5: ON THE FIFTH DAY (Try To Understand)

THE BRAIN & THE BEAUTY

First things first: Daria is a trademark of MTV, whatever you

like it or not.

Publishing Corp. & I'll Show You Publishing & Left Right

Left Music, sub published by Bug Music (BMI)

Neil Young's Sample & Hold is (c) Silver Fiddle Music (BMI)

Minotaur Music Ltd., Sony Music Publishing UK, sub

published by Sony Tunes Inc. (ASCAP)

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(ASCAP)

Michael Jones Music (ASCAP)

April Music (ASCAP)

Here before you, is my first Daria hentai (porn) of

shoujo ai (girls loving girls) yuri (lesbian), so if some of you

Daria stalwarts believe that concept of girls making love turns

you off, don't bother. And for those of you that remain.........

behold my dream pairing, since the days of Gystex' The Passion

Club. Keep in mind that Daria and the gal she's earmarked to meet

would NEVER do such a thing, but like they say, never say never....

after all, no one thought a Jane/Quinn pairing was possible, until

along came Pseftis' Mornings Ever After. And how can we forget

LyinTamer's forgettable Night Of The Storm--now THAT (the Daria/

Quinn pairing) is even more unlikely than the one I've got in mind.

One could say that my story is my answer to Night Of The Storm,

but without the incest--but, no...........

Just advice is what I need, not flames. They could help if I should

improve as I go along, eh? When it comes to love, almost

anything is possible.

Anyhow, my story is dedicated to Mike Yamiolkoski, Ruthless Bunny,

Roger E. Moore, Martin J. Pollard, Brandon League, The Waco Kid,

Chris Oakley, and all the other Daria stalwarts that gave their all, or

words to that effect.....

--Ronin

1: ON THE FIRST DAY (A Bet's A Bet)

On the first day of the week, in the halls of Lawndale High, it was

business as usual for The Partners In Crime, a.k.a. Daria and Jane.

"Did you see last night's broadcast of Sick Sad World?" asked Jane.

"You mean the article on lesbians?" said the bespecticled cynic

known as Daria. "Somehow that don't go in well with the stuff we

all knew and loved--cheese fries, video game soundtracks, Sick

Sad World, and glow in the dark stars and galaxies."

"While we're on the subject," said the only friend Daria had, "I

bought up a lot of those stick on glowing stars. I got plenty, so

if you like, I can sell you a hefty quota for your ceiling--I've

already placed several on mine, and it's like sleeping under the

stars."

"Sounds like something Quinn would do. But I'll give it a stab.

How much?"

"For you, true blue, not a thing." assured Jane. "So can you

believe that lesbianism is universal among 48% among

teenage girls per capita?"

"They're all cuckoo," muttered Daria. "Any girl that loves

girls is some kind of nut."

"Like that Alison at the art colony--she almost turned me

into one, given half the chance."

"I remember Alison. She sure came close to seducing you,

if not bringing out the lesbian within you--if any."

Jane frowned. "If you had been in my shoes, she'd

turn you into a lezzie to a tee."

"Wanna bet, funny gal?" said Daria. "Me loving girls?

No way."

Not content with just irking her friend a bit, Jane asked,

"Does that mean you've never kissed a girl? Not in the least

even after you kissed Tom?"

Shooting her partner in crime her meanest look, Daria

stated, "There is NO WAY in hell that I am going to kiss

a girl--not even if my life depends on it, not even if I was

drunk, not even if I was paid to do so, not even if pigs

fly--NOT AT ALL."

"I hear and obey, Mon Capitane. So what do you wanna

do when school's out?"

Thankful that the change in subject had been noted, Daria

replied, "I know they've just opened up that new hotel with

the giant clock tower. They say it's on its way to becoming

the 4th tallest building in Lawndale."

Jane was surprised. "4th tallest building? Did they say what it

was called?"

"The Red Barchetta Hotel."

"We're there, girl."

Inside one of Lawndale High's ladies' bathrooms, Sandi

waited for her fellow Fashion Club minions, a copy of

the latest issue of Waif in one hand. From the hallway,

the sound of Lawndale High's wall speakers, came the

voice of Charles "Upchuck" Ruttheimer III broadcasting

the school's radio program show:

"Helllllllllo, all you dudes an' dudettes in Lawndale High.

