fardell24

The Morgendorffers were having dinner.

“...So Mack, Kristen and I went to Jennifer's, and I joined the Computer Club. After that we went to Andrea's creepy house...” Quinn began.

“Quinn! That's not nice!” her mother, Helen said. 'Why would a house be creepy anyway?' she thought.

“It was creepy!” Quinn said.

“Did it have spirits?” Daria asked. 'She would be one to be frightened of the possibility of such spectres,' she thought.

“I did ask Andrea if there was a ghost, but she didn't answer,” Quinn said, giving a nervous laugh.

“Go on, sweetie,” Helen said.

“Anyway I filled out this form and Andrea said I am now a probationary member,” Quinn said.

“Anything else?” Helen asked.

“I was invited to join the Fashion Club, but I turned them down. The President seemed rather belligerent. While I like to dress nice, unlike you, Daria, I am not interested in fashion.”

“I dress this way because it feels comfortable!” Daria shot back.

“Dar-i-a! You can dress nice and be comfortable!”

“Any other invitations?” Helen asked, hoping that Quinn would continue to tell her and Jake about her day rather than continuing to antagonise Daria (although the antagonising behaviour was usually mutual).

“Right,” Quinn said, changing tack. “Well, there was the pep squad, the Anime Club and the Ham Radio Club, that is about it.”

“As long as you can join them later, if you want,” Helen said. “You never know, how much we can handle until we try, though,” she continued.

'Like I'd want to join the pep squad, or the Ham Radio Club. They are seriously behind the times! I will have to think about the Anime Club though,' Quinn thought.

“What about you, Daria. How was your first day?” Jake asked.

“Well, my history teacher hates me because I know all the answers, but there are some interesting idiots in my class.”

“That's great!” Jake said.

“Jake!” Helen shouted. She did not want her husband condoning her older daughter's disdain of her classmates.

Jake tried to recover “I mean...”

“Daria, your father's trying to tell you not to judge people until you know them. You're in a brand-new school in a brand-new town. You don't want it to be Highland all over again.” 'I hope she doesn't hang out with anyone like that Duo again...'

“Not much chance of that happening... unless there's uranium in the drinking water here, too,” Daria said.

“I'm talking about you making a friend or two. Don't be so critical. Give people the benefit of the doubt.” Helen said.

'Mom, you're talking to Daria. She doesn't give people the benefit of the doubt,' Quinn thought.

“It all boils down to trust,” Daria said.

“Exactly. It all boils down to trust. Show a little trust,” Helen said.

Daria was about to say something in response when the phone rang.

“I hope that isn't the Chess Club again,” Quinn said. The Chess Club had called three times before Keith had picked Kristen up.

Helen picked up the phone. “Hello?” A pause. “Uh, yes, she's my daughter.” Another pause. “I see. Listen, will this require any parent-teacher conferences or anything, and if so, is this the sort of thing my assistant can handle?” Another pause. “Okay, great. Bye!” She hung up.

“You girls took a psychological test at school today?”

“Yes. What of it?” Quinn responded.

Helen turned her attention to Daria. “Daria, they want you to take a special class for a few weeks, then they'll test you again.”

“What?” Quinn wondered.

“It seems that she has low self-esteem,” Helen said.

“What?! That really stinks, Daria!” Jake said.

“Easy, Jake. Focus.” She turned her attention back to Daria. “We tell you over and over again that you're wonderful and you just... don't... get it!” Helen said, slamming her fist angrily on the table. “What's wrong with you?!”

“Is she going to have, like, a breakdown or something?” Quinn asked., with a little concern. 'We may not get along, but we are sisters,' she thought.
“Don't worry. I don't have low self-esteem. It's a mistake,” Daria said.

“I'll say,” Jake said.

“Definitely,” Quinn said.

“I have low esteem for everyone else,” Daria said.

'Maybe, Daria, maybe.'

Tuesday, September 21, 2005
10 minutes prior to Homeroom, Jennifer Burns entered the office carrying Quinn's application form.
“Hi, I'm handing in a filled in application form for the Computer Club,” she said to the receptionist as she handed it over.

The receptionist placed the form in the IN tray. “Wait a moment, Ms Burns,” she said. Jennifer sighed. She knew where this was going...

“Here you are, Jennifer Burns. You have been re-entered into the Esteem-a-Teen class. It starts 3:30 at the usual classroom. Mr O'Neill will be taking attendance,” the receptionist said.

