DISCLAIMER: I do not own RWBY or any original characters/locations/etc. from the series. But I do love this idea, which hasn't been done yet. Much like with Different Shades of Life, I'm getting the jump.

Another new project from me! Enjoy.

Every door in the hallway looked the same. Except for the numbers on each door.

This was Blake's observation after she knocked on the door of her dorm room. Room 7, on the third floor. She'd known those numbers for barely an hour, but upon noticing the sameness of each door, she knew that it would be prudent to remember them, at least until the path through the courtyard, into the building, up the stairs, and down the hallway several paces became ingrained within her subconscious.

After a few moments passed, she realized that there was no sign of movement – not even the sound of footsteps on the other side of the door, despite her knocks. Frowning slightly, she glanced once to the right, and once to the left. "Hello?" she tentatively asked to the door. No response.

She bit her lip, and put her hand to the gold-painted doorknob. Unlocked? Interesting, she thought.

She pushed the door open, and instantly wished she hadn't. The room itself, in terms of furnishing arrangements was fine enough – opposite her, at the back of the room, almost spanning the entire width of the wall, a large window overlooking the courtyard; two large desks, one on either side of the window, pushed up against the respective walls, with sizable bookshelves above them; and two beds in the middle of the room, also pushed against the respective walls. On her immediate right and left by the doorway, wardrobe closets; in front of the left closet was the door to the bathroom.

As a result, the entire middle of the room should have had enough room for two people to walk side-by-side. A cleared strip up and down the room. Unfortunately for Blake, should have was the operative term – the floor was practically layered; books and clothes and accessories and more clothes were strewn across the beds, with many of those items spilling over onto the floor. On the desks, even more clothes.

Shaking her head in annoyance, Blake crouched down and started gathering her absent roommate's things. She thought about whether or not she should endear herself to her unmet roommate by being tidy and putting the things away properly. In the end, it was an executive decision made in a matter of seconds. She dropped the books and clothes and accessories on the left-hand bed, which had more on it to begin with. She wheeled in her bags, and put them on the right-hand bed. She progressed on to the desks, and did more of the same, shifting things from the right-hand desk to the left-hand desk.

After carving out her space in the dorm room, and several muttered threats of violence to her absent roommate, she walked up to the big window, and gazed out over the courtyard.

So, this is Beacon University, Blake thought. One of the most prestigious higher-education academies in the world. And I'm here now. It's… odd, starting at this place. I should be in my second year at Menagerie, and now I'm starting fresh courses here.

She leaned on the windowsill. Well, the extension of my time in college isn't really a problem, as long as I can get away from that place. I would have done anything to get away from Menagerie, and I have. I've done it.

She sighed, and turned away from the window. She dropped down onto her new bed, and stared up at the ceiling.

Silence passed for a few minutes, and Blake didn't move a muscle. Despite her eagerness to embark on a fresh path, she was still naturally tentative and hesitant. Deliberate in her dealings with others. Overall, she was not necessarily eager to go out and meet people, even though she knew for a fact that college was the absolute time of one's life to do so.

It's not like I don't like befriending people… she thought. But I just hate meeting them. It's always the same; a slightly-awkward greeting, a beat or two of similarly-awkward silence while the two strangers mentally fumble over something else to say, ugh… awful.

She turned over on to her side. But of course, there are those rare times when it comes off, and it starts something surprising and wonderful. She closed her eyes and smiled softly in fond remembrance of times and people gone by.

Internal conflict quickly swinging her decision, she rolled over and stood up. She would go out to the courtyard, but only to see what might happen. She decided to bring a book with her as an alternate option, and walked out.

But I swear, she vowed silently. If I happen to meet my obnoxious new roommate, I will wring her neck.

"So, what do you think?" Ruby asked.

Weiss thought for a second. "Hm. It could be nice. But we don't really have the money or the time to hire a bakery for ourselves and shove free baked products in our mouths for 2 hours."

"I know," Ruby said wistfully. "But it is a very nice dream."

"Indeed," Weiss smirked.

The two roommates were traversing the college courtyard, destined for the dormitory building. Both had been at college for 6 months, rooming together from day one. Initially, Weiss had thought of Ruby as childish, and had derided her so. But after a slow burn, they had eventually become close friends.

"Hey, who's that?" Ruby asked, looking at a bench. There was a black-haired girl sitting on it, reading a book.

"I… don't know," Weiss frowned. "Let's go."

"Oh, Weiss, you do this every time!" Ruby pouted. "Just because someone looks unfamiliar to you doesn't mean that they're going to cause problems!"

"That's not what I think at all!" Weiss rebutted, making a beeline towards the bench. "I just want to meet her!"

"But you're just going to interrogate her!"

Weiss ignored Ruby, and walked up to the bench. "Excuse me. What's your name?"

The girl looked irritated, at being interrupted. "Blake."

Weiss nodded. "I haven't seen you around before. Are you new?"

Blake sighed. "Yes."

Ruby tugged desperately on Weiss' arm, but to no avail. "What are you doing here? Where do you come from?" Weiss asked, her voice growing in harshness.

Blake raised an eyebrow, feeling uncomfortable with Weiss' approach. "Look, I don't even know who you are, but I'm not appreciating the hostile canvassing. And there's no way I would tell you anything with that attitude."

"Hey! Get out of here!"

Weiss turned, and noticed a blonde girl stomping towards them. "Oh, it's you."

The blonde came up to them. "Can't you see she's new? She doesn't need people like Weiss Schnee interrogating her on her first day at a new college."

"Come on, Weiss," Ruby begged. "Let's just go. We've got to study now!"

"Ugh, fine. We'll meet again, Miss Blake." Weiss' shoulders visibly slumped, and she started trudging off towards the dormitories. Ruby was quick to follow, making sure to give a parting wave and mouthed apology to Blake and her savior.

Blake smiled. "Hey. I'm Blake," she said, extending her hand.

"Name's Yang," the blonde grinned, and shook Blake's hand vociferously.

"How did you know this was my first day?" Blake asked.

"I could tell. You're sitting out here, but you've made the effort to shy away from people and read instead. Anyway, I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got an incoming roommate to meet! If you get bored, just come up to 7, on the third floor."

Blake's smile fell. "Wait. Room 7… you're my roommate?"

It took a second to click to Yang. "Oh! Hey! Nice to meet you!"

Blake stood, and advanced on Yang. "Do you have any idea about the state of our room?"

"Oh, so you've been there, huh?" Yang scratched the back of her head. "Yeah, sorry, I don't have many people over. Come to think of it, you're also my first roommate in about 4 months as well."

"What? But, you've only been here about 6 months, haven't you?"

Yang nodded. "Yeah… it's quite the story. Maybe another time. Anyway, yeah, so, I'm sorry about the room, huh?"

"Yeah, what are you? Some sort of untidy recluse?" Blake asked.

"Ah! So hurtful!" Yang cried melodramatically. "No, but I'm usually not in the dorm room most of the time."

Blake fell silent at that. I don't know what exactly she is insinuating, but I don't think I want to explore that particular rabbit hole, she mentally resolved.

"Hey, so, you want me to tour you around?" Yang offered.

Blake closed her book. "Let's do it."

...Truly Yours, Kalico.