Chapter two
It was Wednesday evening. Daria had spent the afternoon in her room since she had come home from school. She had now finished all her homework and decided to spend the rest of the evening in the living room, watching TV.
She sat on the couch, her feet up on the coffee table, and turned on the TV. Her favorite show Sick Sad World was on.
"It's legal, and tender, but someone's getting shortchanged! Little cross-dressers and the women who love them, coming up next on Sick, Sad World," said the announcer and the show went to commercial.
"If that woman were Judy Garland, this might make sense on a couple of levels," Daria thought. She smiled sadly and sighed. She and Jane would usually be watching and making fun of this show together. She missed Jane.
For the last few days they had been ignoring each other, although, not entirely. They did talk to each other if they had to for school assignments and stuff like that. Technically, if Daria wanted to be honest, it was actually she who was ignoring Jane.
Daria had now become somewhat uncomfortable around Jane. She didn't mean to be, but the kiss had totally caught her off guard. She never thought of Jane like that and she never expected Jane to feel like that towards her either. Daria couldn't figure out if it was genuine or just a sign of madness on Jane's part.
Jane had just broken up with Tom; she could have been vulnerable and just wasn't thinking. It seemed to make sense, but Daria couldn't understand why that idea actually saddened her if it were to be true. She still wasn't sure if she even wanted Jane's feelings to be sincere.
Daria had never felt much for anyone. She tolerated people, but never really liked them and she loved her family, even if she didn't show it, but if she and Jane pursued this, it would completely pull Daria out of her element.
Even so, all Daria knew was that she couldn't forget about the kiss, and didn't know exactly what that meant. She knew that the idea of being with Jane didn't entirely put her off either. Somehow, the idea of them as a couple actually made some sense. However, Daria also knew that she was already deemed so many negative things by her schoolmates and family that she wasn't sure if she really wanted to add homosexuality to that list, too.
Then again, she knew what anyone thought about her shouldn't factor into her decisions. She never let them before, and she wondered why she was letting it get to her now.
Daria sighed in frustration. She hated being confused about this and just wished she could discuss it with Jane. It would help her figure out what she wanted, as well as what Jane wanted. Moreover, she hoped with whatever decision was made, it wouldn't ruin their friendship. That was the last thing that Daria wanted. Jane was the first and best friend she ever had and she didn't want to lose that.
Daria became distracted when the show came back on, but was startled when she heard yelling coming from the driveway out front.
"Come on! Start! Move! You're a car! That's what you do. That's all you do! Now do it!" Jake yelled.
Daria sighed in annoyance. "The eternal struggle between man and machine," she grumbled, getting up from the couch.
The phone rang. Daria grabbed the cordless phone and continued to the front driveway.
"Hello," Daria answered as Jake was getting out of his car.
"Hey, is dad there?" Quinn asked.
"You're nothing but a...a damn radio with doors!" Jake said and kicked the car's side.
"No. Dad and his inner child are playing in the driveway," Daria said nonchalantly.
"But he was supposed to pick us up at the mall," Quinn slightly whined.
"He's discussing that with the car right now, but the car seems to be saying, 'You're taking the bus,'" Daria said amused.
"The what?" Quinn asked confused.
"The bus. It's like a bigger car, only with old men sleeping sitting up, at least, I hope they're sleeping," Daria answered with mock concern. Daria waited for Quinn's reply, but only heard silence. "Hello…Quinn?" Daria said. She shrugged and hung up the phone.
Jake entered the house and headed into the kitchen. Daria followed him.
Jake paced the kitchen with a worried expression. Daria sat at the kitchen table to watch her father. She knew that this could get entertaining.
"But I told Helen I'd pick Quinn up. Now, she'll never trust me to do anything again," Jake said mostly to himself, and then went into imitating Helen's voice, "I'll pick up Quinn, Jake, you'll just forget. Stay out of the kitchen, Jake; you'll just break the stove! Don't polish your father's boots, Jake, you haven't earned the damn right!" he said finishing and starting into one of his usual rants of his past shortcomings.
"Dad!" Daria said trying to cut him off before he continued and completely lost the point.
He looked at Daria surprised. "Oh. Huh? Right. Quinn. And what if Quinn gets lost? It'll be my fault. It's always my fault," Jake moaned miserably.
