"He taught her that courage wasn't the absence of fear-it was running anyway, especially if someone you loved was running beside you."
"They were an unlikely equation-the boy who ran from monsters and the girl who stood her ground. But in the space...
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*💚Julia's POV💚*
"Far out. I guess we're like, all going to Spooky Island, man."
Hearing his voice sent a sudden shiver across my skin. Two years. Two years of silence, and yet it still had the same effect on me—a warm, familiar ache that settled deep in my chest.
"Hey, where's Scooby?" Velma asked. Only then did I notice his absence. Shaggy without Scooby was like sunshine without light—unnatural. I stole a glance at him. He hadn't changed at all, not a single bit, and that simple fact made my heart soften.
Shaggy pointed a thumb over his shoulder. We all turned.
In the distance, teetering on heels, was Scooby-Doo. He wore a frumpy dress, a wide-brimmed hat perched precariously on his head. He looked... fashionably confused. And utterly adorable.
"They don't allow big dogs on the plane," Shaggy explained with a proud grin.
The entire airport was staring, but Scooby, ever the charmer, waved regally at every person he passed.
"You've got to be kidding," Velma deadpanned.
"No one is stupid enough to believe that," Daphne scoffed.
She was immediately proven wrong. Fred leaned in, squinting. "Who's the ugly old broad?" he asked Shaggy, pulling a face.
"I think it's adorable," I spoke up.
Shaggy's head snapped toward me. His eyes widened, finally registering my presence. A flicker of surprise, then something softer, passed over his face.
Scooby finally waddled over. Fred got a big, wet, slobbery kiss on the cheek for his "ugly old broad" comment. "Eugh! My cheek!" Fred groaned, scrubbing at his face.
"Say hello to grandma," Shaggy beamed.
I didn't hesitate. I dropped to my knees and pulled the furry "grandma" into a tight hug, burying my face in his neck. "I missed you, you big goof."
"Rulia!" he yelped in joy, licking my ear.
— Flight 3774 to Spooky Island, now boarding —
The announcement sliced through the moment, leaving a heavy, awkward silence in its wake. The air grew thick with unspoken words and the ghost of our last, painful parting.
Velma was the first to break it, her voice tight. "Listen, I wouldn't have agreed to come if I knew."
The words stung. That night still haunted us all, a raw wound that had never properly healed. It hurt, hearing her imply our reunion was a mistake.
"Wait, guys—" I started, wanting to bridge the gap.
Shaggy cut me off, shooting me an apologetic glance. I couldn't even be mad. He was trying.
"...just think about it for one minute," he pleaded, his voice earnest. "Mystery Inc. reunites. We'll be a team again, just like the old days. So come on, gang. Let's do that thing where we put our hands in, lift them up, and we go..." He lifted his own hand high, a hopeful, lonely beacon.
"Only if Fred and Velma do it," Daphne muttered, crossing her arms. It was a stalemate of stubborn pride.
"People are watching, Shag," Fred said quietly, his tone final. He turned and walked toward the gate. Velma and Daphne followed without a backward glance.
"Whoo-hoo!" Scooby said softly, looking from Shaggy's fallen face to mine, his big eyes full of confused hope.
"Whoo-hoo, Scoob," I whispered, leaving one last kiss on his nose before I stood up. My heart ached as I walked away, joining the others heading onto the plane.
*💚Shaggy's POV💚*
"Yeah, Scoob. Whoo-hoo. Come on, buddy," I said, the enthusiasm completely drained from my voice. I watched Julia walk away, that green dress swaying gently. She looked... incredible. Absolutely breath-taking.
"You couldn't keep your eyes off her!" Scooby stated a teasing giggle rumbling in his throat.
"Like, how could anyone not look at that beautiful creature," I whispered back, admitting it to the empty air between us. My heart was pounding so hard I was sure she could hear it from across the terminal.
*~*💚*~*
*💚Julia's POV💚*
I found an open seat across the aisle from Shaggy and pulled out my book, desperate for a distraction. But my eyes had a mind of their own, flicking over the top of the pages to where he sat every few seconds.
Then a pretty blonde approached him and Scooby. She smiled, all confidence and glossy lips. I saw his eyes go wide, his mouth falling open slightly in that classic Shaggy gawk.
A sharp, hot pang of jealousy shot through me, so intense it stole my breath. I clenched the book in my hands, my knuckles turning white. He's not yours, I reminded myself fiercely. You have no right.
"Would you mind if I took a seat there next to...?" the blonde asked, gesturing hesitantly at Scooby.
"To my grandma? That's my grandma. Hi, grandma! Like, no," Shaggy tripped over his words, flustered. He stood up to let her pass, practically vibrating with nervous energy.
"Thanks," she said, smiling sweetly as she slid into the seat.
"You're welcome."
She let out a delicate, practiced sneeze. "Bless you!" Shaggy said, his face melting into that utterly adorable, concerned expression I loved.
I forced my gaze back to my book, the words blurring. I tried to convince myself this sharp, aching feeling was just confusion. Just the shock of seeing him again after so long.
Scooby, perhaps sensing the tension, got up and ambled to the back, plopping down next to Fred and Velma. That left Shaggy alone with the blonde. They sank into conversation, her laughter tinkling like bells.
A tap on my shoulder pulled me from my miserable observation. I turned. The man in the seat next to me was handsome, with kind eyes and an easy smile.
"What are you reading?" he asked, nodding to the book in my hands.
"It's a book of poems," I said, managing a small, polite smile.
For the rest of the flight, we talked. We talked about sonnets and haikus, about how a few carefully chosen words could hold universes of meaning. His voice was calm, his insights sharp. It was a perfect, welcome distraction.
For a little while, I almost forgot about the boy across the aisle, the one who made my heart race and break in equal measure. Almost.
