Chapter two: The Arrival
Part one
MJ had snuck out of the house. Not the type of sneaking out to meet a boy your parents didn't want you to see, just needing to get out for a while. The house seemed to be closing in on her. The clock had taken two hours for ten minutes to pass!
She usually went over to nearby Shipwreck cove to surf or just hang out with her friends or just think. Which was what she was doing now. She had settled for the pier, walking out to the end of the pier, selecting a bench installed for the few tourists that came through Campbell Bay. They usually passed through from one point to another, staying one or sometimes two nights.
The young people, once out of high school left too, unless they got a job at the nearby Naval base, like her parents.
What was a girl to do? Leave or stay? That was one topic she wanted to think about. Her parents had offered to let her stay if she went to the local junior college. She had taken them up on the offer, needing only nine units to graduate. She had the rest of the summer and one semester before she had to make that decision.
And then there was Shaggy (and Scooby ). In the past she could talk to her older brother about 'boy problems' But like so many, he had left for the military, joining the Navy. She turned the collar up on the pea coat he had sent her and stuffed her hands deep in the pockets, not against the chill, only to feel closer to him.
Shaggy's kisses had been exciting yet frightening. And they had agreed to continue to see each other, but like the song said would their moonlight kisses cool in the warmth of the sun? The problem was the fact that Coolsville wasn't even close. It wasn't like they could surf together and have dates on the weekends or just have a snack at Joe's. No wonder long distance romances didn't work too often!
Would Shaggy even visit? Or would he'd call with some excuse like work or worse, a new love interest that lived in Coolsville, not half way across the country.
She rose, more questions and doubts than answers, and walked down the pier toward the parking lot. "Maybe Shaggy will call this afternoon" she thought as she neared her Jeep.
Her brain heard the conversation between the two men standing beside their cars parked nearby. Her brain, deluged with questions and doubts, only recorded the conversation, filing it away for future reference...
"Joker, you have the key?" one said.
"It's save" the 'Joker' assured the first.
"It better be"
The two men watched as MJ got in her Jeep, started the engine and drove out of the parking lot.
"Is she going to be a problem? The first asked.
"I'll take care of her when it becomes necessary" the 'Joker' said.
The men separated, the first entering a black Lincoln 'Connie'. The 'Joker opened the door to a non nondescript white car, driving out of the parking lot, turned left, following the Jeep.
MJ didn't notice the white car as she pulled into the driveway, killed the engine, grabbed her tote, and walked up to the door. The white car didn't slow down, only continued to the end of the block, turned right and blended in with the traffic.
Part two
Coolsville
The gate opened and Fred and Ethan entered the Rogers' backyard. The remains of the old tree house was still visible in the background. They watched as Shaggy walked beside Scooby who was dressed in a black dress, wide brimmed black hat with a veil that if it had been white, any bride would have loved.
"What's going on Shagster?" Fred asked, glancing at Ethan who was trying very hard not to laugh.
Scooby dropped to all fours. This resulted in the hat and veil falling off, getting wrapped in Shaggy's feet, causing him to lose his balance, falling forward.
Ethan burst out laughing, sitting down on the ground. Fred surveyed the scene, looked at Ethan who was now rolling on the ground, holding his sides. A snicker turned into a smile which turned into Fred laughing so hard, he had to lean against the side of the house to keep from falling.
Shaggy wasn't amused, sitting on the ground, his feet still wrapped in the veil, watching his two friends getting in a good natured laugh at his and Scooby's expense. Ethan was the first to control his laughter.
"I'll bet it's practice for Halloween!"
"Or he's resurrected 'grandma' for a funeral, but who would be fooled with that get up?"
"If I remember... you, Fred!" Shaggy said in defense. "Besides, who knows when a good disguise will come in handy?"
That stopped the laughter.
"Daph and Velma took off shopping and you know what that means. We thought we'd drop by and see if you wanted to join us in some pizza" Fred explained.
"Thanks, but Scooby and I need to get ready for that vacation" Shaggy answered.
"Say 'Hi' to Mary Jane for us. She's a lovely girl." Ethan said.
"Speaking of Mary Jane...why don't you use the Mystery Machine? It might take longer than flying but Scooby wouldn't have to wear a dress." Fred offered.
"Who said anything about MJ?" Shaggy asked, disentangling his feet from the veil.
"Simple" Ethan said. "You just refused pizza. I've never known you to refuse food. Scooby in a dress means he's got to be in disguise. You ask for some vacation time from Mystery Inc., enough time for a trip to California. Therefore, I surmise a trip to visit MJ...which I think is a great idea."
Shaggy looked at Scooby who looked miserable in the torn black dress.
"Fred, you serious about the Mystery Machine?" Shaggy wanted to know.
"Yep..It's gassed, cleaned, serviced, ready to roll and it's sitting out front at the curb. Here's the keys" Fred replied, pulling a set of keys from his pants pocket, flipping them to Shaggy.
" And Shag...if you need us for anything, we are only a phone call away."
"Thanks, Fred."
Fred and Ethan left for their pizza, leaving Shaggy still sitting on the ground.
"Let's get you out of that dress, pack up lots of food and take off for California. And we'd
better call MJ, let her know we're on our way."
