Other Fan Fiction ❯ Daria: College Pains ❯ Dealing with Relationships ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: Dealing with Relationships

 

 

Daria got through the week by calling Jane every day after school, Jane made sure she would be home for the phone calls. The weekend meant parties, parties meant people, and people meant hell, according to Daria anyways. Daria had worked on her assignment for Creative Writing and finished her Math homework and was going to take the weekend to veg out.

 

“Come on Daria, Skaz and me are going to the place we ate at before, you can come, we won't you know, be to kissy face.” Daria did not want to go; she had to deal with them trying to choke each other with their tongues for most of the week and wanted a break from it.

 

“I am not leaving this dorm room unless a meteor is going to land on this exact spot and even then I probably won't leave.”

 

“Come on Daria how do you expect to meet a new boyfriend if you don't go out and meet people? If you got a boyfriend then we could double date!” Why Lindsey thought that was a good idea Daria didn't know. “Come on Daria you went to the party last week why won't you go to the Pizza King?”

 

“I went to it and nearly got arrested when the cop pulled us over.

 

“You were not, Skaz was driving, and you weren't drunk, stop exaggerating Daria, you had fun.”

 

“You had fun, you drank, a lot, you danced with Skaz, a lot, I stood in a corner and hoped no one would talk to me.”

 

“Well that's why you didn't have as much fun as I did Daria you have to go out into the crowd, find a cute boy, and get his attention. How do you think you got your boyfriend, Tom, right?” Daria did not want to talk about how she got Tom, especially not to Lindsey.

 

“It doesn't matter I'm not going anywhere this weekend, maybe next weekend.” The same thing she told Jane.

 

“Fine, party pooper.” Lindsey had already changed and was waiting for Skaz to get there. “Well maybe after Pizza King we can come pick you up when we go to the movies, you don't have to sit anywhere near us but still get to see a movie.” Lindsey didn't want Daria to sit around alone, she hated being alone and didn't think Daria would want to be alone all weekend either.

 

“No, I am sitting here and doing whatever I feel like; if I feel like doing nothing then I will do nothing.”

 

“Come on Dars, please?” Lindsey tried batting her eyes at Daria.

 

“No, and call me Dars again I will…” Daria stopped herself; Lindsey took things to literally to say anything to.

 

“Fine, be here alone, see if I care.” Lindsey did care; she wanted to be good friends with Daria since they were living together.

 

“Don't care, have fun with Skaz.” Just go away Daria thought changing the channels looking for anything but repeats. “I have to brainstorm on my Creative Writing homework and want to be alone.”

 

“Well why didn't you just say so? Maybe I can help, what are you writing about?”

 

“Have to make an action story. I'm thinking one based off of Zombie Shooter 2000 so I can make it bloody.” Daria knew Lindsey didn't like Zombie Shooter 2000 so hoped this would keep Lindsey quiet.

 

“Oh well, why not a romantic action story? Like, um, Romeo and Juliet. They had a sword fight in it and that's action.”

 

“No romance, I don't do romance.” Daria knew her teacher would make her write a romantic story for the class. It would be the only bad grade she got since she'd turn in a blank piece of paper. There is a knock at the door.

 

“Oh that must be Skaz!” Lindsey walks over to the door and opens it. “Um, you must have the wrong dorm room.”

 

“Daria? You sure have changed.” The voice gives the person away.

 

“Jane? I said, I said you didn't have to come.” Daria goes to the door and sees Jane, and Andrea! “This is Lindsey, my room mate.”

 

“Hello, which one of you is Jane?” Jane raises her hand. “Daria really misses you! She always says how she wishes you were here so she could talk to you.” Lindsey turns to Andrea. “Nice ring, did it hurt, um, what's your name?”

 

“Andrea, and No.” Andrea looks over Lindsey. “What's with the outfit?”

 

“I'm going out later, Daria, if you had friends coming to see you and that's why you didn't want to come you could of said so.” Lindsey sounds hurt.

 

“I didn't know they were coming.” Daria lets the two in. “I told you I wasn't going anywhere…”

 

“That's why we came up to see you. You're in college, you're supposed to go out and have fun, and when you have the time go to classes.”

 

“I got her to go to a party last weekend but she says she has to do homework.” Lindsey goes over to the mini fridge. “You want something to drink?”

 

“We're fine.” Jane looks around the room. “Luxury at its finest. How much does the five star treatment cost?”

