Daria: College Pains The Sophomore Year

Episode 4: Panic

Daria pulls in to the driveway early in the morning. She is worried when she doesn't see Jane's car.

When she walks in she sees Amalia asleep on the couch. "Maybe Jane called." She walks over to the landline and checks the answering machine.

No New Messages

Daria goes to Amalia and shakes her gently. "Huh? What time is it?"

"Late, or early. Did Jane call?"

"No." Amalia looks up and sees Daria. "She wasn't with you?"

"No. I went to Lawndale, Odenton, but she didn't. She never came here?" Amalia shakes her head. "Damn. Where the hell is she?"

"No idea. I thought you two went off some where." Amalia yawns and stretches as she gets off the couch. "Classes were canceled for tomorrow so we can sleep in."

"I didn't even think about that." Her mind had been busy with too many other things. "I'll stay down here in case she calls." Daria sits down on the couch and turns the television on. An infomercial is playing. "Some things haven't changed." She takes her boots off before laying down on the couch.

"Good night Daria." Amalia yawns again as she heads for the stairs.

"You too." Daria turns her back to the television forgetting to take her contacts out as she quickly falls asleep.

Jane sits down inside of a fast food restaurant. It was being used as a health station as the place had closed to business the other morning. "The Sun is coming up? It doesn't feel that late." She leans back on the bench. "Stop looking at me clown." The statue of the mascot doesn't listen.

"Hey," another worker sits down next to her. "Where are you from?"

"Maryland, but going to school in Boston." He was, much like her, covered in dust and dirt and grime. His overalls fit him better than the ones she had been given. "You?"

"Rhode Island but going to school here in New York." He stretches a little as he looks out the window. "It doesn't seem real, does it? I've been out there digging and pulling and hoping to find some one. Shouldn't we be tired?"

Jane, now that she has sat down, starts to feel the wave of sleep wash over her. "I wasn't until you said that." She yawns. "What are you going to school for?"

"Electrical work and engineering. You?"

"Art and education." She leans forward resting on her legs with her arms crossed over. "I need to sleep."

"They have beds at a store about a block over."

"What kind of store?"

"Mattress store." He smiles and she smiles back. "Probably have to write off the mattresses after us skeezeballs sleep on them." He pats his shirt and dust puffs out.

Jane stands up and leans against the window. "Which way?"

"Towards the Sun." The man stands up. "I'm in need to find a phone soon. Call my roommates and let them know where I'm at."

Jane freezes for a second. "Crap, I should do that too." They look and see a payphone near the bathrooms. "You wanna call first?"

"No, lady's first." Jane goes over and after digging in her pockets for change puts in a couple quarters and dials.

Daria hears the phone ring and even in a tired daze finds the phone on the first try. "Hello?"

"Daria?"

"Jane! Where are you? Are you ok?"

"I'm ok. I'm in New York. I, I came to help. I'm trying to help." She yawns. "Right now I could really use some sleep."

"Did you get a hotel or are you sleeping in your car?"

"Neither. There's a mattress store near here that is letting us sleep on their beds." She feels her stomach grumble. "Gah, I can't remember the last time I ate."

Daria isn't sure what to say or think. "Um, Jane, just, be safe. I'll call your brother and let him know you're ok."

"I'm sure he's fine."

Daria remembers Trent hugging her and crying. "He wasn't. Every one went home. Well, a lot of people went home. None of the Lane's did."

Jane feels like she's been kicked in the gut hearing this. "I, I'll go home before I go back to Boston."

"Ok. I'll still call him and let him know you're ok."

"Thanks Daria. See ya later." Jane hangs up before Daria can respond.

Jane leans against the phone for a minute when the man taps her on the shoulder. "Don't fall asleep just yet."

Jane smiles tiredly. "I can't sleep standing up. I've tried." She moves away from the payphone ignoring her stomach. She could eat after she slept.

