Introduction: This story follows Daria's first year of college at Raft University and is set following the conclusion of the Daria TV series and the TV movie Is It College Yet. It also follows on from my previous stories Alternate Season 4 and Daria's Graduation Trip (which may or may not be separate, depending on the version you're reading) in the Daria's Creek series. If you're unfamiliar with those stories, you will still understand most of this story, but some of the references may go over your head.
All the songs referenced in this story can be found in a YouTube Playlist here: watch?v=5TRZDjsFbb8&list=PL0Yhr70ADm47PyLh4Zs-gNVFAAGB5afIO
Again, if you don't know the songs, you aren't missing any crucial information, but you are missing some cool music.
As with all of my fics, this one will feature a theme song, in this case, Strange Little Girl by Tori Amos.
A special thanks goes out to my beta readers, Matthew, Marcus and Heather.
Copyright Notice: This is a work of fanfiction. Daria was created by Glen Eichler and is (c) MTV Networks, Viacom 1997-2002. Dawson's Creek was created by Kevin Williamson, and is (c) Columbia Tristar Television, Sony Pictures Entertainment. I own neither. I claim no rights to these properties. This work is available free of charge, and no money has been made or exchanged in the creation or publication of this work.
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Daria's heart was pumping so hard, it felt like it would explode out of her chest. As usual, no one would have noticed from looking at her. At this moment however, Daria was trying to evade attention as she snuck into the classroom a few minutes late. She almost succeeded. The door she entered though was at the rear of the classroom, the teacher was facing away from the class and the goth drones that passed for students were all paying close attention to him. But Just when she had reached her desk, he and the rest of the class turned their attention towards her.
"Young lady, do try to be on time. You're no longer in high school"
"No, I'm at military school" Daria quipped, thinking of her father
"Oh, so you think you're funny, eh?"
"Sometimes"
"Well, I've got news for you, I've seen your type before. You're just a mouthy kid with a lot to learn about life"
The teacher then turned back to the class, and Daria took a seat
"As I was saying, I am Professor Hubert Andrews and this is Gothic Literature 101. If you were expecting another class, you are in the wrong place, please leave at once and find your correct classroom"
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At the end of the class, students were paired up for their presentations over the coming weeks. Daria drew a name out of a hat.
"Jason Erickson"
A young man, dressed from head to foot in back, and wearing black makeup stepped forward, and drew a topic out of another hat.
"The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe"
Daria wasn't sure what to make of him based on her first impression, besides the fact that he was obviously a goth. They exchanged numbers and email addresses and agreed they would make a time to meet and work on their presentation together. Upon leaving the classroom, Daria felt a shiver go down her spine. Something felt off, but Daria couldn't figure out what.
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I'm not very good at lying. So let me just say that, in my experience, high school sucks. If I had to do it all over again, I'd have started advanced placement classes in preschool so I could go from eighth grade straight to college. However, given the unalterable fact that high school sucks, I'd like to add that if you're lucky enough to have a good friend and a family that cares, it doesn't have to suck quite as much. Otherwise, my advice is: stand firm for what you believe in, until and unless logic and experience prove you wrong; remember, when the emperor looks naked, the emperor is naked; the truth and a lie are not "sort of the same thing"; and there is no aspect, no facet, no moment of life that can't be improved with pizza. Thank you."
- Daria's Graduation speech (written by Glenn Eichler and Peggy Nicoll)
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Daria returned to her dorm room and could immediately read her roommate, Jessica Clayton's face. They hadn't known each other long, but Daria was a keen student of human nature.
"How was class?" she asked
"It was alright. What do you want?" Daria replied
"What makes you think I want something?" she asked innocently
"You look like you need to ask for a favour"
"Okay, there's a protest, next week"
"Go on" Daria said, with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance
"There's a meeting next week of Raft management, and they're discussing weakening of their Affirmative Action policy"
"And..?"
"And the protest is to send a message for them not to"
"Jessica, I don't know if you've noticed, but a) we're white and b) we've already been accepted here. This doesn't exactly affect us"
"I know, but its important that we show our support for African American students and the African American community in general"
There was a long pause
"What is it Daria?" Jessica wasn't as good at Daria at reading people, but even she could tell something was up.
"Its just, sometimes you remind me so much of my mother, and someone I went to school with"
"A friend?"
"Not exactly. So, this protest, what's in it for me?"
"Well, rumour has it that a local skinhead gang will be hosting a counter protest"
"Skinheads?" this piqued Daria's attention
"As in white supremacists"
"You realise not all skinheads are white supremacists?" Daria clarified
"Yes, and not all white supremacists are skinheads" Jessica explained
"Well, that would make an interesting post for my blog" Daria mused aloud
"You can borrow my digital camera" Jessica offered
"That's okay, my cell phone has a camera"
"Mine has better quality"
"Yeah, but grainy low res photos will go better with my blog's gritty, edgy aesthetic" Daria quipped