After the concert Melissa started doing better.. She still had bad days but they were less frequent. However no one other than the gang would talk to her. Everyone else was scared of her. The gang begun to notice this and wondered what they should do or if they could help at all. One day at lunch they couldn't find Melissa.
"Did she ditch?" Velma asked.
"I don't think so" Shaggy replied.
"Look there she is" Fred said.
Melissa had climbed a tree and was sitting with her back to the school yard.
"What's she doing up there?" Fred asked.
"She likes it up there" Shaggy replied.
"You mean she's climbed up there before?"
"Yep"
"Why?"
"Helps her calm down"
"We should go get her" Fred said.
"Yeah"
"Melissa" Shaggy called.
"Go away" Melissa replied.
"Melissa we have to go inside soon" Shaggy replied standing at the base of the tree.
"I don't want to" Melissa retorted.
"But we have too"
"I don't want to"
The principle stood at the side door closest to the gang watching the exchange curiously.
"What's wrong Melissa?" Shaggy asked.
"A lot"
"Come down here and tell me then" Shaggy coxed.
"I want to stay here" Melissa replied.
"May I come up then?"
"Fine" Melissa huffed.
Shaggy climbed up the tree and sat beside Melissa. The tree itself was very sturdy so it could hold both of them easily.
"What's wrong Melissa?"
"Jenny is having her boyfriend over for dinner tonight" Melissa explained with an eye roll.
"Why is that bad?"
"Whenever he comes over I have to act perfect and he always asks a lot of questions because Jenny hasn't told him about my situation" Melissa replied.
"Well how often does he come over?"
"Every other day and Jenny doesn't want to leave me alone she's a wimp"
"Melissa she just doesn't want you to run off again"
"Ya think?"
"What if there was an alternative?"
"What do you mean?"
"You'll find out later but only if you come inside"
"Okay fine"
"Thank you"
…...
Later in class Melissa was doodling in her sketchbook instead of doing her work. Noticing this the teacher took the sketchbook from Melissa. She looked up at him with an icy look while gripping her desk in annoyance.
"Do your work Melissa then you'll get this back"
"It's already done"
"Then where is it exactly?"
"Right here" Melissa replied pulling the paper from the blue folder in front of her.
"Did you check yourself?"
"Yes can I have my sketchbook back now?"
The teacher adjusted his glasses and looked over the paper without a word. After a few minutes he looked up from the paper then at the people surrounding Melissa's desk. He was trying to see if she could've copied anyone else but, when he looked at the students around her he discovered that all the papers had vastly different answers and, Melissa's were in fact correct.
"Very well then" he said handing Melissa her beloved sketchbook.
Shaggy had watched this happen and was admittedly very happy with the way Melissa had handled the problem. A month ago she would've gotten angry and flipped the desk but even though she was obviously very upset she remained in her seat. This helped Shaggy make a final decision.
…..
That day after school the gang drove Melissa home. She jumped out the back of the van with her bag slung over her shoulder and begun her walk to the porch with Shaggy and Scooby in tow.. Jenny had the front door open to let in the dim autumn sunlight. She was sitting on the couch when Melissa came in.
"Hey Melissa how was school?" she asked looking up from her laptop.
"Meh" Melissa said continuing the march to her room.
"Jenny may I speak with you?" Shaggy asked once he heard Melissa's door shut.
"Did Melissa have an outburst?" Jenny asked as she put her laptop down and brushed the hair out of her eyes.
"No I wanted to ask if you would let Melissa hang out with us at headquarters sometime since she's calming down"
"I don't see the problem with it. Do you know how she's doing in school friend wise?"
"She's still antisocial she only ever talks with us or the teachers"
"That's what I figured "
"Do you want us to talk to her?"
"No I was thinking of getting her involved in something outside of school"
"May I make a suggestion?"
"Shoot"
"Try art classes"
"That's actually what I was thinking"
"I hope it works out"
"Me too"
…...
That ends this chapter. What did you think? Before I go I wanted to mention my friend Harley65. She just got started on here and would like some feedback. So check her out! Remember to review please!