Have I got a tune for all you gals that were born to be--

rrrrrrrrrrrr, fiesty--Jill Sobule doin', I Kissed A Girl."

Jenny came over and told me about Fred,

"He's such a hairy behemoth," she said.

"And dumb as a box of hammers,

But he's such a handsome guy".

And I opened up and told her about Larry,

And yesterday how he asked me to marry.

I'm not giving him an answer yet.

I think I can do better....

One by one, Sandi's fashion drones--Quinn,

Stacy and Tiffany--entered the bathroom.

"So, Sandi, what's the big dire dilemma?"

said Quinn.

"And why you called an emergncy meeting?"

said Tiffany.

"And why you said it was a state of

emegency?" said Stacy.

Opening her copy of Waif, Sandi stated dramaticlly,

"It's THE MOST dire moment in our long history. I,

like, just got my latest issue of Waif, and, suddenly,

there was a major article on lesbians; according to

the report, lesbianism is universal among 48% among

teenage girls per capita. It's even worse in Lawndale's

teenage girl community."

"EW!!" said Stacy. "And you think there may be some in

Lawndale High?"

"Brr," said Tiffany. "Lesbians in Lawndale.......it's SO WRONG."

So we laughed, compared notes....

We had a drink; we had a smoke,

She took off her overcoat....

I kissed a girl.

"Just a moment!!" said Quinn. "You don't think there may be a

lesbian in The Fashion Club?"

"I hope not," said Sandi. Even so, her eyes still drifted from

one girl to another. "And yet, I still ain't convinced."

"It can't be me!!" said Stacy. "What girl in her right mind would

love a crybaby like me?"

"Can't be me, " said Tiffany. "People say I am so clueless and vapid."

"Well, it sure couldn't be me!!" said Quinn. "Not with all the guys I

date!!"

"You don't know that," said Sandi. "I bet you're a bi on the side,

meanin' you love both girls an' boys. And I wouldn't doubt it, huh,

Quinn? You're S-O---------beautiful, you could make.....sigh.....

anyone, girl or boy melt, with your long red hair, your sweet mouth,

those entrancing brown eyes, your enticing face, and your gorgeous

body......."

She called home to say she'd be late.

He said, he worried but now he feels safe,

"I'm glad you're with your girlfriend,

Tell her 'Hi' for me."

Then I looked at you,

You had guilt in you eyes,

But it only lasted a little while.....

And then I felt your hand above my knee.

"Now THAT I wouldn't doubt," said Quinn. "But what of you? You're

just as sexy and gorgeous as me----and YOU never had a boyfriend."

Her eyes narrowing, Sandi demanded, "QU-INN, you casting asparagus

that I may be a lesbian?!?"

"Well, I don't know.....There's a lot 'bout you that neither me, nor Stacy,

nor even Tiffany know of....."

"And you're saying to that effect, that I never even kissed a girl?!?"

Quinn mulled over that before saying, "No........but the thought did

cross my mind......"

"Sandi never kissed a girl......," said Tiffany. "Imagine that."

"Hooboy.......!!" said Stacy.

And we laughed, at the world.

They can have their diamonds,

And we'll have our pearls.

I kissed a girl.

"So, like, I never kissed a girl, big deal!!" said an irate Sandi.

"All right....I'll bet that I CAN kiss a girl, here and now. Better

still, to ante up the challenge, I'll bet my eyeshadow that I

can kiss the first girl that steps in here."

"But Sandi.....," said Tiffany, "not every girl here may be.....

well, you know."

"And what if you get sent to Ms. Li's office?" said Stacy.

Sandi thought it over before replying, "Then it'll be a small

price to pay for winning the bet. Agreed?"

"Everyone knows you don't stand a chance," said Quinn, "but

let's give it a stab. You got yourself a bet."

"AAAA-MEN!!" said Stacy and Tiffany.

But even so, Tiffany then turned to Stacy and murmured, "I

got a bad feeling 'bout that...."

"Poor Sandi....." said Stacy. "She's asking for trouble."

