Don't Let Go

Chapter 5: You Have The Right To Lose Control

It was only on Monday that Fred finally saw Devon again. Daphne was out of school, spending time with her parents and trying to cope with what happened. Velma and Shaggy (who Daphne had also told) were walking to class with their friends, trying desperately to avoid the topic of where Daphne was and what had happened. Fred looked up and met Devon's eyes. "You."

Devon smiled. "Oh, hey Fred. How are you?"

Fred picked Devon up by his shirt. "How could you do that to Daphne?!"

Devon scowled. "I didn't do anything."

"Are you kidding me? The poor girl is completely screwed up by what you did!"

"She was asking for it." Devon pushed away Fred's hand, but Fred wasn't moving.

"She did no such thing." Fred snapped.

"Oh yeah? So why did she say it was OK for us to go back to mine?"

"She thought you meant kissing!"

"How do you know?"

"She told me."

"Oh, did she? Cosy."

"Because she didn't know who else to turn to. The guy she thought she was dating, the one she thought she could trust was the one who was trying it on!"

"You've seen what she wears!"

"How dare you!" Fred threw a punch wildly into Devon's stomach-missing completely.

"You know you can't fight, Fred, why you even bothering?"

"Because it's about time someone stood up to you."

"I think you're just trying to get in good with Daphne. But we all know it's me she likes."

"Shut up!" Fred hurled another punch, actually making contact with Devon and hitting his nose.

"You bastard!" Devon went for Fred, throwing a punch to his face. The two boys stumbled to the floor, Fred wildly hurling punches in an effort to hurt, to maim, to bruise, to draw blood. For the first time in is life he was fighting by choice, because it was something he had to do. He lost control completely, getting his revenge on Devon-the one who had made his Daphne feel that way. The only problem was that she wan't his Daphne.

The fight was soon surrounded. The "losergeeks" cheered Fred, most of the rest cheered Devon-not knowing what had happened with Daphne.

The fight continued. Fred angled his fist to Devon's face, his knee bashed into Devon wherever it could fit, whilst he tried to block out the pain that was ripping into his eye and the nails ripping at his clothes. Fred angled his kicks towards Devon's upper body before vaguely registering that if he hit the lower body he could do the world a favour, so he did that. Devon was just pummeling anything he could lay his hands on.

"Go on, Fred-hurt him!"

"Devon, he's been askin' for it!"

"Kill him! KILL!"

"What he did to Daph...ooooh, HIT HIM FREDDIE!"

The chants to hurt went on and on, until finally a teacher intervened.

"JONES! MOORE!" The teacher strode towards them, pulling them apart. "What on EARTH are you two fighting about?"

"Moore tried it on with Daphne Blake. She's really shaken up. He doesn't know the meaning of no." Fred snarled.

"She was asking for it." Devon replised in an equally vicious tone.

"Hence her running out of the car."

"She just couldn't handle that I actually wanted to go all the way. She dresses like a slapper, what does she expect?"

"She doesn't!"

"You've seen her skirts! You're just jealous cause she went on a date with me."

Fred tried to hit him again, but was restrained.

Fred was sent home that day. His parents were disappointed with him-disappointed that he had resorted to violence, though Fred did get the feeling that they secretly agreed with what he had done. Fred had immediately gone to Daphne's-after he'd begged.

"Fred?" Daphne sniffed.

"Hiya, Daph." Fred smiled.

"What you doing here?"

Fred looked at his feet. "They don't like it when you attack the git who hurts one of your best friends."

Daphne gave him a hard look. "Fred, did you have a fight with Devon?"

"Yes, I did. And I gave him something to think about."

"Did you get attacked by him?"

"I...um..kind of...attacked him...."

"Fred!"

"He deserved it. I don't regret it."

"How much trouble are you in?"

"I can handle it."

"Are you suspended?"

"Yeah. But it was worth it."

Daphne looked at him sternly for a moment before opening her arms to him and hiding in his strong ones. Whatever it was, they'd get through it. Together. It didn't matter what life threw at her-they were together, and that was all she needed.

She was happy.

In the future, Mystery Inc would be formed, but none of them needed to worry about that right now. There'd always be that elusive "will-they-won't-they" factor surrounding the 4-surely they couldn't all be *just* friends...But in the end it didn't matter. They were friends first and foremost. And they'd stay that way.

Daphne Blake woke up.

in the sequel-leaving on a jet plane:

"You can't leave, Daph! We only just reunited!"

"If you love me, then you'll let me go."

"Tell me about these....dreams...you have concerning Miss Blake and yourself."

"It's like...I've been given a drug and I always thought I'd never come down...and now I have."

d/c: don't own, don't sue.

That was fun! I'm working on the sequel, Leaving On A Jet Plane (which will be Fred-orientated), but it's slow going. It takes a while to climb a mountain yano!

Incidentally, thanks for reading this, and I hope you've enjoyed it. Your reviews have helped me immensely-y'all stars!

now i'm gonna go on about snowdon!

Oh, it was a hard climb, but the view-WOW! Best thing ever! And my friends really helped. In case you're wondering, we climbed for Trade Justice. WOOT! TRADE JUSTICE! BUY FAIR TRADE! *anyway!*

Thanks for reading!

~sylvi