She then printed out Jennifer's new timetable and handed it to her.

“Thanks,” Jennifer said, as she left the office. 'It's a mistake. I don't have low self-esteem. I have low esteem for the system at this mis-run high school,' she thought.

Andrea Hecuba passed Jennifer Burns as she entered the office, carrying Quinn's application form. “I'm handing in a filled in application for Probationary membership in the Programming Club,” she said, handing it over.

“Thank you,” the receptionist said, placing the form on top of the form that Jennifer had handed in two minutes prior.

“That's strange, I don't remember adding Dewey Rogers as Vice-President,” the receptionist said, as she looked at the Programming Club information. She then looked like she was in thought.

“Interesting,” Andrea said, enigmatically.

“Someone else may have entered it,” the receptionist said, showing some confusion in her voice.

“I am sure of that,” Andrea said, flatly, as she turned to leave the office.

Lunch time. Sandi Griffin entered the cafeteria and looked around. 'That Morgengeeker is just as popular as yesterday! She has single handedly turned everything upside down!' she thought. 'Right, time to change things back!' She saw Tiffany and Stacy sitting at a table near the gaggle surrounding Quinn.

“Tiffany, Stacy, something is rotten in the state of Lawndale High,” Sandi said as she put her food down. 'A bit dramatic, but it is the truth,' she thought.

“Huh?” Tiffany asked.

“What do you mean?” Stacy asked, recognising the Shakespeare reference.

“I mean that new girl has, like, turned everything upside down. She is popular despite her being a geek! We need to, like, put her in her place, before previously unpopular people become popular as a result of her example,” Sandi said.

“Ok,” Stacy said, not sure what Sandi had in mind. She watched Sandi eat up her food at a high speed.

When she had finished eating Sandi got up. “Come on, We're going to put that geek in her place.”

“Are you sure that's a good idea?” Stacy asked.

“Sta-cy!” Sandi said, glaring back.

“Eep!”

“...And so Joey asked me what Linux was and I gave him a simple explanation, but he still didn't understand. But I could see that he would like to know, so I offered to tutor him in Computer Studies,” Quinn said.

“And his being cute and on the football team doesn't enter into it?” Brooke Danielson asked.

“Maybe. Wait, he's on the football team?” Quinn asked.

“You didn't know?” Cindy asked.

“He probably forgot to tell me. I am new here, after all,” Quinn said.

“True, but what did he say?” Kristen asked.

“He said that he would think about it,” Quinn said. Sandi then made her move.

“Quinn Morgendorffer! Enough is enough!” Sandi said.

Quinn stood up. “What's your problem? I am not joining the Fashion Club! I have joined the Computer and Programming Clubs. If I want to join another club it would be the Anime Club, not something so shallow!” she said quickly (not allowing Sandi to get a word in).

“Geeks should not be popular! They are so nerdy!” Sandi said. “Why is she popular? Is it because she is cute? Sure she is cute, but it doesn't make up for her geekiness.”

“She is popular because she is an interesting person,” Brooke said.

“Her cuteness does make up for any geekiness.” Jamie White said.
“Are you jealous?” Quinn asked, something about Sandi's demeanour didn't add up for her.

“No! I am not jealous!” Sandi said, even though she was (and wouldn't admit it).

“Why are you confronting Quinn about her popularity then?” Cindy asked.

“Yeah? Why?” Quinn asked.

…

An argument ensued, and five minutes later a red faced Sandi walked away seething. Most of the freshmen had supported Quinn against her arguments. “You haven't heard the last of this, Qui-inn Geekendorffer!” She stalked away, Stacy and Tiffany following meekly behind her. 'I hope this hasn't affect my popularity.' she thought.

“That was weird. What is up with her anyway?” Quinn asked her friends, confused.

“She has always been rather tough to get along with,” Kristen said.

“They say that her mom is a control freak. It appears that she is becoming one too,” Cindy said.

“That doesn't explain it all,” Quinn said.

“Stress, probably,” Brooke said.

“Maybe. I know Stacy's name, but who is the other one?” Quinn asked.

“Tiffany Blum-Deckler. She seems slow, but is popular by her association with Sandi,” Kristen said.

“You don't really know her, do you?” Quinn asked.

Kristen sighed. “No,” she admitted. “But then, hardly anyone here does. You would have to talk to Stacy. If you can get her away from Sandi that is,” she continued.

“What of Stacy, then?” Quinn asked, curious.