Stacy was so right.......for outside, a few yards up the hallway,

Daria and Jane were heading down that way.

In fact, they entered the bathroom--and right before the surprised

Fashion Club. In fact, you can imagine their shock upon seeing

Daria and Jane enter.

"Oh-oh," said Jane. "I sense trouble in paradise."

"A close encounter of the Fashionista kind," agreed Daria.

"Let's head to the next land of the talking toilets."

So Daria and Jane started to depart--

--and Sandi called out, "Daria, wait."

Surprised, Daria asked, "Now what? Don't tell me you spotted

some Fashion Don'ts on me and Jane?"

"It's more than that," stammered the brunette. Then, turning

to her friend Quinn , she hissed to her, "Quinn!! Don't you know

THAT is your geeky, brainy unpopular sister? And I should

kiss HER?!?"

"Th-think I don't know that?!?" said the redhead. "I don't like it

any worse than you do--but you DID say you'd kiss the first

girl that entered here--and Daria was the first."

Sandi was agahst. "Must I........?"

"A bet's a bet. For the sake of not only The Fashion Club, but

for Stacy and Tiffany."

For Sandi Griffin, it was a no win quandry. It was bad enough

to kiss a girl to prove her bet with Quinn, Stacy and Tiffany,

but the idea of kissing Quinn's geeky unpopular cynical sister,

a. k. a. Daria was even worse. Her darkest hour. And right

there before the rest of The Fashion Club. And the

brunette was torn. If she backed out, she would lose the bet,

not to mention her reputation. But if she kissed Daria,

she'd never hear the end of it not only from the rest of

The Fashion Club, but also from the other popular and snobby

and cliquey communties of Lawndale. Worst still, it might sever

the ties twixt her and the only friend she had--Quinn, who would

rightfully never forgive the brunette, when it came to her best

friend kissing her sister.

Shaking her head in despair, Sandi muttered, "What did I do to

deserve such a fate?" From there, she cupped Daria's surprised

face and said, "Like, forgive me, Daria.......I hate what I've got to

do, but I can't go back on my word to The Fashion Club--even if it

means risking my reputation."

"I take it you made a bet with them," said a nervous Daria.

"Yup."

Behind her, a quizzical Jane asked, "Hey high an' mighty Sandi The Griffin,

what chuu got in mind for my friend here?"

In reply, Sandi dredged all her remaining courage....before placing a big kiss

on Daria's mouth--to the shock of Jane, Quinn, Stacy and Tiffany. And

Daria as well.

I kissed a girl, her lips were sweet

She was just like kissing me

I kissed a girl, won't change the world

But I'm so glad, I - I kissed a girl!!

"Yipe!! I can't look!! EW!!" said Quinn.

"Oh my, oh me....!!" said Stacy.

"Unbelieveable.....!!" said Tiffany.

"Momma, hold my hand!!" said Jane.

At first, the feel of kissing another girl, Quinn's sister, a geeky

unpopular brain, felt revolting, but for Sandi, it felt so good, like kissing

a silken pillow, a sweet fruit, while the heightened sensations it brought

stirred her whole body to a peak level passion from within.

And we laughed, at the world.

They can have their diamonds,

And we'll have our pearls.

I kissed a girl!!

For the first time,

I kissed a girl!!

(And I may do it again!!)

For Daria, the feeling of another girl--not to mention Sandi, the

egotistical, snobby, cliquey, narcissistic head of The Fashion Club,

and Quinn's best friend--thatfelt atfirst repulsive, so it was no

wonder that the auburn cynic was trying to pull away, beating her

fists at the brunette, who not surprisingly refused to let go, much

less stop. But even so, not even a cynic like Daria could resist the

overwhelming feeling of kissing a girl. Not since that first kiss with

Tom Sloane, who was at the time, Jane's beau, had the auburn felt

so high on emotion, her body tingling all over, feeling passive, wanting

to fall limp and drift into a vast fog bank, high above the clouds.

There WAS one difference--while Tom's way of kissing was muscular,

Sandi's was soft and sweet, with the taste of strawberry, like dew

on rose petals. As such, despite herself and her better judgement,

Daria found herself kissing back, almost drawing herself close

to the Fashion Club brunette.

