Chapter 7: Daria Digs
Daria checked her appearance carefully in the mirror before going into the crowded gymnasium the next evening. She tied the nondescript black scarf tighter under her chin after tucking stray strands of auburn hair under it. She had managed to find a hat which included an attached scarf in a pile of Quinn's fashion don'ts, examples from a project Quinn had done in middle school. Daria fluffed the scarf up and out to cover more of her cheeks.
The major problem was, of course, her eyeglasses. Daria had tried to find clip-on sunglasses to cover her wide, round lenses but none in the drugstores were wide enough, all leaving a large crescent of glass exposed under their dark expenses. The effect was more attention-getting than disguising. Not wearing her glasses was not an option if Daria wanted to see anything on court or, indeed, to walk around without posing a danger to herself or anyone in her vicinity.
Still, the wide-brimmed black hat with matching attached scarf covered much of her face and shaded her glasses. She sported a shapeless bulky green sweater, scored as well from Quinn's reject bin. Black jeans encased her legs.
She moved carefully out of the girl's room after a quick peek out the door to make sure the hall was clear. The varsity game would start in a few minutes and most spectators had taken their seats. Just like watching Jane's badminton match, Daria found an inconspicuous spot on the bleachers and settled down, a program providing extra cover as she occasionally held it close for study.
The varsity volleyball teams for Lawndale and Briarwood were warming up. Mai and Pris were lobbing balls at each other or talking with Coach Morris.
"Hi, you're Daria, right?" Daria later gave herself credit for not jumping out of her seat as a perky voice addressed her. Mai's friend, Siobhan, sat down next to her and turned her attention on the court as well.
"No no, I'm her cousin, Quinn."
Siobhan chuckled drily. "Yeah, that's a funny joke you guys pull sometimes. I think you got that Griffin girl going, though. Jeez, speaking of your sister, Quinn and that art girl really steamroll the rest of us at badminton, 'cept Tori and what's-her-name Griffin."
Siobhan studied Daria's clothes and hat and said observationally, "You sort of look like my cousin's Russian grandmother."
"I got O'Neill's dumb-o window flower box essay done," Siobhan said conversationally, "So I thought I'd come watch 'em play. Mai and Pris are really good but, God, just standing in the gym in one little rectangle for so long? You can't feel the wind in your hair or your legs pumping for more than a few steps. Borrr-ing."
"Their shorts are so-short." Daria attempted to say conversationally.
Siobhan shot her a sideways glance and sucked her lips. "Yeah, Pris said she tried to practice in basketball shorts once and would never do it again. Mai agreed completely. They said long shorts get caught in the net and foul you-or whatever they call it. And they just can't move right in anything longer."
She paused, "Personally, I think it's Li's way to increase the pervert attendance."
Daria glanced around as the team captains listened to a referee. Everyone else there seemed to be family of a player from Briarwood or Lawndale, from moms and dads to utterly bored younger siblings. The exception was a ginger-haired boy from her class sitting in a good spot and attempting to maintain as low profile a profile as Daria. Daria tried to see if anyone in the audience looked like they might be Mai's family. She had no way of telling really but she didn't think they were in attendance.
"Hey Daria," the voice from her side opposite Siobhan froze her. "Hey, uh, Daria's other friend."
Daria turned her head as Trent Lane sauntered over and sit down. Now her possibilities of a low profile escape were greatly lessened, sandwiched as she was between Trent and Siobhan.
"Eap," Daria squeaked in the highest register she was capable of.
Siobhan glanced at her sideways again, then extended her hand across Daria. "Hi, I'm Siobhan Ogden."
Trent stared at her hand a moment before he appeared to remember that the gesture merited a response.
He shook her hand slowly, "Trent Lane."
Daria was relieved Siobhan did not gush, "Trent Lane?! The Trent Lane?"
Siobhan cast her another glance, "Um, you might want to take off that hat thing. You look kind of hot and it only gets hotter and closer in here with the lights and all the people."