Daria looks at the phone as the dial tone fills the room. "She went to New York. Wow." She dials Casa Lane ignoring the time.

After two rings Trent picks it up. "Janey? Lindy?"

"No, Daria. But Jane called, she's ok. She's in New York helping, what ever."

"Oh. Ok. Thanks Daria."

"Trent, um, she said she'd come down when she was done in New York. She had to go and help there first."

"I understand. Glad you got back safe."

"Uh, thanks. Did you sleep yet?"

"No. Waiting for Jane to call or Lindy to get back."

"She still hasn't come back?" Daria had felt bad about Lindy but she hadn't done any thing. If Lindy hadn't gone off she would have known.

"No. Probably went out and got drunk again."

Daria hears Trent sigh. "My sister said she had a drinking problem."

"She does. She breaks down and swears she'll stop but she doesn't. I quit smoking, we all did, when she told us to. So we didn't get in trouble. She won't stop drinking even though she knows it messes her up. I'd stop drinking if she stopped. Maybe get the whole band to stop."

Daria starts to feel uncomfortable. "Have you told her that?"

"Yes. Kind of. Maybe."

"So that's a no."

"Maybe."

"When she gets back, tell her. It might help."

"If she comes back. She's not an artist but I'm sure she could feel the vibes."

Daria can't help but blush a little even over the phone. "You, and I, were worried about Jane. That's all."

"Really?" Daria is silent. "Are you there?"

"Yes. I mean, yes, I'm here. I'm not sure about the other thing."

"You're, uh," Trent taps a finger on the kitchen table. "You're not sixteen any more. Not old enough to drink either. So, twenty?"

"Yes Trent, I'm twenty." Daria can't believe she is having this conversation. No, she can't believe how she was reacting. She had gotten over the crush years ago, right?

Daria had spent half her trip back to Boston worrying about Jane and the other half thinking about Trent. He had gotten his act together. Because of Lindy. He had changed his outfits, showered on a regular basis, and stopped smoking. Because of Lindy. He was motivated and was doing some thing for once. Because of Lindy.

Her sister, and Lindy, had noticed how the two looked at each other over on dinner. In the kitchen, worrying about Jane, holding each other... Daria ignored the reaction at the time. She had been too worried about Jane.

"Daria?"

"I'm here."

"We should talk."

"I think we should too." She leans against the arm of the chair with the phone pressed against her ear as she reaches for the remote to turn the television off.

Jake is in D.C. Waiting for Senator Sacks to come in. "Where is he? He should have been here an hour ago!" He points at some one sitting at a desk. "Did you call his cellphone?"

"Yes Sir."

"His home phone?"

"Of course, Sir."

"Monty's Bar and Grill?"

"Yes, and the State Store he likes to go to. No one has seen him since last night."

"Why now? Congress finally ends their nine month vacation and he doesn't show?" Jake feels his heart start to beat a little hard. "I need to sit." Some one else jumps out of their chair and Jake sits down. "Call Megan, or Miranda, any of his mistresses. Hopefully he's just drunk in one of their beds."

He checks the time. The Senate was about to meet in a few minutes. "I need to rush over to capitol hill. I'll figure out what they're planning and then tell Sacks when he gets here." Jake checks his tie and shirt for any coffee stains before leaving the Senator's office.

Mary wakes up curled around Dr. Masters. "Whoa, did not expect this." She shakes him and he starts to move.

"What?" He turns and looks at the time. "Crap, I should be getting ready for work." She shoves him a little harder than before. "What?"

"How drunk did we get?"

After leaving school she went to where Dr. Masters worked. He was already closing up for the day when she got there.

As soon as he was done they went to a bar. The bar tender didn't check her I.D. And just started serving. A lot of people had gone to seek an escape in the bottom of a glass that night.

He sits up and looks down at her. "Too drunk to remember what we did. Although," He looks her over. "We seemed to have had a good time." He smiles while she frowns. "What?"

"I have no idea if you were good or not. What if you were terrible?" She smiles before laughing.