I kissed a girl!!

I kissed a girl; her lips were sweet,

She was just like kissing me.

But then; I kissed a girl,

I kissed a girl.....

Kissed a girl, won't change the world,

But I'm so glad,

I kissed a girl!!

Kissed a girl....

All so soon, it wasn't until Daria and Sandi came back to

their senses, and broke off the kiss, stepping back, their

faces almost in shock. Quinn was shaking her head in

disbelief, Tiffany was muttering, "Oh, wow.....", Jane

was half surprised and half amused and Stacy had her

eyes stretched as wide as two wheels. Finally Sandi

pulled herself together, went to one of the sinks, pulled

a traveler's bottle of Listerine, gargled, then turned to

the others and demanded, "Well?"

"I wouldn't've believed it if I hadn't seen it," said Tiffany.

"WOOOO-------------OOOOW....!!" said Stacy. "You won

the bet...."

"Oh boy.....!!" said Jane. Then turning to her partner in crime,

she asked, "Hey Daria, how's if feel to kiss a girl?"

In a trance like way Daria replied, "What a long strange trip

it's been." Then shaking herself out of it, she went to one of

the sinks and gargled and washed her face before saying to

Jane, "Did I.....?

"Yup," said the artist.

"Shades of Jill Sobule--I kissed a girl...."

Staring at the least of The Fashion Club's members, Sandi

spoke crisply, "OK, I won the bet, so you two hightail it to the

cafeteria, and save me and Quinn a table!! Get going!!"

Nodding in reply, Stacy and Tiffany headed out the door

before Quinn turned to her friend and asked, "You OK,

Sandi?"

"Couldn't be better, Quinn," was the reply.

"Sandi......I just couldn't believe you went through and

kissed a girl, not to mention my cous--er, my sister."

"Neither did I."Then, giving the redhead her most strictest

look, the brunette added, "Like, as of right now, I am calling

for another state of emergency. Now that we got what we

came for, I want you, Tiffany and Stacy NOT to breathe a

word regarding what just went on here. I've got reputations

to protect--not only for me, but also for The Fashion Club.

Understood?"

"Absolutely," said Quinn. "I'll get it through to them."

"Fine." Then turning to Daria and Jane, Sandi said, "And

that goes for you too. Like, I got a reputation here, and

the last thing I want is to lose it."

"We hear and obey, O most exhalted potentate," said Daria

in her deadpan way.

"OK, boss," replied Jane.

Nodding to each other, Sandi and Quinn left the bathroom--

though not before the brunette turned to the auburn cynic

and said, "Like, I didn't think brains like you could kiss."

As soon as they could, Daria and Jane went to each one's toilet stall.

Little did Daria and Sandi know that even while they acted like the

kiss they shared never happened, their troubles were far from over.

For in kissing each other, they had triggered long hidden passions,

if not the lesbian, if any, within themselves. Two girls, with

two different lifestyles, two different ways of life, and two

different personas, as well as two different reputations.

One cynical, brainy and unpopular, and one popular, shallow cliquey

Princesslike stuck up diva. For Daria Morgendorffer and Sandi Griffin,

far worse was in the works for them.........

Many hours later, Daria, Jane and Tom were standing on Dega St.,

observing Lawndale's 4th wonder--the 30 level (story) white stucco

and plaster high rise building known as The Red Barchetta Hotel.

Its base spanned four city blocks, there was a fountain located

between the steps that led to the main entrance, but the main

attraction was understandably the clock tower itself; its roof, made of

Spanish tile roofing, showed one huge bell, surrrounded by a series of

carillon bells. The clock face, on all four sides of the tower, had normal,

NOT Roman, numbers done in a University type font, with wrought iron like

clock pointers, and, in the upper part of the inner circle of the face, was a

second hand, in its own face, counting down the seconds, just like on a

grandfather clock type face. Across the front of the concrete canopy

which was over the driveway and the main entrance, were the words in

colored neon, on a black background: THE RED BARCHETTA HOTEL.

Not surprisingly, the hotel stood across the street from The Zen,

where Daria and co. stood.

"What do you think, Daria?" asked Tom.

