Stop the Madness
A guy with neck-length blonde hair and a calm appearance walked beside Daria as they left their last class. "Hey."
"Go away," Daria said automatically.
"Nice to see you too."
"Dammit, Ronnie. Stop this cruel game and let me hate you already."
"Sorry. You're gonna have to hang out with me first."
"No."
Ronnie didn't quit. "Come on. Hating me will be even more fun when you actually have something to go on."
"No."
"...I've got Sick Sad World on DVD. Including the infamous first season that the network never aired again. You probably didn't see it."
She frowned as they stopped at her locker.
"Is that a yes?"
"No. Number one, you tried to date my sister once. Two, you're only asking me out because I'm 'crazy' and that's what's in right now."
He sighed. "Look, I can't deny the first one, but the second one isn't true. Promise."
Daria surrendered and shut her locker. "Call me tonight. I'd rather get your hopes up before I shoot you down."
"At least you're honest. Talk to you then." he winked and went on his way.
Sandi walked up moments later, a glimmer of jealousy in her eye. "Gee, Daria. Remind me again why you want to stop this trend? It's clearly paying off for you."
Ed 'the Head' came around the corner to join them. "W-what does he have that I don't?!"
Sandi smirked. "I could write an essay on that, Edward. Well, if I were a brain."
"Shut up, both of you," Daria said. "Let's get over to my place and end this. I'm well over my quota for social interaction today."
They met up with Jane at the front of the school and left, taking the long way so they wouldn't run into Quinn. Their whole plan depended on taking her by surprise.
Quinn hummed merrily as she unlocked the front door and strolled into the house. With Mom and Dad gone late today, this was the perfect time to call an impromptu Fashion Club meeting! Especially since she hadn't seen much of Sandi today. There would be plenty to catch up on.
She tossed her bag on the couch and whipped out her cell phone, texting at a feverish rate and reaching out for a light switch with the other hand. She couldn't seem to find it...
"Don't bother, Quinn," a rich, uppity voice said melodramatically. "We can shed some light on you ourselves."
She spun around to see four figures standing ominously between her and the door. Her sister, her sister's best friend, her own best friend, and that guy who told her she was psychopathic-all standing in the same place, at the same time. What was going on?
"Hello, Quinn," said Daria. "I suppose you're wondering why we're here. We're here to stop the madness. Or should I say, the lack of self-esteem posing as madness."
Sandi nodded and crossed her arms. "Quinn, dear. I've spoken to Stacy and Tiffany, and the Fashion Club's feelings are very clear on this. We've already gotten out of the Community Involvement Project, so let us move on to the next trend, shall we? I would hate for this whole thing to get old. Like your outfit, for instance."
"Oh, Sandi," Quinn giggled behind her hand. "You're so funny! You really think I was doing all this for you?"
Sandi faltered. "Um...well...I hoped that-"
"That's just like you. And Daria and Jane, that's just like YOU. Thinking anything that cuts into your TV time is evil and wrong. Well, I'm sorry if my incurable condition is such an inconvenience, but I can't stop being mental just because you guys tell me to. Besides, I look so cute doing it!"
Daria ground her teeth. "You're not mental."
"Look, Quinn," Jane interjected. "This is Ed the Head. He's the one who told you you were nutso in the first place. And even he knows it's not true."
For the first time, Quinn hesitated. "He...he does?"
"Sure! He'll tell you himself. Go on, Ed." Though reluctant to touch him, Jane nudged him forward with one foot.
The geek stumbled, looking slightly flustered under the beauty's surprisingly intense gaze. "Er...um...well, that is..."
"Are you sure I'm not crazy, Ed?" Quinn took a step forward. "You're a brain, right? Maybe you just haven't...thought about it hard enough."
Daria, Jane and Sandi's jaws collectively hit the floor. They knew of Quinn's feminine wiles, but seeing her use them like this on a socially unacceptable beanpole like Ed was something else.
Daria was doing some hard thinking of her own. Why was keeping up this illusion so important to Quinn? She assumed it was all about getting extra attention and feeling special. Now even she wasn't certain anymore.
Ed the Head looked even less so. The most beautiful girl in school...less than five feet away. Who could think? His heart was pounding so hard, he thought she might see it under his shirt just like in cartoons. Except this wasn't a cartoon, this was real, and...
His teeth chattered as he attempted speech. "W-well, th-that is, I, I, I...suppose one c-can't be one hundred percent SURE of anything..."
"What are you talking about, you little geek?!" Sandi protested. "Like, you already know the truth. Just tell her already!"
"That's so mean, Sandi," Quinn touched his arm lightly with her fingertips, at which point he seemed to lapse into semi-catatonia. "See, Ed? I might be a psychopath, but at least I'm nice to you, right?"
Ed nodded like a drinking-bird toy.
"Come on! Let's do a psychosomatic appointment or whatever, and I can tell you all about how crazy I am."
Ed followed her mindlessly out of the house. Moments later they heard his new Vexxer racing down the street.
"I knew we shouldn't have let him give us a ride," Jane said.
Daria shrugged. "How was I supposed to know his parents were rich?"
"She could have mentioned it," Jane cast a hard look at Sandi."If she was going to bother with this in the first place."
The fashion vixen glared back. "Excuse me? Are you saying this is my fault?"
"Wake up, guys! Would any of this have happened if we just left well enough alone?"
Daria's face went slightly red. "Jane. My sister thinks she has a mental disorder and she doesn't. You call that 'well enough alone'?"
"Really, Jane," Sandi said coldly. "As the people closest to her, we have to tell her that-"
"Why do you always have to tell her what she is?" Jane threw up her hands. "Every time you try that, things get worse! If you really want to end this, how about listening to her?!" She looked from one to the other as silence filled the living room. "...Whatever. I'm going home, Daria."
She closed the door behind her. They heard her footsteps quicken as she took the chance for an afternoon run.