 

“Too much without a scholarship.” Daria goes to her room and comes back with something. “Here you go.” She hands Jane ten dollars.

 

“What's this for?”

 

“The gas you used.” Daria sits down in a lawn chair.

 

“This doesn't cover that.”

 

“I told you not to come so I'm not paying for all of it.” Daria looks around. “We only have two seats, sorry.” There is a knock at the door. “Not now.”

 

“Hey Lindsey, who are your friends?” Skaz waves to the two girls he didn't recognize.

 

“Those are Daria's friends, Jane and Andrea. This is Skaz, my boyfriend.”

 

“Big guy aren't you?” Jane looks up at him. “What are you, a basketball player?”

 

“Nope, sports are a waste of time unless you plan to go pro. I'm guessing Daria hasn't been too nice when talking about me.”

 

“What makes you think I'd waste my time talking about you?”

 

“See?” Jane laughs.

 

“She's been nice, mostly. Says you get on her nerves with how you act around her and Lindsey.”

 

“I guess being a gentlemen in today's day and age can be annoying. Women are taught to be empowered and independent so a guy who pays for food or opens doors is a bad thing.” Skaz smiles at Daria. “I miss anything?”

 

“Aren't you and Lindsey going somewhere Alexandrian?” Daria uses his name to try and get him to leave.

 

“Sure, Lindsey, your chariot awaits.” Skaz holds the door open for Lindsey and follows her out of the dorm room.

 

“Why did you come all the way up here Jane? You'll have enough time to go through Boston once you go to BFAC.” Daria had wanted to relax after a week of classes but it looks like that won't happen.

 

“We wanted to see how you were doing.” Jane sits on the floor between the lawn chairs so Andrea can sit in the other lawn chair. “You could let your guest sit in the lawn chair.”

 

“I didn't invite you, this time. What do you want to do?”

 

“Can we look around the campus? See what I'm not missing out on.” Andrea looks around the room. “Where's your bathroom? Jane didn't want to make any stops on the way here.”

 

“If you miss it don't pee in my room.” Andrea gets up and walks down the hall, she opens the door on the left.

 

“I hope this isn't your room Daria.” Andrea had never been in Daria's room and didn't know what she would have.

 

“You must be at her room. Turn around and you'll find the bathroom.” Andrea does.

 

“Nice, an artist.” Jane had gone back and sees Lindsey's room. “These photos are really good. Why didn't you tell me she was an artist?”

 

“She takes pictures, something I can do, so it's not art.” Daria gets out of the lawn chair. “You probably shouldn't be in there Jane. Lindsey didn't say you could go in there.”

 

“I'm sure she wouldn't mind one artist observing her art.” Jane goes through some pictures when Andrea comes out of the bathroom.

 

“I'm ready, what are you doing?” Andrea walks into Lindsey's room.

 

“Can you get out of her room? If you mess with anything she's going to be mad at me.” Daria walks to Lindsey's room to see Jane and Andrea looking through a photo album. “Jane, put her album back.”

 

“Ok, I'll ask her tomorrow to see some of her other work.” Jane closes the photo album. “Come on Daria I want to see where you learn.”

 

“The TV's in the living room, my computer is in my room.” Daria smiles, she had missed Jane and the surprise after a hard week of school was needed. “Andrea, you're not going to college?”

 

“I don't consider Crownwell Community College a college.”

 

“No dorms or room mates, no parties filled with idiots, sounds better then here.” Daria and the other two leave the dorm room and Daria gives them a tour of the campus.

 

After the tour the three get in Andrea's car. “You couldn't find a pink car you had to go with black?” Daria was getting use to Andrea. Her and Jane seemed to be good friends and Andrea never did get on her nerves so it wasn't that hard to be friendly.

 

“Daria, where's a good place to eat?” They are driving down a road away from the college.

 

“There's a Pizza King in Reno, about five miles west of here.” Daria is in the back seat while Jane and Andrea are in the front seat. Jane leans over to Andrea and whispers something into her ear.

 

They get to the Pizza King and find it is almost empty. “Guess everyone else is out partying, like you should Daria. You're in college, that's what you do in college.”

 

“Did I ever party, willingly, in Lawndale?” Daria made sure to add the `willingly'.

 

“You went to some of Trent's gigs, and you went to Jodie's graduation party.” Andrea comes back after ordering a pizza.

 

“This place is almost empty.” Andrea sits next to Jane.

 

“They're out partying, like I told Daria. What do you think, go to college, go to college parties, have fun.”

