From the moment the new girl walked in they knew she was trouble. From the leather jacket to the cocky look on her face they knew it. The class greeted as was custom for a new student. the girl payed them no mind and simply took the only empty seat. Which unfortunately was right behind Shaggy. Daphne looked over at the girl and noticed a tatto peeking out of her sleeve.
Oh yes this girl looked like trouble.
...
The girl was named Melissa as the gang later found out that they'd be Melissa's mentors. The mentor program at school paired a troubled kid with an older set of classmates. The gang had signed up wanting to help someone. Getting paired with Melissa though was unfortunate at least for Shaggy who felt uncomfortable around the girl.
"Melissa this is Fred, Daphne , Velma. Shaggy and their dog Scooby doo" Mr. Washington said.
"Hi" Melissa said toying with her earbuds.
"Melissa you'll be with this group at least once a week"
"Doing what?" Melissa asked not interested.
"Talking, hanging out"
"What if I don't want to?" Melissa asked shooting a glare in the gang's direction.
"You have to. Your mom-"
"Foster mom" Melissa cut in her voice raised slightly.
"Your Foster mom and the school principle agreed it would be best"
"Forgive me for my lack of excitement" Melissa retorted.
"Look I know it's hard losing your sisters but-"
"You act like their dead. They're not they just couldn't take care of me anymore" Melissa snapped.
"Okay I've clearly overstepped my boundaries. I leave you to get acquainted"
Mr Washington left. Melissa sat down in a near by chair not wanting to be there. Pulling out a sketchbook she became much more focused on her art than the other people in the room. Daphne kept glancing in Melissa's direction and abruptly looked away when Melissa looked up. When an hour of this had gone by a woman arrived to get Melissa.
"Melissa are you ready to go?"
"Yes" Melissa answered with plainly.
Melissa quickly packed up and walked outside.
"Hello. I'm jenny Peters. As you can probably guess I'm Melissa's foster mother"
Quick polite introductions were made between the group.
"So you're Melissa's mentors? I've got to warn you she's a bit hard headed and she's really sensitive about her situation" Jenny said .
"Yeah.. we kinda figured that out" Fred said giving a nervous laugh.
" Well I hope you'll be able to help her she's in need of it"
"we'll try" Fred said.
..
When Melissa arrived "home" she went into her room dumped her school bag and ditched her jacket. Without the Jacket anyone could see that Melissa had not one but two tattoos. The first one was a string of black and red diamonds that wrapped around her right wrist while the second one was a circle of leaves around her left wrist. Melissa glanced at her wrists then quickly looked away.
Melissa's room was plain. White walls with no declarations. A bed with a plain black bed spread. No photos on her dresser or nightstand. Melissa sat down on the bed and sighed. She really wished her sisters were there.
...
The next day when Melissa walked into homeroom the teacher dropped a bombshell.
"Okay class from now on we'll be sitting in groups"
Melissa watched as the whole class got rearranged.
"Melissa you'll be sitting over here"
Melissa glared daggers at the teacher who'd put her in a group with her mentors. Melissa picked up her bag and slowly walked over to her new seat.
"Hi Melissa" Fred greeted.
"Hi" Melissa mumbled.
Melissa took her jacket off and sat down.
"It's a free day class. So catch up on your work"
So Melissa Where did you live before?" Velma asked.
"Gotham" Melissa answered as she pulled out her sketchbook.
"So I take it you like art" Daphne said glancing at Melissa.
"Yeah what gave that away the colored pencils?" Melissa snapped.
Daphne glanced over at Velma who shrugged. The gang was silent. They weren't sure how to talk to Melissa.
"So Melissa what was Gotham like?" Shaggy asked.
"Dark wonderful everything this town isn't" Melissa said looking up.
"What was school like there?"
"Better than here" Melissa answered returning to her art.
"Was it big?" Fred asked.
"Not really" Melissa mumbled wishing they'd stop asking her questions.
The bell rang signaling the end of class and Melissa couldn't leave fast enough. She walked quickly to her locker. She qpened it and shoved her books inside quickly and slammed her locker shut. The hall was clearing now. Noticing this Melissa walked torwards the door as quickly as she could and slipped out before anyone noticed.
Yes Melissa ditched.
..
Although Melissa thought she was the only one around before she left she was wrong. Shaggy had seen her leave. He knew she'd get in trouble if she was caught. So walking into the office he said:
"Umm Melissa just ditched"
"Melissa who?"
"Melissa she just started school here yesterday"
"I don't think so."
Shaggy was very fed up now but luckily the principle came in right then so Shaggy told the principle.
"May I have premisson to go find Melissa?" Shaggy asked.