"As long as she gets lost with the Fashion club, I don't see the problem," Daria said, but Jake ignored her.
"Well, I'll show Helen. I'll pick up Quinn and make the lasagna," Jake said building up confidence. "When Jake Morgendorffer says he'll do something, he dos it, I mean does it. Dammit!" he said firmly.
Daria only watched him, hoping that this madness wasn't genetic.
Jake looked at Daria earnestly and said, "Daria, if I don't come back, remember to take the plastic lid off the lasagna if you cook it in a conventional oven."
"Oh, father, don't even think such things," Daria said feigning concern.
Jake nodded and headed back out to the car.
Daria was slightly amused that her father forgot about the car so quickly. "Are you giving Quinn a ride home on piggy-back or taking the horse?" she called.
"That's right, dammit! No car," Jake swore but continued to the driveway anyway to continue fighting with the car.
Daria went back to sitting on the couch. She was amused at her father's plight, but she did feel bad. She knew he did try hard to be reliable and stop being so flighty and flakey.
Daria tried to come up with a solution for Jake. One solution would be not to have had Quinn at all, but she knew that was too late.
She only knew of one person with a car, but she and Jane weren't exactly friendly and she felt strange just calling to ask Trent to give her dad a ride.
"Damn freaking car, why won't you work? What do you have against me?" Jake moaned defeated from outside.
Daria sighed. She picked up the phone and dialed Jane's number, feeling butterflies in her stomach.
The phone rang a few times before it was answered.
"Ye-low," Jane said over some loud rock music.
"Hey," Daria said awkwardly.
"Daria?" Jane said sounding surprised, and turned down her music.
"Yeah, it's me," Daria said.
"Hi," Jane said sounding a bit uncomfortable. "Um, it's been a while since you've talked to me outside of school."
"Yeah, I know, and um…oh never mind. Forget it," Daria said quickly and was about to hang up.
"No, wait! What's up?" Jane said quickly.
Daria sighed lightly and said hesitantly, "I hate to ask you this, especially after the week we've had, but um, is Trent around?"
"Trent?" Jane asked confused.
"Yeah. My dad's car has broken down and now he's breaking down because of it, and I was wondering if you could ask Trent to give him a ride to go get my sister at the damn mall," Daria said awkwardly.
"Oh," Jane said disappointed.
"I know. I shouldn't have even bothered. I'm sorry," Daria said earnestly.
"No, it's fine. I know how Jake gets. It's fine," Jane said firmly, "But can we talk if I do this?" she bartered.
"Yeah. Sure," Daria said tentatively.
"Okay, well, I'll go wake Trent and we'll be over in ten," Jane promised.
"Thanks, Jane. Bye," Daria said.
"Later," Jane said and hung up.
Daria turned off the phone and walked out to the front yard.
Jake was sitting in his car, lightly banging his head against the steering wheel. "Why, why, why?" he said miserably.
"Um, dad?" Daria said lightly concerned.
"Oh, Daria," Jake said sitting up straight and looking at Daria, "What is it?"
"Um, I called Jane, and her brother Trent, well, he has a car and he can give you a ride if you want," Daria offered.
Jake brightened. "Really, oh thank you, Daria, you're a lifesaver," he said getting out of the car, "Ha, you won't beat me," he said to the car and kicked it again, this time hurting his foot.
Daria only rolled her eyes.
Jake and Daria waited in the driveway for Jane and Trent.
A few minutes later, Trent's Plymouth pulled up in front of the house. Jake looked at it warily.
"It's a car," Daria shrugged, seeing her dad's expression.
"And you ride around in that thing?" Jake said incredulously.
"Cheaper then skydiving," Daria said dryly.
Jane got out of the car. "Hey," she said casually to Daria.
"Hey," Daria said trying not to sound as awkward as she felt.
"Hi, Mr. Morgendorffer," Jane said.
"Hey, Jane," Jake said, and looked into the car, "Trent."
"Hey," Trent said.
Jake looked at the car worriedly, "Uh, it's safe right?" he asked Jane.
"Well, it's no Pinto," Jane said offhandedly.
"Yeah. You have to hit those before they'll burst into flames," Daria remarked.
Jane smiled, while Jake looked even more worried.
"Joke, dad," Daria said flatly.
"Uh, ha ha," Jake said with a nervous expression.