"I'm never terrible. If you want," He moves so he is on top of her. "I can prove it right now."

"What about work?"

"I can show up late. It isn't like my dad is going to fire me." They start to kiss and enjoy each other.

Daria wakes up on the couch and hurries to the downstairs bathroom.

When she is done she goes to the stairs and up to her room.

After changing she goes and knocks on Mary's door. When there is no answer she opens the door. "She didn't come home either?"

She goes down to Amalia's room and knocks. "Yes?"

Daria talks through the door. "Have you seen Mary?"

"No. She never came home yesterday."

"Any idea where she is?"

"The club? Dr. Masters?"

"I'm not going to the club and I don't know his number." Daria leans against the door. "Can I come in?"

"Sure. Don't mind the fumes."

Daria opens the door and is hit with paint and thinner fumes. "How do you breathe in here?" Amalia shrugs her shoulders as she sets her brush down.

Daria sees the painting. It was different from Amalia's usual work. She sees a book with a black and white picture that Amalia was recreating in color. "What are you working on?"

"My resignation." Daria just gives her a quizzical look. "I'm thinking about quitting the club."

"Why?"

"What if I died yesterday? Or tomorrow? Do I want that as my last act? Like, here I am, an aspiring artist, yet I take my clothes of for a living."

"I thought you didn't care about that. It's just a job."

"It is, was, just a job." Amalia tilts her head as she studies the painting. "A great paying job. A job that is just like my life."

"What?"

Amalia sits down on her bed. "I have three to five minute relationships with some one at work. Maybe thirty minutes if they get the VIP room. That's pretty much how long my real relationships last. Dantanius was a great guy but I got bored and broke things off with him. Michael, Jason, Devin, Matthew, gah, I don't even remember a couple of their names. I have fun for a few weeks and then break up with them." She slumps forward hanging her head low. "Does that make me a bad person?"

"No, no. You're just not ready to settle down." Daria walks over and sits down next to Amalia. "At least you're not Jane."

"If only I was." She motions to the painting. "She doesn't make as much as I do but pretty damn close and she does it with painting." Amalia sighs. "And she got in to BFAC. Some thing I couldn't do."

Daria isn't sure what to do. "You just didn't send the right stuff in. Jane got lucky and they liked what she sent in. It doesn't mean you're not as good as her."

"Hell, where is she? I didn't see her car when I woke up."

"She's in New York."

"Not the answer I was expecting. I guess they could use all the help they can get." She looks over at the clock. "Maybe I could go and help."

"Maybe." Daria bites her lip.

She had wanted to talk with Mary about her conversation with Trent but Mary was missing. For some reason she wasn't worried. Why, she wasn't sure. "Hell, I was going to talk to Mary about some thing but she's not here."

"What is it?"

"Um, do you know about Jane's brother?"

"Tall, dark, and handsome? I've seen pictures. Why?"

Daria hates that she can feel her chest start to burn. "I went to his house, Jane's house, after I left my parent's." She couldn't say her home. It wasn't. "He was worried about Jane. A lot of people went home after what happened but no one did for him. He was all alone."

"Doesn't he live with his girlfriend and Jane's ex?"

"Yes, but Andrea went to D.C. To help and Lindy just wasn't there."

"Andrea was Jane's ex, right?" Daria nods. "So?"

"He was alone. I was the only person who had come to see him. He, we hugged, he was crying and his girlfriend walked in on us."

"Oh, that sounds bad. I think Jane said you used to have a huge crush on him."

"I did." Daria shakes her head. "I thought it died but it came back."

"It sucks when your crush rejects you."

"He didn't reject me. Exactly."

Amalia's eyes get wide. "Wait, what?"

"I called him after Jane called me. We talked, a lot. I'm not, as he pointed out sixteen any more. I'm technically a woman."

"That's what the law says." Amalia laughs lightly. "Damn law. Can't your father change it?"

Daria shakes her head. "He just works for a senator."

