Closing The Distance
Velma Dinkley
11:30 pm
Velma checked her watch again, 11:30 pm. It was finally time to put the plan into action, she has prepared for weeks to make sure this went as smoothly as possible. A soft knock at her door spurred her back to reality, there was no time to think only doo. Grabbing her backpack she quickly scanned the room once more, going through her mental checklist, everything had to be perfect for her. For Daphne. As she closed her room door Velma heard the familiar padding of Scooby walking towards her, she turned just in time to get a big wet kiss (and a nose full of doggy breath jeez they need to brush his teeth more). Wiping the drool away she scratched Scooby behind the ears as they walked down the stairs and packed into the van.
—
11:35 pm
Everything was going as planned on her end, staring out the window as they sped closer to the Coolsville city limits Velma tried to take a deep breath. Instead, it came out shaky and shallow, she had a pit in her stomach the size of a sandwich even Shaggy couldn’t finish, how couldn’t she be on edge at a time like this…so much was riding on this plan. Somewhere in the front of the van, the window was rolled down, and a slow grinding of the manual handle gave way to cool night air. Though they were yet to reach Crystal Cove the salty sea air was already surrounding them, in the distance a bell rang probably alerting some ships to come to port. The knot in her stomach grew larger. It had been two long years since the Blakes decided it was “best for the family” to move out of the little town of Coolsville to the up-and-coming city of Crystal Cove. In reality, she knew it was because two years ago Elizabeth Blake had caught a glimpse of the girls kissing.
—
11:45 pm
Velma’s glasses began to fog at the memory, she quickly opened her laptop and put her head down to hide her burning cheeks and tear-filled eyes. It was all my fault tears rolled down her cheeks at the thought, how could she have been SO careless and illogical? She was supposed to know better and yet a moment's weakness caused so much pain. She didn’t know how Daphne could still love her after what happened, being 16 was hard enough without being outed to your parents, ripped away from your friends, and forced to perform a life you never wanted. She could only imagine how lonely it must have been the first three months before Daphne worked out a way to contact them without her parents knowing. Since then they’ve been planning her escape, her rescue. The stakes were high for them all, Daphne may be a legal adult but the Blake’s are wealthy…powerfully connected, and willing to pay anyone off. That’s why it was so important they timed this perfectly, once they left Crystal Cove and got Daphne back into Coolsville she’ll be safe. The Blake’s may have Crystal Cove wrapped around their finger but Coolsville held them in no such regard. The gang on the other hand was well respected within the town, both for their heroics against the “supernatural” and also for being a good group of kids– young adults willing to help wherever they can. Yes once Daphne was back in Coolsville everything would be okay again, the gang could be THE Gang again…she could look Daphne in her eyes and finally ask her to be her girlfriend. She knew it was cheesy and they’d been dating for years now, but Velma really wanted the chance to say it in person, not just in letters written in code. Her watch beeped once again pulling her from her thoughts, back to reality.
—
12:00 am
Velma looked up again watching the Blake Manor loom over the van through the open window. Surrounding the gorgeous estate was a wall 10 feet tall made of solid stone, made especially to keep anyone the Blake’s deemed unpleasant out. Fred had cut the lights off before slowly making his way around the perimeter of the wall, being careful not to drive under any of the sweeping spotlights that lined the wall.
As he rounded the last corner Shaggy pressed send a text composed hours ago, containing only one word ‘here’. Fred carefully stopped the van right under a lone balcony on the farthest corner of the manor, the only place accessible to the van outside the walls and conveniently in a blind spot for the spotlights. Had they come on a weekend they would have been met with a night patrol, armed men guarding the perimeter on foot as an added precaution while Daphne's parents traveled. Velma crept to the sliding door of the van, sliding it open as slowly as she could to minimize the sound of metal scrapping. When she finally got the door open wide enough to fit her head out she looked up, the pit in her stomach turned to butterflies as she met a familiar pair of bright green eyes. She signaled Fred and Shaggy to help with the bags and keep a lookout, but her eyes never left Daphne. Velma stared as if transfixed by beauty or maybe wonder, this day she had dreamed of was finally here. She watched as Daphne climbed over the balcony railing and dropped carefully into Freddie’s arms, trusting him to catch her though the drop was steep. As Daphne scrambled into the van Velma couldn’t help but take in a breath and savor the smell of Daphne's perfume, flowery, light, and not too sweet. The scent of an Orchid, her favorite flower of course.
—
12:30 am
Suddenly they were back at home as if they had teleported. At Least that’s how Velma felt when she realized where she was, as if drunk on Daphne's scent alone the ride was a blur. The girls never took their eyes off each other, but no one dared say a word the entire ride home, almost afraid breaking the silence would make Daphne disappear. Unloading the van and following Daphne up the walkway to her new home Velma finally let herself exhale a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding in. Velma stood near the door just taking in the scene, the banner Scoob and Shag made turned out amazing and the balloons weren’t too bad either. She beamed as Daphne's eyes welled with tears seeing her welcome home decorations. She watched the boys grab her bags and scurry up the stairs ignoring Daphne's attempts to stop them. When the room was silent she closed the distance, holding her face once again lost in her eyes that gleamed with tears. The corner of Daphne's mouth quivered as if to cry or maybe say something but before she could Velma said, ‘‘So does this mean I can officially call you my girlfriend now…”. The quivering turned to a beaming smile for just a second, before Velma pulled her closer, finally closing the two-year distance that had kept them apart. Finally free to share this kiss, to share their love without fear.