This story is a response to the PPMB Iron Chef challenge "Straight Inta Lawndale". The objective is to create a story where Daria and Quinn were raised in Lawndale from infancy and have not been affected by Highland. I liked this idea so much that I dared to step up to the PPMB and give it a go. This is what I contributed.
Oh, this is . Disclaimer: I do not own Daria or any of it's characters. This is just for kicks. I ain't got no money MTV, okay?
"Welcome to The LD"
Part one
It was breakfast as usual at the Morgendorffer home. The patriarch of the family, Jake, was buried beneath the local newspaper, randomly grumbling about the news that he read. His wife, Helen, was standing at the island counter talking into on her Blackberry with her boss as per usual. The elder daughter, Daria, was silently finishing her plain toast, plain oatmeal, and tea. The younger daughter, Quinn, waited in the living room for her friends to pick her up for the walk to school.
Quinn, who'd always finish breakfast first because she ate sparingly, flipped through the channels of the living room television in an attempt to pass the time. She hated the fact that there were nothing but infomercials, cartoons, and the local news to select from in the morning. The redhead finally settled on what was, at the very least, her favorite local news program; "WLDL-2 Mornings".
"Murder in the morning." Daria muttered in reference to the morning news as she plopped down beside her sister
"Well it was this or watching that chef guy try to wow me with a set of indestructible stainless steel knives."
"Which were coincidentally used in the latest murder on Dega Street." the elder sister deadpanned, earning a small sigh from Quinn
The sisters sat in silence as one negative story after another was told by the primped and painted anchors of WLDL. Neither girl flinched however, for they had long gotten used to the darker side of Lawndale. After all, it had been their home since Quinn was an infant.
Not much of anything that occurred in "The LD" surprised them anymore. The area that the Morgendorffers lived in was much nicer than most, but even in the nicest neighborhoods, including the upscale Crewneck, danger was always a factor.
The doorbell for the front door rang. Quinn, having grown impatient, rose from her seat and hoped it was her friends. She opened the front door to find Sandi Griffin and Stacy Rowe standing on the other side.
"Hi Quinn!" Stacy cheerfully greeted as always
"Hey." Sandi greeted with her trademark grin
"Hey guys. Let me grab my 'pack."
Quinn quickly grabbed her pink backpack from in front of the couch and shouted her departure to her parents.
"See you there Dar." she said as gave Daria a quick pat on the sleeve of her green jacket
"Not if I see you first Red." Daria lightheartedly countered as her sister flew out the front door
As the trio of Quinn, Sandi, and Stacy embarked on their trek to Lawndale High, Quinn was curious about the absence of her third friend, Tiffany Blum-Deckler.
"Where's Tiff?" Quinn asked either of her friends
"She's not coming today. She, um...doesn't feel good. That's why we were kinda late for you." Sandi replied in a soft tone
The young Miss Morgendorffer knew what it meant whenever Tiffany didn't "feel good", and had ever since the foursome were all thirteen-years-old. It was a subject none of them wanted to press Tiffany on, but were always concerned about none the less.
As if it didn't bother her at all, Quinn chuckled softly and said "She'll be okay. She always is after a day of rest."
"I hope so. We have that literature test tomorrow."
"Which I'm sure you guys have been studying for, right?" Stacy challenged Sandi and Quinn
"Yes, Stacy. I studied, even when you weren't there to nag me about it." Sandi snorted
"You know me man." Quinn assured
"Good."
Ever since they all met and became friends in the second grade, Stacy was considered the "mother hen" of the foursome. She was the one who tended to scraped knees, made sure her friends did their homework and studied, and listened to their problems with a shoulder for them to lean on.
Though she was a nice person overall, Sandi was somewhat abrasive and snarky when she wanted to be, especially with Quinn. However, Sandi always had her three friends' backs and would dare anyone to mess with them.
Tiffany was the quiet one of the group. She never had much to say about anything, and when she did it was usually with an almost whisper-quiet voice that seemingly only her friends could understand.
Quinn was...Quinn. She was tough, outgoing, funny, insightful, and sweet. She was the one who would make the perfect girlfriend and made the perfect best friend, though she herself didn't think she was anything special. Quinn was also the smartest of the group behind Stacy, although her sister secretly felt she was not living up to her true potential.
"Hello LHS!" Stacy greeted the building known as Lawndale High as the threesome arrived, as she did every morning
"What if one day the building actually answered back?" Quinn joked
"I'd turn and run like hell." Sandi replied with a small chuckle
"Not you, but me." Stacy added
"I'd strike up a conversation. I'd be like 'What does Ms. Li really do in her office when no one's looking?' I bet it'd be true that she has a slave that she keeps in a box like everybody says."