Amalia gets up and walks over to a mini fridge. It had been in her and Mary's dorm room.

She opens it and gets two wine coolers out. "Want one?"

"It's before noon." Amalia holds it up. The blue color of the liquid almost glowed. "What the hell."

Amalia closes the mini fridge before walking back to the bed and handing one of the drinks to Daria.

After a few sips, Amalia continues their conversation. "So what did you two talk about?"

"He knew I liked him. He didn't do any thing about it since, you know, I was sixteen. Now I'm not. Now if I like some one his age it is ok."

"And if he likes you?" Daria shrugs her shoulders. "What the hell does that mean?"

"I don't know. He lives hundred of miles away and is Jane's brother and we have a lot of history but none of it romantic. Me crushing on him, making a fool of myself, and him being him."

"Well, then what?"

Daria shakes her head as she recalls the conversation. "He knew it would never work out. He thought I was cool and if Jane liked me I had to be a good person. If I had been older he might have tried. But as I did get older he realized he wasn't right for me and tried to keep his distance."

"Oh. I've always heard how oblivious he was."

"He seems that way. I guess it was a cover." A mask? Like Tony or... My glasses are not a mask. "But he's right. Just... Now that I'm older, maybe I could make it work. I can drive, I'm an adult, I can make my own choices."

"What about Conner?"

"He's great, he really is, I just don't know. Can't I take a class?"

"I don't think they teach soap opera in college."

Daria squirms as she fidgets with her half drank bottle of alcohol. "I like Conner, a lot. I even went to the nurses office and got, you know, the pill. We haven't yet but I think I might, with him. Then Trent, he, it would never work. I tell myself that but I have this fantasy in my head where we live together and I'm a scientist but he's an unemployed balding middle aged man."

"Wow. Even in your fantasies you can't be happy. Stop being such a misery chick and ask yourself what would be best for you."

"Becoming a nun."

Amalia nudges Daria with her elbow. "I don't think so. That would just be avoiding men. You like men you just don't know what to do with them."

"I do. We, Conner and I, I know what he expects next. Why I got the pill. That's how it works. You kiss, touch, more, and then, then," Daria grasps her right hand in to a fist. "Sex, you have sex. If you don't then you break up." She thinks about what happened between her and Tom. "This isn't high school."

"Ah, high school. Just like the Civil War. Lasted four years, clothes made you who you were, and lost too many to gangrene and shoddy surgery."

Daria cracks a smile for a second before it disappears.

Amalia puts an arm around Daria's shoulders while raising her drink with her other hand. "It sure as hell isn't high school. It's so much better." She squeezes Daria closer to her. "If more complicated." She takes a sip of her drink. "No idea what you should do about Trent or Conner but why not both? Conner first and if he's no good, Trent."

"It would never work with Trent. It is just a crush and what happened yesterday and more."

"If you're not going to do any thing then why all the problems? Either keep him as a fantasy and have fun with Conner or break up with Conner and see if there is more than fantasy with Trent." Amalia leans against Daria a little. "And if you reject him, send him my way. I wonder if the pictures do him justice."

"Not even close." Daria continues drinking her wine cooler.

Jane wakes up and eats a half made sandwich before going back to ground zero. There were still a lot of people but not as many as before.

Soldiers and police guarded the area just in case. No one was taking chances.

She sees the man from before leaning against some debris. "Hey, get some sleep?"

He smiles at her as he turns around and recognizes her. "A couple hours, you?"

"More than a few." Jane scratches at the back of her neck. "This dust is driving me crazy."

"I'm ready for a long shower."

She smiles as she looks him over. "I wouldn't mind a shower either."

He smiles back. "Well, I might need help getting the small of my back."

She gets close and touches his arm playfully. "How about after a couple hours of clearing debris we find a place with a shower?"

He smudges some dirt on her nose. "After all the shit and misery here, I think that might be a good way of cheering things up."

