Daria: College Pains Redux
Author James the Lesser/ The Bunny Man
This is Not Approved By the Makers Of Daria
This Is Not For Sale But Free For Anyone
Like another series I wrote, I am able to look back years later and cringe. I tried to fix the one series but it was so, just, I pulled it out of the water an hour after it drowned and no amount of CPR could save it. Thankfully my Daria FF still had a pulse and I hope with a little bed rest it will make a full recovery
Episode 1: Moving Out
Daria is at Gary's art gallery with Jane. "So you sold another one?"
Jane holds up a wad of tens and fives. "Two hundred somolians worth." She smells the money. "And unlike old money, no mold."
Daria glares as she thinks about old money. Tom made the same comment. They were still friends but thinking about things he said while they dated still hurt. "Don't you enjoy painting family portraits?"
Jane pats her pocket where she had stuck her money. "Three paintings of toy dogs in a row stifles creativity."
"You still took the money." Daria pats her pocket where she had nothing. She refused to get a job between graduation and leaving for college.
"Money buys new paints. And food. I made Trent clean out the red stain from the freezer."
"But what will Pizza King do if you eat at home?"
"Rely on you?"
Daria pulls her pockets out showing she had nothing on her. "I blew my allowance on frivolous things like books for school." Even getting them used it was expensive to get all the books for her classes. "You won't have that problem if there are any more old ladies with dogs."
Quinn and Lindy are at Lindy's apartment. "We don't have to go out tonight. We could work on more mirrors. You said you sold the last one for four hundred dollars."
Lindy cracks her neck. "No way. I need to get out before school starts. My senior year is going to be the roughest. I need a drink or four."
Quinn bites on her lower lip in worry. "Why not try three? Or two?"
Lindy laughs. "Quinn, don't worry. I'll keep it to three shots and three beers if it makes you feel better." She pats Quinn on the arm. "Besides, that's why I have you here so I don't have to drive home."
"You could drive yourself if you didn't drink so much."
Lindy shakes her head. "I'm in college. It's booze, pot, or sex to deal with the stress. I don't feel like getting busted for drugs and I'm sure as heck not risking getting pregnant." She smiles. "But I'll limit it to three and three, for you."
Lindy and Quinn walk out to Lindy's car.
To help make up for buying her own food, Jane and Daria went to the Pizza King to eat and see Jodie and Mack. "Hey, mind if we sit? Every other booth is taken."
Jodie and Mack slide over so the other two can sit.
After ordering the four talk. "Only a couple more weeks until we leave." Mack looks up at Jodie. "Even if we go to different colleges we'll finally be free from your parents."
She reaches across the table and holds his hands in hers. "No more shredding incriminating evidence in the Congressman's office or stupid golf lessons." Both smile a little thinking about last years argument.
Mack can't take his eyes off of Jodie. "We'll be miles apart but we'll be closer."
"And I already found the best hotels between Turner and Vance." The other two girls look over at Jodie. "We're responsible adults and my parents will never find out until after they're dead."
Jane laughs lightly. "I'm still waiting for 11am on moving day."
Daria mumbles so no one can hear her response.
After a couple slices of pizza they start talking about what they're doing for college. "Thankfully I'm a football player. I'll get paid under the table by the school if I get them wins. As long as the NCAA doesn't find out about it. Of course I'll probably be the only football player leaving Lawndale majoring in some thing other than underwater basket weaving or power walking."
Jodie shakes her head. "My parents made sure I had a fund. But with all my scholarships they're holding on to most of it in case I go to graduate school. I get four hundred a month from it so I can focus on school and other activities." She smiles and laughs a little. "Activities I won't be going to. My parent's really think I'm going to kill myself with all the stupid stuff they make me do now."
Jane shrugs her shoulders. "I'm hoping they have a few independent galleries I can sell my stuff at." She pats her pocket again. "Of course Boston will have a lot more competition than Lawndale." She might look for more little old ladies with toy dogs over the fall.
Daria looks out the window. Her friends knew what they were going to do. She didn't know. "My mom told me to send my stuff out to different magazines. I've gotten a few rejection letters I can frame and look back on once I'm an alcoholic writer getting rejection emails."
She knew she couldn't work with the public. She hated the public. Working at the nut stand was proof that wouldn't work. She wanted to be an author but her work was, what? She had to find the right publisher that wouldn't butcher her work. Until then she needed money for school. Even with her scholarships they only covered school. A school meal plan would be more but she already didn't like school food and she didn't want to eat it for another four years.
Her parents said they'd help her out as long as her grades staid where they've always been. For once she would actually be rewarded for her good grades. Would it be enough? She would still look for a part time job, eventually.
"Daria, Daria." Jane pokes her and she shakes her head. "Earth to Daria."
She shakes her head clearing the thoughts out of her mind. "Uh, Houston, we're out of Tang."
