Jaune Arc could finally say that he was officially a man. The term itself was figurative. He looked to the title as a stepping stone of completing his first year of university. He was the first in his family to attend college, an accomplishment that couldn't be greater than earning a certificate in agriculture, which was something that the Arc family was innate to do. After selling his books for some spending money, Jaune went to the nearby diner for some pizza. He went to rent a DVD from a Redbox and returned a library book.

It wasn't easy living in the rural part of Vale. The university had a good huntsman program and his parents didn't want him to turn down their scholarship offer. He took the scholarship, knowing that there wouldn't be any other opportunities of another one. Especially after they were impressed when he had openly admitted of his cheating into Beacon Academy. On his acceptance letter, they included that his admission of his guilt gave him character.

Being alone in the college town wasn't bad. His parents were two hours away by flight. His parents were paying his rent and his amenities. He couldn't complain. He didn't have a set curfew (he was already responsible). He had his television, his laptop, and his video games when he felt bored. He kept in contact with his friends whenever he needed company. He made a few acquaintances during his time at the university. All-in-all, life was pretty decent for the blonde.

He decided to spend this summer in town. He wanted to advance in his major, which was a great suggestion by his academic advisor after his past year of scoring high marks. Also, he newfound independence was getting to him. As much as he missed his loving parents and his doting sisters, Jaune seized the opportunity. He wasn't sure if he would have that feeling again.

It was near three in the afternoon when he had come home. The sound of the air conditioner filled the cool house. He felt the sensation as he placed his items on the counter. He decided to check his emails on the laptop since he wasn't hungry yet. With his phone being repaired, the laptop was his only source of communication with the outside world.

He logged on to his 4chan account. He, himself, was too puzzled on his usage of the primitive site. It was probably because of the memories he shared with his teammates back in college. He, Lie Ren, Nora, and Pyrrha would spend countless hours trolling, laughing, or lamenting their actions on the site. Nostalgia hit him, followed by sadness.

He knew Pyrrha would have loved doing this if she were here. He clicked his tongue, trying not to think about his former girlfriend's death. The blonde has had a few dates with women but never followed through after the coffee date. They were pleasant, nice, friendly, but never really met his taste. Pyrrha was different. She gave an aura of a woman. That was the simplicity of an answer he could give. Those girls were girls. Pyrrha was a woman.

He stopped typing. He was thinking of her again. He reached into his drawer to get his rubberbands. A trick that he learned by Blake if he wanted to repel something that was repulsive. After a few flicks to the wrist, he was ready to return to the matter at hand. Earlier that morning, Lie Ren told him that he would be online at this certain time. Even though Facebook and Instagram was thriving today, but 4chan was nostalgia. It was like a ritual, better yet, a symbol of their friendship. This was what made their friendship stronger. Something that no one could take away. Nora didn't use it much. He doesn't get to see much of Nora since she had moved out of the country. They talk from time to time. Lie Ren mentioned that it was much of the same for him as well.

The feeling of their friendship on the verge of severance brought a chill to his spine. He saw that Lie Ren was online. He can overlook the feelings of the inevitable.

[the_ren_is_a_lie]: How goes it?

[Jaunelovestoplaywithyourstrings]: Nothing much. Just got off from school.

[the_ren_is_a_lie]: Awesome! Can't believe that school is out. Thank God. I can finally relax for the summer.

[Jaunelovestoplaywithyourstrings]: Are you still coming to stay here for the summer?

[the_ren_is_a_lie]: Heck yeah! I got no other place to go. Money can only last so long from the rents' life insurance policy.

[Jaunelovestoplaywithyourstrings]: You have a grave view about that, dude.

[the_ren_is_a_lie]: Not as a bad when I kick your ass on this video game I got.

[Jaunelovestoplaywithyourstrings]: Dude, can't wait. Damn, we are such virgins.

[the_ren_is_a_lie]: Beats the alternative.

[Jaunelovestoplaywithyourstrings]: At some point, we need to find girls.

[the_ren_is_a_lie]: Can't agree with you, more.

[Jaunelovestoplaywithyourstrings]: Talk to Nora recently?

[the_ren_is_a_lie]: Not in a few days. She has been very busy.

[Jaunelovestoplaywithyourstrings]: Yeah! I spoke to Blake briefly last week. Talk to Weiss and Yang about a month ago. Ruby called me.

[the_ren_is_a_lie]: What they are talking about?

[Jaunelovestoplaywithyourstrings]: Nothing much. Same thing. Life, college, etc, etc.

[the_ren_is_a_lie]: We need to do a reunion.

[Jaunelovestoplaywithyourstrings]: In time, hopefully before the end of the summer.

[the_ren_is_a_lie]: I agree. Hopefully, by then we can have girlfriends.