Jane turns around and looks at the destruction still prevalent at their feet. "The whole world could use some cheering up."

Helen is at the office taking phone calls. Her connection with Jake made her the first target outside of Senator Sacks family and Jake for the media. "No, I don't know where he is. I've never met the man. I don't know if he ran off with some Brazilian woman or is hiking the Appalachian trail. Call my husband I'm sure he knows." Helen hangs up again. "We really need to get a new person screening our calls. What happened to... Whoever we had before."

Down three floors sits Sandi Griffen. Having been fired from Cashman's she got hired in at the lawfirm through a connection from her mother. "Why are all these people calling? I am working on my nails." She hits a button sending the call through not even answering it to see who it was.

Jake shows up at a hospital in Philadelphia. A white male matching Senator Sacks description had been admitted. Due to recent events with all hospitals flooded with patients it took time for any one to check records.

Jake is led towards a back room. The person leading him lifts a blanket. "Is this him?"

Jake looks down at the body. "Wow, yes, what happened?"

"Uh," The person picks up a clipboard. "Car accident, two open bottles of vodka found, wasn't wearing his seatbelt. There was a female passenger who died of asphyxiation."

"Huh?"

The person smiles. "She appears to have been giving him oral sex while he was driving. He hit some thing, she bit it off and choked to death on it while he bled to death. Alcoholics have a hell of a time with lack of blood clotting."

"You, you can't tell any one about that." Jake knew it would destroy Senator Sacks reputation. "I, right? Wait, why can you tell me? Are we breaking the law?"

The man shrugs his shoulders. "If we don't know who it is we can't know who next of kin is. Now that we know who it is we can make sure to contact his, wife?" Jake nods. "I'm guessing she isn't a twenty some thing year old blonde." Jake shakes his head. "Any idea where he might have kept his wallet? None was found on the body or in the car."

"Hell, maybe he left it at the liquor store again." Jake turns and walks as quickly as he can wondering what to do.

He was a great campaign manager. He had spent years consulting for businesses. He knew good PR. There had to be some way of spinning this to make... Well, why did it matter? "Am I out of a job now?"

Daria meets up with Conner outside of the sophomore dorm building. "Hey, how's it going Daria?"

"Ok, I guess." She doesn't hug or kiss him like she had before. She doesn't even make eye contact. "I, um, we need to talk."

"Need to talk? That's never good." He smiles to show he was joking but when he sees the look on her face his smile disappears. "Whoa. Uh, the dorm is empty."

"Ok." Daria follows him inside.

Daria sits on his bed and looks down at her boots. "Conner, um,"

He sits down next to her and puts a hand on hers. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"I don't know. Well, I do, kind of." She finally looks him in the eyes. "I want a break."

"A break? Because of, uh, Russel?"

"No, not him."

"So some one else." He takes his hand away. "Why?"

"Not really some one else. It's me. I like you, I really do, a lot. But I know what you expect. I know what happens next. When two people date for awhile it always leads to, um,"

"Sex?"

"Yes."

"So if we take a break and you date some one else then you won't have to have sex, until you reach the same point with them. How many guys will you go on break with before having sex?"

"You act like you don't think about it."

"I do, trust me, I do. You are so, petite, but womanly, at the same time and I like what we do together but yes I would like to do more." He uses a hand to cup her chin and make her look him in the face again. "But if you're not ready then you're not ready. I can wait."

"Wait. You're waiting, I'm not. You expect it and I, I guess I do too, but not in the same way. It's like, oh, the tenth date, sex is unlocked. I dated Tom for over a year and never did more than kiss. I don't have an unlock on, that."

"Say it. If you can't even say it how will you ever,"

"Sex! Ok, there, I said it." Daria digs the nails on her right hand in to her palm. "I'm not like Amalia or Jane or even Mary. I've never, done that, had sex. I, when I do, I want it to be with the right person. I don't want to look back at it and hate it."