Daria decided her disguise was useless since Siobhan and Trent had penetrated it easily and no one in the audience was familiar to her. She didn't care about the ginger-haired boy who was intently looking back and forth from his program to the girls on the gym floor. Daria took off the scarf/hat get-up and wiped sweat from her cheek and brow with a scarf flap.
Trent leaned back against the row behind them. Siobhan was watching the Lawndale players in conference with Coach Morris.
"Mai looks a little out of it tonight." Siobhan mused. She stood up and yelled, "Go Mai! Go Pris! Lawndale Lions! Whoo-hoo." She waved her arms in encouragement.
Daria cringed, but no one turned to look at her or her cheering row mate. A good many Lawndale fans started their own cheers and waved yellow and blue pennants. Briarwood parents responded good-naturedly.
Mai searched the audience and smiled widely as she sighted Siobhan and Daria. She perked up as Daria managed a small wave.
Mercifully for Daria, the game started and she found it as mesmerizing as badminton. Daria realized early on that she had a long way to go to be anywhere near the level of the players on the floor. She smiled inside at every good move Mai made but otherwise was as silent as Siobhan was loud. Siobhan cheered and stamped her feet bringing out loud responses from the assembled crowd. Trent leaned back and occasionally added a "Nice." or "Too bad."
Even with home court advantage and enthusiastic cheering, the Lawndale team went under by two points. As Daria watched somewhat incredulously, the panting girls formed two rows on the floor and patted or clasped each other's hands. More than a few hugged opposing players. She would not be surprised if they made pizza appointments for after the game.
Daria was used to football games in Highland or the few games in Lawndale her father dragged her too on occasion. Players-winning or losing-only grudgingly shook their opponent's hands and appeared to be close to fisticuffs.
Daria's mother tsk-tsked but she was happy to have the steady profit Jake made from betting on high-school football. Jake would bet against the home team if he felt that was the winning edge and then cheer lustily at the game for them to win. When they lost he would happily and quietly collect his winnings, one of the traits which Daria admired about her father. She made a decision then that maybe going to football games wasn't so bad, if she could get betting tips from her dad. Or, she smiled slightly, maybe she could become a girls' volleyball shark.
"Girls' volleyball." Trent concluded with a wisp of smile playing at the wisps of his beard. "Night Daria, night Siobhan." He ambled off.
"They lost," Daria said unnecessarily as she and Siobhan joined the crowd slowly filtering out.
"Yeah, you win some, you lose some," Siobhan summarized. "We're actually better than Briarwood but some nights you just don't got it in you, ya know? We've still got a great record."
Siobhan appeared to think a moment before proposing, "Hey, wanna come to Cluster Burger with me to console the poor losers?"
Daria suppressed a small shudder. "No, no, thanks, some other time, but I have to go finish O'Neill's flower box essay myself and then tuck the badminton queen into bed."
"Yeah, some other time," Siobhan nodded and regarded Daria more closely than necessary, Daria thought. "I think Mai was happy to see you here tonight. Okay, see ya."
Siobhan headed off to the vicinity of the locker rooms. Daria emerged into the welcome cool of the parking lot to find her mother waiting for her in the SUV.
AN: Thanks to everyone who has read this far. I originally intended this story to be fast-paced and actually over by the sixth chapter. As I wrote, the minor characters seemed to have more and more to say to me. This chapter, for instance, came to me from Siobhan although it is written from Daria's viewpoint. The chapter with the bumper-sticker was something that came about from Pris. I do know where I'm going with this story and I hope to speed things up after this chapter.
A little word about Mai's buddies: Siobhan and Priscilla. "Siobhan Ogden" is the fanfiction name given to one of the girls on Jane's track team in See Jane Run. "Priscilla" is the fanfiction name for the tall, thin girl apparently new to the school with Daria and Quinn in the very first episode. I've addressed Mai LIng already, as far as I know the name and personality is original to this story.
Again, thanks for reading and I welcome any reviews and suggestions.