Tom sits in his car outside of Pizza King. He sees Jane and Daria inside. "Just go in there. She said she wanted to be friends still." He sighs and puts his car in drive. "Good job Tom. Two cool girls and blew it with both." He drives off.
Daria thought she saw Tom and his car but the person drove off with out coming in. Like she needed another person who knew what they were doing around her.
When Jane drops Daria off at home Daria sees an SUV in the driveway. "Who's here?" She goes to the door and walks in. "Hello?"
"Daria! I, Jake you were supposed to let me know when she was close." Helen hurries down the stairs. "I'm not ready."
"Ready?" Daria is confused.
"For your graduation gift." Helen looks out the window at the SUV. "We thought since you did so well and got the scholarships we could take some of your college fund and get you a car."
"A new car?"
Helen shakes her head. "New to you, if that counts. It only has seventeen thousand miles on it and a full service check up and a ten thousand miles warranty in case any thing happens."
"Only ten thousand miles? One trip to Boston and back and I'll be halfway there."
Helen sighs. "It is only four hundred miles one way. Six hours, five if you drive like your Aunt Amy." She looks back at the SUV. She hoped it would be enough. She heard of the horror stories of the snow storms that hit Boston.
Quinn and Lindy are at her apartment again. Quinn focuses intently as she places a piece of glass on the frame of a mirror. "These are a lot harder to make than I thought." She had a couple cuts on her hands from the glass covered with band aids.
"Why I can sell them for so much." Lindy can't help hiding her excitement. "I should have started this years ago. It beats working for some one else."
Quinn mumbles some thing. "What?"
"Uh, and it, um, keeps you from drinking."
Lindy exhales in frustration. "I don't have a problem. My mother..." Lindy sets the mirror down. "I need a drink."
"Of water?"
Lindy stops as she reaches for the refrigerator. "I'll get a soda. You want one?"
"Sure!" Quinn, glad the moment had passed, continues working on the mirror.
Daria is laying on her bed when the phone rings. "Quinn!" It rings again. "Mom!" It continues ringing. "Huh, must be home alone." She picks it up. "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Tom."
She takes a second to register this. "Uh, hi. What's up?"
"Nothing. My family is getting ready for a going away party."
"Celebrating the car finally leaving their driveway?"
"That too. Uh, would you like to, um, come?" Before Daria can say no he adds, "Bring Jane."
"I'll ask her."
"What about you?"
Daria is silent for a few seconds. "Daria?"
"If she wants to go I guess I will too. I have a car now so I can drive us to your house."
"Ok. I hope I see you two."
"Yeah, sure." Daria hangs up on him.
She stares at the phone for a minute before calling Jane. "Hey."
"Hey." Jane plugs her other ear with her finger as Mystic Spiral practices in the basement. "What's up?"
"Tom is having a party before he leaves for college. He invited both of us."
"Really? Both of us?"
"Yes." Daria was feeling uncomfortable just thinking about it. "I told him I'd only go if you were."
"So if I say no you won't go?" Daria doesn't respond. "You still like him."
"Of course I do. Just, not in that way any more." She mumbles under her breath.
"Yes?"
"Much. I didn't break up with him because I didn't like him any more."
"Well if it is fine with you I'd rather not go."
Daria hears a voice. "Tell Trent I said hi."
"I will. See ya Morgendorffer."
"Later." Daria clicks the phone off. "Sorry Tom." She lies back on her bed and stares at the ceiling.
Daria had just packed the last of her things in her new car. At least new to her."I wonder if they will allow me to put padding on the walls in my dorm room."
"What was that Daria?"
"Nothing Mom." Daria closed the back door of the Tracker. "I guess I'm ready Mom."
"Oh Daria you don't have to leave now, you could wait until tomorrow." Helen wringed her hands together laughing nervously.
"I want to get there as soon as possible so I can get use to the campus. My first tour wasn't exactly extensive." Remembering the tour of Raft with Tom, Daria went over to Helen. "Don't worry Mom I will call when I get there unless Quinn is tying up the line with her friends."
"Don't worry Daria I will make sure no one uses the phone until you call." Helen stopped wringing her hands when Daria got closer.
"Stop worrying Mom. Boston isn't that far away. I could come back for Thanksgiving and Christmas and maybe a weekend or two. Make sure you haven't sold Quinn to the circus and make sure Dad hasn't had another heart attack from reading Quinn's shopping bill." Daria did a half smile at her mother opening her arms. "I will make sure I call Mom."
Helen hugged Daria back not wanting to let her girl go. Daria pulled away after a minute and went to her car. "I'm going to Jane's first so if something important comes up in the next five minutes you can call there."
Quinn hurries out. "Wait!" She goes to her sister. "Uh, hey. Thanks for uh, helping me get that job." Quinn needed one after things went south at the restaurant. "I'll miss you. Some times."
