Maroon Escape to Meadows and Bees (Part One)

Chapter 4

Jeane took the girl's hand first without a second thought. "I'm Jeane Crimson. Nice to meet you." They both look at each other cordially, but their eyes seem distant. As if they're both thinking about something else.

Once they are done greeting each other, Lira now looks at me and offers her hand again, expecting me to shake her hand as well. "Blake," I say. I don't know her, so why should I trust her with my full name? Hopefully, the girl will eventually leave me alone once she realizes I don't want to talk.

"The girl at the table here is Ruby," Lira says. "She's Yang's sister. The other tall girl that was with me."

Oh, uh, hi," Ruby said with a tiny wave. She'd taken off her headphones just after hearing her name. She looked confused as to who she was saying hi to, though. She wasn't really interested in knowing or meeting new people; honestly, I wish I could do the same.

"They're Jeane and Blake; they're new students here Ruby," Lira explained to her.

All of a sudden, the other blond girl, Yang, appeared. Speak of the devil.

"Hey guys!" the girl beamed with a large grin. "Sorry about that. Cardin and his group always pick on new students, so I had to threaten to beat them up again! I'm Yang, by the way. Nice to meet you two!" She put her hand out.

Once again, Jeane took the lead to shake her hand first. "Jeane Crimson. Nice to meet you."

"Blake." I kept my arms crossed.

"Yang, why do you keep fighting those boys? You're going to get kicked out from the huntress program!" Ruby scolded. "Who else will I train with once you're gone?" she muttered. It's quite interesting to see Ruby and Yang now closer together. If it weren't for Lira telling us, I'd have no clue they were siblings. They must be step-siblings, at best.

"Not if I do it through training! Besides, you have Lira!" Yang bantered.

"So I take it that you, Lira, and Ruby are in the huntress program? And that 'Cardin' dude and his guys are too?" Jeane asked. She had just sat down across from Ruby, but she seemed to be studying the situation. In that case, I'm sure she already knows the answer, and she's just asking to be social.

"Yep!" Yang and Ruby both said simultaneously with pride.

"Unfortunately, we also have to deal with Cardin and one of his friends in that class too, yes," Lira added on. "They're novice fighters though, so Professor Goodwitch tends to put us against each other or more talented students."

"That's cool. I'm guessing we share some classes then because Blake and I are also in the huntress program," Jeane commented. I really wish she didn't share that information. I'd much rather sit in a corner in some of those classes and get my work done by myself—or with Jeane, but still preferably alone. My social battery is going to be depleted by lunch at this rate.

"Soo...why'd you guys move to this school so suddenly?" Yang guessed, and asked. Jeane seems to be puzzled in thought at something now, so I guess it's, unfortunately, my turn to speak up.

"Our parents thought it'd be safer. The education's also better here, too."

As I was looking around for any excuse to leave the situation, I noticed that Lira also has a distant look on her face. She seemed to be paying attention to our conversation, but any time she looks towards Jeane's direction, she seems to be most lost in thought. It's almost as if Lira is confused by Jeane's behavior. Why does she seem to care so much?

"So your parents know each other as well? Must be nice to move and change schools with a friend!" Yang suggested. She looks as if she knows she's only barely keeping this conversation going on by a thread.

"Um, yeah," I respond. That's one way to put me and Jeane's family relationship, I guess.

She'd distracted me from my thoughts about the situation with Lira and Jeane just now. Come to think of it, neither of those two have said anything for about a minute now.

"Where were you previously?" Lira asked. It's as if as soon as I thought of how she hadn't spoken for a while, she decided to say something.

"A bit south from here," I lie. Well, it's partially true. Jeane is from a southeast village near Vale, and we have gone through that area often in the past. There's a White Fang camp there. Matter of fact, that's likely where I'll be going with Adam later on.

Lyra's eyes seemed to sparkle, as if she finally recognized what has been causing her dilemma. "Oh, that must've been dangerous. I was originally raised in that area. Haven't you heard the stories about all those settlements becoming overrun with Grimm?" Lira suggested.

Similarly, Jeane snapped out of her thoughts. "I was born and raised there too at first! However, my village fell from an attack as well," Jeane explained. "After it burnt down, I moved in with Blake and her family."

"Oh, so you two are related by adoption?" Lira asked.

"Yes," I say abruptly. Hopefully Jeane will take the hint that she's saying too much to people she doesn't even really know yet.

Once again, Lira seemed to have a puzzled face. "And your last name is Crimson...?"

"Yes...?" Jeane answered, almost phrased as a question.

"Um, I know this might sound odd, but did you have two siblings.?" What a funny way to put it: "did" have siblings.

"Yes?" Jeane asked. Both Jeane and Lira's faces looked puzzled, but as each question was answered, it was as if the knot of confusion became less tangled.

"Jeane, it's me! Lira Ebele! Your neighbor and childhood friend?" Lira's voice was a bit louder with more confidence now. Maybe they do know each other?

Jeane's face and wolf ears suddenly lit up, as if she finally managed to find the last piece of a puzzle. "Oh..my god. I remember!...I can't believe you're actually here! I never thought I'd see you again!" She stammered and struggled to form the right words. Jeane basically threw herself onto Lira in a large hug.

"Um, what's going on? I'm confused," Yang said. I almost forgot Yang and Ruby were here, but Ruby's focused on a weapons magazine and her music while Yang has been staring blankly at the situation.

I think I know who Lira is now. Jeane used to always talk about how she had a best friend back at her old village when she first joined us. Jeane was always worried about whether or not Lira had survived. She stopped mentioning it a few years later, especially after we started training and becoming more involved with the White Fang, but I'm sure it still bothered her.

"Jeane and I were best friends at our hometown. It became overrun by Grimm 8 years ago though, so we've been separated ever since," Lira quickly explained.

"Oh, wow! That's great! I was beginning to wonder if the girl you'd mention was just a figment of your imagination," Yang laughed. She raised her hands up in a spooky way to emphasize the idea of kid Jeane being a ghost.

Lyra groaned half-heartedly. I guess she deals with jokes or teasing from Yang often.

"RINGGGGGG. Please report to your homeroom classes at this time."

"Oh wow, I didn't know it was that close to time! Hey Blake, Jeane, do you guys want me to give y'all a tour of the school during homeroom period? I'm an ambassador, so I can get us an excuse to leave for some time to help you two get accustomed!" Yang offered. We started walking to class with Yang, Ruby, and Lira.

"Sure! I don't see much of a point in waiting 20 minutes to do nothing," Jeane added. I guess it can't go wrong to have a tour guide.

"It can be boring, especially during the first week." Lira mentioned. "I'm sure you'll see in a minute."

"Hey, uh, guys? We only have 4 minutes before the tardy bell. You mind walking a bit faster?" Ruby suggested.

"Not everyone's a speed demon like you, Rubes," Yang joked. "But she's right; let's go before the crowd slows us down!"

With that, Yang also caught up with her sister, and the rest of us followed along.