Author's Note: Following the end of the last chapter, I wanted to clarify something; Raven is NOT going to be a yandere in this story. It was requested by rwbyfan722 that Raven not be a yandere.
Reader's POV:
Team STRQ's dorm room was unnaturally quiet. Usually it would be subject to Tai's music or sounds of Summer munching on snacks or Qrow drinking from his flask. Today however, it was dead silent as every member of the team was studying for their exams. Tai and Summer were sitting in the corner of the room quizzing each other, and even Qrow had his head buried inside a textbook, studying diligently. Raven however, was having a more difficult time concentrating. Usually she had laser-like focus and studying for lengthy periods of time were no problem. Today though, she found her thoughts being pulled towards (F/N). Her mind kept replaying the events of a few days ago, when Summer had informed the team that she and (F/N) were going on a date following the end of exams. No matter how hard she tried or how many times she reread a paragraph, she couldn't absorb the information, her brain simply refusing to concentrate on anything other than the thought of (F/N) and Summer cozying up to one another, when it should be her instead.
These thoughts had kept her up late at night as well, as she tried to formulate a plan where she would be the one going out with (F/N), and not Summer. Normally her good looks would be enough to make any man want her, and when her beauty failed, she could simply intimidate the competition into submissiveness. The fact that Summer was her competition however, made things more complicated. Not only was Summer's beauty on par with her own, she was also her friend, and no matter how cold she may seem towards them, Raven would never do anything to hurt her friends, meaning eliminating the competition was out of the question. This left her with only one option; make (F/N) want her more than he wanted Summer. Easy enough, except not at all. While Raven usually surpassed her team in every aspect, in this case, Summer was miles ahead. She and (F/N) already had a bond. More than that, they already had a date planned. As much as she loathed the idea of chasing a man and not the other way around, it seemed that Raven's only option was to capture (F/N)'s attention.
With a sigh, Raven closed her book and stood up, making her way towards the door. Maybe a short walk around the grounds would help clear her head. Not one of her teammates questioned where she was going, they had all learned by now that Raven's business was none of theirs. Stepping into the elevator, the doors were just about to close when a hand slipped in between them. Raven groaned internally; she hated being stuck with someone in an elevator, or anywhere for that matter.
"Could you press one?" The person asked.
Raven was just about to tell the person to press it themselves when she looked up and realized who it was in the elevator with her; (F/N).
"Uh, s-sure." She says, uncharacteristically flustered. With a shaking hand, she jabs her finger on the number 1.
The doors slide close once again, trapping the two alone together in the small box as the elevator begins to descend. Raven does her best not to stare at (F/N), who is resting against the wall, massaging the corners of his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.
"Tired?" Raven asks in an attempt to make conversation. Wow, really Raven? Tired? That's the best you could come up with?
"Huh?" (F/N) asks, looking up. "Oh, yeah. These exams are killing me. And to think they haven't even started. What about you?"
"Uh, yeah." Raven nods, staring at her feet. "I was actually just headed to the library to study." Well that's a lie. She thinks to herself. Still, not like I can tell him the truth. Imagine how that would play out. Hi, my name is Raven Branwen. I've admired you from afar for the better part of a year and was just going on a walk to clear my head because I can't stop thinking about you.
"Yeah. Me too." (F/N) says, pulling Raven from her thoughts.
"Would you... would you like to study?" Raven asks.
"W-With you?"
"Never mind, it's a stupid idea, I don't know why I asked."
"Umm, no. Yeah, sure."
"You mean it?" Raven asks, the feeling of butterflies in her stomach growing ever more present.
"Mmhmm." (F/N) nods, stepping out of the elevator. "I was planning on going over history. It's my first exam."
"I know." Raven says a little too quickly. "We uh, we have the same class."
An uncomfortable silence hangs in the air while Raven mentally slaps herself for coming across like a stalker. She mumbles an embarrassed 'thank you' as (F/N) holds the door to the library open for her. Walking up to the front desk, (F/N) asks to be pointed towards the section pertaining to government history; dates when important laws and decrees were passed and other such things. Finding an appropriate book, Raven takes his hand and drags him towards a secluded corner of the large room, despite the many empty table seats. As the two sit down, Raven inches closer towards (F/N); not enough to cause him to notice, but close enough that any onlookers might think they were more than just friends.