"I'll miss you too Quinn." They hug quickly. "Good luck at school."
"I don't need luck." Quinn smiles. "And neither do you! I know you'll do great."
Daria opens the door to her car and looks back at her house. She may have given them attitude over the years but she would miss her family. Her father was stuck working with a new client. Some one major he said. She wouldn't hold it against him. He had been acting weirder and weirder the closer moving day came.
Quinn and Helen say in unison. "Bye Daria."
"Bye." Daria pulls out of the driveway and heads towards Jane's.
Helen goes inside before she starts crying. Helen was use to having Daria around and now she was going away for college. Her little girl was becoming an adult, or at least her age was going to match her brain. Daria had always been an adult even when she was young which did cause problems but Helen still loved her daughter even after all the trips to the principals office and various psychiatrists.
Daria got to Jane's house a few minutes later going up to the door. Before she could knock the door flew open and Jane threw her arms around Daria. "Whoa Jane, what's going on?"
"You are Daria. You are leaving into the big wide world." Jane let Daria in trying to hide her face.
"Boston isn't that far away Jane and you will be going to BFAC in January so it's not like I'm leaving forever."
"But what will I do until then? Everyone will be gone soon for whatever college they got into." Jane opened her arms in surrender.
"Jane, you think this is going to be easy for me too? You are my best friend. Almost my only friend. Sure I talked to Jodie and Mack, or Tom, but you were always there for me. I am going to miss you but that's what phones and the internet are for. Besides if you get really get bored I'm sure Kevin could keep you company. I heard he's looking for a girlfriend now that Brittany left for college yesterday."
Jane turned the TV on flipping through the channels. "I'm not that desperate. Trent said he was going to say bye but since you are leaving before noon I will just have to give you a hug for him."
"Well you already gave me a hug so I guess you did your part." Daria stood up going to the kitchen. "Is it still safe to drink the water here?" Jane nods.
Daria fills her glass up and goes back to the living room. "Jane, I have to leave soon…"
Jane gets up and went to Daria hugging her again. "I know Daria but don't forget the people who supported you before you became a big famous author."
"As long as you don't forget who supported you before you became a big famous artist." Daria hugged Jane back. "But forget I exist if the prosecutor asks for character witnesses."
"Daria, call me when you get there alright? It's a long drive. Remember what happened when you tried driving to the Cove a couple months ago?"
Daria nodded remembering her little incident. At least her first car accident wasn't that big a deal. Just spun off onto the shoulder.
Jane continues. "Make sure you make another friend when you get there Ms. Morgendorffer. You will have a roommate so at least be on better terms with her than you are with Quinn." Jane hugged Daria again, hard, not wanting to let her best friend go.
"Ok Jane I will call you when I get there. After I call my Mom. I already told her I would call her when I got there. I swear you two make me think I am going to Jupiter or something."
"Well you are going to New England. Although not sure what is so new about it. It lost that 'New Country Scent' a long time ago." Jane showed Daria the door waving Daria off on her trip to Boston.
Jake tries to keep up with his new client. "Yes, I know you have bigger aspirations. If you want to get bigger think smaller. If you connect with the voter they'll vote for you. Focus on community."
His client, Congressman Sacks, finishes another drink even though it wasn't even three in the afternoon. "I get it. Forget the national issues and focus on the state issues. Leave the gay marriage and taxes out of it." He slams a hand on the table and shouts at a bartender. "Get me another!"
Jake plays with his drink which was still his first. "Uh, that will be your fifth one."
Sacks waves a hand in the air dismissing Jake's concern.
Daria is just outside of Lawndale after stopping for gas, a bathroom break, and a large soda. She was on the first leg of her long trip to Boston and didn't want to stop for as long as possible.
She was finally free from home, Lawndale, and the old life. Now she would have Boston, College, and a new life.
She would miss Jane but Jane was coming in the winter for BFAC. She would miss Trent but she was sure that Mystic Spiral would try and get a gig or two in Boston.
And she would miss Tom. Yes she was the one who ended the relationship but that didn't mean she didn't like him still. He was a good guy who was able to look past what she projected and saw the person underneath.
She sees the light turn red and slows down to a stop. "I have so many people to call once I get to Boston." Her mother, Jane, Tom, and Jodie all asked her to call them when she got there.
She sees the light turn green and starts to pull through when a black SUV runs the red light and only misses her because she slammed on the breaks. "Let that be the closest I get to an accident today." She continues her way through the intersection.
Jake gets home and sees Daria's new car is gone. "I'm sorry Kiddo." He walks to the door and opens it to smell some thing cooking. "Helen?"
"Jake!" Helen comes out from the kitchen. "I thought you would be longer. How did your meeting go?"