"Well, you ready Mr. Morgendorffer?" Trent asked.
"Sure," Jake said and got into the car.
Jane and Daria stood together on the passenger side.
Jake put on his seatbelt and looked at Jane uneasily again. "You say this thing's safe?" he asked, trying not to sound too fearful.
"It's an adventure on wheels," Jane cheerily spoke.
"Skydiving's probably safer though," Daria whispered to Jane.
"Oh, of course, you at least have a parachute," Jane joked back quietly.
Jake however caught the conversation, "Adventure on wheels. Adventures can be good," he said with a nervous laugh. He then looked at Trent, "Um, you're gonna steer with both hands when we're actually moving, right?"
"Unless I think of some lyrics on the road and have to write'em down. You understand," Trent said causally. "Oh, sure!" Jake said and then looked to Jane and Daria, "Help me?" he whimpered.
Daria sighed, and rolled her eyes. "Maybe these two shouldn't be left alone," she said to Jane.
Jane shrugged casually. "Eh, I was starting to feel the old wanderlust anyway."
The two climbed into the backseat.
Jake looked around the car and a troubled expression crossed his face, "How are we gonna fit four more people into the car?" he asked.
"It's been done before, and this time's there's no drum kit," Jane answered.
"Yeah, but now we'll have shopping bags to worry about," Daria said quietly to Jane.
"So," Jane said unmoved.
"From the Fashion Club," Daria pointed out.
"Oh, crap. Er, well, we'll just tie them to the roof," Jane said unsurely.
"The bags or the Fashion Fiends?" Daria said wryly
Jane smiled, and shook her head, amused.
They were interrupted by Jake. "What's that funny smell?" he asked his face scrunched up in disgust.
"It wasn't funny when it happened, but it's a really great story," Trent said enthusiastically.
Jake looked at him in revulsion and curiosity. Daria and Jane smirked.
Jane leaned forward. "Yo, Trent, let's get going. I don't think Mr. Morgendorffer wants to hear that particular story."
Trent nodded and he pulled out of the driveway. His car gave off sounds as if it were in pain and dying, and then settled a bit. They headed for the Lawndale mall.
They had only driven a few minutes when the car started making ominous noises and then coasted to a stop.
"Uh-oh," Trent said concerned.
"What?! What?! What happened?" Jake said, nearly panicked.
"Janey?" Trent said expectantly.
"Seven, eight, nine, ten," Jane counted.
Trent then pounded the dashboard with his fist. The car started back up, and they continued.
Daria looked at Jane and smirked, "Nice counting."
"I can go all the way up to twenty," Jane said mockingly proud.
They both rolled their eyes, but still smiled in amusement.
"Whew, thought we were going to be stranded there for a minute," Jake said relieved and lightly laughed.
"No way. We don't want to be caught out here by these woods…especially at night," Trent said seriously.
Jake looked at Trent curiously. "Really? Why not?" he asked.
"Roving bands of embittered squirrels?" Daria suggested.
"Nah, it's because of…," Trent started mysteriously, and paused for effect.
"Guess he forgot," Daria said softly to Jane when Trent's pause lasted a little longer then necessary.
Jane stifled a chuckle.
"Metalmouth," Trent finished in a harsh whisper, which caused him to cough.
"What?" Daria said, unsure if she misheard or not.
"Metalmouth," Jane said flatly.
"Oh," Daria said.
"Metalmouth started out as a metal shop teacher at Lawndale High, but the teacher had a bad habit. When he got angry and upset, he would grind his teeth," Trent started, "And well, being a teacher…."
"He'd get upset often I suspect," Daria said.
"Yeah, and his stress was so bad that he'd even grind his teeth in his sleep," Trent said, "So, one morning when he went to brush his teeth, he found that during the night he had ground his teeth down to nothing."
"Is this supposed to be a horror story?" Jane asked, obviously bored.
"It's horror-ble," Daria murmured.
Jane smiled at her.
"Yeah, I'm getting to it," Trent said annoyed.
"Well, get to it," Jane said.
"Hey, anything that keeps him awake," Daria remarked to Jane.
"Where was I? Oh, right, so he had to go to the dentist to have the ground down teeth pulled, but since he was a teacher…," Trent said.
"Bad dental," Daria said.
"Right, so he can't do anything about it. He just hopes that no one will notice," Trent said.
