Daria glanced up at the illuminated map on the wall of the train. She sighed. What was it about the 2 train? Every stop seemed to take an hour, even when they were only a few blocks apart. They should have just sucked it up and waited for the Q, but Jane hadn't wanted to walk the equivalent of three city blocks to the other end of the subway station just to catch a train that would take twenty minutes to get there. In the stifling heat of a New York subway in the middle of July, Daria could not blame her. The only good thing about the current situation was the air conditioning, turned up so high one felt like they were standing outside on an afternoon in November. Daria smiled and rubbed her unclad arms.
Lord Tennyson's "The Eagle" was the featured Poetry In Motion, but was only long enough for a few second's distraction. Resigned, Daria tuned back into the conversation she had not regretted leaving and brushed a stray hair out of her eyes.
"...uys are such assholes. That's why this summer, I'm going on a diet. Fuck sausage, Jane Lane is a vagitarian, baby!"
Daria pinched the bridge of her nose as mild heat rose in her cheeks. Half the train car was looking at them as though they had just stepped out of the Coney Island Freak Show. Jane seemed not to notice or care.
"Jane, do you mind not announcing shit like that for the world to hear?"
Jane tossed her red-streaked, corkscrew-curled hair and huffed in mock indignation.
"I'm not sorry if I'm comfortable with my sexuality."
Daria appealed to the map again. They were still a stop away from their destination. Shaking her head, she leaned down to adjust her flip-flops yet again. While she missed her boots, her feet were in much better shape since they had been allowed to breathe. Their swelling was down considerably, not to mention the foot funk.
Fourteenth Street. This is Fourteenth Street.
With a prayer of thanks to the gods of mercy, Daria grabbed her bag and stood as the train ground to a halt. She made a minor adjustment to her skirt and pulled at the hem of her tank top as Jane hitched up her low-rise jeans. Her scarlet thong was still in perfect view beneath the hem of her undersized Your Girlfriend, My Girlfriend tee shirt.
A low, musical bong sounded and the doors whooshed open. Daria realized that the train's occupants were still staring at them, and addressed them in her best deadpan. Her eyes swept the car and made contact with everyone.
"Excuse my friend. She's very comfortable."
The friends smiled at the laughter and mild applause, Jane even going so far as to send winks and blow kisses as she exited into the summer heat. With a satisfied smile, Daria stepped onto the platform.
The 2 train wasn't that bad, after all.