Jaune glanced around nervously as he waited by the entrance of the hall.
It had been a few songs into the Fall Dance and he still had failed to find his date. Where was she? They did say that they would meet here.

Jaune glanced at his phone again, seeing the message that she was already here and he looked around a fifth time... and then a sixth... and a seventh... By now Jaune was well aware of the whispers that were reaching his ears. Of how much of a fool he looked for trying to find his date. How his date had shown him up. How pathetic he looked.

To think he was excited about the night. How he bragged to his sisters about how he had found a date to the dance. Yes him. Jaune Arc, the man who would always run to his sisters when things got to tough. Jaune Arc, the man who would stutter and blush when even looking at a girl that was not one of his sisters. The lazy bum who would rather read comics instead of study. Who would listen to his father's stories instead of reading his textbook.

He had finally gotten a date to the dance but alas she was nowhere to be found. Jaune took a cup of punch and downed it. His excitement for getting to know Ruby tonight and her sudden disappearance had casted a shadow of doubt on his mind and the strong kick the punch gave him didn't help as he began to feel muddled.

Someone barreled past him and the punch bowl started to float, as did the cup in his hand. Jaune watched as Glynda Goodwitch took hold of the bowl and took it away as another person came to replace the bowl. "Someone spiked the punch" she spat and rushed away.

Jaune lumbered over to a table and sat down, only to see two figures emerging from underneath.

"Woo, thought we'd be caught that time Russel, Good catch." a girl in a yellow dress, a mane of untamed hair and lilac eyes sported a smile.

The man in the mohawk beside her with a simple dress shirt and pants smiled back." Dang they got this batch quickly, I got some more in the car. Extra fruity so it won't be as easy to tell. Just keep a lookout for if Ms. Goodwitch is watching again. I'm counting on you Yang." The mohawk kid said, his name probably Russel, and he bolted after a quick handshake with Yang.

"Looks like someone is having fun" Jaune grumbled and Yang turned to look at the person who had spoken, her eyes narrowing at him.

"Jaune how are you, enjoying the night?" Yang asked and Jaune looked away.

"It would be going better if I could actually find my date... have you seen Ruby around?" Jaune asked and Yang paused at that.

Yang's grown descended into a frown as her eyes scanned the room only to fail to locate her target.

"You didn't lose her did you?" Yang accused. "Did you agree to meet up with her?"

"We agreed to meet here before the Dance opened. Its been about six songs since and to no avail can I find her." Jaune sighed. "Please tell me she didn't stand me up. She seems like a nice girl." Jaune asked and Yang shook her head.

"Ruby is many things but standing people up is something she wouldn't do. Don't doubt yourself something must have come up. I know Ruby and she loves you a great deal. The amount of times she went red and started to stutter at the meer mention of your name puts a smile on my face to see my baby cousin find love. She'd never intentionally harm someone. She would help anyone who needs help, anyone she can help." Yang encouraged, she got up and gave Jaune a small push.

"Again don't sell yourself short. You're her first love so she is bound to not know what to do. She probably got stuck picking a dress not knowing the time. I'd ask Nebula or Penny if they have seen her." Yang advised and she waved as Russel came running over with several bottles in his hand. "I got a duty to uphold so you do to... also just grab drinks from the vending machine, keep her away from the punch got it?"

"Alright Yang, thanks for the advice. I owe you big time."

"You can pay me back by showing my cousin a good time. If i hear she came home crying or in pain I'll have you owe me a kiss, behind the school building, with my fists... got it" Yang smirked at the terrified face of Jaune and she burst out laughing.

"Relax, remember that she loves you for being you. Take things at your own pace, don't rush because others are already at that stage.

After another hour of searching, Nebula was not to be found and Penny equally as missing. Jaune headed toward the garden to get a breathe of fresh air. He opened a door from the auditorium to the hallway to see the other door opening, a bob of orange hair and a pink bow sitting atop her head entering.

Both of them opened their mouth to say something before they relaxed and walked toward each other.

"Penny!" Jaune exclaimed.

"Friend Jaune. How can I assist you today?"

"I was looking for Ruby... have you seen her?" Jaune asked.

Penny thought for a moment and she shook her head. "I'm sorry Friend Jaune. I haven't seen her since she promised me a dance before the dance had started. She did mention that she needed to talk to someone and headed outside. I wandered the halls since then and was distracted by a mass of flora located in the area known as a "garden?". I finished appreciating them and was going to head inside for that dance with Ruby." Penny explained. "Is something wrong?"