 

“Sounds right to me. These people actually choose to go to school so they can't all be brain dead. You should get along with them Daria.”

 

“How would you know? You go to a community college. You don't have to deal with these people all day. Especially Lindsey and Skaz, he's, I don't know what he is.”

 

“Smart? Nice to you? Things you aren't use to guys being?” Andrea hears the bell ring and goes to get the pizza. Daria waits for Andrea to come back with the pizza before answering.

 

“Hey, Mack was nice to me, and he was smart, so was Tom. I don't know what it is about him that rubs me wrong.” Daria grabs a slice. “He wanted to take Lindsey out to eat but she didn't want to go with him alone so she dragged me along. He offered to pay and I said no. He made a big deal out of it. He said he wouldn't let a lady pay. I told him what makes him think I'm a lady and he said, I quote, `It'd be rude to assume you weren't'. Who says things like that?”

 

“Sounds like a guy who grew up without a father. His mom instills the fear of women into him so he treats all women like royalty.” Daria stares at Andrea. “My cousin is like that. If a woman walks in a room he stands up. Was in New York City once and while riding the subway he refused to sit since there was one seat left saying if a woman got on it would save him time giving her the seat.”

 

“Still creepy.” Daria eats a slice when Jane leans over and whispers in Andrea's ear. Andrea shakes her head. “What's going on? Jane, what is it that you can't say in front of me?” Jane had done it in Andrea's car and now here.

 

“Well, can we wait to go back to your dorm? Too many people here.” Daria looks around and sees two people, including workers.

 

“Bullshit, what is it? Jane, we're friends, you're my best friend, what is it? Did Trent die or something and you don't want me to break down in front of people?” She says this jokingly and doesn't like the response.

 

“Not exactly.” Jane looks away from Daria. “How about we take the rest back to your dorm room? We'll tell you then.”

 

“Not exactly?” Daria looks at Jane, then Andrea. “Andrea, are you pregnant with Trent's kid?”

 

“No, it doesn't involve Trent.” Jane and Andrea get out of the booth and get a bag to carry the rest of the pizza in. “Come on Daria.” They leave the Pizza King and Daria follows.

 

“What is it? We're alone in here.” Daria wants to know what is going on even before they get their seat belts on.

 

“We'll tell you Daria stop being such a pain in the ass.”

 

“If it's so important you drove out here then tell me. That is why you drove out here, it is too big to tell me over the phone.”

 

“Well, one of the reasons, but wait. I'm sorry she's acting this way Andrea.”

 

“I'm right here. You'd act this way to if I had something big to tell you and wouldn't. If I drove hundreds of miles just to tell you something then didn't, are you saying you'd sit and twiddle your thumbs?”

 

“I never twiddle my thumbs.” Jane laughs a little. “Please Daria, this is important to me, to tell you. Just wait.” Daria sits back in her seat and remains quiet for the rest of the ride.

 

They get back and go to Daria's dorm room. Daria unlocks the door and they go into the living room. “Ok, we're here, we're alone, what is it?” Daria turns around and sees Jane holding Andrea's hand.

 

“Well, um, Daria, I, well…” Jane can't say it.

 

“We've been dating.” Andrea nudges Jane. “It isn't that embarrassing. You were able to tell Trent with no problems.”

 

“Yeah but, he's my brother, he has to love me.” Andrea rolls her eyes.

 

“Wait, but, what about Tom? Or the guy who wore the Zoot Suits?” Daria is confused. “You told me about the artist who got fresh with you at art camp but you turned her down, right?”

 

“I did, but, well…” Jane looks at the floor. “You don't hate me?”

 

“Why would I hate you?”

 

“Andrea's parents basically disowned her when she told them. And you're, you're not the most liberal person in the world. Since that incident, I pushed it out of my mind, but when you stole Tom from me and I hated both you and Tom, mainly you, and Tom…” Jane continues to ramble.

 

“It's nothing serious we just found the other one to be fun. Both artists, both smart, both having bad experiences with men, not like we'll petition the governor to get married. Jane was making a huge thing out of these feelings but really it's just like having feelings for a guy.”

 

“But, I,” Daria sits down in a lawn chair. “That's it?”

 

“What do you mean that's it? I've been afraid of having my life turned upside down and all you have is that's it?”

 

“Well, I'm not religious or anything Jane. You're my friend, if you do, that, then I'm not going to hate you or anything. I have some questions, like when, how, who? You said you and Andrea became friends after what happened between you and Tom and me, then?”