He hugs her. "I can't promise you any thing. Yes I want more but we have a lot of fun as it is. I can wait." He pulls away. "I love listening to you snark at the idiots in what ever movie we're watching."

Daria looks down at her boots. "And there, um, might be some one else."

His face flushes with color. He remains calm but Daria can hear the anger. "So you lied when you said it wasn't some one else."

Daria shakes her head. "It would never happen. I'm confused and scared and after what happened on Tuesday, I can't stop thinking. I think too much for my own good."

He gives her a stern look. "Who is it?"

"No one you know."

"Not your ex?"

"No, not Luke. Trent, Jane's older brother. I had a crush on him before but thought it went away. After seeing him when I went to Odenton, well, Lawndale, it is complicated."

He gets off his bed and stands before her. "So you want a break so you can be with some one back home who is older? One you say won't happen."

"No, yes, I don't know." Daria shakes her head. "Damn it, damn it, damn it. I have the opposite of Midas touch."

"Every thing you touch turns to lead?" She nods. "I haven't. I'm a little pissed you want a break so you can date Jane's older brother hundreds of miles away and then tried to lie about it, but I'm not lead."

"I didn't lie. I am worried about the next, sex. I was going to with Luke even though I knew I wasn't ready and that all went to hell. I may never be ready." Maybe I do need to see a professional. "I'm sorry. I should go."

Before she can get up he grabs her by the wrist. "You don't have to leave. You over think every thing. Yes sex is a big deal but it takes two. Talk with me. I'd rather us talk and wait than break up or what ever."

Daria feels the burning in her chest cool. "I do too. The Trent thing, just after the attacks, he was alone. I like him and had a crush but I don't know if it is more. It can't be." She shakes her head trying to knock some thing that made sense out of her brain. "I need to shut my mind off so I can think."

"As much as that doesn't make sense it does." He leans down and kisses her on the forehead. "For you any ways."

Daria remembers her conversation with Trent. He was tired of Lindy's jealousy. She hadn't realized how bad it looked until she looked back on the situation. She liked Trent, always had. He didn't treat her like other guys did. He talked and joked with her and she... Was usually silent not used to such treatment from a guy.

But he was Trent. Yes he seemed to have gotten his act together and was pushing himself. Most of that was Lindy. Would he go back to his old ways if he broke up with her? Could Daria motivate him to keep going? Would he expect... Of course he would. After how ever long didn't all guys expect that? Didn't girls expect that? But she... She was going to with Luke to get it done and out of the way. Hell, that's why she was going to with Tom before she backed out. How could she...

"Daria?" She snaps out of her thoughts. "Your brain going at it again?"

"Yes." She stands up from the bed. "Conner, I'm sorry."

"For trying to break up with me or for talking with the Trent guy?"

"Both. I mean, we, we didn't do any thing, just talked. I'm confused and scared and don't know what to do. I like you and I even prepared for, uh," She hates how she always gets around the topic of sex. Death? No big deal. Sex... "I got the pill, the pill, in case we had sex. I think about it, with you, and want to in my own way. I'm just scared and looking for any way to get out of it."

"Like breaking up with me so you can date some guy hundreds of miles away which would mean waiting many months before being in the same position?" She simply nods. "Ha, Highschool psychology class helps me out again."

"I'm sorry. I like you, a lot, and I'm not used to liking some one like this. The last time I did..."

"Didn't go well? I'm not Luke. It is annoying you keep bringing him up." He touches her on the arm gently. "I'm not him. I can't promise we'll die of old age together but I won't leave you for an ex either." He sits back down on the bed and she sits next to him. "I've never asked, too afraid of the answer, but..."

"Yes?"