The three girls laughed at Quinn's remark as they entered the non-talking building, ready for another day of education at "Laaaawwwwwndale High", as their principal would say.
"Hi Quinn!" an overly enthusiastic male voice boomed from behind the trio
Quinn tried not to wince as she turned on her heel to meet the owner of said voice.
"Oh, hi Jamie." the redhead greeted in return
For years now, Quinn has been the object of the blonde-haired Jamie White's affection, and for years now he has tried to get her to like him in the same way. Though Quinn did think he was sweet and would make a good boyfriend, she just was not interested in him the way he was with her (or any other boy it seemed).
"Say Quinn, you coming to the game tomorrow?" Jamie, who was the running back of the Lawndale Lions football team, asked
"Uh, I was thinking about it."
"You gotta come Quinn! You know you're my inspiration. I can't play if you're not there." Jamie almost pouted
"Oh brother. Has it gotten this desperate James?" Quinn thought
"Well, we wouldn't want the good fortunes of our proud Lions to be disrupted by the lack of your presence Quinn. She will be in attendance James." Sandi promised as she draped an arm around her girlfriend
Quinn wanted to shoot her one of the nastiest looks she'd ever shot anyone in her life, but she didn't want to hurt Jamie's feelings by looking angered.
"Sweet! I'm gonna practice extra hard today! Later Quinn!"
The redhead waited until her admirer was out of sight before she violently removed Sandi's arm and shot her that nasty look.
"What the hell was that?" Quinn almost screamed
"It's called being proactive Quinn."
"It's called meddling!"
"Come on Quinn, the boy deserves something doesn't he? He's only worshiped you since the eighth grade." Stacy reasoned
"Et tu Stacy? How many times do I have to say it? I do not like Jamie White!"
"She's so stubborn Stacy. She fights Jamie sooo hard but knows deep down she wants-"
"Can it Griffin, I'm warning you!"
"Whoooooooa, not the last name. Stacy, protect me from the wrath of the Ice Quinn." Sandi mocked
"I got you Sandi. Down girl." Stacy mock-commanded Quinn with a pointed index finger
"You both suck!" Quinn hissed as she stormed away toward her first period class
In her huff, she did not notice that there was a girl directly in her path. The two collided and went crashing to the floor.
"Ow!"
"Oh my God! I'm sorry!"
Quinn scrambled to her feet and took inventory of the other girl; She wore a black v-neck shirt beneath a red button-down shirt, gray denim shorts, and gray knee-high boots with black leggings. She also sported three gold hoop earrings in either ear and a gold stud in her left nostril.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention where I was going." Quinn apologized as she helped the girl to her feet
"No, you're good. I was the one who wasn't looking. I was too busy looking for the damn principal's office."
"Oh...I take it you're new?"
"Yeah. Straight outta Highland."
She tried to suppress her wince but failed miserably. Quinn had heard about Highland, which was about a three hour drive from Lawndale. In all she'd heard about it, the Dega neighborhood was Shangri-La compared to that town.
"I know, I'm a Highlander. But don't worry, I'm not some punk thug or anything."
"Oh, I didn't think that...Anyway, you said you needed to get to the principal's office?"
"Eeyup. Gotta meet the head honcho before I can get started on my Lawndale High experience."
"You're actually not far from it. I can take you the rest of the way."
"I shall follow you, oh red one." the girl said, making Quinn chuckle
Quinn lead the new girl to the office of Ms. Angela Li, the principal of LHS.
"Here you go. I gotta warn you though, Li is a little...eccentric. Keep your guard up with her."
"Duly noted. Thanks for the escort."
"No problem, it was on my way."
"Later."
"Hey wait, I didn't get your name."
"I didn't get yours." the new girl countered
"Oh, right. I'm Quinn. Quinn Morgendorffer."
"Me, I'm Jane. Jane Lane."
"Jane Lane?"
Jane watched on unfazed as Quinn burst into giggles.
"Yeah, yeah. My first and last names rhyme. Think you're the first person who ever laughed at that?"
"I-I'm sorry, but...Ha...No, I'm sorry. Really. I think it's cool."
"Whatever. Thanks again Quinn. See you on the other side."
"Later Jane. Oh, and welcome to The LD."
A/N: Yeah, that first part was Quinn-centric, but the next one will be Daria-centric. Obviously Daria and Jane don't know each other as of yet, but that doesn't mean Daria doesn't have a best friend. You'll see who that best friend is next part.