Day 2- Velma Pit…stop! - part 2
Driving at 100mph, it normally takes 10 minutes to reach Pitstop Mansion from the Ballet Academy. But at some point on the Riverdale highway, Velma decided to show Daphne how to reach incredible 130 mph maintaining the car´s stability, and that caught the attention of the officers Blast and Meekly, who were patrolling the highway that morning. One of the officers signalled Velma to stop the car, and she obeyed. While watching officer Meekly approach, she could feel her heart beat faster due to fear and guilt. Daphne was in panic, she desperately poked around the car as if she were searching for something.
Daphne: Ok, let´s pretend we are searching for your driver´s license, ok? Meanwhile, I´ll call Delilah, if they really serve this country, they´ll not feel comfortable to arrest a colonel´s sister and her friend…
Velma: NO! Are you crazy? I´ve stolen a rare car, I´ve driven without a license, I´ve put our lives and other people's lives at risk… and now I´ll use corruption to escape? No way! I deserve this punishment, they´re just doing their job…moreover, maybe a speeding ticket or some community service will help me get back to normal… sugar…
Daphne sighed and closed her eyes to stop the tears from running down her face. Then, Velma realized that, in fact, she was worried about the car´s destiny. Officer Meekly walked in their direction filling out a ticket, but when he arrived and realized Velma was the driver, he got surprised and crumpled up the ticket filled in the name of Penelope Pitstop.
Meekly: Ms. Dinkley? I´ve expected to see somebody else driving this car at 130mph… other irresponsible young lady, not you…
Velma and Daphne just smiled disconcertedly. They searched for words but couldn't find anything appropriate to say.
Velma: Oh, I´m so sorry, sugar…
Meekly laughed as if it was a joke, and the girls couldn't understand why.
Meekly: Yeah, that's exactly what she'd say! Ok, your driver's license, please, Ms. Dinkley… and I hope you have a good excuse to justify your haste… or, at least, to explain why you´re not driving safely like the other citizens…
Velma panicked and looked at Daphne for some emotional support. However, Daphne just continued to poke around, as if she would find an explanation somewhere in that car. Since her friend didn't have a plan, Velma smiled back.
Velma: You know, sugar… I was late for my ballet class… and these citizens, God love em', but they can´t drive a lick, so I had to go a li´l faster…
Meekly laughed again.
Meekly: Good try, but Miss Penelope has already used this excuse... plus, I know The Royal Academy is not in this direction, and you don't dance ballet, Miss Dinkley, so, I´ll have to fine you. By the way, where are your glasses? I can´t believe you were at 130mphh without glasses!
Velma touched her own face and looked at Daphne in shock, while she whimpered "my glasses!".
Daphne: She's using lenses, Officer Meekly...
Meekly: Great. Well, the streets of Crystal Cove are not Daytona, Ms. Dinkley, so I'll have to fine you for such irresponsibility… please, your license and the VRC… uh… by the way, I know this car doesn't belong to you… do you have permission to drive it?
Fear made Velma freeze, and Daphne realized she should intervene in some way. Fortunately, she had a plan.
Daphne: Well, Officer Meekly, I know you´ll be disappointed to hear that, but... Velma doesn't have a driver's license... yet…
The final sentence made Velma glare angrily at Daphne, but instead of caring about her friend's reaction, she continued.
Daphne: …and I was teaching her how to drive. I couldn't use any of my cars because I didn't want my parents to know about it, so I had the stupid idea of using my cousin´s car while she was out. When I realized that Velma was driving very well, I encouraged her to speed up... Anyway, it's all my fault and I'm aware of it. I understand that you have to do your job and protect our city, so, please, fine me for it and tow the car. As soon as Penny gets back, I'll tell her you towed the Compact Pussycat and let it rot in an impound lot… the car will be some days under rain, sun and temperature changes, it will get a bit dusty, and maybe the tow truck will leave some scratches on it… but, don´t worry, she'll get in touch to retrieve it.
When Daphne said "I'll tell her you towed the Compact Pussycat", the officer lost his smile and immediately closed the ticket block. Then, he looked at the girls and at the car for a moment and hesitated.