Jennifer entered the classroom where the Esteem-a-Teen class was held and sat at her usual (by now) place next to Jane Lane. Soon afterwards two new students entered. The first was a shaggy haired boy. He sat to the left of 'The Head' (She wasn't sure of his real name. It was one of those names that wasn't easy to remember. Everyone called him 'The Head' for the MTV character emblazoned on the shirts that he wore to school). The second was Daria. She smirked, remembering the previous day's history class and then telling Quinn about the events.
'There has to be a story about why she is here,' she thought.

Mr O'Neill began taking attendance, starting with her.
“Jennifer Burns?” he asked.

“I'm here,” she said. She wondered why he had started taking attendance. 'No one has truanted the first session before, as far as I know,' she thought.
“Jane Lane?”

“Yo!”

“Daria Morgendorffer?”

“Esteem... a teen. They don't really rhyme, do they? The sounds don't quite mesh. And that, in fact, is often the case when it comes to a teen and esteem. The two just don't seem to go together. But we are here to begin realizing your actuality... “ Mr O'Neill began.

However, Daria interrupted. “Excuse me. I have a question.”

'This is new. Good on you, Daria,' Jennifer thought.

“Sorry, question and answer time is later.”

“I want to know what 'realizing your actuality' means,” Daria said.

'You and I, both,” Jennifer thought, with an inward laugh.

“It means... look, just let me get through this part, okay? Then there'll be a video!”

“He doesn't know what it means. He's got the speech memorized. Just enjoy the nice man's soothing voice,” Jane said, to Daria.

'Someone had to answer her, I guess,' Jennifer thought. She knew that Jane didn't have any friends in the school.

“How am I supposed to follow him if I don't know what he's talking about?” Daria asked Jane.

“I can fill you in later. I've taken this course six times,” Jane said.

“Ok,” Daria said.

Jennifer then listened as Mr O'Neill droned on.

Mack's Valiant once again pulled up in front of Andrea's house and Quinn got out. “Thank's, Mack,” she said. Once the car had driven away, she turned to face the house. “It looks just as creepy as yesterday!” she said. She then went through the front gate and went to ring the doorbell. 'I hope she isn't watching another movie like yesterday,' she thought.

“Why did you agree to take Quinn to Andrea's, Mack?” Jodie asked as Mack turned a corner from Andrea's street into the direction of the Landon's house.

“I'm doing a favour for her. She seems nice,” Mack said. Jodie looked at him.

“Don't worry. You're the girl for me,” Mack said. 'You have nothing to worry about, you're the girl of my dreams,' he thought.
“Good,” Jodie said, smiling.

Andrea came to the door and let Quinn in.

“You brought your laptop with you, good. We'll do the test up in my room,” Andrea said.

“I take it everywhere,” Quinn said as Andrea closed the door behind her.

“Ok,” Andrea said.

Andrea's room looked the same as the day before. Quinn placed her laptop on Andrea's work bench and started it.

“Multi-boot, cool,” Andrea said.

“Yeah, 2 Linux distributions and 2 versions of Windows,” Quinn said, selecting the Windows 98 Second Edition option.

“Here is your objective,” Andrea said, handing Quinn a sheet with instructions.

Quinn read it over. After she was sure she understood it she put it down next to the laptop and opened the BASIC IDE. “Cool,” she said.

Jennifer walked out of the Self-Esteem Class. 'That was a waste of time as usual,' she thought. She stood to the side of the door.

Daria and Jane exited the classroom ahead of 'The Head' and the shaggy haired boy. “Jane, Daria,” Jennifer called as they walked by her.

“Did you hear something?” Daria asked Jane.

“Here,” Jennifer said, waving slightly.

“What do you want?” Daria asked.

“I was wondering if you'd like a lift home or something,” Jennifer said, softly. 'Unlikely but other unlikely things have happened this week. Like a popular geek.'

“Did that sound like what I thought it sounded like?” Jane asked.

“Yes,” Jennifer said. Unlike what most people at the school thought she did have a few friends, but they weren't particularly close friends. 'This is an opportunity. Quinn seems nice, and Jane is misunderstood by everyone,' she thought. She didn't know what to think of Daria though. 'She is an enigma.

“We could get home sooner,” Jane said, to Daria.

“Ok,” Daria said.

“Where are we going?” Jennifer asked as she drove her blue VW Beetle out of the Lawndale High parking lot.

“111 Howard Drive,” Jane said.

