Daria sat contentedly in the front passenger bucket seat on the drive returning to Schloss Morgendorffer that afternoon. Without embarrassment she hugged the neck of the huge unicorn plushie with its long soft black hair, twisty golden horn and silver mane, the legs of which she had splayed over her lap.
She listened to the four other females in the van playing with their own oversized plushies turning the heads this way and that to comment on attractions on the street or flirting with the boys in affected voices which each girl thought was appropriate for her type of fancifully patterned animal.
"I'm the only one with a unicorn." Daria thought as she glanced over at Joaquin whose skill at stand-the-bottle had won her the right to pick a grand prize. "Wish Jane were along. She would love that big mauve wolf with silver fangs or maybe the magenta killer whale."
As he taught the other Lawndale Lions how to win at arcade games, Joaquin modestly credited his cousin Julio the carnival barker for showing him the tricks of each game. The five boys could have walked away with an arcade's stock of plushy prizes but the attendant had begged them to consider his job and even Sandi and Quinn said they were content with one each.
Daria stirred as the van came to a gentle stop in the Morgendorffer driveway. Five boys leaped from their seats to open van doors and squire out five girls onto the damp pavement. Daria's default social reticence was returning and she shyly, barely met Joaquin's eyes when her boots landed on solid footing and her hand landed in Joaquin's assured gentle grip.
"Thanks, that was fun. I better get in before it rains again." Daria smiled shyly gently pulling her hand from Joaquin's. "Though it looks like the big, wet rainstorm's over."
For an instant, she thought Joaquin was going to kiss her hand but he only returned a gentle smile and nod and made his way to the driver's seat.
Daria and Quinn stood in front of their front door stoop and waved at their friends in the departing van. Daria took a bracing, pleasing breath of pertichor. Quinn did not notice her sister jerk slightly as her scar unexpectedly gave a twinge.
"Daria, thanks for coming! That was fun. Who knew that you and Sandi would be the fastest ones up the climbing wall? If those short, stubby legs of yours weren't so, uh, short and stubby I bet you could easily beat her."
Daria considered a quick slap-down comment for Quinn when she paused to consider, "Quinn's eyes are twinkling even in this half-light. I think, I think she's what's the word? Teasing me."
Not having a response Daria simply looked down at her white skirt in confusion which Quinn took to be embarrassment.
"Oh Daria, I am just joking you know. Your legs are absolutely beautiful! And when you went up that wall, all those pervy guys thought they'd get an eyeful flash of your unmentionables but you wore those workout shorts. I mean I think they liked it anyway, pervs that boys are, but you tricked them. Huh? And wow, Jamie won me this rhino stuffy to match Mr. Boggs. I'm going to name this one 'Mr. Biggs'. What are you going to name your unicorn? He's cute too, I guess, or striking? A black unicorn? Only you could find and choose a black unicorn, Daria. Wow, you really made an impression on Joaquin the Latin Lion. He's quiet but you can tell he likes you and he never paid much attention to any girls before. He's so, so good Latin looking and always drives nice cars. It was so frustrating but we started to think he was you know. And—"
"Quinn, Quinn," Daria decided to keep the weirdness coming so she took her kid sister's hands in hers. "Let's just, uh, let today be today and savor it before we return to the status quo of benign ignoring and occasional snark and undermining plots tomorrow."
Quinn nodded but took a breath to continue.
"That means 'shut up' for a minute. Quinn," Daria gently put two fingers on Quinn's lips. "Let's see if Mom and Dad are back from the big annual marital retreat."
Quinn smiled and unlocked the front door. The teens entered to find a quiet house with no lights burning. Even without further exploration they sensed Helen and Jake had not returned. They entered the kitchen and put their plush prizes in their usual spots around the kitchen table.
As they surveyed the remnants of breakfast for five still on the table, Daria did not question Quinn's almost mute mutter, "Maybe the first one from the pan is good luck."
The answering machine dinged and Quinn activated it to hear mother Helen inform her daughters that they would be home the next day having run into some unexpected business to take care of.
Quinn and Daria smirked at each other and shared a shudder of revulsion as they both imagined that the 'unexpected business' was likely the unexpected support and comfort of the bed at whatever hotel their 'rents were occupying. In silence they cleaned the dishes and kitchen with Daria relishing the taste of cold bacon.