Meekly: Well, I think neither you nor I want Miss Penelope to know that this car was out of the mansion while she was traveling...
The girls shook their heads.
Meekly: …and I certainly don't want to be responsible for any damage this rare car will have in the impound lot, so… well, it's saturday and it´s only 9 am, few people were on the streets, I don't think it was that dangerous…plus, you are both sober… so I'll let it go this time, ok girls? But only this time, don´t do it again!
Daphne and Velma looked at each other and smiled, and then smiled at the officer. He just said goodbye, returned to the car and left. Both girls felt relieved and sighed.
Velma: So, this is how Penelope escapes from speeding tickets?
Daphne: No. She has so many tickets and penalty points that she is disqualified from driving in 15 states. And in 5 countries in around the world, including Germany's Autobahn.
Velma: So, how did we escape?
Daphne: Well, last February, Sergeant Blast decided to apply her an exemplary punishment by towing the Compact Pussycat…
Velma: And what´s the relevance of it?
Daphne: Well, today is May 2nd, and he still can't get out of the car and walk normally...
Unfortunately, the incident wasn't enough to make Velma drive cautiously. Five minutes after, she took a shortcut at Platinum Drive— the road that crosses the mountains of Crystal Cove - and acchieved the upscale area of the city in high speed , while talking about how those curves looked like the Circuit of Monte Carlo in Monaco. When the car finally parked in the mansion's garage, Daphne hurriedly left it, as if she were leaving a plane after severe turbulence. Velma left as if she wanted to get rid of a cursed car, however, she knew the curse was inside herself. At the main hall, Velma called the girls, but she did not find them. Immediately, she went upstairs, and there she heard a happy song coming from the garden, so she decided to check what was going on. Daphne followed her, and when they reached the pool, they saw Marcie Fleach in sunglasses, wearing a bathing suit and lying on a pool lounge chair.
Velma: WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE!
Velma's gruff manner irritated and hurt Marcie, but her first reaction was making fun of Velma's clothes.
Marcie: Oh, is it really happening? It ´s not enough for you to hang out with those bitches? Now you also dress like them?
Marcie laughed and sneered at Velma. Marcie's rude words embarrassed Daphne and irritated Velma, yet she felt so embarrassed for being seen wearing those clothes that she couldn't react.
Marcie: I know, you're kicking me out because your new friend has arrived and you don't need me anymore...
Velma: I'm not kicking you out! I´ve just asked you to leave, or you´ll make me lose my job, sugar! You are totally aware that I can´t bring anyone here!
Marcie: No, "sugar", that's just an excuse to justify that you don't want my company anymore, just because now you´re friends with the popular girls! Look at you, you're talking like them!
Velma got even more embarrassed.
Velma: Marcie, this is ridiculous, sugar! I'm just trying to earn the 3000$ for our club! If you were my best friend, you would help me!
Marcie: And that's what I´ve done, right? Last night, I came here to help you when you were scared! But now I´m useless, right?
Velma: Marcie, sugar, for God's sake, how old are you? Can't you understand that I'm working and I have to obey the rules?
Marcie: Oh, sure, rule number 1: dress like Barbie and drive the Barbiehicle. Rule number 2: leave your best friend behind in a haunted house!
Velma: No, listen to me, it's not my fault that I'm dressed like this and I left you here, I'm sick! I don´t know what happened this morning, maybe Sneekly's soul cursed me, or this house has caused me a weird psychological disorder, but I woke up being somebody else! And now I´m doing things that I would never do, like driving at 130mph… look, I'm not even wearing my glasses right now, and my vision is normal, isn´t it strange? There's something going on, Marce, and I need to find a rational explanation for it and…
Velma's explanation was interrupted by Marcie´s mocking laugh. Velma sighed, and she felt frustrated to realize that her friend was so blinded by jealousy that she couldn´t take her seriously.
Marcie: Sure, and your slut mode is activated by Daphne's presence? Because last night, among normal girls, no "terrible curse" had hit you… you were still you…
Velma: Marcie, please listen to me, let me explain…
Marcie: No, Velma, no need to worry, I´ve already understood. Now that you're on the A-list, I've lost my best friend.
