James The Lesser Presents Vinny Lane

Vinny reads Daria's story and comments. "This is pretty good."

"What do you know?"

Wow, still nasty. "I know this is better then most of the garbage we're forced to read for school."

"Than, better than most of the garbage."

She might have a point about my judgment of her writing. "I still say it is good. Send it in."

"And when they reject it?"

"Daria, I've had my stuff rejected. It sucks but it happens." I hate to see her stressing out like this. "How will you know if you don't try? And even if they reject it it doesn't mean it was bad. Just that one person didn't like it."

"I guess I could try." Daria's face relaxes a little.

That's better. "How about I bribe you? Let me come with you when you send it in and I'll get you pizza after."

"Deal."

Ah, pizza. The food that brings the world together.

Vinny was surprised when Daria actually followed through with sending her submission in. "Well, I did promise pizza."

As they were about to leave they run in to... "Tom?"

"Daria? Vinny? Uh, hey."

Vinny isn't sure what he felt. Anger, jealousy, fear, and more. I have the emotional range of a teaspoon. Daria would know how to describe it. "Uh, what's up?"

"Just coming in to check out the new Wanted posters."

We did that before. Vinny forces the memory away. "You, um, have fun with that." He and Daria leave Tom at the post office.

Sitting in the booth at Pizza Prince, Vinny is silent as he eats his slice.

Daria was also silent.

She didn't say anything when we ran in to him. I'd love to know what is going through her mind. "So, uh, that was awkward."

Daria nods but stays silent.

What is going through your mind? Tell me! Hell, ask her. "What's going on in your head?"

"Nothing."

"You're Daria, there is always something going through your mind."

Daria sets her half eaten slice down. "Seeing Tom made me think about the last time I saw him."

When you kissed him, behind my back, and didn't tell me until a couple days later? Vinny grips the table to try and remain calm.

Think of the reset. That happened before the reset. "Was that before we met your first day of senior year?"

Daria relaxes slightly. "Yes. I hurt someone because I was stupid for a few seconds. Thankfully they forgave me."

Phew. She went with it. Don't think about it. "That's good that they forgave you."

They continue eating in silence both dealing with their inner turmoil of seeing Tom and the memories it brought up.

The knock at Vinny's door a few days later was soft. When he opened the door he saw Daria and the look on her face. "Uh, bad news?"

She holds up a piece of paper and he grabs it to read it. "Rejected? Huh, that sucks." He crumples up the letter and throws it into the nearest trashcan. "Oh well, next time, next story. Right?"

"No."

Damn, she is taking her rejection hard. "Yes. That's how this works. If I gave up after my first rejection what the hell would I do with my free time? Run track?"

Daria walks past him and walks over to the couch sitting down. "You make it sound easy."

"It is. After the first few times your heart is ripped out by some talentless hack. It sucks but when someone recognizes your work and rewards you for it that makes you know the ones who rejected you are idiots."

He sees a slight smile on her face. "I hate this feeling. If I didn't let you convince me to do it I wouldn't be feeling it."

"As a Lane I'm used to dealing with rejection. Trent has been rejected countless times from bars and venues and record labels. Penny has been thrown out of countries. Wind is on marriage number... Something. My dad has had some of his best work rejected. But he keeps taking pictures and finds magazines and others who want it. Penny still, for whatever reason, keeps going across South and Central America trying to save it. Trent and Mystic Spiral still play. I keep painting and sculpting."

"I'm not a Lane."

"Yet."

It takes Vinny and Daria a few seconds to realize what he said. Oh hell, I did not just say that. "I mean, I, um," I never used to be like this. Daria makes me stupid.

"Yet." Daria stands up from the couch. "I need to find a different magazine or website. One who will accept this story or a different story." She walks towards the door.

Vinny gets up and follows her over. "Good luck on that."

She stands in front of the door. "It sounds like luck might count more than skill."

"Maybe." He leans down and kisses her softly on the lips. "Walk safe."

She opens the door but doesn't leave. "I'll make sure I look both ways before I cross the street."

The last thing Vinny saw was a slight smile on her face before she turned and walked away.