There and Back Again
The luggage opened up with a hiss of a zipper, the lid flopping back
with a thump. "Now where is..." the voice murmured as a woman's hands
rummaged through the folded clothes. After a few moments a light brown
shirt came out, then a black skirt. Finally a old green coat was laid
reverently on the bed with the rest of the clothes.
Daria Morgendorffer looked down at the clothes that she had worn through
most of her highschool years and and in a dry tone of voice questioned,
"How the hell did I let myself be talked into this?"
"Because we're both dumb as posts?" the amused voice said from the
cellphone that was sitting nearby on the bed.
"We'd have to be, to agree to go to our highschool reunion," Daria
agreed. "I've got the outfit ready, how about you?"
"Red jacket and all," Jane Lane answered cheerfully. "How's staying with
the parents going?" she asked.
"Don't ask," Daria said flatly.
"They left your room exactly as you left it, didn't they?" Jane noted
perceptively.
"It's a little eerie," Daria agreed, looking around at the padded walls,
old TV and the usual piles of books.
"Tell me about it," Jane agreed, "my room still has my old ‘sexual
frustration' painting leaning against the wall."
"I should steal it and auction it off on Ebay," Daria noted as she
reluctantly removed her contacts, "it'd fetch a pretty penny for those
interested in the early period of your work."
"I'd rather burn it," Lane joked.
"Wimp," Daria smiled slightly.
Since graduation Jane Lane had gone on to become a somewhat successful
artists and graphic designer, her paintings going up in value steadily.
Of course she maintained a day job in advertizing, using her eye for
design to create ads in many major publications. Her parents were proud
of her, if a little startled by her materialistic success.
"So, how's it feel to be writing a syndicated collum, Daria," Jane shot
back, her smirk evident in her voice.
Jane's cheeks colored a little bit. Since leaving college with a degree
in journalism she went to work for a regional paper, her cutting and
sarcastic view of the world soon drawing attention from readers. Her
rare opinion pieces drew strong responces and led to her first getting a
regular byline and more recently a syndicated feature in a growing
number of paper.
"Odd," Daria said, "I'm just glad I haven't let them publish a picture
of me yet. The letters I get from readers are bizzarre, and coming from
me that's saying something."
"Do you think tonight's going to be some kind of fundraiser?" Jane
asked, mercifully changing the subject.
"It's being run by Principal Li," Jane said flatly as she put her lenses
in the case, "of COURSE it's a fundraiser of some kind. I wouldn't be
surprised if we're asked to pay attendance fees at the door."
Jane snickered softly. "I did some checking with local sources," she
confided, "most of the old teachers are still there too."
Daria slipped on her old round glasses, feeling relieved to see the
perscription was still pretty close. "Mr. DeMartino never went ballistic
and shot up the school?" Daria asked, sounding slightly surprised.
"Nope, maybe it'll happen tonight," Jane joked.
"There's something to look forward to," Daria said wryly. She looked at
her watch, "Hate to say it, but we'd better get going."
"Meet you here," Jane agreed and they hung up.
"Hey, kiddo," her father Jake smiled as she walked through the living
room to the front door, "looking good!"
Daria fought back a sigh, "Gee, thanks."
"Daria," her mother came in from the kitchen still in her business suit,
"do you have to wear that?" She sounded serious but there was a teasing
twinkle in her eyes as she said, " It makes such a bad impression."
Daria smiled back slightly, "It's a come as you were party, mom. Not,
come as you'd like to have been." A ghost of a laugh, "Or come as you
mother would have wanted you to be."
"Well, I hope you make a big smash tonight," Jake smiled. "Unlike my own
reunion," his eyes narrowed, "I got showed up by the old quarterback.
Damnit! Stupid quarterbacks!"
"There there Jake," her mother Helen patted him on the shoulder.
"Have a good night," Daria said as she headed out of the house and got
into her car. The 1977 Triumph Spitfire Mark IV Convertible in the lane
was a university graduation gift from her Aunt Amy, and Daria drove it
wherever she could.
The trip over to 111 Howard drive was etched in her memory, and Daria
pulled up as she saw Jane leaving the house, the short black haired
young woman in her old red jacket and black t-shirt and pants.
"What took you?" Jane asked as she got in the passenger side. She pushed
a CD in then raised her eyebrow as Mystik Spiral came on.
"Well, I had to outrun the cops after robbing a bank," Daria replied
entirely deadpan.
"The usual," Jane nodded calmly. "Let's go, Jeeves," she waved.
"Of course sir," Daria faked a British accent as they pulled out on to
the road.
"So, I officially came out to my parents," Jane smiled slightly.
"They were home long enough to do that?" Daria asked. The Lanes' tended
to wander and your chances of finding ANY of them at home was a long
shot.
"Satellite call bounced to Istanbul," Jane said succinctly, "they took
it well, once they remembered who I was."
"Sorry," Daria reached over one handed to squeeze Jane's shoulder.
SCREECH!
"Well," Jane said after Daria regained control of the wheel once more,
"he didn't need that mailbox anyway."
"Shoot me now," Daria sighed.
"Nah, I need you for back up when we get to school," Jane noted. There
was a long moment of silence, "When are you going to tell your parents?"
"Tonight," Daria sighed. "It didn't help that mom was gushing over Tom
being back in town and how I should look him up..."
"He was the last guy you really dated," Jane noted as they passed the
sign to slow down in a school zone.
Daria smiled slightly, "Last guy before you came to my dorm room and
finally had your way with me."
"I had been repressing for years," Jane shrugged, "can you blame me?"
:No," Daria smiled as they reached Lawndale High. She swung around the
school to the parking lot as she added, "I sort of wish we hadn't wasted
so much time."
Jane leaned over to kiss Daria on the cheek, "I'd say we're making up
for it now."
Daria got out of the car then went around to get Jane's door. "Ready to
return to highschool hell?" she asked.
"As long as you're with me," Jane took her hand and squeezed it gently.
"Always," Daria said as they walked to the main building hand in hand.
End.
Notes: Daria and Jane are NOT lesbians in the series, tho they are best
female friends. It's interesting to note that, except for a few bumps,
they've been together nearly continuously in the series and, arguably,
have the closest relationship of any character in the show.
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