"No... Yes? I just haven't seen Ruby at all tonight so I was wondering if you've seen her or know where she is?" Jaune explained.

"Sadly I have not seen her since she promised me that dance before the dance started. If you want I can help put you at ease by helping you search for her." Penny offered and Jaune shook his head.

"No... I've been looking ever since the dance started and I still haven't found her. I was going to get a breath of fresh air in the Garden." Jaune explained and Penny hummed.

They both stood still. Jaune waiting for Penny to move, and in her failing to do so he had to ask. "So... are you moving back to the hall." Jaune asked and Penny shook her head no.

"I will not Friend Jaune. I will stand by you nd make sure you fell better. Friend Ruby would appreciate it if you're in your best health when you dance with her."

The sentiment moved Jaune as a tear appeared in his eye. "Thanks Penny. I... I guess I needed some company after all..." Jaune fell silent as he slumped to the floor.

"I'm glad to be of assistance Friend Jaune... thought I have a question for you." Penny said.

"What is it?"

"Have you met Ruby before? She seems so in love with you that I wonder what she saw... and If i can find someone like that someday." Penny put a hand to her chin as if to replicate the thinking pose.

"I'll be honest, I have no clue about that. I ran into her and helped her up. She seems so shy at the time since she ran away... It didn't help that I wasn't confident about myself that I thought I had scared her or something like that." Jaune chuckled to himself.

"Ruby is actually very friendly. She sees the best in people and for you... your kindness probably reached her heart. But to think you've met Ruby for the first time at school." Penny pondered and Jaune poked Penny in the arm.

"How did you meet Ruby?" Jaune asked.

"I got lost in Vale. I was just looking around since I've only recently moved here and Ruby collided with me as she dashed toward a bakery. We were collapsed on the floor and she said I was her friend. We've been friends ever since." Penny proudly proclaimed.

"That sort of happened with my friend Sage. We were at a library and we both reached for the same book. We talked about the book, about books by the author and we've been friends ever since.

The night went on, the two people chatted in the hallways. Animated movements as arms flew to explain a story or the looks of disbelief at their past endeavors. The two had nothing in common aside from a single friend. They hadn't spoke to each other other than that night. Yet it was undeniable that both of them had a smile on their face as a sense of kinship formed between them.

"This will be the final dance of the night. Calling all those who still want to dance to this slow dance." The DJ called across the speaker system, startling Penny and Jaune from their ongoing conversation about silly things their friends do.

"Looks like Ruby never showed up." Jaune sighed, he got up and started to head for the door when he felt his arm being grabbed.

Jaune looked back to see Penny, a sad smile on her face.

"Its sad that Friend Ruby didn't dance with me, but no one should have to come to a dance and not dance... so will you dance with me Friend Jaune?"

Jaune smiled at the idea... despite how hollow his heart felt from being stood up by his date.

"I would love to Penny."

Pyrrha smoothed her dress, checked her heals and straightened her hair. She had to be perfect. She had to be dazzling. She had to make Jaune speechless. She was to go into the dance floor, find the moping blond and make his night. She got rid of his date for this moment. She practically signed her soul for this moment.

Pyrrha Nikos was a winner, she would get her man even if it was the last thing she would do.

Pyrrha strode through the doors with an aura like a goddess only to falter in her steps as she looked upon the scene before her.

There he was, her God, her husband-to-be. Dancing in the arms of an orange-haired tramp. Jaune Arc was dancing with someone not her. To the Slow dance as well.

Pyrrha grit her teeth as anger course through her. She thought she only needed to get rid of Ruby, to hide her away and dispose of her or break her so that she feared Jaune... but now this...

Pyrrha felt the silverware and chairs starting to float so she calmed herself down. Calmed herself down and formulated a plan.

Pyrrha Nikos was a winner. She would get her man... even if it was the last thing she would do.

Pretty intense chapter with Jaune's emotional distress and Penny's reassurance. Pyrrha is also taking strides to get Jaune to notice her... why can't she be normal?

Sorry for the insanely late release and the hiatus that this had been on. I apologize but life gave me lemons... and I burned my kitchen down making lemonaid. No joke my laptop broke five times before I could get this to you guys.

I apologize for the inconvience and hope I can get a chapter out for the aftermath of Ruby's kidnapping.