“And you, Daria?” Jennifer asked.

“I'll visit Jane,” Daria said, in a monotone.

“Thanks, Amiga,” Jane said.

“And in the class after the role-playing the boys and girls are separated and a female teacher talks to us about body image,” Jennifer said.

“What do they talk to the boys about?” Daria asked, although she knew what they would most likely talk about.

Jane looked at Daria in the seat next to her. “A classroom full of guys and a male teacher?” she asked rhetorically.

Jennifer pulled the car up. “Nocturnal emissions,” all three said (although Daria and Jane's exclamations drowned out Jennifer's). Jennifer then selected first gear and drove off again.

“I don't get it. You both have got the entire course memorised. How come you can't pass the test to get out?” Daria asked.

“I could pass the test, but I like having low self-esteem. It makes me feel special,” Jane said.

“Me too, but I thought that I wouldn't give Ms Li the satisfaction,” Jennifer said, as she turned into Howard Drive.

The Beetle pulled into the driveway of a cream coloured old house with an ill-maintained yard that had an interesting looking ornament in it. Daria could see that the mailbox had Jane's last name on it and that the house was near the end of the street. Jennifer pulled up behind an old blue Plymouth Satellite. “My brother's home,” Jane said, as she got out.

“Brother?” Daria asked.

“His name is Trent. You should meet him,” Jane said, smirking.

“Looks like she's going to try to set you up with him,” Jennifer said, as she got out.

“I hope not,” Daria said, as she clambered out.

“He's asleep,” Jane said as she came down the stairs.

“Asleep?” Daria and Jennifer asked in disbelief.

“He sleeps an average of 15 hours a day. You have to know him for it to make sense,” Jane said. Her eyes then widened.

“What's wrong?” Daria asked.

“The Bank!” Jane said, forebodingly. Jennifer and Daria looked outside. Two tall well built men had pulled up near the letter box and were walking up the path.

“They're foreclosing?” Daria asked.

“Not if I can help it!” Jane said. Jennifer slammed the door and locked it. “That's not going to hold for long. Try to hold them off, whilst I try to find a chequebook and forge my Mom's signature,” Jane said.

Jennifer leaned against the door. “Your Mom's not here?” she asked.

“She's in Kenya, or is it Uganda? One of those East African nations anyway. She is studying native pottery,” Jane said.

“What of your father?” Daria asked.

“He's taking photos in Namibia or Angola, or was it Botswana or even South Africa? Somewhere there,” Jane said, as she dashed off. Then the suits knocked on the door.

“This is not good!” Jennifer said, not so relaxed as usual.

“I hope the other doors are locked,” Daria said.

Jane locked the door from the garage into the kitchen and then ran and locked the back door. She shook her head. She knew that the other members of Trent's band, Mystik Spiral, had forgotten to lock the doors after their practice that morning.

The door was moving back and forth. “They're trying to break the lock!” Jennifer said.

“We're going to need a chair,” Daria said.

“You can get it. I think I'm stronger,” Jennifer said.

“You may be right,” Daria said, she then went towards the kitchen.

Jane was rummaging in the her parent's bedroom for a chequebook. So far she had emptied all the drawers onto the bed. 'One has to be here! I don't think they would put it up in the attic.

Daria returned with a chair and placed it under the knob. “Good, they are getting more restless,” Jennifer said. They both could hear rather descriptive expletives being yelled.
Jane finally found the chequebook at the back of the top shelf at the back of the walk in closet. “I don't know why they left it up there,” she said as she forged her mother's signature on one of the cheques. She then went to see how Daria and Jennifer's efforts were holding up.
The door was bulging when Jane jogged up to it. The handle was cracking as the goons tried to push the door despite the chair and the efforts of Daria and Jennifer.

“I've 3 signed cheques, but how are we going to give it to them without them giving the foreclosure order?” Jane asked.

“Go out a window?” Daria pondered.

“Good idea,” Jane said. She opened the window to the right of the door...

10 minutes later the 3 new friends were relaxing in the kitchen. “It's fortunate that you did offer to take us home, Jennifer. I would have had a very nasty surprise when I got home,” Jane said.

“You're welcome,” Jennifer said.

“Was an interesting experience, to be sure,” Daria said.

“Daria, would you like to come with me to pick up your sister from Andrea's? I don't want to go to her house alone,” Jennifer said.

“You think that Andrea's house is creepy too?” Daria asked.

“It is very creepy,” Jennifer said.