"My client is an alcoholic who wants to become Senator." Jake fights to keep the smile on his face. "His money is green and that's what is most important. This could be huge for us Helen."
Helen crosses her arms and leans against the door frame leading to the kitchen. "Congressman Sacks is running against a three time incumbent. What makes you think he stands a chance?"
"I'm going to narrow his focus on the state. We can hammer Senator Comney on all the issues he's voted on that didn't help the state. The people want him to vote for them and their interests not the interests of the people in another state."
Helen looks back to the stove. "I need to check them."
Jake takes another sniff. "Steak?"
Helen nods as she pokes one with a knife. "I wanted to celebrate. Like you said this could be big for both of us. His influence could jump me straight to partnership with the firm." She grumbles about how she should have already while she checks the other steak.
Jake goes to Helen and hugs her from behind. "Is Quinn home?"
"No, she went out with her friend Stacy." Helen turns and smiles. "I can take the steaks off if you want to celebrate differently."
Jake grabs the steak sauce. "Where will I put this on then?" Both giggle as they start kissing and lower to the floor.
Daria arrived nearly seven hours later on the campus of Raft. She had made good time until she hit construction. Bumper to bumper traffic with horns blaring and middle fingers waving gave her a good reason to fear the drive home for Thanksgiving.
Only a week until classes started and the campus was already busy.
After spending ten minutes looking for a place to park, Daria tried finding her dorm getting lost on the campus. If she had had a real tour before she might have known where she was going.
Daria finally got tired of walking around and stopped another student. "Where are the dorm rooms for Freshmen?"
"What numbers?" The girl spoke with a high pitched squeak reminiscent of a certain blonde cheerleader Daria knew.
"Uh, 217?" Daria got out her paper making sure that was the right number. "217, Dorm Building C." She showed the girl
"Uh that building is over there, I think. I was there last year." Her squeaking was getting on Daria's nerves.
"Thanks." Daria took her paper back and walked towards where the girl pointed. She had passed the building twice without knowing it. Maybe she should have realized a sign saying "Dorm C" was a clue.
Walking in she went up the stairs until she got to a door saying '198-234' and went in. Walking down the hall way she counted the doors, not that she had to since they had the numbers on them, until she got to room 217.
Daria knocked on the door in case her roommate had already gotten there. The door opened before Daria could get her key out and saw a smiling redhead who then asked if she was her roommate. "If this is 217 then yes I am. Could I come in?" The redhead let her in.
The red head smiles brightly. Her smile is almost as bright as her pink tshirt. It is just an inch short of her black jeans which are a couple inches above her old ratty black and white sneakers. "I'm Lindsey, nice to meet you…" She stuck a hand out waiting for Daria to respond.
"Daria, nice to meet you too." Daria didn't shake her hand as she looked around the room. "Which side is mine?"
"Well I put some of my things on that side." She points towards the right side. "But if you want it you can have it. I was just looking for a place to put my stuff."
"It's ok. I'll take whatever is left." Daria went to the second bed which was much smaller than her old one. She threw her bag on the bed.
She looked around the small cramped room. It only had one window which was a plus for her. There was a small closet on each side of the room along with a small four drawer dresser. As small as it was there would be enough room for all the things Daria brought with her.
Now she just needed to go back and get her other things and drag them through the campus and up the stairs. She turns around and almost runs in to her new roommate. "Uh, sorry."
"Sorry, I was just wondering if you were uh, well, never mind. I was so busy moving all my things in I didn't look to see what, I mean," She continues stammering. "I've never had a sister before, or a brother, just me and my mom, what about you?"
"I have a sister, my parents," Daria sees the smile on Lindsey's face. "Don't get too excited. We have to share a bathroom with a bunch of other people which you aren't use to are you?" She shook her head. "How much time do you usually spend in the bathroom?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "I never kept track of that. I didn't really need to. I promise I won't spend too much time in there Dareha."
"It's Daria."
"Sorry." She turns to her bed and opens a suitcase. "I just got here a few minutes ago. I still have a couple bags down stairs."
Daria looks at the suitcase and then out the door. "Lindsey, if I help you with your things can you help me with mine? That way it is only one trip instead of two?"
"Sure! Why don't your parents help you?"
"I came here on my own."
"Oh, you can drive? Cool! My mom let me get my license but we didn't have the money for another…" She stopped there and the two left the room.
Down in the lobby of the building the two grab several bags and take them to the room. "I may have brought too much. Daria could I put some on your side of the room until I get it put away?" Daria nodded not caring while she grabbed the last two small bags and threw them on her bed. "Thanks Daria."
Half an hour later they had dragged Daria's other suitcase and duffle bags into her room. "Thanks Lindsey." Daria opened her suitcase getting her toothbrush and other bathroom essentials out. "Is it ok if I take a shower now? I had a long drive and want to get to bed soon." Lindsey nodded and went back to her bags to put her clothes and other things away.
