Author's Note: Hey y'all! Just FYI I may not publish a chapter tomorrow. I like to build up a back log of at least one chapter so I can still publish when I'm busy. But this has been the last backup chapter I have written. I want to get two chapters written tomorrow so I have an extra on backlog. But since I also have a day off tomorrow it's entirely possible that I'll get them both done and publishing will go on as usual.

Either way, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 9– Learning

Velma sat on her hands, nervously surveying Daphne as she made herself comfortable on the dirt floor of the ditch.

"Daphne," Velma sighed, perhaps a little shakily, "what makes me weird to you?"

Daphne scratched her forehead nervously, "When did I say that?"

"You said you like gay people just as much as normal people." Velma recounted, "Therefore, gay people are weird to you. So I want to know, why?"

Daphne twirled a lock of orange hair around her fingers, "I dunno Velma, I mean... it's just... I guess I'm not used to it." Daphne slouched in on herself, "you know how my family is... I can barely use the wrong spoon at dinner without being punished. They care so much about traditions, that when someone breaks them, it's kinda hard to understand."

"It's fine if you don't understand, I don't need you too." Velma shrugged, them thought of something more to say, "I'll put is this way: are on a different person if you start dating Fred?"

Daphne let out a incredulous laugh, "oh of course no I'm still me I'm just with somebody— oooh!" Daphne's eyes widened as the realization washed over her.

"Get it now?" Velma grinned.

"Yeah... I get it." Daphne smiled.

With that Velma felt small a weight lift off of her chest. She looked at Daphne, a glimmer of hope in her eyes "good," she sighed, "now that that's out of the way, I can finally explain what happened with the werewolf."

And like that, Velma explained the whole thing to Daphne, the fake blood and the framing, and Mr. Fleach's plot. Daphne sat stock-still the whole time, absorbing every word, wide-eyed.

"Wow!" Daphne leaned back, stunned, "everything makes so much sense now."

Velma nodded, "Crazy how much one missing clue can change the whole mystery, huh?"

"Well, I'll say! So what are you going to do now? Tell Fred and clear your name? Of that'll be so awesome, we could be a team again!"

Velma bit her lip, "actually... I don't think I want to tell Fred, not now anyway."

"What?! Why?"

Velma fidgeted with her glasses, "I dunno... what if he doesn't take it well?"

"So? Than talk to him, like you did to me! I'm sure—"

"No offense, but it doesn't matter how you take it!" Velma felt instant regret rise in her chest as saw Daphne's face fall."

"No, Agh— Daph I didn't mean it like that!" Velma stumbled over her words, "it's just that, Fred's dad is the Mayor. If he doesn't like it, and his dad finds out? Marcy and I may as well leave town."

Daphne picked at the dirt, silently.

"So," Velma continues, "the safest thing for Marcy and me, is to prove my innocence, clear my name, and go on with life as if none of this had ever happened."

Daphne was silent, clearly still processing the days events.

"All I need to know from you, it whether or not you'll help me," Velma said directly to Daphne, offering her a hand.

"I'll try my best," Daphne nodded, determinedly, and firmly shook Velma's hand.

—

Shaggy and Marcy rummaged around the Fleach business for something to help Velma and Daphne.

"Like, do you think this would work?" Shaggy help up a chain of werewolf-branded t-shirts.

Marcy's face lit up, "Maybe! Let me try something."

Shaggy tossed Marcy the makeshift rope. She wrapped one end of it around the enternece door handle and held another in her hand. She gave the rope a firm yank, and it promptly tore in two.

Marcy shook her head as Shaggy, "it might have worked it my dad hadn't bought these t-shirts so damn cheap!"

Shaggy shrugged, "well, that's ok, we'll find something else... say, like, what's back there?"

Shaggy darted behind the customer service counter, ducking out of sight for a few moments until—

"Bingo!" Shaggy called out, "like, look what I found!"

Shaggy stood up straight, a coil of thick rope in his arms.

"Thats perfect!" Marcy ginned, "now c'mon, let's get back before nightfall."

As the pair marched out into the parking lot, a familiar green and blue van caught Shaggy's eye.

"Like, hide!" He whispered screamed to Marcy, but it was too late. Fred had already stepped out of the Mystery Machine and saw them.

"Hey Shaggy!" Fred waved jovially, "whatcha got there?"

"Oh uuuuh, hey Fred," Shaggy chuckled nervously, "it's... some rope! Yeah... like, how are you?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Fred seemed to be staring off into the distance, "I came here to look for clues, but I'm a bit late. Daphne was supposed to meet me here. Have you seen her?"

"Like nope!" Shaggy squeaked, "Haven't seen her at all right Marcy?"

"No, can't say we have," Marcy shook her head. And then, thinking on her feet, continued, "and, I should let you know that this part of the woods is closed!"

Shaggy and Fred both looked at Marcy with surprise.

"I'm sorry," Fred said, befuddled, "but last I checked the woods don't close?"

"No not the whole woods," Marcy agreed, "but I'm in charge while my Father is missing, and I have decided to close the tour area of the woods to keep any remaining evidence intact."

"Wait a minute," Fred shook his head, confused, "Then what are you doing here Shaggy?"

Before Shaggy could reply, Marcy cut him off, "He's helping rope off the area of course!"

"Oh, well," Fred started, "I'd love to help if you need a hand."

Marcy tensed up, which Shaggy took as his cue to start making stuff up.

"Thanks Fred but like, we're all good. Wouldn't want to waste your time."

"Oh no, I don't mind," Fred retorted, "I drove all the way out here, might as well get a nice walk out of it."

"But—" Marcy wreaked her brain for some new excuse, "isnt that against the new crime scene codes? The ones they enacted last week?"

At this Fred raised his eyebrow, "my dad is the Mayor," he reminded them, "I know for a fact that the city council hasn't met in the past two months."

Marcy and Shaggy had officially BSed themselves into a corner. Neither of them had any more excuses. The three lingered in an awkward silence for a moment until Fred broke it.

"You know what I think?" Fred squinted at shaggy, speaking in an intimidating low murmur, "I think you're hiding something."

"Like, no! Fred why—" but Shaggy never finished his sentence. Instead Fred sped past him and into the woods.

"Like ZOINKS!" Shaggy squealed, "We gotta stop him!"

"Agreed!" Yelled Marcy as the two went chasing after Fred."