Updates will be hit and miss. It's pulling teeth writing these days. Sorry folks. Happy reading. :)
Chapter 3
Velma had asked Daphne if she could use the computer just a little bit longer. Daphne readily agreed as she was pacified by finger sandwiches and a fashion magazine. Velma slumped closer to the computer, trying to block the screen with her shoulders as she glanced over four colleges that she'd gained a scholarship to. Two were near Crystal Cove, one in Crystal Cove... but the other, the one that held the most appeal, was out of state. It looked so good; so peaceful, so swelled over with new learning experiences, so made for her! The classes and the teachers, were all top of the line. The pamphlet looked so appealing and the website, with all the statistics and features the school offered, was nearly enough to make Velma jump in exhilaration. It was like a diamond, winking and flirting with her; Velma was falling for it.
"Wow." Daphne's voice carried over her shoulder, making her jump. "That looks like such a dry place to go to school, Velms. It should be a crime to have that many young kids there and no nightlife. I've heard of that school and it's in the middle of Amish country... no offense to the Amish."
As Daphne tittered, Velma swallowed.
"It seems like the place for me, Daph." She adjusted her glasses. "The teachers and classes are right up my alley. It may look very plain to you but I can't seem to resist it."
Daphne's face fell and the brunette knew what was coming next.
"You-... you mean... you're not enrolling there are you?" Fred, Shaggy, Daphne and Velma had agreed that they would attend the same collage, so as to keep their friendship and "hobby" of busting mysteries alive. That was years ago, of course, when Velma first realized that she had a fondness for Shaggy. Times had changed and Velma wanted more to her college experience than a reminder of the odd-man out she was becoming. But the look of sadness on her best friend's face made her swallow her excitement.
"Oh, Daph... we're all still attending the same collage! I-... it's just prudent to scope out other schools, that's all." Velma rose out of her chair and forced out the most sincere smile she could. Daphne looked relieved.
"Good!" Her arms swung around her friend. "Because no matter what's happened the last couple of months, we're all still the tightest of tight friends! We need to keep what we have."
Stinging words. Velma fought off the burning sensation of sadness between her eyes and embraced well-meaning Daphne.
"Colleges... It felt like we were all just 15 yesterday. When did all of this growing up ever happen to the four of us?" Velma admitted that she held on to Daphne tight; she needed the comfort of a hug.
The red-head giggled.
"Don't you mean the five of us? Don't forget Scooby Doo!" She smiled, breaking the hug. Velma's face fell a little. Scooby... the dog that meant more to her friends than she did.
The brainy girl fluffed her hair to banish the bitter thought.
"I would never forget Scooby Doo!" She forced out. "I remember when he was just a little puppy that kept peeing on the floor of the Mystery Machine."
Daphne laughed before she stopped and huffed in the direction of the nearest window.
"How can anyone think with all that construction going on? Those trucks and those machines constantly humming. Ugh! It's enough to drive me crazy." As exasperated as Daphne was, Velma only just acknowledged the sound. She drove past the construction and flaggers, but never noticed the ruckus.
Both girls were peeking out the window, watching the traffic on the outside street. From this distance, Velma saw, even with her glasses, one worker standing at the driveway of the Blake manor. He wasn't working, rather, looking at the mansion. Daphne seemed to have noticed the same thing as she scrunched her nose with Velma.
"Creepy." Outwardly shivered and annoyed by the construction, Daphne looked over at Velma. "Let's get out of here. I know I said shopping but couldn't we just hang out instead? Besides, Daddy said that I should limit my spending before school."
Velma grinned. She maxed out her father's card... again.
"Sure. We'll grab a taco or something." The brainy girl's arm was nearly yanked out of socket when Daphne hauled her to the doorway.
"Perfect! I'll call the guys!" Velma felt her feet grow heavy. Guys? You mean being an awkward 5th wheel between Fred and Daphne courting and Shaggy and Scooby being Shaggy and Scooby?
Bittersweet. Only a little time remained before school started again. It would prove to be a milestone year for everyone, not to mention back-breakingly difficult; the five friends should spend as much time together before they had to grow up. Yet, Velma didn't want to hang out with her friends. The group held too many painful memories and she found that she was expanding her friend bubble. It seemed that Mystery Inc. only excited her when they were solving mysteries and running from ghouls... when she forgot about Fred and Daphne holding hands and Shaggy gorging with Scooby: activities that didn't include her.
Still, she was running to her car with Daphne, listening to her kindhearted abet air headed friend laughing giddily. Velma barely unlocked the doors when Daphne dove into the cab and whipped out her cellphone. Velma groaned loudly. Her first reaction was to jump into her car and sink into her seat. Fred had answered Daphne's call when Velma started her car. Could her situation get any more aggravated? With a jack-rabbit start nearly sending Daphne's phone out the window, the long driveway was shortened drastically.
