" I unhesitantly asked.

The stocky guy glanced at me as if he was trying to remember something before asking a question.

"Tall one, Black and gold hair, more than one Faunus trait?" I asked.

I just nod my head, so he continues.

"I can't say I have, no, let me ask the others," He says as he walks back into the kitchen.

A few seconds that felt like hours passed by, and finally the man came back out to the counter.

"Sorry, missy, no one's seen her since lunch," He sympathetically spoke.

Disheartened and worried, I just absentmindedly let out, "That so?"

I move to walk away, but before I can the guy speaks again.

"Would you like to get your teammate something to go?" He asks with a smile.

I better, huh. Dinner ends at 7:30, and it's already 7:05.

"Uh, yeah. Can I get her, chicken-fried steak with some mixed fruit? Oh, And a chocolate chip cookie!" I order for sapphire throwing in that last one as a sort of apology gift for her; who doesn't like cookies.

I got her the chicken fried steak as Sapphire has had it a few times before. As for the mixed fruits, I noticed she likes fruits quite a bit. I hope she likes it.

"Coming right up," The man kindly states before walking back to the kitchen once again.

A few minutes pass before, the man once again comes out with some boxed that I assume have Sapphire's order in them. He gently sets them on the counter in front of me and starts speaking.

"You treat your team pretty well, don't you, missy," He laughingly stated, but I couldn't help but let out a complicated smile.

"I try to, though I always seem to end up messing it all up in the end," I say, unintentionally glancing at the food on the counter.

It seems that my glance was noticed, as after the stocky man took in a deep breath and closed his eyes, he solemnly spoke, "Regrets, huh. Everyone has a few, some more some less. Mistakes are all but inevitable in life, and you'll find yourself making countless. It's just how it is."

"Yeah?" I asked, confused about where this is going.

The man continued this time he opened his eyes, "Regrets follow you around till you're old and tired, like me."

"I don-" I started to answer but I am quickly interrupted.

"Mistakes can be fixed, while regrets stay for life. This is the unfortunate truth. These things don't have to end the hard way, but they often do. Either because people don't want to do anything about them, or they don't know what to do. Either way, it ends the same, inaction and thus, regret. Even if you don't know what to do, do something, anything." He paused for a breath.

"I've never seen anything cause more regret than inaction, not a thing," He spoke with sadness in his voice.

I didn't say anything. I couldn't find the words.

I know what he's trying to say. That putting off speaking to Sapphire will only cause more problems, but, I just don't know. I don't feel like there's anything I could say that wouldn't make things worse.

Regardless of my doubt-filled thoughts, I picked up the boxes without a word and silently made my way back to the table. I didn't speak for the rest of the meal. I just silently ate my food and worried about Sapphire.