Scooby Doo! Meet Ellie Machine

When the Cicada Calls (Part 1)

It was currently Thursday, a little over a week after the whole Char-Gar Gothakon mystery at Darrow University, and Fred, Daphne, Shaggy, Scooby, and I were in the cafeteria for lunch before going to Biology together. Miraculously, that's the one class we all have together. Velma was at the library getting ready to outsmart Dr. Yantz, the new biology teacher. She's always determined to be smarter than everyone in the room, even the teachers.

"Hey, Scoob and I, like, are going to the vending machine for some snacks, do you, like, want anything?" Shaggy asked me. I smiled. "No thanks. I need to prepare for my interview with Dr. Yantz. He agreed to meet with me after class," I told him. He smiled at me, and the two left, leaving me with just Daphne and Fred.

"Hey, Fred? Can you get me a water from the vending machine please?" Daphne asked. Fred turned the slightest shade of pink. "Um, sure Daph. I'll catch up to the guys," he said, and walked off. Daphne then turned to me. "So? What's going on between you and Shaggy?" she asked me excitedly. I raised my eyebrows at her. "Nothing? Why do you ask?"

"Look, you guys had real chemistry. He broke up with Velma, and he clearly still likes you. Why haven't you gotten with him yet?" she drilled. I sighed. "Look, he broke up with Velma for Scooby. How do I know he wouldn't do the same to me and leave me more heartbroken than the first time?" I asked her.

"But you're different from Velma! You weren't controlling, you didn't try to push things, and you guys had genuine love there for a moment, right? And he obviously still likes you! He's been helping you nonstop with the chest, offers to get you things, and always seems to have contact with you. Have you not noticed?"

"Yeah, we did. And I do notice. I just don't want things to be like last time I guess," I sighed as the bell rang. "Come on, let's go see what this Dr. Yantz is all about," I told her, and we got up and started walking down the hall. Fred, Shaggy, and Scooby were waiting for us there at the door. Fred handed Daphne her water, to which she thanked him, and we all walked in. Velma, of course, was already in her seat.

Dr. Yantz was tending to a small tree on the front desk as everyone piled in. He was pretty cute, with a ponytail, goatee, and pretty fashionable glasses. I took a seat next to Daphne and when the bell rang again, we all quieted down as Dr. Yantz picked up something from the tree. "The cicada," he started. I could tell from the sighs of the female population he would be the new school crush. "The most perfect insect in a decidedly imperfect world."

Dr. Yantz leaned down and kissed the bug. I shuddered and resisted the urge to throw up. How can anyone like bugs that much?

"Did he just kiss a bug?" I heard Fred ask Daphne. "Yeah," she sighed. "Isn't he just the best?"

I gave her a sideways glance. What is up with her? Don't tell me she now has a crush on the new teacher now, too.

"The cicada's life cycle is fascinating. As grubs, they burrow into the ground, where they spend the next seventeen years," Dr. Yantz continued. "Psst! Want one?" I heard Scooby whisper to Velma, who was next to him. "Not from you I don't," she huffed. Scooby whined. "Can't we just be friends?" he asked her. "Ask me in seventeen years."

"Changes in our ecosystem, though, could wipe out the precious cicada. Which is why we need to keep watch on companies who pollute nature. Isn't that right, Shaggy, Scooby, and Ellie?" he asked, now glaring at me and the two munching on snacks behind me.

"I'm sorry?" I asked, with raised eyebrows, but he walked past me to Shaggy and Scooby. "Are you aware that Grandma Moonbeam's Nature Slivers are manufactured by Destroido? And every bite you take supports the biggest polluter in Crystal Cove?" Dr. Yantz continued. "No. But they're, like, super good," Shaggy defended himself. "Yeah. Want one?" Scooby agreed.