"Fat chance," Jane said, smirking.
"Right, everyone noticed, especially this one guy that was the main reason for his stress," Trent said, "So, the teacher tried to teach his class, but now he had this bad lisp, and the guy just keeps making fun of him until it disrupts the class completely and that is probably what broke the metal shop teacher."
"So it has a happy ending: he took out all the students," Daria stated.
Jane lightly laughed and Jake turned in his seat to look at Daria.
"Honey, that isn't a happy ending; and isn't this supposed to be a horror story?" Jake said confused.
"Didn't I just ask that?" Jane said simply.
"Anyway, after dealing with that student making fun of him and the fact that he can't afford to fix his teeth, he gets this idea one night…he forges himself a set of steel dentures," Trent said.
"Hence, Metalmouth," Daria said plainly.
"Yeah, but those dentures had one fatal flaw…they picked up radio stations; this one song actually, 'Girls just wanna have fun,' and it was inconvenient when he had to teach," Trent said.
"He could have just changed professions; become a music teacher," Jane said amused.
Trent glared at her in the rearview mirror, "He was a metal shop teacher, Janey."
"Yeah, Jane," Daria said with mock offense.
Jane rolled her eyes, but quieted.
Trent continued, "Yeah, so, he was finished at Lawndale High, but he wasn't finished teaching some kids a lesson or two…."
"You mean the kid that drove him the craziest," Jane said.
"Yeah, that guy and his girlfriend were up in the hills making out one night when they hear the song 'Girls just wanna have fun.' So, the girl tells the guy to turn it up because she likes the song, and he goes to but sees that the radio is off," Trent said, "And then they start to hear the sound of metal scraping on metal."
"Oooh, Metalmouth," Jane said pretending to be scared.
"They get scared and take off. The guy drives her home," Trent said, "But they had a right to be scared, because when the girl gets out she sees that all tires are bitten flat and hanging on her door handle…is a set of hand-forged teeth," he finished with a mystifying tone in his voice.
"Ew," Jake cringed.
"And the moral of this story is, don't open car doors with your molars," Daria quipped.
"I don't get it. Why is the same song always on the radio, and why didn't he get sports and weather?" Jane asked confused.
"And wouldn't they have noticed that the tires were flat before they reached the girl's house?" Jake added.
"Hey, the truth isn't always rolled up in a neat little package you can carry in your wallet," Trent stated irritated.
"Nor, should it ever be washed and reused," Daria added dryly.
"Daria, you don't think Quinn's lost in those woods, do you?" Jake asked nervously as he stared at the woods as they passed by.
"I doubt it. There's nothing to buy there," Daria said.
"You're right, maybe we should all try to think like Quinn," Jake suggested.
"Okay, who wants their frontal lobes removed first?" Daria asked.
Everyone lapsed into silence. Daria was grateful for the peace. Trent's story had been pretty lame.
Daria watched the scenery pass. She was glad that she and Jane were getting along well tonight. Hell, you wouldn't know that anything had been wrong before.
The dying of Trent's car, again, however, disrupted the peace. Steam started coming out from under the hood, and once again, the car coasted to a stop.
"Damn," Jane said.
"Yeah," Trent agreed.
"And this night was going so well," Daria said sarcastically.
Jake only moaned in defeat.
The four got out of the car to assess the damage.
"Just a little steam," Trent said, "We'll let it cool off for an hour."
"An hour!" Jake exclaimed, and then turned to Jane, "Jane-o, can't you do the counting thing?" he beseeched.
Jane frowned, "It doesn't work if the car's on fire," she said.
"Fire?" Trent said looking at the car, "Better make it two hours," he said casually.
"Dammit," Jake said and walked to the front of the car, "Let me take a look at it."
"Um, dad…," Daria said knowing she should do more to stop him.
Jake touched the hood and recoiled. "Hot, hot, blisters, dammit!" he swore.
Daria rolled her eyes, "You try to raise them to think," she sighed as Trent went over to Jake.
Jane nodded, but her attention was on the house behind them, "Hey, what do you know. The car died right in front of that house."
Daria looked, "Not asking," she stated.
"The haunted house," Jane said ignoring Daria.
"Not encouraging in any way," Daria said lightly.
"The House of Bad Grades," Jane said mysteriously.