"Yes"
So Shaggy left to find Melissa.
..
Melissa was walking through the alleyways and backstreets to avoid getting caught. Melissa couldn't take school any longer. She took a dep breath finally able to breath.
"So you decided to ditch?"
Melissa turned and came face to face with Shaggy.
"Yeah so?" Melissa shrugged annoyed that Shaggy was there.
"You know you'll get in trouble right?" Shaggy asked stepping closer to Melissa.
"You will too"
"No I won't I was told I could go and find you"
"Listen What I do isn't your business. You and your friends may be my mentors but that doesn't make you my boss. Because no one tells me what to do so do me a favor and get lost" Melissa said before starting to walk away.
"What about your sisters? Didn't they tell you what to do?" Shaggy asked.
The next thing Shaggy knew he was pinned to the wall by an angry Melissa.
"Don't you even go there! You have no right to talk about them! Now get lost before I beat you so bad you'll need a hospital when i'm done" Melissa threatened before releasing Shaggy and walking away.
Shaggy followed her quietly to see where she was was headed no where in particular as he soon found out. Melissa seemed more relaxed than any other time Shaggy had seen her. She stopped when they arrived at the park. She sat down on a bench and was clearly thinking about something. Shaggy wondered if he should approach her but, remembering earlier he decided against it.
He needed to get Melissa back to school but he didn't know how. He'd get beat up or she'd get caught. Neither option was good. He eventually decided he was going to confront her anyways.
"Melissa we need to go back to school"
"I thought I told you to get lost"
"We need to go back" Shaggy said.
Melissa stood up and walked slowly over to where Shaggy was.
"Now Melissa don't get angry" Shaggy said backing away.
Melissa walked closer until Shaggy was pinned against a tree. Melissa beat Shaggy then and there. Let's just say it's too brutal for me to describe. Shaggy's vision blurred as Melissa walked away.
...
Shaggy woke up later to find he was in the hospital.
"Shaggy you're awake" Fred said looking up from the book he was reading.
"Oh my gosh what happened Shaggy?" Daphne asked.
"Yeah we found you slumped under a tree" Velma said.
"Melissa she beat me up. How long have i been out?"
"a long time" Fred answered.
"Did they find Melissa?"
"Nope they didn't find me"
Everyone looked as Melissa walked in.
"What do you have to say for your self Melissa. "
"I say he shouldn't have followed me"
"Just wait until we tell Jenny" Velma said.
"So? She doesn't scare me" Melissa snapped.
"Thanks to you Shaggy has two broken ribs, a fractured wrist and a bunch of bruises" Daphne said.
"I went easy on him I could've done a lot worse" Melissa said plainly.
"You're heartless!"
"Why thank you I try my best"
"I bet your sis-" Daphne started.
"Don't" Shaggy warned.
"I'd take his advice unless you want to join him" Melissa said coolly before leaving.
..
Melissa did get punished for her actions. She got suspended from school and grounded to her room. She really didn't care. Jenny had gone out and bought Melissa a journal to write in hoping that it would help. Melissa didn't touch it though and it gathered dust on her nightstand.
"Melissa?" Jenny said coming in.
"What? I was taking a nap" Melissa snapped sitting up.
"We're going out"
"I thought I was grounded" Melissa said rolling her eyes.
"You were but all you've done for two days is stare at the ceiling and sleep"
"Fine I'm coming"
...
"Where are we going?" Melissa asked.
"To the mall so you can get some new clothes and something to keep your mind of beating people up"Jenny replied.
"Whatever" Melissa shrugged.
They spent three hours at the mall. Melissa felt like her arms were going to fall off When Melisa finally put the bags down in her room she breathed a sigh of relief. She had gotten several band tee shirts, two black dresses, A jean jacket( which had been Jenny's idea) and a new pair of boots.
The tee shirts were mostly hex girl shirts all with various designs . Other than her clothes Melissa bought several art supplies. and a couple of things for her room. She bought a lamp, a poster a few books. Nothing really interesting
..
Shaggy was tired but he couldn't seem to fall asleep. He heard someone come in he thought it was one of his friends but when he open his eyes he found Melissa and Jenny.
"Hello Shaggy" Jenny said.
"Hi" he mumbled eyeing Melissa who was busy messing with the sleeve of her jacket.
"I've brought Melissa to apologize" Jenny said pushing Melissa forward.
"Yeah sorry" Melissa said with absolutely no emotion.
Jenny jabbed Melissa so she'd look at Shaggy but the only thing Melissa did was slap her foster mom back. Since this was getting no where Jenny grabbed Melissa so they could leave. That's when Shaggy noticed Melissa's shirt. It was a hex girl's shirt. Now he realized he had leverage.