Velma planned on making the drive as short and as reckless as possible, but the flash of a hand-held STOP sign made her press the breaks sooner than she wanted.
"Duh. Road construction." She mumbled to herself, sinking in her seat. Until the flagger gave her the motion, she and Daphne were stuck in the driveway.
Velms gripped the wheel and chewed her cheek, listening to Daphne giggle and flirt with Fred over her cellphone. She hadn't noticed that the road-worker had walked around her car. There was a tapping on her window that overcame her friend's tittering. Velma glanced up and saw a florescent vest. Rolling down her window, the grumpy teen sighed.
"I'm not going anywhere until you give the word. No need to reiterate what I already know. I'm not that stupid." She bit. There was a chuckle from the worker.
"Iah was just gonna say... don't forget to buckle up, beautiful." A southern drawl. It was so out of place here in Crystal Cove. But Velma's photographic memory immediately identified the voice, mainly, the pet name.
Velma tilted her head upwards so slowly. A gasp and a growl died in her throat. Underneath the construction helmet, the sweat and the dirt, was the beaming face of the BabyFace Boretti's partner in crime: Knudsen the forest ranger. He was wearing that savvy smirk, the same way he did when they first met and even when she exposed him as all three of the Moose Creek campfire frauds. It was the last thing she was expecting, intensifying the confusion of the moment and the bewilderment was clearly seen in her expression. How? Why?
Ross couldn't help the goofy feeling as he saw the girl just as surprised as he was. He tipped his helmet as if it was his ranger's hat.
"Hello again, beautiful." Ross managed. Velma finally got her senses back.
"Knudsen." Velma hissed.
"It's Ross. Didn't exactly get a chance to exchange formalities, ya know, with the whole costume thing an'... an' the cops." He gave a bashful grin. Velma's lips thinned even further. "Cute barrettes. Iah like what ya did with your hair."
Ross reached out to brush his fingers over the bow barrette holding her thick brown bob out of her face. Velma flinched out of his reach and swatted his hand away.
"Don't touch me!" She snapped. Ross pulled back his hand as Velma nearly tore off the crank off of her door as she rolled up her window.
He wasn't surprised by her outburst but the spot he was in was as awkward as he predicted. Ross peered through the window at the girl; she glared back at him in the most threatening way possible for her. He surrendered to her and backed away from the car, but not without tipping his helmet. He strove to be a gentleman, regardless of what Boretti forced him to do. Walking back around the front of her vehicle, he tossed his head toward the road crew and found the traffic was gone. Ross knew her eyes were on him. He tossed her a playful and flirty wink as he flicked the STOP sign in his hand to SLOW. That little Honda bolted out of the driveway, sending pebbles and dust back on him. The ex-ranger chuckled as he watched Velma and her red-headed friend fly down the road towards town. Ross wiped his brow, knowing he must look a fright. The next time he'd see her, he'd have a cleaner appearance.
It was like seeing a ghost, and none of the phoney people-in-costume-ghosts that she was familiar with. Velma saw Knudsen... the ranger and partner of BabyFace Boretti. HOW could he be out of jail this soon? Was the legal system so bad in small towns like Moose Creek that they would let a person off Scott-free? Knudsen should have been hauled off to prison with attempted manslaughter at least! Another thing to be worried and alert about.
"Great news!" Daphne chirped, the snap of her cellphone closing bringing Velma back to the current matter-at-hand. "Fred is just finishing up at the library. He ordered a new book on the history of noose snares! He's going to show it to us!"
Is it really possible to publish a book about snares and it not be 11 pages long? Including the pictures?
"And Shaggy and Scooby?" Velma asked the obligatory question. The red-head fluffed her hair in the rear view mirror.
"Fred said they were playing in the park. All we have to do is give them a call as we sit. I'm sure they'll come running before we even get a chance to order drinks." Daphne giggled, checking the line of her lipstick. Velma nodded thoughtfully.
"So... where are we eating? What about that food truck that sells those great tacos?" She asked, her mood lightening momentarily and her mouth watering at the thought of the fish taco with the chipotle sauce. Daphne disagreed.
"Fred can't get taco sauce on his new book!" She scoffed playfully. "Silly! I said we'd meet them at that burger shop, just across from that other burger shop!"
Burgers. Joy.
Crystal Cove had about 3 local burger joints and 2 more burger chains. They ate burgers all the time, and lets not forget the wonderful sight of Scooby and Shaggy wolfing their weight in sandwiches. Velma sank again in her seat and took her foot off of the accelerator. It was time to draw out this ride to lunch as much as possible.
Long live rock!