"RRRight! Rary Rain!"
Part Three
Campbell Bay, Ca.
Four day's, three hours and uncountable food stops later, Shaggy and Scooby drove into the city limits of Campbell Bay, California.
They stopped to fuel the van at the first gas station. A cool breeze blew in off the ocean and Shaggy pulled out a jacket to ward off the chill.
After stretching their legs after all that time in the van, a short phone call to MJ to verify directions and thirty minutes later they pulled up in front of an off white house with blue trim. The tinkling sound of wind chimes could be heard through the open window of the van.
"We made it Scooby!" Shaggy said, sliding the side door open. Scooby jumped out as a whirlwind dressed in tan pedal pushers and a embellished sea blue top exploded out of the house, the wind chimes wildly announced the passing of said whirlwind.
"Shaggy! You made it! Finally!" MJ practically yelled, wrapping her arms around his neck, whispering " I missed you."
Shaggy, taken by surprise, wrapped his waist, lifting her off the ground, spinning her around. "I missed you, too."
"And Scooby!! good to see you too!"
Scooby, glad to be free of the van, was in a playful mood, playing a game of tag until he raised up on his hind legs, placed his front paws on her shoulders, licking her face, accepting her hug.
"No sneezing!?" Shaggy observed.
"No, last allergy shot tomorrow, otherwise the day is ours. Come on in! Mom and Dad are dying to meet you." Taking his hand she lead them inside.
"Mom, Dad, this is Shaggy. Shaggy these are my parents, Matt and Imogene" MJ making the introductions.
"Welcome Shaggy, and Scooby. Glad to finally put a face to a name. MJ has been talking our ears off about you" Matt Crowley said, shaking Shaggy's hand.
"Call me Gennie—and no Gennie jokes—I've heard them all" Imogene Crowley said.
"Hello" Shaggy said to both, then "All Gennie jokes are hereby forgotten."
"We've been holding lunch—hope you like pizza...we will have a real meal this evening" Gennie added.
"I love pizza, it's natures perfect food."
"And I have some Scooby Snacks for you know who" MJ said, scratching Scooby's ears.
"Scooby, these are our hosts. You should shake hands with your hosts." Shaggy said to Scooby.
Scooby went over to Mr. Crowley, sat and lifted his right paw, repeating the trick for Gennie and MJ.
They gathered around the table after MJ and Gennie brought out four large pizza's and soda's for everyone. Shaggy helt MJ's chair for her before being seated himself. They chatted for a while, generally getting to know each other.
'Handsome with good manners, no wonder he's captured MJ's heart' Gennie thought as she watched the young couple.
Later, the pizza gone and the table cleared, MJ asked "Mom could I take Shaggy? I'd like to show him around, see if any of the gang is around."
"Go ahead, but be back for dinner"
They walked out to MJ's Jeep. It had two surf boards strapped on top.
"Just in case" MJ answered the unasked question.
With Scooby in the rear seat, MJ got into the drivers seat, Shaggy riding shotgun. It had planned that MJ would not tell anything about her 'gang', letting him draw his own conclusions.
On the short drive to the local beach, Shaggy asked, "Any more strange happenings since you got home?"
"Not really...except I found a flat tire on the Jeep yesterday. I changed the tire and took it to be fixed... the strange thing was nothing was wrong with it...just needed to be aired up...strange because it's a new tire, no reason to go flat."
"Excuse the question but I have to ask...any old boyfriends still around? One that would pull these pranks?"
"No...I've had boyfriends, yes, but none are around anymore. They all moved away for various reasons, jobs, college, stuff like that."
Less than five minutes later MJ found a parking space. Turning off the engine, she stood, looking over the beach crowd.
"I don't see any of the gang, they could be at Shipwreck Cove, that's where we surf." she said, sitting back down. "Let's get out and walk around."
"First, I want to do something I've wanted to do since I got here" Shaggy said.
"What's that" MJ asked.
"This" Shaggy reached over, cupping his hand on the back of her neck, gently drawing her to him. She smiled, leaning into the kiss, caressing his cheek with her fingertips.
He felt her body shiver and broke the kiss.
"Scary isn't it?" he asked.
"What is?" she returned the question.
"Feeling vulnerable, doubting, asking 'should I trust him?' feeling scared yet excited at the same time."
"Yes, it is scary" she whispered. "The feeling of being overrun by your emotions, yet feeling how right it is...Very scary, missing, wanting your kisses, yet overwhelmed by doubts."
This time, she pulled him gently to her, kissing his lips as if she were trying to memorize the feel of his lips on hers.
Their lips parted. "Shaggy, your right. I'am scarred. I want your kisses, lots of them, but I need time to deal with my emotions. Be patient with me?"
"Take as long as you need, you'll know, you will tell me."
They got out of the Jeep, walking down to the surf. They didn't see the eyes that watched them from the car parked behind and to the left of them.
"Hope you enjoyed changing the tire" the driver said to himself. "Enjoy the day, I have other fish to fry tonight. Tomorrow is soon enough for you and your new boyfriend!"
The eyes continued to watch as the couple walked down to the surf. Turning left, they walked down the beach. The dog with them chasing a ball MJ had taken from her Jeep. The driver started the car and slowly drove out of the parking lot.