[Jaunelovestoplaywithyourstrings]: Here's hoping.

[the_ren_is_a_lie]: Hey, man. Gotta run. I got to go to take my last final.

[Jaunelovestoplaywithyourstrings]: Alright, dude. Later.

The room got a little quieter for a moment. He had always pictured his friends to be together forever. Amazing how three years of high school and then graduation can prove him wrong, he lamentedly thought. He decided to scroll through a few tabs before calling it quits to watch a movie and eat his now lukewarm pizza until he saw he had a message.

He clicked on the tab. It was from a user called [jkab]. He jokingly tried pronouncing it before clicking on the profile. He nearly burst into laughter as the profile was cutesy and obviously belonging to a girl. In his opinion, it was like a Brony nightmare from Hell. He returned to the message that the stranger [jkab] had left.

I hope that you get this message to know that I find you interesting, Jaune. First, your username is funny. [Jaunelovestoplaywithyourstrings] is hilarious. In some way, I feel somewhat connected when you put that. It makes me feel warm. It's like you are playing with my strings. If you are, please respond. Thanks!

~[jkab]

Jaune didn't know how to respond that, especially from a stranger. His profile wasn't spectacular. He had only used the profile whenever he was with his teammates during their Beacon days. As he mentioned to himself, it was nostalgia.

Knowing for him, it could have been a prank or from a spambot. In the past, Jaune and Pyrrha used to troll other users by sending messages to fake profiles. This could have been one of them or Lie Ren or Nora messing with him.

He didn't give it a thought and decided to delete the message. He exited off of the tab and went to eat his now cold pizza.

He had spent the rest of his evening playing video games and watching his DVD. During his breaks, he did a Skype call with his parents. They asked him to visit, which he promised he would. They were excited to announce that his eldest sister was pregnant with twins. His twin sister, Joan, found a boyfriend. The youngest sister, Jeanette, found work at the local tavern. After settling his business with his family, he returned to the computer to have a bit of alone time.

He went to his tabs, searching for the bookmarks of his alone time materials. He decided that it was going to be a MILF night.

After spending a couple of hours in the fantasy of older women, he retired to his bed. He said his prayers to Oum before shutting his eyes into slumber.

He had imagined that he was in the desert. He was floating and drifting through a massive bonfire party. He saw people and they were wearing the most beautiful of outfits. It was like an array of fire, flashing in different colors. A sea of colors painting the desert sand, matching the light of the bonfire as well. Many were shooting orange, purple, and blue flames into the star-filled sky. Spectacular colors, he thought.

It was beautiful. He saw Lie Ren. He saw Nora. He saw Ruby and Yang. He saw Blake. He had even seen Weiss. He saw many people having a great time in this festivity of lights.

Centered in the flames, he saw a mysterious woman.

She was wearing the most revealing genie outfit. The colors were blue, teal, and purple. She was dancing in the most provocative, yet spellbinding way. Her hair lies black and poker straight, yet soft, moving like prairie grass in the wind. It gives contrast to her face, so dark against her soft white skin. She is part of the beauty of this place rather than a thing apart. There is something of her spirit here was making everyone laugh.

She was alluring him, entrancing him, and inviting him. She waved her gentle palms for him to enter her direction. He did exactly what she wanted. She was smiling at him. Her eyes never left his sight.

'What's your name,' asked Jaune inquisitively.

'It's whatever you want it to be,' answered the mysterious woman.

'Then what should I call you," asked Jaune.

When they finally unite, she grabbed him by the wrists, twirling him in circles.

'Call me Iva.'

The hypnotic music of trance began playing. She continued to spin him in circles and circles. She was smiling. He was smiling. The combination of colors and lights and friends flashing and flashing. He was finding peace.

For a moment, he imagined that he was heaven. If so, it was a place he would never leave.

'Jaune,' asked Iva.

'Yes, Iva,' replied Jaune.

'Take me away,' said Iva.

'How do you know my name?'

Iva pursed her lips, waiting for his cue. With his inexperience on women, but enough practice through magazine pictures and pillows, he came and kissed her. It was a slight peck, but enough to taste her cherry lip gloss.

She chuckled. Of course, it would have made Jaune blushed.

'Sorry. I haven't had much experience of being with a woman,' said Jaune.

'Don't beat yourself up, sweetheart,' she said. 'I have never said you were horrible.'

'Really,' asked Jaune surprisingly.

'Amateurs have to start from somewhere,' she said. 'And I think you can use a few practices.'

'Certainly,' said Jaune.

Iva took Jaune by the hand. He would have gone away from the dancing. Away from people. Just an oasis built for two. She told him to take a seat.

She gave him a peck on the cheek. He was blushing in excitement. However, she doesn't stop. Jaune began panting heavily from the newfound sensations Iva was giving him.