"Why do I bother?" Daria deadpanned.
"This happened back when America was all upbeat, clean-cut, and expecting to be blown up any minute," Jane started, "And the family had just built your average bomb shelter in their backyard."
"All right, I'm intrigued, slightly," Daria said sardonically.
"Anyway, this family was admiring the bomb shelter, and feeling falsely safe, but they had this daughter…," Jane said and then looked at Daria with a smirk, "She was a lot like you," she teased.
"Oh, am I now in the story? Remind me to collect royalties," Daria said dryly.
"So, she brings up that the cold war might end…," Jane said.
"Might?" Daria questioned, "Have you paid any attention in History?"
"I'm telling the story from the fifties point of view," Jane said, glaring at her. "Anyhow, it causes the father to freak out that he might look like an idiot for building it, and she teases her sister about the end of the world and stuff," she said.
"Sounds familiar; I want a big payout," Daria stated.
"Well, time passes and everyone forgot about getting blown up…everyone except that girl," Jane said, "She knew that life was going to go on and she wanted to get the hell out of Lawndale; if she wasn't going to get blown up, she had only one other option left for getting out."
"College," Daria said.
"Right. So one day, she sat down to write an early admissions essay; it had to be in the mail the next morning," Jane said, "She was trying to work in her room, but she was having a hard time getting some peace and quiet, soooo…."
"The bomb shelter," Daria suggested dully.
"Yes, the little house that paranoia built," Jane said, "She settled there to finish her essay."
"Is that it?" Daria asked feigning a yawn.
"No," Jane said annoyed. "Well, the girl fell asleep, and wasn't told that her father was going to build a concrete barbeque grill over it."
"Well, won't she be surprised," Daria said.
"That would be putting it lightly," Jane said, "She woke too late and no one knew that she was down there, otherwise, I doubt if they would've entombed her."
"Obviously, unless you make this girl like Quinn," Daria said.
Jane smirked, "True, but the girl was trapped now, and well, there was plenty of food, but the greatest of irony…no can opener."
"Isn't there another show with that kind of ending, except with books and glasses?" Daria asked.
"Yeah, but she had her glasses," Jane teased.
"So you are modeling this girl after me," Daria said, an eyebrow raised.
"Anyway, it then dawned on her, not only could she starve to death, she might never, ever get out of Lawndale," Jane said. "So the grill was finished, and no one really wondered where the girl had gone…she didn't fit into the American dream or whatever."
"Well, of course, no loss there," Daria said, slightly annoyed.
"Time passed and the family moved away and other families moved in. The wheel of life turned, but it had a major stick in the spokes," Jane said, "You see, the vengeful spirit of that girl remains there still, exacting her terrible retribution on the living and those not yet born."
"How so?" Daria asked.
"She makes sure that any students living there fail their homework assignments, because if she can't leave this godforsaken town and go to college, no one will," Jane said, adding an evil cackle.
Daria rolled her eyes, and started walking back to the car, "Oh, come on," she said incredulously.
"Scoff if you will, but every kid who's lived in the House of Bad Grades since is working minimum wage in Lawndale to this day. What do you say to that?" Jane said smugly.
"Scoff," Daria said.
Jane shrugged and followed her.
Jake and Trent had given up on the car and were just leaning against it. Jake had a miserable look on his face.
Daria felt sorry for him.
"So, Trent, what's with the car?" Jane said leaning against the car next to him.
"Needs more time," Trent said.
Jake sighed heavily. Daria walked up to him and was about to speak, but Jake looked up and glanced past her. He started waving.
"Quinn! Quinn! Over here! Quinn! Quinn! Honey, I was so worried!" Jake called, relieved.
Daria frowned and looked at Jane. "This spirit, does she also possess fathers and turn them into public embarrassments?" she inquired.
Jane looked past Daria, too. "Wait. That is Quinn," she said surprised.
"There goes my new sewing room," Daria quipped and turned to see Quinn and the rest of the Fashion Club.
"Dad, it's you," Quinn said walking over to him, but then noticed Daria, Jane, and Trent, "…And some people, um, anyway, gotta go," she said and kept walking.
"But how will you get home?" Jake asked confused.
"Duh, dad, we're only two blocks away, bye," Quinn said leading her friends away.
"Gee, Quinn, what was your father and that girl who lives with you doing with that car?" Daria heard Sandi ask.
