Chapter 10

But they didn't.Instead,they bolted from their chairs and made a beeline for Quinn's table the minute they spotted her;groveling had always helped them get back in her good graces before,and they were hoping that it would work this time too.Disregarding Sandi's menacing stare,Joey walked up to where Quinn was sitting and said,"I'm glad we found you.We've been trying to talk to you all day."

Quinn's only response was to turn her back on the trio,hoping that they'd finally get the message and stay out of her life for good."I know you must be,like,super mad at us about the crash,"Jeffy babbled in a desperate tone,"but I swear we didn't know it was your sister who was in the other car when we hit it.We're really sorry about what we did,just don't hate us anymore..."

Still no answer."Oh,come on,"Jamie pleaded,"it's not like we meant to put her in the hospital--"

"Do you guys,like,have a death wish or something?"Sandi snapped."You're lucky Quinn doesn't kill you after what you did.Go crawl back under whatever rock you oozed out from before we call the cops."

"It's okay,Sandi."Quinn assured her."I can handle this myself."She stood up and looked at the Three J's with a stern expression on her face."I thought you guys would have gotten the point by now,but since you can't seem to take a hint,let me spell it out for you:I never want to see any of you again."

Jamie looked and felt like he'd been shot through the heart."But,Quinn,we were just..."

"Save your excuses for somebody who cares,Jamie."If Quinn's tone had been any colder,the Three J's and Sandi alike would have all gotten frostbite."I'll never forgive you for bailing on Daria when she needed help."She glared at Joey and Jeffy."Or either of you for letting Jamie drive his dad's car even though you knew he was wasted.The only thing any of you are really sorry about is that you got caught,or else you'd be trying to apologize to her right now and not me."

"Isn't there anything we can do to change your mind?"Joey begged.

"Nothing."Quinn said with finality.Just then Stacy and Tiffany returned from the girls' restroom;in unison,the four Fashion Clubbers snatched up their purses,trays,and notebooks and left the table.Forced to at last admit that they'd lost Quinn forever,Joey,Jeffy,and Jamie all felt an overwhelming heartache...

....which for Joey quickly turned to anger."Thanks a lot!"he shouted,shoving Jamie."You've ruined everything for us!"

"Hey,back off,jerk!"Jamie snarled,shoving back."I'm in major trouble with my folks because of you..."

"You're the one who hit Daria's car!"Jeffy accused him,rushing to Joey's defense."You're the one who got us busted by the cops!You're the one who blew it for us with Quinn!"

Pointing an accusing finger at Joey,Jamie retorted,"But it was still his idea to get the beer from my dad's stash..."

Jeffy cut him off."You didn't have to take him up on it!You know,if Daria had been killed or ended up in a wheelchair,we could have all been locked up until we're as old as DeMartino!Kevin was right--we are lucky we're not still in jail right now."

"All those in favor of permanently ditching this loser,"Joey said to Jeffy,"raise your hands."Their right hands sprang up simultaneously,then lowered again."Opposed?"Neither of them budged an inch."In that case,we're gone."

Jamie watched in disbelief as Joey and Jeffy started to walk away."Hey,c'mon,you guys..." "Shut up,Jamie."Jeffy snapped brusquely.He and Joey then disappeared into the crowd,anxious to get away from their former friend as quickly as possible. Trudging back to his table,Jamie wondered what else could go wrong for him.He'd lost the girl of his dreams,his three best friends had all turned their backs on him and everybody else in school was freezing him out,his chance of getting an athletic scholarship was probably gone,and once he got home his parents would practically have him under house arrest until his scheduled arraignment the next day."How much more can my life suck?"he complained. He didn't have to wait long to find out--Ms.Li,who was passing through the cafeteria on her way to the faculty lounge,paused in her stride just long enough to look at Jamie and tell him,"I want to see you in my office after lunch,Mr.White."By her tone,he knew it couldn't be for anything good...

"You all right,Quinn?"Daria asked her sister as they walked to Daria's next class.

"Uh huh."Quinn nodded."Why?"

Sidestepping an errant janitor's bucket,Daria said,"I just wanted to be sure you weren't having any second thoughts about your decision."

"Trust me,Daria,there's no way I'm changing my mind about those losers."Quinn replied;by now,every picture she'd had in her pocketbook of Joey,Jeffy,and Jamie had long since been torn up and thrown in the trash."I just want to forget I ever knew them.You should have seen the way they tried to suck up to me in the cafeteria like nothing happened....it was so pathetic.They acted like what they did to you was no big deal."

"Somehow,"Daria sighed,"I'm not surprised.Disappointed,maybe,but not surprised."

"You said it."Quinn rolled her eyes."They're lucky I didn't scratch their eyes out.I hope the judge throws the book at them in court tomorrow..."

Turning the corner,they noticed a handmade poster on the wall which read:LAWNDALE HIGH S.A.D.D. MEETING 3:15 ON WEDNESDAY,ROOM 243.Beside the poster,a junior in a white T-shirt and blue jeans was handing out fliers to students as they passed by.He spotted Daria and Quinn and waved to them from down the hall."Wow,perfect timing."he said with a grin."I was hoping I'd run into you two today."

"Actually,you're only seeing incredibly lifelike holographic simulations."Daria quipped.

The young man chuckled."Good one.Seriously,I'm Scott Anderson,president of the Lawndale High chapter of Students Against Drunk Drivers.I read about your accident in the Sun-Herald,and I thought you and your sister might be interested in becoming members."

"We don't have to perform any ritual sacrifices,do we?"Daria asked him.

"Nope."Scott replied,handing her and Quinn two sheets of paper."If you want to join,all you need to do is come to Room 243 tomorrow with a signed copy of the Contract for Life and turn it in either to me or to our faculty advisor,Ms.Kazrova...So,do either of you have any friends who might be interested in joining S.A.D.D.?"