'Iva, but…,' said Jaune before getting interrupted.

'You wanted an older woman,' she said. 'Now I am showing you a taste of this nectar.'

She pushed him down to the ground. The humidity contrasted the cold earth, but the heat was looming from her body. Her eyes were hungry for more of Jaune. Jaune stared as she began taking her hand into his shirt. Her soft palms gently waving on his chest created excitement. Excitement, especially, for his middleman downstairs.

He would have blushed and it wouldn't have gone without notice from Iva.

'Is that a clue in your pocket, or you are just happy to see me,' she said.

Jaune went silent. Just willing to explore the new things that Iva had in store for him. She was coming closer and closer and closer. As she was approaching his pants, Jaune choked.

The vision was fading away and Iva was out of sight. He felt a strong sensation around his penis. It was feeling snug, but at the same time, a foreign, yet familiar sensation. When Jaune came to, it was darkness surrounding his bedroom.

He sat up on his bed to see that he was alone. None of his friends were there. There wasn't any party or dancing. The only thing occurring was the fact that Jaune had a wet dream for the first time in many years. He shut his eyes; not for the embarrassment of soaking his pajamas. The dream of such a beautiful woman sparking his mind. She was beautiful, ravishing. He tried closing his eyes to picture the scene, but he couldn't.

He had called it a lost as he went to the bathroom for a change of clothes.

A couple of days have passed since that dream encounter with the mystery woman. Since then, Jaune didn't have dreams. He was finishing putting up his laundry as he was preparing to go and get Lie Ren from the train station.

He was listening to his Pandora when he heard a ping from his 4chan.

He walked to the computer to see the message. He saw that it came from [jkab] again. He grabbed his lips with his teeth. He clicked on her message.

How come you didn't respond. I thought you were going to pull my strings. You still haven't answered yet. Speak to you soon!

~[jkab]

Jaune looked to ceiling with humor under his belt. He knew that it had to be either Lie Ren or Nora messing with him. If it wasn't them, it was probably a spambot. Not wanting to entertain it, he deleted the message and returned to his music.

It wasn't even a few minutes before hearing another ping in his notifications.

It came from [jkab] again.

Why haven't you responded to me? I must know why aren't you, Jaune. I thought you were going to pull my strings. You make me feel some kind of way. A feeling I don't want to let go. Please hear me out, Jaune.

~[jkab]

He was beginning to become annoyed. At first, it was funny to him that his friends would play this game, but it was becoming annoying. He had deleted it once more before returning to his music.

Another message. It was [jkab] again.

Why won't you talk to me? I thought we can make a connection. You seem like a person I would like to know. I think you are different from the other guys. I thought you were going to pull my strings. Why haven't you, Jaune? You make me feel some kind of way. A feeling I don't want to let go. Please hear me out, Jaune

Love,

~[jkab]

Jaune knew a spambot wouldn't be this consistent. This was nothing but the handiwork of his dearest friends. He decided to humor them. He sat in his chair and typed a message.

Greetings "[jkab],"

I am going to humor you on your request. In order to let me pull your strings, you must know which song captivates me the most.

Jaune

He had sent the message. A few seconds later, he had a reply.

You don't have a set song. Your musical taste varies. Some days, it's rock. Some days, it's hip-hop. You gave me a trick question.

Love,

~[jkab]

Jaune licked his lips. He was impressed of the quick response. "Clever girl...or guy," he said. He knew that it had to be from Lie Ren or Nora. He looked to the clock. He had a few minutes before picking up Lie Ren. Just enough for him to give a discussion when meeting the prankster himself. He typed back.

You are correct! A person who knows me could only answer that. But seriously, Lie Ren or Nora, very funny. I was going to entertain this, but this is getting a bit juvenile.

Jaune

He sent the message. He was cracking his knuckles. He was in mid-yawn when he got a response.

Who is Lie Ren? Nora? I hope those names are people that you only have a platonic relationship. Sorry, that was wrong. I really do care about you, Jaune. Understand that you really pull my strings. My heartstrings, that is. I know it is weird to say, but I am really falling for you. Now, let's stop being silly and have a serious conversation. I would love to meet you.

Love,

~[jkab]

P.S.: I wanted to congratulate you on being an uncle! Totes happy for you!

His jaw dropped when seeing that message. A spambot couldn't have predicted that he was going to be an uncle. He wrote back.

This is weird! Who in the hell are you? This is creeping me out.

A response came to him.

[jkab]: Stop being silly. I am your girlfriend. Not yet at least.

[Jaunelovestoplaywithyourstrings]: Stop saying that! I don't even know you!

[jkab]: Like I said, not yet. But in time you will.

[Jaunelovestoplaywithyourstrings]: Who are you?

[jkab]: Your girlfriend to be. But for now, you can call me, Iva.

To be continued….