 

“No, I was too pissed at everything. Andrea wasn't even like this then, well, she was, she just didn't, you know.”

 

“Real literary master isn't she?” Andrea's joke eases the tension.

 

“She listened to me rant and rave about you and how much I hated you and Tom. We patched things up and I kind of ignored her. But then the thing with, you know, and then, well, Andrea?”

 

“Jodie's party was the straw that broke my back. Damn Upchuck, I was amazed he actually hit on me.” The three laugh. “But really I just didn't feel anything. I thought it was him, but I tried with another guy and nothing. Then, Jane called me while you were busy getting ready for College and we started hanging out again. We could talk, we could listen to the same music, do the same things, it just sort of happened.”

 

“This isn't some elaborate joke, is it?” They shake their head. “Wow, but Jane, you've never, I thought we were good friends.”

 

“We are Daria but I didn't want to tell you. Don't worry I never felt like this about you.”

 

“Oh great I'm so ugly neither man nor woman feels attracted to me.” They laugh at the joke. “Not that I could, women are too crazy. It's enough dealing with PMS once a month not to have to deal with it again when the person I'm with goes through it.” They laugh some more. “You really thought I'd hate you?”

 

“She said the same thing about Trent.” Andrea is still holding Jane's hand. “See, she thinks the same thing.”

 

“Jane you're my friend, if I hate you then I'm dead in the water. Who am I going to call when Lindsey annoys the hell out of me? Or her and Skaz are trying to choke each other to death with their tongues?” They laugh again.

 

“I feel stupid now.” Jane looks up from the floor at Daria. “Thanks Daria.”

 

“What do your parents think?”

 

“I'll tell you when I find them. My mom left a note on the counter saying something about moving rocks in Death Valley. Not sure when she left it though, it could be old. Last I heard my dad was in Japan taking pictures of Mount Fuji.”

 

“So, are you gay, or bi, what? I thought you really liked Tom.”

 

“I did, and still do, he's a good friend. And I admit that Skaz guy is cute, but I don't feel about Tom like I do about Andrea.” Jane scratches the back of her neck, she was still nervous Daria would say or do something. “Um, I was wondering if we could crash here tonight. It's a long ass drive and I don't feel like driving back.”

 

“Like you can drive a stick.” Andrea nudges her in the side. And laughs.

 

“I guess, I don't think there is anything against the rules about it. You'll have to sleep on the floor though.” They laugh. “What?”

 

“Never mind, bad joke.” Andrea looks around. “What's there to do in Boston on a Friday night?”

 

“I was going to relax and not do anything while Lindsey was out with Skaz but if you two want to go do something I can probably find where Lindsey is. She said it was at the same place the party was last week.”

 

“Its ok Daria we can stay here. Don't tell Lindsey though, about us. I want to see some of her work without her…” Andrea interrupts Jane.

 

“Jane, it's not the Dark Ages, the church isn't in control anymore. They're to busy raping eight year old Alter Boys to persecute people like us. I doubt Lindsey will come at us with a cross and a bottle of holy water if she knew.” Andrea turns to Daria. “Thanks for letting us stay here Daria. Didn't want to waste money on a hotel.”

 

“We could watch Sick Sad World, saw in the TV listings they have a three hour run going. When Aliens Get Caught Using Drugs At the Olympics, sounds good.” The three hang out watching TV and talking before going to bed. “If she isn't coming home you could stay in her room so you're alone.”

 

“Yeah and have her walk in hammered stepping on us. Daria we'll just sleep on your floor.”

 

“She's probably getting hammered by Skaz.” Jane laughs at the joke, Daria doesn't. “Daria it's what college kids do. If you aren't going to live like a college student you can go to Crownwell Community College and I'll go to Raft. Keep me closer to Jane when she goes to BFAC.”

 

“I came here to learn not get drunk or have sex. My scholarship means I need to keep a B average or higher and I won't waste my time on that.” Daria grabs her sleeping clothes and goes to the bathroom. She brushes her teeth, does the usual going to bed stuff, then changes. She goes back to her room. “Stop that!” Jane and Andrea were on the floor kissing.

 

“I was just kissing her good night. It was a long drive here and I'm tired.” Daria closes the door and goes to her bed. She leans over and turns her lamp off.

 

“If I hear anything you're sleeping in your car.” The two on the floor laugh but soon fall asleep.