Daria had to get use to a communal shower. Row after row of small stalls compared to the bathtub/shower at home. She washed quickly getting the sweat from the drive and carrying her stuff off.
Getting out she put clean clothes on and started to go to her room. "Daria?" She stopped and turned to see a young black girl outside of a different door. "That's your name right? Or are you Lindsey?"
"I'm Daria."
The young girl hands her a pamphlet. "To help with getting around the campus and learn about what's coming up this week." She walks away as Daria opens the pamphlet.
Daria lay down on her new bed, smaller, but not as lumpy, as her old bed. The ceiling was new too; something to look at since she hadn't brought a TV and her radio was still in her suitcase. She sat up remembering her promise to her Mom and Jane. "Lindsey, do we have a phone?"
"Yes. It's in the lobby. Like, five of them not including the pay phones."
Daria ran out of her room and down the stairs so she could call her house. The phone rang a few times before someone picked it up.
"Jamie? I can't talk now I have to wait for my sister to call. I know it is so unfair like us popular people…"
Her sister had answered the phone. "No Quinn, where's Mom?"
"Oh hi Daria, I'll get Mom." Daria could hear Quinn yell "Mo-om" and then the phone clicked.
"Daria? I was so worried, are you ok? Why did it take you so long? Did you make it? You're not in the hospital are you? I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Mom calm down. I wanted to get my things in and a shower first." Not to mention she had forgotten. "Just letting you know I made it and everything is fine."
"Ok Daria. Did you meet your roommate yet?"
"Yes Mom, He's really nice."
"What!? He!? Daria you can't be serious!"
"Don't worry Mom I told him he can't sleep in my bed. It's too small."
Helen can almost hear Daria smirk over the phone. "Very funny Daria making your Mother worry like that. Try to be nice to her alright? I know you and Quinn aren't the closest but think of her as a new sister."
"So I'm allowed to hit her when she annoys me?"
"Daria, you know what I mean. Are you sure you will be alright? You can unpack your things and come back home."
"No Mom I'm fine. I need to go now and help my roomy ok?"
"Alright Daria, love you."
"Love you too Mom." Daria put the phone down and dialed Jane's number. The phone rang again and again but no one answered. "She must be busy, or asleep, probably out running." Daria put the phone back down and went to Lindsey's room. No, her room. No, their room. "This will take some time getting use to." She opens the door. "Need any help?" She did tell her Mom she was going to help her roommate.
"No thanks Daria. I just need more places to put my pictures." Daria looked around the room and saw dozens of pictures already set up on Lindsey's side.
"Wow. Are you taking photography or something?" Lindsey nodded.
Daria looked at some of the pictures seeing cats, an older man, an older woman, some pictures of lightning, most very well done. "These are really good, who are they?" Daria pointed to a picture with two cats curled up together.
"Those are Hannah and Keogh, my kitties. I couldn't take them with me so I made sure I took as many pictures of them as possible. They are sisters, I think. They were in the same box when I found them on the side of the road." Daria looked over some others. "You have any pets?"
"No. Who's this?" She pointed to a picture of the older man and woman hugging.
"My mom and dad when they were still…" She stopped and grabbed the picture out of Daria's hand. Daria figured she had done enough and laid down on her bed. It was barely ten o'clock but she needed to sleep. The long drive took a lot out of her and now she just needed to sleep.
She'd unpack the next morning when she didn't have the headache and weariness of her long drive nagging at her.
Jane paces back and forth in her room. She was trying to work on a new painting but hit a roadblock. "She's been gone less than twelve hours and already I can't think." She goes to her phone and calls... "Hey, Andrea, uh, you said you wanted to hang out some time? I'd say pizza but they closed already."
Daria woke up early to the sound of music. It wasn't bad but wasn't what she normally listened to. She got up and rubbed her eyes. Looking around she thought she was lost until she remembered she had moved here. Getting use to a new room might take longer than Daria thought.
Daria went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth in the communal bathroom. Getting done she walked out and ran into a sleepy Lindsey. "Sorry Lindsey." Daria rubbed her forehead. "I don't have my glasses on yet."
"It's ok mom. What are you doing? Shouldn't you be at work?" Lindsey yawned hitting Daria with a full blast of morning breath.
"Wake up Lindsey." Daria went around Lindsey to get out of the range of her morning breath.
Lindsey rubbed her eyes shaking her head. "What? Oh, Dora, sorry." Daria wanted to correct her but stopped figuring it was too early for that.
Going back to her room she could still hear the music playing. Daria got dressed and decided to wait for Lindsey to finish in the bathroom before going out. She wanted a drink but she had no glasses. Or a fridge. Or microwave. "I'm going to spend a lot of money this week." Thankfully her parents gave her a large advance on her allowance. Just had to keep up her grades if she wanted future help.