Marcie got up angrily and gathered her clothes and her belongings. Velma tried to stop her, but she was so angry that she didn't stop. When she saw her friend leaving, some tears ran down Velma's face, and one by one, those lonely tears turned into an intense crying. Daphne tried to comfort Velma somehow, but she couldn't.
Daphne: Relax, she'll be unable to move for a while when Penny finds out she was wearing her favorite Missoni swimsuit, so you'll have enough time to talk and apologize…
The joke had no comic effect on Velma, and Daphne sighed. She refused to get out of the fetal position and take her hands off her face, so Daphne went inside the mansion and took Velma's belongings. When her crying finally stopped, Daphne wiped her friend's tears and put her glasses into her red face.
Daphne: I brought your clothes, the changing room is over there. Come on, I'll take you home.
Velma was finally dressed like Velma, but she didn't feel like Velma. There was an annoying southern accent constantly coming out of her mouth in a way that she couldn't help herself. And there was a strange personality making her use clothes she´d never use, enjoy songs she hated, talk about subjects she once ignored and… notice boys. All these things made her feel like an impostor. When Daphne parked in front of Dinkley house and Mrs. Dinkley welcomed them with a smile and arms wide open, Velma felt as if she was handing the wrong child to a distressed mother who hadn't heard from her daughter for more than 12 hours. Mrs. Dinkley greeted Daphne, thanked her, and invited her in.
Daphne: Sorry, Mrs. Dinkley, I should have arrived home an hour and a half ago. Right now, my parents must be freaking out imagining that I'm with Fred, so I´d better go.
Daphne said goodbye and left. Velma hugged her mother awkwardly, then she entered her own house fearing that soon some Dinkley would realize that she was no longer herself.
Mrs. Dinkley: So, how's the project, honey? You look tired… Maddie told me you girls worked late doing petroleum fractionation… were you successful?
A bunch of crazy ideas about gas and fuel efficiency came to Velma´s mind, but she was afraid of letting the words out and her accent sound southern. So, she just nodded.
Mrs. Dinkley: I confess I was very surprised when Maddie told me about Mr. Pitstop´s project of funding a research center for new technologies that will make fossil fuels more sustainable and more efficient thermodynamically… for an ignorant, greedy tycoon from Alabama, it's a huge step forward…
Madelyn was eating pancakes in the kitchen and smiled like an angel at her sister, showing that the lie she had told their parents the night before had successfully fooled them. Velma waved back, but before she could show any kind of "thanks for the alibi" gesture, Madelyn pointed at the cookie jar and reminded her sister to pay for her service.
Mrs. Dinkley: …and for his daughter too! I never thought that girl had a brain… she´s sooo… wild… girly… weird… it´s amazing to hear girls like her are leading technology projects now… and it´s amazing that men like her father are letting women lead projects… don´t you think, honey?
Velma made a great effort to control her accent and her words.
Velma: Oh, sure… it was… pretty cool…
The words that came out of her mouth were below Velma´s standards of words, so she preferred to shut up.
Mrs. Dinkley: Great! Now that you both are safe at home, I need to meet my PhD students and feed our guinea-pigs…
Mrs. Dinkley kissed the top of each daughter's head and left. As soon as the image of her mother's car leaving the garage appeared in the window, they both sighed.
Velma: Madelyn, sugar, help me! I woke up really weird today, and I'm putting my life and other people's lives at risk!
Madelyn: You seem pretty normal… my case is worse, all my magic tricks are failing today, and in two hours, I'll have to perform at a birthday party! I´m scared to hell!
Velma: Madelyn, sugar, for God's sake, forget about magic, I need your help!
Madelyn: Well, the second time you´ve said "sugar" made it clear that you're not being ironic, and you would never use this word, except in an ironic statement… plus, the fact that you're an atheist and you´ve mentioned God convinced me that´s something is wrong. Proceed. What´s going on? What do you mean when you say "you're putting lives at risk"?
Velma: Well, I don't know what happened! Today I woke up at 6am…
Madelyn: Yeah, that's pretty odd… impossible to happen, I´d say...