"What girl? I didn't see any girl," Quinn said quickly.
Daria shook her head; she was used to that by now.
Jake looked up the block, "Two blocks?"
"Why didn't you realize that?" Jane asked Daria.
"I don't know. Is that the House of Deteriorating Senses of Direction?" Daria said pointing to a random house.
Jane smirked.
"Guess we might as well start walking," Trent said.
"What about your car?" Daria asked.
"It'll be there in the morning. No one ever steals it; don't know why," Trent said nonchalantly.
The four started walking. Trent had headed back to the Lane house. Jane stayed with Daria and Jake.
"So, joining us for dinner tonight, Jane-o?" Jake asked as they reached the house.
"Uh, yeah, sure," Jane said unsurely.
"Well, I'd better start on the lasagna before your mom gets home," Jake said to Daria and rushed into the house.
Daria and Jane stood on the stoop.
"Making good on the deal?" Daria asked.
"I don't have to if it makes you uncomfortable. I just really wanted to hang out with you," Jane said awkwardly, "I could go," she suggested.
"No. It's fine. Anyway, we should talk, I've missed hanging out, too," Daria relented.
They sat down, keeping some distance between them.
"So…?" Jane said looking at her hands.
"Yeah," Daria said uncomfortably.
Jane sighed, "All right I'll start. I didn't mean for the kiss to make you uncomfortable around me. I didn't want it to ruin our friendship," she said seriously.
"Well, what did you want it to do? You didn't even stick around to talk about it?" Daria asked incredulously.
"Yeah I know, but I asked you to think about it because I was sure that if we talked right then, you would either reject me straightaway or stop being my friend," Jane admitted. "And, well, you haven't exactly stopped being my friend, but, well, I should know what you think about the other part from the last few days," she said slightly amused.
Daria shrugged. "I guess, and honestly, Jane, there really isn't anything you could do to make me stop being your friend, but I want to know what you really want, because I'm not exactly sure."
Jane looked at the ground. She felt heat rise in her cheeks and her heart race.
"I want to be with you," Jane said seriously.
"Yeah, but Jane you said that after Tom had just ended things with you. How do I know that you weren't just rebounding or whatever," Daria said earnestly.
Jane looked at her, "I'm not. I want to be with you and it's not a desperation thing. I wouldn't do that to you, especially since I know it's hard for you to trust and like people," Jane said. "I would never hurt you that way," she promised.
"I know, well, sort of, but even so…why me?" Daria asked.
"Lots of reasons. Mainly because you understand me, your strong, you take my unintentional crap without making me pay for it, unless I really need to," Jane said, "And it just feels right," she said honestly.
Daria nodded, considering all of it, and dealing with her own surprise.
After a moment, Jane asked, seriously, "So, what do you think about it?"
"I'm not sure, yet," Daria admitted, "I don't want to lose our friendship over this. It means too much to me to sacrifice to teenage hormones."
"Who says you have to sacrifice? I think it would just be a bonus thing," Jane said.
"All right. If I said I didn't want to be with you, what would you do?" Daria challenged.
Jane contemplated it. "Well…I would be let down, but I'd accept it and we'd still be friends," she said honestly.
"Okay, and if I said I wanted to be with you, but we broke up?" Daria asked seriously.
It took Jane a moment before she answered, "Well, I don't see that happening," she stated.
"If it did?" Daria pressed.
Jane sighed, "I don't know. I haven't processed that scenario," she admitted.
"Well, it's something I want to know," Daria said, "It worries me."
Jane took another moment, and then spoke quietly, "I'd probably never speak to you again, although I'd feel like a hypocrite, 'cause I said I'd be friends with Tom. I just can't see us breaking up," she said.
Daria nodded, "I don't want that to happen to us," she said, then after a moment, asked, indignant, "And why would I be any different then Tom?"
Jane smiled, "I didn't love Tom, but I…," she cleared her throat and looked away from Daria, "I could love you and I know you could really break my heart," she confessed.
Daria looked at her surprised.
"Listen, we can drop this. It was just an idea, but obviously you aren't--" Jane started but was cut off when Daria suddenly kissed her on the mouth.
Jane was completely surprised and caught off guard. She figured that this must have been the way that she made Daria feel last time.
