Authors' note: Velma's story fits several episodes or made for TV movies. I leave it to the reader as to which one…
Chapter Two: Wonderment
Velma leaned back "The four of us (five counting Scooby) were on one of our many mysteries. I met someone I felt attracted to; he was debonair, charismatic and he showed me a lot of attention. I wasn't quite sure how to handle all that attention; no one had done that before. I allowed myself to think "What if…he felt the same way?" Well, to make a long story short he ended up not only one of the bad guys but the bad guy!
Shaggy and Scooby saved the day as they did many times; we solved the mystery, and headed home in the Mystery Machine, Fred driving and Daphne riding shotgun. She always rode shotgun! That left Shaggy, Scooby and I to share the back; no one knew what to say so no one said anything. We drove in silence for a while; then Shaggy did something, not a big deal really, but it meant a lot to me.
He moved over, sitting beside me; he didn't say anything, just gathered me up in his arms and held me while I cried my eyes out. He wouldn't need to wash that T-shirt; my tears were doing a good job of that. When I had cried to the point that there were no more tears to shed; he didn't try to kiss me, or move away, or to push me away, he let me fall asleep in his arms. The point is that love, true love, loves that person's well-being before your own. Shaggy did that so many times I've lost count. It would take many years before I recognized that love.
The question may not be "Is Tommy 'the one'", but "can I be 'the one' for Tommy?"
"I…I'd like to be" Hanna held her hands demurely in her lap. "Good night and thank you."
"Good night Hanna"
"Have a nice girls talk, she seems to be quite a girl?" Shaggy asked entering the room after Hanna left.
"No Shaggy, quite a young lady…now, take me to bed, I'm not that big yet."
The following day was spent showing Hanna the sights offered by Coolsville. She stared wide eyed at every thing but the large theater whose side wall retracted to allow guests to dance under the stars was just too much, forcing her to sit and gaze at the imposing structure; they procured tickets for the performance that night.
Lunch was filled with talk of what she had seen and experienced, some for the first time. After lunch Hanna declared the fact that she had nothing to wear to such a fine party.
"Never mind Cinderella, your fairy godmother is on the job" Daphne was in her natural element, her hunting prowess honed to razor sharpness. "Every girl needs a basic black dress, we will start there. It needs to be romantic, feminine, daring yet tasteful."
And so the trek began with the guys following unenthusiastically until Daphne headed toward an intimate apparel store; suddenly the guys steps picked up, their voices full of laughter. Hanna held back, unsure about the store. She stepped in front of Tommy, whispering something, and then turned to Fred, also whispering. The guys said they would catch up with the girls later at a refreshment bar and headed off.
"What did you say to Tommy and Fred?" Daphne wondered.
"Only that if I went in there" she pointed at the store "I couldn't pick anything out with three guys looking over my shoulder. I suggested they find some place else to go."
"Good for you" Velma applauded.
"Then let's get to it!" Daphne added, heading into the store.
Daphne and Velma had to smile when Hanna stepped into the store…and stopped; her mouth agape at the displayed items. She started to walk slowly among the displays, she had never seen or knew such items even existed!
"Hanna, we just need the basics, no need to get too exotic" Daphne said as Hanna held up a black garter belt "Do women actually wear these?"
"Yes Hanna, we do, on occasion" Velma had trouble to keep from laughing out loud.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"
"It's okay Hanna" Daphne found she had the same problem. "I think this is more in line with what we're looking for" leading her to a different display.
With purchases in hand the girls headed forward on their trek. "You are in high school, which means parties, dates, and other occasions. You need a dress that can fill many roles. Prom dresses are a bit different so we'll hold that for another time. Now, we need a dress for tonight."
When Hanna stepped out of the dressing room, the broad smile on her face told Velma and Daphne they need look no further. The little black dress with steel-gray spider web lace across the bodice and the peek-a-boo back fit all the criteria Daphne had laid out before.
"Add a wrap matching the lace, a necklace, and a small clutch to hold your hankies and you are set!" Daphne proclaimed.
"I get the clutch…why hankies?" Hanna questioned.
"Because girl, when Tommy sees you in that dress, he's going to drool all over himself, and guys don't always carry hankies."
It would be a shame that Tommy wouldn't see her in the dress…at least tonight.
------Xxxxxx
"I'm going out with Tommy, throw the ol' football around a bit before getting ready for tonight" Fred called to Daphne.
"I'll call you guys in when it's time. I'm going to lay down for a while first" Daphne replied.
A little over an hour later, Daphne rose, checked the clock and headed out to call the guys in, time to start getting ready. She was surprised when she opened the door that Fred and Tommy weren't in the front yard or the back when she checked.
"Fred! Tommy!" She called out, stepping into the front yard. "Fred!" she yelled when she saw his still form laying on the edge of the lawn. She rushed to him, rolling him onto his back. "Freddie!! Darling!" Daphne looked worriedly around the yard, and then ran into the house to call for an ambulance. Reaching for her cell, she made another call.