"I guess this is what I get for not making it into Bromwell." Daria went back to one of her bags to get a pen and piece of paper to make a list of things to buy.
When she finished she heard the door open and decided to see if there was anything Lindsey needed. "Hey, Lindsey, need any thing?"
"What?" She still wasn't fully awake..
"I'm making a list of things we need. I have TV, Microwave, Refrigerator, and either a really small loveseat or two small chairs. Anything you can think of?"
"No Daria. Do you have enough for all that? We could just go and eat in the cafeteria."
"Think about it. You buy food over time from the cafeteria or buy a fridge and a microwave, you save money with cooking your own food since it doesn't cost five dollars for a sandwich or a can of soda. I'll pay for everything and then tell you what your half is."
"What if I don't want a refrigerator or microwave? I don't want you buying them if I'm not going to use them. It costs too much."
"I'm going into Boston. They have to have a pawn shop or something where I can get them cheap. If I get a mini fridge and a small TV I should be able to keep it under a five hundred with all the other things."
"No. If you want to spend your money on those things go ahead but I will only pay for half the TV or a chair, and make sure you don't spend too much on them Miss Money Bags." Lindsey said the last part in a harsh voice.
"I'm not a Miss Money Bags. I'm just saying there are things we need and I'll get them. Used so they don't cost too much."
"Fine." Things were not going well this morning.
Daria leaves the dorm building and walks through the campus. It was nice out, a little chilly, but nice enough. Daria got to her car and headed out for Boston.
She had never been in Boston. The closest was on her trip with Tom but figured it couldn't be that bad. She drove the five minutes it took to get to the main part of Boston then started to look for stores. Dega Street had everything back in Lawndale but Boston was so much bigger.
Daria drove around for almost an hour before finding a Pawn Shop. She walked in and started looking for the things on her list. "Miss you need any help?" The man must have been a Boston native, his speech impediment, or Boston Accent, gave him away.
"Uh, I am looking for a few things I need." She read off her list and the guy pointed out most of the items she asked for.
"Let's see, small fridge, 24" TV, and two lawn chairs, that will be $197.00." Daria got her bank card out and handed it over. "You one of them college girls? Which one you going to?" He handed the card back to her and a receipt. "No reason to give you that, no refunds. If you feel like selling 'em back you can but no refunds."
"Raft. I would like the receipt though. My roommate and I are splitting the cost and need it so she knows what she owes." Daria loaded the fridge, then the TV, and then the lawn chairs. Going back into the Pawn Shop one last time she asked about a microwave.
"Sorry but we don't get them. Not that I would want one used if you've seen the things people stick in 'em. Saw one that had a Peep blown up inside made the place smell like burnt sugar for a week."
"Know a place I can buy one?" Daria stuck the receipt in her pocket.
"Well you go down that way past the light then take a right at the Goodware Store and then drive till you get to Homeward Hardware. They should sell 'em."
Daria left the store and got into the Tracker. Following the directions she got the microwave and headed back to Raft.
Driving around Boston for a bit after getting lost she found her way and got back before lunch. Daria grabbed the lawn chairs and went to the dorm room. Daria had forgotten her keys so had to knock on the door and wait for Lindsey to open it.
"Who's there?"
"It's me, I forgot my key, can you open the door?"
Lindsey did and Daria handed her a lawn chair. "There you go, a seat. I have the other things back in my Tracker so could you help me with the fridge and TV? They are kind of heavy." Lindsey set her lawn chair down then crossed her arms.
"How much do I owe? I don't have that much on me right now."
"Well since you only want to pay for the chair and half the TV you owe $55.00." Daria sat her chair down and led Lindsey to her car.
She opens the back of her car. "Just grab that end of the TV and I'll get this end. If you need to take a break tell me so we can set it down. I'm not in a hurry and this TV is heavy."
"You couldn't have gotten a smaller TV? Had to go with a monster one?" Lindsey and Daria carried it back only needing one break. "Did it come with a remote?"
"No." She could probably find a universal remote later. If she had thought about it earlier she would have grabbed one.
Lindsey looks at the television. "But why did you have to get such a big TV? Weren't there any smaller, less expensive TVs?"
"There was a 15" one but I didn't want to waste my money on a paperweight."
"So you are wasting mine on that one."
"Look Lindsey, I don't see what the big deal is. I got lawn chairs to keep the cost down and even if you aren't going to pay for them you can use the microwave and refrigerator." Lindsey sat the TV down.
"I don't need your charity Miss Money Bags." Lindsey went to the door and slammed it shut as she stormed out.
"What the hell was that about?" Daria pushed the TV against a wall plugging it into the nearest outlet.
Setting her lawn chair up Daria turned the TV on. Flipping through the channels to see what kind of reception the TV got she found Sick Sad World.
