This is a fic I made after seeing a challenge on The Gray Law database for rare slash. Warning: Slash between beloved male childhood characters and high school. AU, I guess. I'm using a temporary title till I can think of a more appropriate one. Read it and tell me what u think the title should be. Enjoy! ~NsDb

"Jooones, waz up?"

"Hey Fred!"

"See you at the big game Friday, Freddy."

Numerous voices greeted him, searching for his attention as he strode the halls of Coolsville High. He acknowledged them as they came, never failing to keep a light smile on his handsome face whether he came into contact with jocks or giggling girls.

He walked an even, slow pace to his next class, not speeding up for the shrill pitch of the school bell signaling his tardiness.

It was only then he allowed the smile to drop from his face.

School held nothing for him. His grades were decent enough, he was a star athlete, teachers loved him, and there were alleged rumors about his relationship with one Daphne Blake.

Daphne was a rich, cute redhead that had had her green eyes on him for awhile. As one of the most popular girls in school, it was expected for her to date a popular boy and vice versa. In wake of that, she never missed a chance to occupy a space on his arm. In fact, Freddy wouldn't be surprised if she actually considered that arm and whatever was attached to it, her property. Ughh.

One would think Freddy Jones was the luckiest teenager in all of Coolsville. And they would be wrong.

"You're late, Mr. Jones." A stern voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he looked up into the mild glare of his teacher. His feet had taken him to his intended destination, but he wished they had taken him anywhere but there. He was only three minutes late, jeez.

"Sorry, Mrs. Lewis. It won't happen again." He made his apology short, and sincere, or at least he made it sound that way. All part of the Jones charm tactic.

From his position at the front of the room, he could see all eyes watching his conversation with the teacher, especially Daphne's. He could feel her eyes locked on him, probably upset that he wasn't sitting next to her.

Shame, he thought sarcastically. If there was one good thing about being late, it was that.

"See that it doesn't. The only seat left is in the back, next to our new stud- WAKE UP MR. ROGERS! Ahem, our new student, raise your hand, Mr. Rogers. Seating choice is a privilege given to students who are on time, Mr. Jones."

As he walked to the back of the classroom, he could see Daphne's eyes narrow at him, emphasizing both the teacher's point and her own personal disappointment.

Taking his seat, he faced the new student with the same smile he gave everyone. The new student countered with a sleepy grin.

"Hey."

"Like, hi."

Fred felt unusually more comfortable in class now than he had when he'd first walked in and faced forward to listen to the teacher's lecture on European history.

"Louis XIV of France employed what we call the divine right of –WAKE UP MR. ROGERS!"

As the bell rang for lunch, Fred found himself avoiding the lunch room and heading outside the school walls. He needed a break from his "friends" and "girlfriend" once in a while. Surely Daphne wouldn't have a seizure if denied the barest fraction of his attention for one day. There was a fifty-fifty chance.

He sat under the shade of a large tree with browned leaves spread out around him, felled by the autumn winds. He preferred a packed lunch rather than the stuff they served in the cafeteria. There was nothing wrong with brown baggin' it.

Before he'd managed to bite into his lunch, however, a small, hard something hit the top of his head. Fred looked up startled to see if the sky was falling. His eyes settled on the slim figure of the mystery figure he'd come to know as Mr. Rogers, asleep in the tree.

He wasn't too far up. Just low enough for Fred to nudge his leg with a hand, snapping him from slumber and right out of the tree.

Fred had acted instinctively, not really thinking about what or how. Seconds later, he'd found himself with both arms full of one Mr. Rogers. He let him down gently.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, like, thanks man."

"No problem …"

"Shaggy Rogers."

"Fred Jones."

"Nice to meet you."

"Like, likewise."

Fred reclaimed his seat under the tree and resumed eating his lunch as Shaggy sank down next to him. He sat Indian style and looked not to have a care in the world. It was Fred who broke the silence.

"So, uh, what's your favorite color?" Dumb question.

Shaggy didn't flinch or even hesitate. "Dunno, maybe all of them."

Freddy walked Daphne home with the tiniest hint of a genuine smile on his face. As per usual she took up residence on his arm the second the school bell rang. She talked endlessly, making what she considered to be "pleasant conversation". Though he couldn't bring himself to pay attention to a word she'd said, he nodded occasionally to feign interest.

He and Shaggy had talked till the school bell rang, not even noticing the time go by. There was an easiness to Shaggy that amazed Fred. He'd never felt so comfortable in another's presence. They'd talk about the simplest things, learning more about each other with each passing minute.

His thoughts put him in a giddy mood. There were absolutely no expectations or obligations when he was with Shaggy, and that drew Fred to him even more.

"Shaggy!" Shaggy Rogers was knocked over as the Great Dane raced and jumped at him, clearly excited by his appearance.

"Like, hey, Scoob." He gave a hug to his best friend since birth.

"How was school?"

"I think I like, made a friend." Shaggy hadn't given much thought to it before, but he now considered that he may have just made a friend in Freddy Jones.

"Who?"

"How 'bout I like, tell you over a triple-decker sandwich, buddy?" Shaggy asked, already walking towards the mansion's spacious kitchen with Scooby Doo on his heels.

Read and Review everyone. Hope u enjoyed it! No FLAMES! ~NsDb