Hullo, thanks to everyone who reviewed and followed this story! I honestly didn't expect much feedback so thank you, here's chapter two.
"God, Tiffany. What did I tell you about mixing bold prints with animal?"
"Yeah, what were you thinking?!"
Daria turned her head to direction of the voices talking just a few tables from hers. The place was nearly deserted and the sudden outburst came in stark contrast with the silence.
"Oh my god Sandi… I like totally forgot all about that rule…"
An Asian girl dressed to the nines said whom Daria assumed as 'Tiffany' drawled to the other two girls. The other two was dressed similarly; one had her hair in braids while the other had wavy brown hair. Daria assessed the girls quietly from her table, thinking how she didn't quite liked them from listening to their conversation and how they would probably get along with someone more like her sister. Just then, the cashier yelled out Daria's priority number and she fetched her slice of pizza and can of soda. A few bites in, she heard the group of girls talk in what she supposed was their 'hushed' voices.
"Hey did you just see that girl? She like totally ordered a whole slice of pizza! And with soda at that, think of all the carbs you could get."
"You are so right Stacy. That's exactly why I ordered a salad instead."
Tiffany drawled on again and Daria couldn't help but find their conversation amusing and slightly annoying at the same time. Raising a brow, she stared directly at them. The girls immediately looked away and began picking at their salads.
"Do you think she heard us?" Stacy asked, sounding anxious.
"What does it matter, Stacy. She totally looks like a brain. Brains aren't people who we take interest in."
Sandi remarked, effectively dismissing the conversation and giving the impression she was considered the leader of the other two. You kind of people aren't exactly the kind I would mingle with either, Daria thought to herself as she finished off her pizza. Not that she was the very sociable either. She watched the group walk away then took out her cell phone to check the time.
"Hello there."
Daria looked up from her phone to see a girl about her age who had short black hair and multiple ear piercings. She raised her brow, as if considering whether she would say hello back or not even though the girl was already seated at her table. The girl sensed her apprehension and raised a perfectly arched brow as well.
"I saw your little interaction with the Fashion Club members back there and can't help but think how cool it was that you scared them off."
At this, Daria's eyes widened the slightest bit due to interest, but didn't quite know how to respond. Sensing this, and feeling the awkward turn their conversation had gone, the black haired girl quickly introduced herself.
"I'm Jane by the way. You're new here right?"
After a few seconds of silence, the bespectacled girl finally responded to Jane's friendly approach.
"I'm Daria. Yeah, how did you know?"
Jane sighed, relieved. She immediately took notice of Daria's monotone voice but decided not to comment on it since they had just met.
"Well for one, there aren't that many chicks from Lawndale that wears glasses and a green jacket quite the way you do and still pull it off."
"Gee, I'm not sure whether to take that as a compliment that I'm actually unique or Lawndale is really the small town I thought it would be."
Jane chuckled, amused at Daria's dry humor.
"You're not bad, for a new girl."
"You're not bad yourself, for someone who lives in this town." Daria said back, getting up from her seat.
"Headed home already?" Jane asked, sounding like she was planning to do exactly that.
"Yeah, we just moved in here this afternoon and I still need to unpack my things. You know, assuming that this isn't all a bad dream and I won't wake up the next day here in Lawndale." Daria answered in her monotone voice and got ready to walk out. Jane smirked at Daria's sarcasm and hastily got up.
"Hey, I'll walk ya. I'm headed home myself."
Daria shrugged her shoulders and the two walked side by side to Daria's house. The two walked in silence, not really sure what to lure the other into conversation with. From the direction they came from, Daria's house came first before Jane's.
"Well, this was… interesting. Uhm, bye." The auburn haired girl blurted, awkwardly.
"Yeah, it was… Uhh so I'll see ya around?" Jane replied in the same manner, scratching a non-existent scratch on her arm.
"Sure."
"O-kaay then."
Daria walked towards the sidewalk leading to their front door and inserted her key. She waved Jane goodbye before heading in and Jane did the same.
As soon as Daria stepped inside the living room, Helen quickly tried to put her current call on hold to interrogate her eldest daughter. Noticing this, Daria quickly walked towards the stairs. She had walked up halfway through when Helen called.
"Daria? Where have you been?"
Sighing, Daria turned towards Helen.
"Hello to you too."
"Daria."
Helen asserted in a more serious tone and tapped her foot lightly on the floor, impatient.
"Relax mom, I was just walking around town for a bit. Then I saw this pizza place and decided to test out their pizza."
"Well, ok dear. But next time let us know first when you decide to go out. You know how it is with your father, it's only our first day here and we don't know if there are any criminals out there."
"Daria? Is that you?"
Jake's voice called out from the kitchen and Daria quickly walked up the stairs to avoid another interrogation.
"Where's Daria?"
Jake asked to a now busy Helen on her phone.
In her room, Daria flopped down on her bed. After a few minutes she reluctantly sat up, her hair disheveled and looked around the room. Well, there wasn't much to unpack really; just her books, a few clothes and her computer. With a sigh, she started unlacing her boots. A shower sounded good in her head as the reality finally sunk in. She now lived in the small town of Lawndale; a small town with vaguely interesting people and a few decent ones, with a few nice and generic shops here and there. It was quiet and peaceful, which translated into boring and probably uneventful.
After a long shower, Daria walked in her new bedroom in her pajamas. She started unboxing her computer and left it to start up while she shelved her books appropriately. When she was done with that, she logged on her computer and opened a new word document. Today's first story, Janie: Potential friend and fellow weirdo.
Thanks for reading!