"Catholic Priests and Boy Scouts end up on the same cruise ship, Improper Love Boat next on Sick Sad World."
"Repeat." Daria turned off the TV lying back in the lawn chair. It was cheap but comfortable enough. Daria got up and went down to the lobby and to the phone calling Jane.
"Hello?" It was Trent.
"It's only 2pm, what are you doing up?"
"Practice started late, or early, whatever. Jesse kept us practicing until we got his song done, Workaholic."
"Ok, is Jane there?"
"Yeah. Do you know who Andrea is?"
"Uh yeah, she was the goth chick we went to school with. Why?"
"Jane called her last night and then Jane left. Didn't know you were friends with her."
"Uh not really. Just someone we knew from school. Can you get Jane on the phone Trent?" Daria heard the phone move and then Trent calling for Jane. A few seconds later she heard her best friends' voice.
"Yo."
"Hi Jane, sorry I didn't call you yesterday. Well, I did but no one answered."
"Sorry about that Daria, Andrea came over and we went out to one of her friends gig." Daria heard weird noises. "Oh Andrea says 'Tell Daria I said Hi for me."
"She's there?"
"No I am talking to her with my jedi mind tricks."
"Ok Jane, besides making a new best friend how is everything else?"
"Daria you've been gone for less than a day. Do you miss Lawndale? Aww..." Daria heard two voices on the last part,
"Yes I just miss everything about it. From the dictator at school to the Fashion Fiends and of course that hunk Kevin." Daria heard some laughing. "What?"
"Speaking of dictators and Kevin, Ms. Li is in trouble. It appears Ms. Li was rigging Kevin's grades to make him eligible for Football and then rigged them to keep him back a year so she could keep Kevin playing for the Lawndale Lions. Her defense is she didn't rig the grades to keep him behind he did that on his own. We believe her right Andrea?" Daria heard more laughing.
"Well I could see it. If Ms. Li is found guilty does Kevin graduate? Or do they keep him to play for Lawndale Lions then graduate him when the football season is over?" Daria heard Jane telling Andrea what she just said.
"Have you met your roommate yet Daria?"
"Yes."
"Well?"
"Right now she is mad at me for buying a microwave and refrigerator and a so called monster television. Why I'm not sure since I told her she didn't have to pay anything for the first two. Just half for the TV and one of the chairs."
"Strange." Daria heard mumbling through the phone. "Andrea wants to know if you said anything to her to make her mad. You have to realize Daria that she is smart enough to go to college so she will know when you are being sarcastic unlike our good friends Kevin and Brittany."
"I didn't say anything Jane she just got mad and went out. Now I have a microwave and refrigerator I need to get across campus from the parking lot and up the stairs and down the hall by myself."
"Why not use your womanly charms and get a guy to do it for you?"
"I sold those to Upchuck. Maybe I can get help. At least with the refrigerator. The microwave I can carry by myself. If I act like a senior maybe I can get some sorority pledge to do it for me."
"Now you're thinking Daria." Daria heard more laughing. "Are you ok Jane?" A few seconds later Daria heard an out of breath Jane.
"Yeah, sure. Uh, I know it might seem a little weird but Andrea is pretty cool. You, we, should have given her more of a chance."
"That's strange. I didn't know you two were such good friends."
"Don't worry you'll always be number one in my book. Well, number four, the first three are Pizza King, Arts and Crass, and some number I don't remember. I started talking to her when you and Tom were, you know, first getting together and I wanted to force feed you my paint."
"Oh sorry. Well I need to get my other things in and should probably unpack the stuff I didn't, bye Jane." Daria heard Jane talk to Andrea. "Hey I didn't say bye to her."
"Did too Ms. Morgendorffer, you just forgot you said it. Bye Daria."
The phone clicked and Daria set the phone down. "A phone, I could get one, later."
Daria heard a door open and looked over to see Lindsey walk in to the lobby with a tear stained shirt.
Lindsey sees Daria and looks down at her feet and starts towards the stairs.
Daria follows after her. "Look Lindsey I'm sorry for whatever it was I said."
Lindsey shook her head and sat down on a nearby chair. "I'm sorry Daria. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I am acting like such an idiot and took it out on you, here." Lindsey handed Daria $55.00. "For the TV and the chair. If you want I could pay my part for the other things. In a couple of weeks."
Daria shook her head and put the money in her pocket. "Hey, you told me not to buy them and I did anyways so don't worry about it. You're feeling homesick. It's ok if you are I have to admit I already miss my friend and parts of Lawndale, maybe a family member or two." Daria tried to smile to show no hard feelings but failed, smiling wasn't her thing.
"I guess. I haven't been away from my mom or my kitties before. I thought the pictures would help…" She stopped.
"You can call them if you want, your mother anyways." Daria motions over to the phones.
