It was going to be just one night. Sure, years ago she'd have sneered at the very idea of going - and snarked, snorted, and snoozed - but she was 18 now, with a boyfriend, and... And...
Well, damn it, she wanted to dress up and glam it up with her boyfriend for one night, indulge the conventional fantasy for a bit of fun. See how it went.
So they'd turned up, her in her elegant rented dress and him in his personal tuxedo ("Now, Batman, the Penguin is TRIUMPHANT!" he'd cackled) and in a limo that Tom's parents were paying for. They'd gone for the slow dancing, right in the line-of-sight of everyone who'd never expect her to look like that...
And in the midst of it, one thought went through her mind:
God this is dull.
Followed by: This dress is itching in places no itch should ever be. And if they play My Heart Will Go On one more gahdamn time, I will spike Upchuck's drink and let the inevitable carnage unfold on you all.
"You just smiled about something," said Tom, slow-dancing like he'd been trained for years (and probably had been). "Penny for them."
"I was contemplating the suffering of others."
"That's my girl."
He's really enjoying this, Daria thought. Okay, it's just one night. I'll stay quiet and let him enjoy it.
As Tom smiled, he thought God this is dull. It's duller than Fielding proms, and those are so dull they count as lessons. Hrrr... never mind, as long as she's enjoying herself...
This resolve lasted until Brittany wandered over to the DJ and, after a short conversation, My Heart Will Go On was played again.
"Okay, that does it: Tom, I'm sorry I got your hopes up, but I'm so bored that I'd rather spend quality time with my parents."
"Oh thank Christ, it's not just me!" He breathed a sigh of relief. "So, what now? My parents are out if you want to go back to my place and why am I still talking when I just answered my own question?"
"Race you to the limo."