Daria pulled away just as quickly as she had initiated the kiss.
Jane was a little disappointed that it was so short, but figured if Daria were accepting her proposal, there would be time to make their kisses longer.
Jane looked at her expectantly, but Daria only looked at the ground.
"Well, I know that kiss was supposed to mean something, but I'm not sure…," Jane started.
"I want us to be together, but I do need time to…get used to it," Daria said and looked at Jane seriously, "I don't want to be public, or at least very public about it."
"Okay, I can understand that. I'm not that confident with it either, but I don't want to hide forever," Jane said.
Daria nodded.
"So…you're my girlfriend, then?" Jane asked trying to suppress a grin.
"Yes," Daria mumbled, a bit embarrassed.
"Huh? I didn't quite catch that," Jane teased.
"You really want to try me, 'cause I can make that last kiss, your last kiss," Daria threatened, but was trying so suppress her own grin.
Jane leant over and kissed Daria. Daria let her although Jane could feel some reluctance.
Daria was the first to pull away. "I don't need my mom to see us. I'm not sure how she would feel just yet," Daria offered as her apology.
Jane nodded, but grinned mischievously, "Well, you do have the coolest room ever, and it is a private room with a door and lock."
"Jane," Daria reprimanded, shy about being alone with Jane like that.
Jane shrugged, "I had to try. Anyway, you do have a TV in the living room," she conceded.
"Thanks," Daria said appreciatively.
Jane knew that it was going to take time, but she didn't mind. This was something that she felt was really worth it.
Jane yawned, "Anyway, tonight was sort of interesting, huh?"
Daria stood and stretched, "Yeah, I guess. I mean, we didn't accomplish much with your brother's car, and I heard two lame horror stories," she said and smiled at Jane.
Jane nodded absently, until she caught what Daria had said.
"Hey," Jane said offended.
"Come on, let's get back inside and make sure that my dad doesn't burn down the house," Daria said pulling Jane to stand.
"Or, gets into an argument with the oven," Jane said.
"Which is likely to happen, whether we're there or not," Daria said, then smiled, "But it could get entertaining?"
"That it could; better then TV," Jane said smiling and followed Daria into the house.
Daria and Jane were lounging in the living room in front of the TV. The front door opened and Helen came in, looking slightly troubled.
"Hello, girls," Helen said as she walked over to them, placing her briefcase on the couch.
"Hi, mom," Daria said.
"Hello, Mrs. Morgendorffer," Jane said.
"Done! Just in time!" the three heard Jake exclaim from the kitchen. Jake then came into the living room. "Hi, honey, see we're all home and about to eat the lasagna that I prepared," he said, "Yep, give old Jake a task and it gets done, by golly!" he said proudly.
"Hmm, I'd better get my car to the shop first thing in the morning," Helen said, ignoring Jake and just as Quinn was coming down the stairs.
"Your car's broken, too? I can't live like this, mother," Quinn said dramatically.
Daria and Jane rolled their eyes.
Helen looked at Jake, an eyebrow raised. "Too?" she questioned.
Jake laughed nervously. "Not that a little auto trouble stopped me from making sure our daughter got home safely, not big Jake Morgendorffer," he said.
Helen nodded, "That's nice, dear. You know, it was the strangest thing. I was at a stoplight on that road near the woods, and I heard this song, but the radio wasn't on," she began contemplative, "And then the door started making the funniest sound. A metallic sound; maybe the door's broken or something. Well, the noise stopped after I drove away, but I think I should still get it looked at."
Daria, Jane, and Jake shared a questioning glance.
Helen looked at them curiously. "What?" she asked.
"They're just being weird, mom," Quinn said irritated, "Anyway, about the car…," she said leading Helen into the kitchen.
"Um, well, lasagna's ready," Jake said nervously and rushed after Helen and Quinn.
Daria and Jane only looked at each other; both contemplating looking at the car.
"Well, I'm starved," Jane decided, "And it's dark outside," she reasoned.
"Ditto," Daria said.
They both stood. Jane walked into the kitchen, but Daria couldn't resist. She walked over to the side window and looked at Helen's car. She sighed relieved, but remembered that in the story the teeth had been found on the passenger's side. She became thoughtful for a moment, but then her stomach rumbled.
"Boy, that lasagna smells good," Daria said and joined the others in the kitchen.