"It's ok. I need to get use to this right?" Lindsey stood up going to the stairs so she could go to the dorm room and change her shirt.
Coming back down Lindsey had a smile on her face and rubbed her hands together. "Now we have what, the fridge and the microwave to get right?"
Halfway back to the dorm building Daria and Lindsey were taking another break. Daria had help from the store owner to load the fridge and hoped it wouldn't be too hard with Lindsey helping but found it worse then she thought it would be. With the microwave on top Daria had hoped to make it in one trip. "You need any help?" Daria turned around seeing a rather large guy walking towards them.
"Mental, physical, or emotional?"
He smiles and winked. "Well we'll start with physical. I can help carry those if you show me where to go."
Lindsey accepted the guy's help before Daria could say anything. "Please! My arms are tired."
"Ok here goes nothing." The guy picked up the fridge and put it on one shoulder then picked up the microwave and put it on the other. "Not that heavy, can't even be 300lbs together." He smiled at the both of them and followed.
Getting to the door of the dorm building the guy handed Lindsey the microwave so he could fit through the door after repositioning the refrigerator. "Please tell me this is your floor."
Lindsey shook her head and went up the stairs as the guy followed until they got to the door leading to their floor.
Following behind the guy carried the refrigerator the rest of the way setting it down with ease. Lindsey shook the guy's hand thanking him for the help. "No problem. I have to put this body to good use somehow. The names Skaz." Daria raised an eyebrow not shaking his extended hand. "It's not my real name but it sucks so I go by Skaz." He put his hand down when Daria still didn't shake it.
Lindsey opened the door so Skaz could carry the fridge inside. "Thanks again Skaz, my name's Lindsey, this is my roomy Daria." Skaz looked around the dorm room.
"Hey, your room is bigger than mine that is so unfair." Lindsey chuckled at the joke.
"What grade are you in Skaz?"
"Freshman. I'm guessing you are too." Lindsey nodded putting the microwave on a shelf. "Nice meeting you two but I need to go and do, uh, something." Skaz left quickly closing the door behind him.
"He was nice wasn't he Daria?" Lindsey plugged the refrigerator in and then pushed against it to try and make it go up against the wall. "Maybe we should have asked him to stay a little longer." Daria went up and with her help pushed the refrigerator back into the wall.
"No we shouldn't have. We could have done this ourselves. We didn't need him to show off like that."
"Oh come on Daria he was just being nice. If he hadn't helped us we would still be out there trying to lug the fridge to the building let alone getting it up the stairs." Lindsey opened it up looking inside an empty fridge reminding Daria of Jane's refrigerator. "I think we need some food and drinks to put in here. Since you paid for this I could buy the food and stuff this time Daria. You'll need to drive me though since I don't know what you like." Daria and Lindsey left the dorm room to get some food and drinks to fill their new refrigerator.
An hour later the two got back and loaded their groceries into the refrigerator. "I can't believe food is so expensive here. Back in Lawndale Phizz Cola is only $3.00 for a twelve pack." Daria put away the non-brand cola Lindsey told her to get.
"That stuffs good but Quick Mart Cola is so much cheaper. May not taste as good but you get what you can afford." Lindsey put the groceries in her bag away after Daria put her bag away. "I'll have to teach you how to shop smart Daria. Yes you may not be eating brand name foods but you'll have more money at the end of the week…" Lindsey stopped talking and closed the refrigerator door.
"I have to unpack the rest of my things. If you need something just yell." Lindsey nodded opening her can of Quick Mart Cola and handing another to Daria. "Thanks." Daria opened it and took a sip. It wasn't that bad but wasn't that good either. Maybe she should have gone grocery shopping with her dad before she left. The price of food she took for granted was more than she imagined. A lesson she learned one day too late.
After finishing her soda Daria picked up the corded phone. "Did you see a phone jack in here?"
Lindsey looked around and then her eyes went wide. "Uh, behind the fridge."
The two, working together, are able to move the refrigerator enough to plug the phone in to the jack. Daria picks up the phone. "Dial tone." She sets it back down. She wasn't sure how to set it up or get service. Did the college provide it or was this another bill she wasn't expecting? She'd look in to it later. After unpacking her things.
A/N Well, this is a lot easier to fix than my HP stuff. Written much later so my writing skills were a little better. Why a redux now? Bored, watching Daria on DVD, one after another, got me wanting to redo/work on my old Daria stuff. Hopefully I can make it better and make it that I want to continue it. Last time I started and then... It sucked so much I didn't want to continue it. Kinda bad since I was the one writing it... But now I have a chance to fix it. Like here I mixed episode one and two together to make one episode since they were rather short by my new standards alone. I also added a ton of stuff. Pretty much if it isn't Daria, it was added. Rewatching the show, they show others, not just her. So now I'll try and show the others as well.