One week.
One gloomy week.
Now, it was Monday again, August was already slipping away a chill he didn't expect to find in California was sneaking into the air. Everywhere he looked, his peers greeted each other while loudly discussing their weekends. Putting his head down, Shaggy pushed on. Moving to his locker he found it surrounded on either side with more loud teens. He hung back, not wanting to be looked at or spoken to by anyone.
"Hi, Shaggy"
so much for that plan.
"Hi, Clawdeen, Duncan" he mumbled.
The duo tried but had very little success in engaging him in any sort of conversation.
Not for the first time, Shaggy wished he could just fade away.
…...
Like every day before it, Monday passed by in a blur. Shaggy was just going through the motions, counting the hours until he could go home to his bed. Why did he have to do this? Why couldn't he have been home-schooled? This school was supposed to help him. He was supposed to fit in better but he was given the cold shoulder outside of the group he'd been placed into because of his very human appearance.
I hate this! He thought to himself sullenly slipping into the library with Scooby at his heels.
The library was huge, every nook cranny, and, crevice packed with books of varying age. Wooden desks spread throughout the space and lined the walls which were filled with big windows that looked out into the courtyard.
Pushing further back into the space, Shaggy sought a place to nap. In the very back of the library, he discovered plush, high-backed reading chairs that were set around a fireplace which appeared to be for show now. He dropped into on, letting his head fall forward, shutting his eyes to give the illusion of sleep to anyone that might pass by.
It wasn't very long after this that there was movement.
Christina. He realized, knowing her scent.
Why did he know that?
How did he know that?
When a few minutes had passed without Christina speaking to him he opened his eyes just enough to see what she was doing without giving himself away.
Christina sat across from him her legs crossed, a large book propped up on her lap. Her focus was entirely on the book her lips were moving as she read from it so quiet you wouldn't hear her but Shaggy could.
So, he listened.
"She honestly didn't know what was worse: living her life in the dream world, or living in a world where everyone lied to her."
Shaggy found himself swept into what could only be a Disney retelling. His mind somewhere in the haze of in between sleep he couldn't quite understand what was going on. But, Christina's voice...
He liked Christina's voice. Warm, quiet, and gentle like the music she played. Could he just stay here? In this peace? In this place where his mind wasn't tormented by failures, shortcomings, and, faults. Could she just read to him forever?
He dozed off, carried away by the tale Christina was reading.
…...
Christina closed her book with a soft smile. Shaggy was sleeping, Scooby doing the same.
When she had gotten there Christina had known right away that Shaggy wasn't really asleep. His breathing was too quick but she hadn't said anything. Shaggy needed quiet time like everyone else. More than everyone else actually. His grief weighed upon him heavily.
So, Christina took the chair across from him grabbed her book, and began to read without a word. It was only when she felt she was being watched did she read aloud or loud enough for Shaggy to hear. Now that he was sleeping, Christina grabbed her diary and began writing.
I didn't have time to write this morning. I was too busy sorting things with Chase's teachers. If that substitute had still been there I'm positive I would've cursed her into the next century! What kind of adult allows that?
I'm hoping Chase has a much better day because if he doesn't well, it won't be pretty.
Now, I'm in the library for my free period. Shaggy's sleeping across from me. You should see him during the day, all beat down and lonely. I want to help but I don't want to push. Everyone grieves differently but it seems Shaggy hasn't been allowed time to grieve at all.
I'll try to be his friend.
Maybe he doesn't want friends so I won't be pushy but I'll at least be nice to him.
…...
"We like, shouldn't go in there!"
"It'll be okay, Shaggy," Velma smiled.
"No, no it won't!"
"If you're so bothered you can stay out here"
Shaggy tried to follow only to find himself glued to the ground.
"Velma, don't!"
he reached for her but she was too far away.
"Please"
The barn was crumbling.
"NO!"
…...
"Shaggy! Shaggy! Wake up!"
Shaggy jolted, eyes wide.
As his teary vision cleared he saw Christina directly in front of him, her hands on his shoulders. There was a scratch on her forearm glistening with blood.
I transformed again? He questioned himself.
Looking down was all the proof he needed. He'd scratched Christina.
"I hurt you"
"It's okay, Shaggy, I just need a band-aid-"
"No, it isn't okay!"
he ran from the library, ignoring the stares of his peers.
I'm cursed. I hurt someone! I'm cursed!
Over and over those thoughts rang in his head.
…...
"Christy," Clawdeen gasped, catching her just outside the library, "What happened to your arm?"
those were unmistakably claw marks.
"It's fine, Clawdeen"
"But, what happened?"
"Shaggy scratched me in his sleep, it's nothing"
"He transformed in his sleep?"
"Yes?"
"He's being driven by emotions-"
Christina held up her hand to stop Clawdeen before she really got started, "He's grieving"
Clawdeen looked at Christina questioningly. "And you just know this?"
"Yes," Christina folded her arms waiting for her friend to connect the dots but instead of the oh face, she'd been expecting Clawdeen smiled mysteriously, placing a hand on her hip.
"Okay then, let's go to the nurse," she snatched Christina's arm and pulled her along.
"But, I was going to-"
"Later"
Christina rolled her eyes.
…...
This time when Shaggy came home from school his mother ordered he go outside for fresh air instead. That's how he wound up in their huge, very empty backyard, staring up at the sky.
"Hi, Shaggy"
he jumped out of habit before realizing it was Christina who spoke, leaning casually on the fence with a smile.
"Hi,"
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing, there's nothing to like, see"
"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure if that, Shaggy"
There was a bandage on her arm and he couldn't help staring at it.
I hurt someone. I hurt Christina.
His heart twisted and felt heavy at the thought.
She followed his gaze, "Don't worry, it'll be gone soon, I heal fast"
"I'm sorry"
his heart was being squeezed uncomfortably in his chest as the thought kept tumbling through his head.
I did that.
I hurt Christina.
I'm cursed.
I couldn't save my friends.
Over and over again until it was all he could think about. All he could see.
Yet, before he completely lost himself to the pit of despair he was rapidly, helplessly falling into he heard Christina say:
"I forgive you"
…...
"Mom," Sugie said warily, watching her father help her brother back to his room, "Maybe you should put Shaggy through counseling or take him to the doctor?"
"I think I'll do that, Sugie, why don't you go outside?"
"Okay"
That was as far as Sugie could get the conversation now she watched helplessly as her mother cried in the kitchen.
Would her family ever be okay again?
Would Shaggy?
…...
I love night time.
It's so quiet, gives me space to think.
Chase's day was better apparently but those kids, that sub, they just-
I need to take a deep breath.
Anyway, tomorrow is Tuesday which means Chase goes to Uncle Dracula's while I'm at the radio station. So, I won't be seeing Shaggy after school tomorrow. Strangely, this makes me feel worse than it should. I feel like if I just got him talking maybe I could help in some tiny way.
But, outside of trying to be a friend I have no idea what I could do.
Speaking of strange you should have seen how Clawdeen's been acting since she took me to the nurse earlier today.
All smiles and weird looks.
Yes Clawdeen, I KNOW what Grief looks like even though my parents are only missing.
But, that didn't seem to click.
I wonder what she was thinking about.
…...
"You didn't save us!"
"I'm sorry"
"You didn't save ME!"
"Velma, please-"
"Look at me Shaggy! Look what you couldn't stop!"
Velma stood before him, angrily glaring, bones ripping through various points in her body while blood gushed out of every opening.
"YOU DID NOTHING!"
…...
Shaggy woke covered in sweat and yelling. It was only three in the morning but he knew there was no going back to sleep tonight. Not after the dream, he'd had.
I really am cursed!