Flipping through the book, (F/N)'s eyes travel across the pages while Raven's eyes are focused on his face; the way his brow furrows and nose scrunches when he's confused, and the adorable widened eyes and small nods he gives when he's figured it out, it causes her to giggle silently. It seems that (F/N) is only briefly scanning the sections for review, as thirty minutes in, he turns to Raven who quickly changes her glance, instead acting as if she's been reading the book as well, and not staring mesmerized by his features.
"Okay," (F/N) says, flipping back to the beginning of the section, "what was the name of the treaty that ended the Great War, where was it signed, who signed it, and what three policies did it ensure were uniform in all four Kingdoms?"
"W-What?" Raven asks surprised by his question.
"I'm quizzing you." (F/N) says. "Do you want me to repeat the question?"
"No, I just..." To be honest, Raven had completely forgotten about studying. It was extremely easy to just fall into her fantasies; that the two of them were a couple, cozying up together in the library for a study date.
"Let's just take it one step at a time." (F/N) says. "What was the name of the treaty that ended the Great War?"
Normally Raven would be able to answer any question posed to her, but something about the way (F/N) was looking at her made her mind go completely blank. Instead, she just opens her mouth and starts with how all the names of all treaties start. "The Treaty of..."
"Vvvvaaannnnaaahhee..."
"Vanaheim!" Raven shouts.
"Okay." (F/N) laughs. "Where was the treaty signed?"
"Uhh..." The answer is on the tip of Raven's tongue, but the way (F/N) laughed has turned her brain to mush.
"Come on Raven." (F/N) nudges her with his elbow. "It's in the name of the treaty."
"Oh, right." Raven blushes. "Vanaheim, in Atlas."
"Hey, you feelin' alright?" (F/N) asks, mistaking her blush for a sign of illness.
"No, yeah." Raven shakes her head. "I'm fine. I just... I don't know any of this stuff. Could you just, you know, read to me?"
"You want me to read this..." (F/N) riffles through the textbook, "927 page textbook to you?"
"Well, obviously not the whole thing." Raven says sheepishly. "Just, you know, the important parts."
"Uh, there's a whole lot of important parts in here."
"Well then, you better get started." Raven says, resting her head on (F/N)'s shoulder.
(F/N) sets the book on his lap and gives Raven an uncomfortable look. "Uh, hey Raven?"
"Hmm?"
"You didn't think that... I mean... this wasn't supposed to be like... a date? Right?"
"What?" Raven asks loudly, quickly removing her head from (F/N)'s shoulder. "N-No, of course not. This is definitely not a date."
"Okay." (F/N) sighs in relief. "Good. I mean... not that you're not attractive or anything, but I... it's just... I don't know if she told you, but I'm going on a date with Summer next week."
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I know. She told the team about it."
"And I'm not the type of guy to go seeing some other girl when I've already got a date scheduled and... oooohhhh. I get it. This was a test, wasn't it?" (F/N) grins. "Summer put you up to this, to see what I would do. Well, did I pass her test?"
Raven just stares at (F/N) disbelievingly for a little bit, her mouth hanging open. "Uh, yeah." Raven recovers. "Yeah, you passed with flying colors."
"Alright, I see." (F/N) laughs. "Well, I can assure you, I'm a perfect gentleman. I have no intention of cheating on Summer, should this date of ours turn into something more."
"Oh." Raven says. "That's good."
(F/N) shakes his head, still laughing quietly to himself as he stares at the textbook.
"Well, uh, since you passed the test there's no reason for me to be here anymore." Raven says, quickly getting to her feet.
"Huh?" (F/N) asks, looking up. "Raven, wait."
"Bye (F/N). I'll tell Summer you said hi."
Ignoring (F/N)'s calls, Raven briskly exits theroom as she tries to hide her embarrassment from the other students in thelibrary.