"You seem to hide yourself. Like, your clothes don't really reveal any thing. If it weren't for the skirt, from a distance, might not even know you are a girl. The way you can barely talk about sex, and how you reacted the first time I uh, did more than kiss you,"

Daria remembers when Jodie asked her a question and knew Conner was going to ask it as well. "No, I was never hurt or abused when I was a kid. Just the opposite. No one noticed me for my looks. My sister was always the pretty one and I was the smart one. For some one to, hurt me, they would have had to notice me. I know it is a little messed up but I decided if no one would notice me it didn't matter what I wore. So I wore what was comfortable instead of fashionable or showed off, um, skin. I kept my looks hidden and showed off my brain, at first. I was made fun of for being a brain so I hid that too. Even after I hit puberty and had certain attributes some might consider pretty or what ever I kept hiding."

"They are very pretty as you put it." He hugs her. "And it is great you have a brain. I needed a lot of help for finals last semester and you were there."

She hugs him back and the two simply hold on to each other for a couple minutes as the storm of Daria's fear and confusion passes.

Late that night, as Jake pulls in to home, he is nervous. With Senator Sacks dead... He looked in to it and there were two options. The Governor of the state could place some one else in the seat or there would be a special election. It depended on the state and Jake couldn't find out which one Maryland did.

The news hadn't broken yet so it gave him a few more hours to plan. Several of the people in the Senator's office already came up with a story.

The Senator had been rushing to help after the attacks when he was in the accident. It was simple and easy to remember and put the Senator in a good light.

Now Jake and the others just had to hope the medical workers at the hospital kept their mouths shut.

Jane wakes up after another slumber at the mattress store. She feels arms around her waist. She turns as best as she can and sees the man she had met earlier and had cheered up with. "I wonder what his name is." They had talked, and other things, and yet she never got his name. She never gave him hers either.

She looks out the window of the store and sees people milling around. She had seen so much suffering and pain the past couple of days. Being held, the feeling of warmth and comfort, it didn't matter.

She feels him move. "Finally awake?"

He turns over and sees her. "I think so. I might still be dreaming because I seem to have found a gorgeous woman in my arms."

She smiles as his eyes meet hers. "If you were dreaming, we'd both be naked."

"True." He kisses her lightly on the lips. "Ready for another day of work?"

"I think so." Both frown. No new survivors had been found. It was quickly becoming disheartening.

"After..."

She finishes his thought. "Another shower and more cheering up? And maybe find one more private?"

He nuzzles her neck. "No one seemed to mind." They hadn't been the only ones cheering each other up. Plenty of people had found others while clearing up the destruction.

She pushes him away. "Not here. There's a window."

He looks at it. "That is a little too public, even for me."

The two get up, stretch, and leave to get some thing to eat before getting back to Ground Zero.

Quinn is on the phone with Stacy that Saturday. "I'm sure you'll be fine Stacy."

Stacy looks out across the track from the media booth. "I was one of three drivers picked to have the flag colors. What if I crash or finish last? It's a huge honor and I don't want to blow it!"

"You kick ass Stacy. Where's your helmet?"

"At my car. This is more than about the race. I'm like, representing, you know?"

"You'll do fine! I'll be watching."

"You better! I need my good luck charm and my pre race ritual."

"Pre race ritual?" Quinn hadn't heard any thing about this.

"My boyfriend and I, um, you know, I'm sure you know. You were always so much more popular than I was."

Quinn knows she is blushing a little. "I never, kissing only."

"Really? But you always had a date even when I couldn't get one."

"Dating is totally different. They were never my boyfriend."

Quinn had been asked by several boys to hang out. She wasn't sure she wanted to date any one. College was different. She wanted to be a different Quinn here. If she dated some one she wanted it to be like how her sister dated some one. She had tried before but it was a disaster.

The two continue to talk when Stacy has to get going. "Make sure you watch!"

"I will Stacy I swear."

After hanging up, Quinn looks out the window of her dorm room. Her roommate was hanging out with some friends. Quinn had been friendly with some people but she was being guarded. She didn't want a friend like Sandi, she wanted friends like Stacy. "Gah, now I know what it feels like to be Daria." It was easy to make friends, harder to make a real friend.