Velma: …and I put on makeup, dressed a mini skirt and went to a ballet class…
Madelyn: Oh no!
Velma: And the worst part is that I nailed the ballet class!
Madelyn: Velma, if mom knows you're repeating socially accepted female stereotypes, she'll be furious...
Velma: Oh, bless her heart, I´m not! Really not! I just don´t know how I have done that, or why, but I can´t stop! Sugar, can you believe I drove to ballet class? Then, after class, I drove perfectly back to Pitstop Manor at 130mph and…
Madelyn gave Velma a suspicious glare, then showed anger in her face.
Madelyn: You ridiculous bitch, are you making fun of me?
Velma: No, sugar, God knows I'm not, I'm desperate because it seems like I ´ve become…
Madelyn: Penelope Pitstop? Oh Velma, go fuck yourself… I really don´t know why I waste my time with your stupid stories! Yesterday, I missed a Free Fire live because of your silly ghost story… now you´re Penelope?
Velma: Maddie-darlin´, I'm not faking it! It´s true, something supernatural happened in that mansion last night, and that made me feel a li´l ole bizarre, sugar!
Madelyn: Velma, stop treating me like a little child just because I´m 12, I don't believe in these stupid supernatural mysteries that you and your friends make up... they´re all bullshit!
Velma: Madelyn, just listen to me! I need your help before Shaggy, Mom and Dad realize I'm… uh… I don't know… possessed?… sick?… cursed?
Madelyn: I think the correct name is "psychologically influenced". It's a common phenomenon during adolescence, and it affects weak minds that decide to imitate the behaviors of people who are very popular. That's how influencers become influencers: they influence people! And you were visibly influenced by these stupid cheerleaders, you´re even talking like them, yuck!
Velma: I AM NOT FAKING IT, SUGAR! I have no control over it! Moreover, how could I pretend a perfect ballet dance if I've never danced in my life?
Madelyn: You´re a self-taught! You learned german and differential equations when you were my age… we both know Dinkleys learn things very easily… so, maybe you´ve just learned it…
Velma: But how could I learn if I never had a chance? Yesterday, I couldn´t even tie pointe shoes, and today I´m the best ballerina of the class, how? Then I got the car, ask Daphne! I drove perfectly without my glasses!
Madelyn: Oh, sure, the mystery is solved: Daphne Blake! Marcie is right, since you started a friendship with her, you try to imitate her to be popular… you´re dating a sports captain, every weekend you hang out in a dubious van… even Mom has noticed it! You´re changing your personality to fit her world!
Velma: What? No, honey-darlin´, what happened today is very different, I literally woke up a lot like Penelope, and I can't find a rational explanation for…
Madelyn: Oh, spare me, ok? If you want to copy these Barbie girls, just copy and assume responsibility, ok? It's ridiculous to create excuses… I don't know what your new friend has done to you, but if you´re not enjoying it, just tell her!
Velma: Madelyn, I don't have…
Madelyn: …anything to do? I´ve noticed. And it's your problem, by the way, because I'm leaving. Luan Loud is coming and we will perform in a birthday party.
Madelyn finished her juice and left the table, ignoring her sister's pleas for help. Velma was frustrated, but at the same time, she started to doubt her own sanity. Was Madelyn right? Was it possible that, unconsciously, she was really trying to imitate Penelope, but her reason wouldn't let her admit it? Her thoughts were interrupted by her cell phone vibrating, showing a new message. When Velma checked, she noticed that a new number started a whatsapp conversation with her, and the photo showed Judy Jetson. "Hi Velma, do you want to go to the country club? All the girls will be there this afternoon!", was the content of the message. But Velma remembered what her little sister had told her. Madelyn was right, she has changed a lot since she started a friendship with Daphne, and now, all those changes were influencing her personality so much that she was feeling like a different person. Velma Dinkley had never felt and would never feel like dancing ballet, or going to the country club with Judy Jetson. And she won´t let her friendship with Daphne and Daphne's patterns of life and behavior change that. Convinced that the rational explanation was Daphne´s influence, Velma decided to ignore Judy's invitation. But before she could press the button to delete the message, her fingers quickly typed " Sure, sugar" and the message was immediately viewed.