“Bad enough that Quinn thinks its creepy, but you too?” Daria asked, for clarification.

“Amiga, you haven't been there. It has a creepiness that one cannot describe!” Jane said, shivering.

Daria turned to Jennifer. “I'll come with, but why are you picking up Quinn?” she asked.

“I would like to get to know her better,” Jennifer said.

“I guess so,” Daria said.

Jane waved as the blue Beetle drove off. 'Who knew that Jennifer was actually interesting once you got to know her,' she thought. She turned to go back inside and saw Trent coming down the stairs.

“Hey, Janie. How was school?” he asked.

“I met a new friend, Daria. She has just arrived in Lawndale. You'd like her. I also made friends with someone else whom I'd hadn't considered, Jennifer. I think she has been to some of your gigs,” Jane said.

“Cool,” Trent said.

“Quite an interesting situation back there, don't you think, Daria?” Jennifer asked. 'She may seem antisocial, but she's actually shy,' she thought.

“It's an inspiration for my writing,” Daria said.

That piqued Jennifer's interest. “You write stories?”

“Amongst other hobbies, yes,” Daria said.

“Cool,” Jennifer said.

Daria and Jennifer walked up the Hecuba's front path. Jennifer rang the door bell. “I admit, it does look slightly creepy,” Daria admitted.

“The outside is nothing compared to the inside, particularly the upper story,” Jennifer said, quietly.

“Ok,” Daria said.

“Almost done,” Quinn said.

Andrea looked over Quinn's shoulder at the code. “Very good, Quinn,” she said. The doorbell rang.

“I'll be right back,” she said, with slight irritation.

“Ok,” Quinn said.

Andrea opened the door. “Who are you?” she asked, looking at Daria.

“Daria Morgendorffer, Quinn's sister. I'm in some of your classes,” she said. 'She is quite bruesque, isn't she?' she thoguht.

“You know me,” Jennifer said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You're Quinn's ride?” Andrea asked.

“Yes,” Jennifer said.

“Oh, come right in,” Andrea said.

“You can wait here, or you can come up to my room,” Andrea said, when she had closed the door.

“I'll go up,” Daria said.

“I will too,” Jennifer said, with a shudder. 'I wouldn't stay down here alone if you paid me a hundred bucks!' she thought, she stayed close behind Daria.

“Done, and ready to run,” Quinn said. She then saw Daria enter the room after Andrea and followed by Jennifer. “Dar-i-a! Do you have to ruin everything?” she asked. 'Although that is an exaggeration she thought.

Andrea raised an eyebrow. 'Hyperbole much?' she thought.

“Just hitching a ride with Jennifer. It seems you are too,” Daria said.

Quinn looked at Jennifer. “Thanks,” she said. She then turned to Andrea. “I'm ready,” she said.

“Cool. Then run it,” Andrea said.

340 Run
A kaleidoscope of colour erupted across the monitor.

“Very good, Quinn. You get an A for BASIC,” Andrea said.

“Yes!” Quinn said, jumping.

“Be sure to be here tomorrow for C++ before 4:00,” Andrea said.

Quinn looked nervous “Um, could we do VBScript tomorrow?” she asked.

“No, VBScript on Thursday. C++ tomorrow,” Andrea stated.

“Ok,” Quinn said.

“Where is the car?” Quinn asked as she, Daria and Jennifer got off the Hecuba's front porch, after they had said goodbye to Andrea.

“There,” Jennifer said, pointing to her car.

“A Beetle!” Quinn exclaimed. 'That is not good taste, and I don't get the 'it's not a car, its a time machine' argument.'

“What wrong with that?” Jennifer asked.

“It's old!” Quinn said.

“It was all I could afford,” Jennifer said.

“Sorry,” Quinn said, as she came up to said VW. 'I change my mind. She could have gotten something much worse,' she thought.

“Apology accepted,” Jennifer said.

“Where to?” Jennifer said, as she started the engine.

“1111 Glen Oaks Lane,” Daria said.

“Actually, we need to stop by the Mall. I need to get a book on C++,” Quinn said.

“What about the internet?” Daria asked.

“Dar-i-a! There is only so much help Google or Wikipedia can give a person! A book is so much easier,” Quinn said.

“Ok, but straight in and straight out, and the Books by the Ton had better have a book on C++!” Daria said.

“Ok, the Mall and then Glen Oaks Lane,” Jennifer said as she pulled away from the curb.