Quinn dials Daria's number and after a couple of rings some one answers. "Hello?"

Quinn doesn't recognize the voice. "Um, this is Quinn, is Daria there?"

"Sure, one second."

Quinn hears the person yell and a minute later... "Quinn?"

"Hey Daria, um, I wanted to talk."

"About college?"

"Sure, kind of." Quinn bites her lower lip. "How are you and Conner?" Daria laughs a little surprising Quinn. "Why are you laughing?"

"We almost broke up because of my crush on Trent."

"Oh. Wait, did you and Trent..."

"No, nothing like that. When I went to his house, he was alone, and we were both worried about Jane. We hugged and Lindy saw us and, too much happened. It was stupid and I'm just worried about going any farther with Conner."

"Oh, you and Conner," Both girls blush much the same way. "You've only been dating since the start of summer."

"I know but things have moved a lot faster than I thought it would. We click really well and I do like him, a lot. What about you? I'm sure you must have plenty of guys asking you out."

"I do but I haven't gone out with any of them yet. They're college guys and they won't be interested in just driving around or making out."

"After all the dates you've been on I'm surprised to hear you say that."

"I just had the same talk with Stacy. We, I never did any thing. We would eat and see a movie and drive around."

"So what will you do? Lock yourself up in your room all year? You're sounding like me."

Quinn laughs to herself as she looks around her dorm room. She had locked herself in her room. While others went out with friends or others, she remained in her room. "You don't do that, any more."

"No. I started dating a great guy and even though it didn't work out it was good. It hurt like hell when he broke up with me but it was still fun when we were dating. He respected my boundaries and went at my speed."

"What if he hadn't?"

"I would have broken up with him. Almost did after he pushed me a little too far. He apologized and I knew he meant it."

"If only I could be that lucky. I spent so much time getting people to like me I didn't really care if I liked them. I just wanted them to like me."

"You recognize that."

"Like you recognized that you pushed every one away and finally started letting people in?"

"Uh, yes."

The two sisters are silent as they think about their past, present, and futures. "Daria, thanks."

"No problem Quinn. Why any one would take relationship advice from me when I almost broke up my own relationship, well, you have problems." Both girls laugh lightly.

"So you and Conner didn't break up?"

"No. He knows I'm worried about going to the next step. He's willing to wait for me to be ready. Which makes me feel weird because I know he is just sitting there waiting while I might never be ready. I almost broke up with him just so I wouldn't have to think about that."

"Guys are different. They don't lose any thing, we do."

"I'm lucky I found a guy who is willing to wait and not push me. Not all guys are like that. If you're lucky you'll find one too."

"I hope so. Can't be as lucky as you or Stacy. Of course, she didn't wait."

"Really? She always seemed so sweet and innocent, for a Fashion Fiend."

"Part of her pre race ritual. Her boyfriend seems really nice from the couple of times I met him. Must be weird working for her dad at the same time."

"Better hope he doesn't hit an iceberg while treading in dangerous waters."

"Hey, I actually got that reference. Titanic, right?"

"Yes. Because of Leonardo DiCaprio?"

"So, I still knew what you meant."

Daria looks at the time. "Quinn, I have to go. I'm supposed to meet up with Mary and Dr. Masters for a double date."

"A double date? Wow Daria you certainly have changed."

"College will do that to you. Good luck Quinn."

"You too Daria."

A/N Another episode done! Aftermath of 9/11, some people panicking about their life choices, others panicking over other people's life choices. I was thankfully young enough to not really be too affected by it. And half the time was on pain meds(Major car accident, in wheelchair for months on end after waking from coma) so that helped keep any thing from being real or what ever.

But for the others, what will we see happen? Will Lindy and Trent make up? Will Trent go sober for her to help her if they do? How will Quinn continue handling college? What new job awaits Sandi Griffen? Should I show the reaction of some of our favorite teachers? I don't know yet. A lot of characters to follow and have to decide which ones get air time and which ones don't.