"So, how's Jane going now?" asked Tom.
"She's better now. We made her go through desintoxication and rehabilitation. She didn't like it a lot at first but it's being really helpful. Can you believe her parents still have no idea about it?".
"Uh, it doesn't surprise me" he confessed while taking a sip from his soda ". You know, they don't use to be around much".
"Actually, her mom was around a while ago. She didn't stay for a whole day but, you know, it's something, right?".
Tom got up from the floor and went to sit on the chair in front Daria's computer.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. How is it going with Trent?".
"Actually, it's going better than I thought. Don't ever tell him I told you that, but Trent is really lazy and I thought things really couldn't work out. But everything is so... good. I mean it, Tom, I haven't been this happy in a long time".
"I'm glad to hear that" he said with a smile and he meant it ". Do you think you'll tell Jane we're hanging out?".
"Well, Trent took it well but I don't know how would Jane react. I can always tell her that you are gay to make her be sure that I'm not cheating on Trent with you".
"Or you could tell her about Nicole".
"Right, or that. But the gay story could give me more credibility. We could make Nicole become Nicholas in my version of the story".
"Okay" he laughed ". I'm dating Nicholas, then".
"Isn't Nick dreamy?" she said, faking Quinn's voice.
He laughed even more.
"By the way, if I were you I wouldn't worry about Jane thinking you're going to hurt Trent. I know she has her issues with me and us being friends, but even I, that I don't spend as much time with you as she does, know that you love him a lot".
"Thank you" she smiled while saying that, she found it interesting how lately her face was more expressive than it had been before ". But there's something more important that I want her to believe".
"And what is that?".
"After all we've been through" she started while looking at a Sick, Sad World ad on the muted T.V. ", I just really hope she understands how much I love her. You know it isn't something easy for me to say, but I hope my actions made my point clear enough".
"If I got to know Jane well enough during the time we dated, I can be sure about something, and it's that she knows it. She knew it even before all these things happened. Don't ever doubt that she feels the same".
Her eyes got a little watery and then her smile became a laughter.
"Hey, did you ever get to see this tattoo Jane has on her...?".
"Oh, the one she has on her right..." he interrupted.
"So you did see it?" she interrupted too.
They both laughed until the door suddenly opened. Jane Lane, with a smirk, stared at the two teenagers that were inside of the room.
"If you're talking about my tattoo I'll kill both of you".
"Oh... hi, Jane" Tom hesitated.
Jane saw the scared expressions from her friends' faces and laughed.
"Don't freak out, amiga. Trent told me you were hanging out with Tom a couple days ago while I was still at the clinic. I got off today and I'm sober" she said that with an especially wide smile ". I'm going back to school next week. Penny's gonna be pissed when she comes back" she laughed ". My lovely brother threw all the alcohol down the toilet, but hey, it's for the better, right? So, Tom, nice to see you again".
Tom and Daria's faces showed shock. Tom wasn't expecting to see Jane any time soon and Daria wasn't expecting to have Jane visiting her that night at all.
"Hello?" Jane raised an eyebrow ". Hey, I'm not skeletal thin or ghost pale anymore, am I?".
"Uh... we... I wasn't expecting you to be out of the clinic until next week. Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy to see you, it's just..." but Daria was interrupted.
"Weird? C'mon, you guys, I just got out of the clinic. Don't you wanna go to the movies to celebrate or something? Alcohol-free celebration? Pizza and Sick, Sad World marathon?".
Daria and Tom looked at each other. "What the hell?" Their glances said. They got up and Daria got close to Jane to hug her.
"I'm glad you're back" Daria said.
"I'm glad too, amiga" she replied while hugging Daria back" . It wasn't easy, I told you it was hell. God, I even thought about just running away. But I would have missed you and Trent. I would've even missed you, you sweet dumb ex-boyfriend" she smiled at Tom and he smiled back.
"So, are you coming?" The two girls asked looking at Tom.
He smiled and followed Jane and Daria, confused but happy enough not to really care about it.