Thank you again to everyone who is encouraging me to write, and who are reading this fanfiction. This is nothing that I am looking to be published, for those who do not like it. It is only for fun. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, however.

Well, without any further adieu, here is chapter five; I hope that you all enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sports Illustrated Magazine, or Seventeen Magazine.

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Scooby couldn't place exactly why, but Norville seemed down after they left the library. Although Scooby Doo had only known him a short while, Norville seemed completely mute than his usual quiet self. He barely spoke, and went back to the cemetery. Of course Scooby Doo followed. Norville slept for the remainder of that day.

Norville walked all around Coolsville the next day, feeling strangely content. It seemed as though all he had needed was a time to rest, and a nice stroll to clear him mind. Scooby Doo strode beside him, talking again about whatever he saw, or of the dreams he had the previous night. The stares that he got from people they passed by were either fearful, or shocked. Some people had even stopped them; just so they could listen to Scooby speak, making sure what they saw and heard was accurate. Anyone would think they would be going insane if they heard a dog speak. When asked if the dog was his, Norville would only give a shrug as an answer. He knew it wasn't the best response, even knowing that Scooby Doo wasn't his. They walked on. The wound on Norville's leg ached now and then, but seemed to be better at some extent. He limped just a bit as he walked, and learned to plainly go along with it. It may not be completely comfortable, but it wasn't a horrible injury.

By the afternoon, they had drawn a crowed around them. Evidently, the people of Coolsville had yet to encounter a talking dog, and were absolutely amazed. Norville felt terribly uncomfortable around all the people, some interrogating him on the dog, and others simply talking. There were too many voices at one time for him, and tuning them out wasn't working. He also felt disgusting. He hadn't showered in the past few days, and his hair felt incredibly greasy. He hoped the newscasters of Coolsville wouldn't stream by. He felt a mess. Scooby laughed as a small child absently rubbed his belly, out of curiosity. The child was then swept back by her mother and into the crowed quickly, as though the dog were a monster.

"What's his name?" a familiar voice asked. It caught Norville's ears easily, and he turned to where it came from. Fred stood within the crowed with a red-haired girl clinging to his arm. Her eyes were a deep green, and her purple shirt seemed a bit too tight on her, nearly as tight as her jeans. She crouched down to pet Scooby who laughed, claiming it tickled.

"Scooby Doo." The dog answered Fred's question between laughs. Fred spoke again. "This is your dog?" he asked, looking at Norville with sparkling blue eyes.

"Well…" Norville began, not knowing how to answer. It was a tough question. He had never asked Scooby Doo to stay with him, yet he never asked him to leave. However, Scooby seemed to be great company for Norville so far, although he knew little of the dog. Norville looked at Scooby Doo, whose ears were being playfully ruffled by the red-haired girl.

"I-I can't really say…" he finally answered. Fred chuckled. "Your dog's really cool." The girl stood up from Scooby, and laces her harm into Fred's and they turned to leave. "See yah."

Norville's heart leapt to his throat. He couldn't bear to watch them disappear into the crowed of people just yet. He couldn't explain why, but there was something about Fred that he liked. Perhaps it was his friendliness.

"W-wait!" Norville said, almost pleadingly. Fred turned back to him, looking rather puzzled. "Yeah? You know your dog is like an attraction at a zoo, or some shit."
A shy smile crept on Norville's lips. "Uh, I suppose so. A-anyway, I remembered what you said, about wanting to turn in the guys who mugged me a few nights ago."

"Mmhmm." Fred laughed almost nervously, and Norville hoped that he hadn't embarrassed him. The girl hugging his arm have him a stunned look. Maybe he wasn't lying about becoming a detective. Norville went on. "Well, would you mind if maybe I could help you catch them?"

Fred laughed harder, and Norville felt his stomach sink to his feet. Did Fred think he was thoughtless for making such an offer? Would Fred ever speak to him again in the future? For the moment, Norville felt absolutely foolish, and embarrassed. Fred spoke once he recovered from his sudden outburst. "Yeah, sure. I just never thought anyone would take me seriously on that-not even Daphne!"

