21. Epilogue 2 - Redemption

"O.K.," Daria said as Jane drove ahead, "where are we going?"

"Anyplace," Jane said. "No place. It doesn't matter, just so long as it isn't Lawndale."

The auburn-haired teen looked at her friend, sighed, and said, "I'd rather be home right now."

"No!" Jane said forcefully. "Ever since you lost Robert, you've been moping around and sighing. You need a change of scenery, even if it's only for a day."

"You're not driving us to West Virginia, are you?"

A shocked look appeared on Jane's face. "Why the hell would I do that?" she asked.

"I've already been through one demonstration of Murphy's Law," Daria said and closed her eyes. "I don't need another." She sighed again. "Where are we going, Jane?"

For several seconds, Jane said nothing. Then she shook her head and said, "O.K., amiga, I'm taking you up to Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. It's not my idea of a good time, but I thought that you could use some historical site to relax your mind some."

Daria opened her eyes and looked at the car's dash. "Jane, I was falling in love with him," she said. "He was falling in love with me."

"I know, Daria. I know."

"It's just so...unfair." Daria pulled a book from her jacket pocket and opened it. "Of all the things I could have had from my...little vacation, as you called it...I have Robert's diary."

"Don't forget that photo I took of you two."

She smiled briefly and pulled the photo out of the book. "Yeah."

Just then, a loud sound startled the girls and Jane slowed down as one of the tires slowly went flat.

"Shit!" Jane said as she pulled over on the side of the road. "Of all the times for that to happen."

"Calm down, Jane," Daria said. "I know how to change a tire." She replaced the photo in the diary, closed it and placed it back inside the jacket pocket. "Let's get started."

Before either one could open their doors, a pickup truck pulled up behind them and a man got out. He wore a soiled, green factory uniform and looked to be dirty himself.

"Wait," Jane said. "Lock your door."

The man stopped near the driver's side window, which Jane opened about an inch. "Ladies, I see you have a problem," he said and looked them over - slowly.

Jane blinked and Daria shuddered as they felt his gaze roam over their bodies. A smile appeared on his face as he looked at Daria's legs.

"We're O.K.," Daria said. "We just called a tow truck."

A leer briefly appeared on his face and he suppressed it. "Are you sure?" he asked and stared directly at Jane's chest. "I could change the tire for you. All it would cost is a kiss from each of you. A tow truck would cost you around fifty bucks - if you're lucky."

"No," Jane said. "We'll wait."

The man shrugged and shook his head. "Your loss," he said and walked back to his truck.

As he drove off, Daria said, "We better get this done. I don't have a cell phone on me. Do you?"

"You already know the answer to that one," Jane said.

"Damn," Daria said and closed her eyes. "Of all the times to be a Luddite..."

"We'll be O.K., Daria. He left."

The smaller teen looked at her friend then. "Suppose he comes back with a gun?" she asked. "Or even a baseball bat? We'll be up shit creek without a paddle if he does. I wish Robert was here with us." She shuddered.

Just then, a blue Ford car slowed down and parked in front of their car. A man, who looked to be around twenty and dressed in a blue T-shirt and jeans, got out of the car. He walked back to them and said, "Ladies, do you need some help?"

Daria started to say a smart comeback, but stopped. Oh, my God, she thought as she looked at him. Her face paled as she noticed the muscle definition in his arms. But she recovered quickly and said, "Yes, we do. Flat tire."

He smiled and the auburn-haired teen felt a chill sweep through her. "I can help you - if you have a spare tire."

Daria hit the trunk release and said, "I'll help you."

As he walked back to the trunk, Jane grabbed her left arm and asked, "What's up with you, Daria? You aren't usually this outgoing, not with some stranger."

"Jane, it's Robert!" Daria said in a stage whisper. "Don't you recognize him?"

"He's not old enough to be Robert. Besides, didn't they send him back to his own world?"

"Yes, they did!" Daria was actually shaking. "But he could be this world's version of him."

"That doesn't mean he's going to be like your Robert, amiga."

"I have a good feeling about this guy, Jane. He's not like that pervert in the truck."

"No, he could be a pervert in a Ford, instead."

Daria shook her head and said, "I don't think so."

"Be careful, Daria."

She got out of the car and followed him to the trunk. She grabbed the tire iron and jack, while the man pulled the wheel out.

They moved to the front passenger side and he knelt down and loosened the lug nuts. Then, he said, "Jack, please."

Daria handed it to him and watched him as he worked.

As he positioned the jack and lifted the car slightly, a truck slowed down near them.

"Daria!" Jane said, "That pervert's back! And he's got some friends with him this time!"

Daria paled as she looked at the three men in the truck. Oh, hell, she thought.

Then the man beside her stood up and stared at them, the tire iron in his right hand. The three men looked at him, talked quickly amongst one another and then the driver sped away.

The man looked at Daria and asked, "What was that about?"

"The driver stopped by earlier. He acted really creepy and we told him we didn't need his help. But then he went and got some friends." She shuddered. "You must have scared them off." Thank you, thank you, thank you.

He sighed and shook his head. "Obviously, they aren't much in the manhood department," he said and turned his attention back to the tire.

oooooooooo

The man placed the flat tire in the trunk and Daria replaced the jack and tire iron, then shut the hatch. Jane stood nearby and kept looking around.

"Is there any way we could pay you back?" she asked.

The man smiled at Daria and said, "Sure. You could do me the pleasure of having dinner with me."

Jane gawked and Daria blinked. "We haven't even been introduced," she said, her voice strained.

His smile widened and he said, "Where are my manners? My name is Robert Nelson and I'm glad to meet you, Miss..."

Daria smiled and said, "Daria. Daria Morgendorffer. This is my friend, Jane Lane."

"Would you have dinner with me, Daria?" he asked.

"Yes," she said and held out her hand. "I would love it."

Robert looked at her hand and said, "I've got tire residue on my hand."

"I don't care."

"O.K." He took her hand and they shook.

"Well, what about me?"

Daria turned to her and asked, "What about that guy you said asked you out? Wasn't his name Tom?"

"Yeah, Tom Sloane." She looked at Robert, then Daria. "Would you two mind a double date? That is, if I can get to a phone and call him."

Robert pulled a cell phone out of its belt holder and handed it to her. "Use mine."

As Jane made her phone call, Daria looked at him and said, "So you like to hit on teenagers, huh? How old are you, Robert?"

"I turn twenty-two in a few weeks. If that doesn't bother you, it doesn't bother me. Unless you're under sixteen, that is."

"I'm seventeen," she said. "Robert, you seem familiar to me, but I don't know from where."

"I don't see how," he said. "I just moved in the area from Ohio."

Another chill swept through Daria and she asked, "Why did you move from Ohio?"

"Bad memories. My girlfriend and her family died in a car-train accident and I couldn't take it there, not anymore."

Daria blinked and said, "Oh. I'm sorry."

Just then, Jane handed Robert his phone and said, "He said that he'll meet us at Kim's Pizza."

Daria looked at Robert. "I hope you like pizza."

"I love pizza," he said and smiled at Daria again.

She returned his smile and said, "Just follow us."

The three got back in their vehicles and they left the area.