Jauen had spent the last few hours just re-reading the note and thinking. 'Do I have a stalker or something? How is this even possible?' Jaune couldn't think of anyone who could have possibly done this. Although he felt somewhat prideful about it, most of his emotion was fear. 'This person must be nuts, all they do is watch me when I walk?'
He decided that thinking about it any longer was not going to get him anywhere, so he quickly did his homework so he could get prepared for the next day.
Since the season is currently Fall, the temperature was dropping and it was getting darker in the mornings. This sucked for Jaune, who needed time in the morning to get to his school. It was currently 6:50 in the morning and he was walking out his door. His school starts at 8:00 sharp, so he needed to get there early. He didn't want to run or ride his bike because both options were unpleasant in cold mornings. As soon as he started walking down the driveway, that feeling came back to him.
"It's too early for this," he groaned. He kept his pace as he scanned the trees around him. They were starting to lose their color changing leaves, but still could keep a person hidden. He waited to hear the faintest noise, but whoever was watching him was too quiet to hear. He sighed and put his headphones onto his ears. He started playing one of his less loud playlists and hummed the beat. It was a slow beat, and unknowing to him, he wasn't the only one humming it.
Jaune felt off as he made it near the end of his driveway. He paused his music mid-way to see if he could hear anything. This time he was able to catch a quick hum before it stopped. He looked around again, he could have sworn he heard someone. 'This person is pretty sneaky, this could be really annoying.' He thought before he set foot into open road.
"Hey Arc, what'cha up to?" Jaune winced as he recognized the voice. Soon enough Cardin was standing in front of him. Jaune had his back to his locker and his sides were blocked by two of Cardins friends, who were smiling with dark amusement.
"H-hey Cardin, need something?" Jaune asked, he knew Cardin was going to do something, but it could vary from a simple task, or just beating the crap out of him for fun. "You could say that Jaune-y Boy. That last assignment we got in Ports class seems kinda hard, I was wondering if you could do it for me?" While Cardin was saying this, he shoved the papers into Jaune's chest. Jaune knew he didn't have a choice in the matter. "Yeah sure, I'll just get it done along with mine I guess," Jaune replied weakly.
"Good, see to it that I get a good grade and we'll be just fine." Before Cardin and his friends left Jaune, Cardin delivered an unexpected blow into Jaunes stomach, leaving him gasping for breath. "So it was both today huh?" he wheezed out.
"Dammit that really hurts," Jaune complained as he touched his bruised stomach area. He finally made it to his driveway, so close to home. "Stupid Cardin, why does he treat me like crap? I've never bothered him, yet he always has to be an ass to me." Jaune continued his rant about Cardin to what he presumed was himself, but was unaware that someone else was hearing his blight with interest. Once satisfied with what Jaune had said, the one listening began to put their plan into action. 'Jaune will love this,' the person thought.
Jaune was out the door again at the same time, and it was still dark and cold, normal morning. 'Is it though?' Jaune thought. Something felt off, he just couldn't place his finger on it. It was when he got to the end of his driveway that he finally noticed, 'For once I don't feel like I'm being watched,' he thought. Then he looked at his watch and his eyes widened, "Crap, I'm going to be late!" he exclaimed. He was not going to be prepared for his day of school.
Jaune, along with many other students and even some teachers stood outside the school, wide eyed in shock. Jaunes jaw dropped at the sight before him. All eyes were staring at the top of the flagpole outside, but it wasn't the flagpole itself that was interesting. It was what was tied to it that was. Cardin was tied, upside down, in a black ribbon while trying to wiggle free and screaming for help, with a large poster board stuck to his torso. Written on the poster board simply said 'for Jaune.' Jaune was too shocked to respond, but he was completely aware of the stares that were slowly growing in numbers towards Jaune. Someone had called in a team of firefighters to get Cardin down, while a few people were detracted by that, Jaune bolted into the school, already dreading his day.
His day actually wasn't too bad, although people were avoiding him more than usual. Most of the time he wasn't acknowledged, but now people were obviously going out of their way to get out of his way. They feared him now. He wasn't comfortable with it. The only person who really asked about it was Ruby, who laughed about it. Jaune chuckled, but swallowed hard. He knew the next few days were going to be annoying. His chorus class was the only class where he was at peace again, even though he had to perform his solo in front of his class. He was applauded, but the students showed no enthusiasm. Jaune didn't care.
Jaune knew he would have to try to talk to the person watching him. Once he stepped foot in his driveway, the feeling came back. The feeling of him being watched. He stopped about halfway down his driveway and looked up to the trees, he didn't know where to look to talk to the person directly, so he just started speaking. "So um, I guess I should thank you. Cardin has been sorta bothering me recently, so seeing him like that was pretty funny. Maybe he'll leave me alone now, but next time, could you not do something to that extent, or at all? You kind've made me the most feared kid in school at the moment." He laughed to himself, him? Feared? That was funny. Apparently the person watching him thought so too, because Jaune definitely heard a laugh, definitely feminine. Jaune just sighed, "So I'm guessing you still don't want to show yourself?" he asked. He was answered with silence. Jaune sighed, 'This is getting old,' he sighed. He walked back to his home feeling defeated. The person watching him had a frown, seeing Jaune upset wasn't pleasant for her. She wanted to do something, but she just needed the right thing. She didn't want him to find her out, not just yet, but maybe there was another way. She smiled to herself and returned to her home.