He exclaimed, lightly bumping into the girl on his arm.

"Well, I am serious." Norville said as broadly as he could. Fred nodded.

"Okay, well, why don't you come with me and Daphne back to my house. We were heading there anyway. And then we can discuss this. I'm glad I've found someone who cares about this as much as I do. I'll tell you what you need to know about these guys. If we're going to catch them, we gotta be ready."
Daphne scowled, rolling her eyes. "God, Fred," a she teased. "You are such a nerd."

"Yeah, well this 'nerd' is gonna help make Coolsville a safe place."

Norville and Scooby sat in the back of Fred's large gray van, lurching as it turned corners, and sped fast down the road. There were no seatbelts, or even seats, for which Fred apologized. He had explained how he couldn't afford to have seats built just yet, and that he would have to do his best with the hard, plastic flooring. Norville was fine with it all, although he fought an internal battle against giving into carsickness. Scooby continuously went on yelling about how they were going to die if Fred didn't slow the van down. After a while, he resorted to barking out of fear. Fred just ignored it, and Daphne covered her ears. Norville mad a desperate attempt to reassure the dog that their lives were not in jeopardy, but did not get to finish his sentence. He vomited as Fred made a sharp turn down the block. Norville wanted to die there on the spot.

"I'm so sorry about what happened earlier. I've just never been in a vehicle going that fast." Norville explained, walking into Fred's room drying his hair with a towel. Fred had allowed Norville to use his shower, for he desperately needed one. It was a relief to finally be clean, and to be wearing fresh, comfortable clothes. His hair no longer felt disgusting, and now smelled of sweet Pea, and Violet.

Scooby was sleeping at the foot of Fred's bed where Daphne sat, her face buried in a Seventeen Magazine. All the walking and yelling Scooby had done that day wore him out.

"It's okay, man." Fred assured him, turning back to his computer. "You've apologized five gillion times. Just relax. Oh, and you can have that outfit. I don't really need it."

Norville looked down at his baggy green shirt, and brown jeans. "I feel like a tree." He said.

Fred cackled. "Yeah a baggy one."

Norville chuckled, as he began to look around Fred's room. It was smaller than Norville's, and not as roomy. There were a number of posters on the blue walls, mostly of music bands, and nearly nude girls who looked as though they belonged on the cover of a Sports Illustrated Magazine. His bed was unmade, and his floor was carpeted with clothes, discarded. Already Norville missed the comfort of having his own room. Sure his home was close to a hellhole, but his room was all he had. Now, he just had nothing. His stomach growled loudly. He was starving, and hadn't eaten anything that entire day.

"Uhm, Fred, could I get something to eat?"

"Yeah." Fred said, refraining to look away from the computer screen. "Eat whatever you want, Shaggy."

Norville paused on his way out,

"What?"

"Shaggy." Fred said, typing something. "At least that's what you look like to me. In that outfit, anyway. It's better sounding than 'Baggy'."
"So you're naming me now?" Norville asked. Fred nodded.

"I am. Oh, could you get ma a soda while you're in the kitchen? It's just down the hall, and to the left."
"Me too." Daphne said, rising from her magazine. Norville nodded, and left the room. He smiled silently. He was very happy all of a sudden. He was with people that weren't judging him, and that seemed to like him. He giggled, and then that giggle turned into a laugh, which then turned into a light fit of hysterics. He felt so very happy, then, that it merely overwhelmed him. He laughed as he navigated his way through Fred's house to the kitchen. Daphne shot Fred a scrutinizing look, despite the fact that he wasn't looking at her.

"Why do you always draw crazy people to you, Fred?"

WOW! To me, that seemed almost too bland. But don't worry. This time I ABSOLUTELY promise to make the next few chapters more exciting, and interesting. And Velma will come into the picture soon.

I hope that you all enjoyed reading this chapter!