"A bona fide Michelangelo," replied the auburn cynic, "and I don't mean

the turtle."

"I'd like to see any giant monkey climb THAT building," said Jane,

laughing.

"It took a lot of money to build that, and just to prove," said Tom,

"that even Lawndale can rate a high riser building. You should hear

the carillon bells; they play a great Whittington melody."

"Turn again, turn again, Lord Whittington, Mayor of Londontown,"

said Daria.

At that moment, Brittany, Kevin, Jodie and Mack came on the scene.

"Well, if it ain't the four skinnies," said Jane.

"Ha ha, Jane," said Brittany. "So, what do you think of the new hotel?"

"It's got to be THE coolest building, anywhere in Lawndale, don't you think,

Michael?" said Kevin.

"Michael?" said a surprised Mack. "What ever happened to Mack Daddy?"

"You told me not to call you that, bro."

"Well, at least NOW you're showing sense."

"Hey, that clock's ready to strike," said Jodie.

It was true. The second hand was counting down the seconds, and then

it hit the number 60 (or was it 00?), and at the same moment, the

hour hand touched the number 4. Instantly the carillon played the full

Whittington melody before the huge bell rang out four times.

That was when Trent, Jesse, Nick and Max, a. k. a. The Criminales,

a. k. a. Mystik Sprial, along with its newest member--and Trent's babe--

Monique arrived on the scene and were booing and hissing at The Red

Barchetta Hotel.

"Hey, don't be a sour ball," said Jane. "For a high rise building, it's a work of

art by my standards."

"Why do you think we're sour balls?" said Trent. "That hotel just got rid of

another piece of the old neighborhood."

"I liked it better when The Kaboom Fireworks Factory," said Jesse, "used to

be there."

"That sucks," said Monique. "I loved the explosions from that place each

time someone there made a goof. WHOOMP-WHOOMP!!"

"Those firecrakers ruled," said Nick.

"So did their Roman candles," said Max.

But while the Mystik Sprial bandmates were bemoaning progress, Daria

was in a reverie.....for ever since she and Sandi kissed, she hadn't, from

time to time, been able to get the memory out of her mind. The feel of

kissing another girl, the feel of a girl's mouth, the silk, sheer creamy feel

of Sandi's mouth, her long jasmine scented brunette hair.......and the fact

they had pulled close, their bodies almost touching, and the fact that the

auburn could feel the slightest touch of her nipples, even through her coat

and blouse, brush along the brunette's breasts. So it was no wonder that

Daria felt hot and flushed----until she heard Tom call out:

"Daria? Hey, Daria!!"

Shaking herself out of her trance, the auburn said, "Huh? What happened?"

"What happened?" said Tom. "You looked like a zombie."

"I did?"

"What you do," said Jane, "step into The Twilight Zone?"

Before Daria could reply, a woman in a skirt and blazer stepped foward--

and it turned out to be her favorite aunt, Aunt Amy Barksdale. "Daria!!"

she said jovially. "How's my favorite niece?"

"Couldn't be better," replied the auburn somberly.

"Oh, what's wrong? Did your mother try to bribe you again?"

"No, let's just say I had a bad day. So what brings you here?"

"Believe it or not," said Amy, "I got a job--desk clerk and part time

concierge Amy Barksdale--" here, she gestured at the hotel--" of The

Red Barchetta Hotel, at your service."

"You work at that hotel?" said Jane. "How come?"

"For one thing, it could be just the place to date a fellow--and there's

plenty of them there at the hotel......who knows?" Then turning to

Tom, she said, "So that is the boyfriend you've been talking of to me right?"

"Yup," said Tom. "Name's Tom Sloane." He shook Amy's hand.

"Amy Barksdale, Daria's aunt and part time confidante."

For Daria, it was good fortune that her aunt and her boyfriend got along

well. When Amy started to depart, she said to her auburn niece, "Listen,

I got to get back to work and snare a hopeful fellow, but if you and/or your

family need anything here at the hotel or whatnot, feel free to call me."

"Uh......sure," said Daria. "Thanks again."

As luck would have it, Daria reached home ahead of Quinn, Jake and Helen.

Once there, Daria showered, dried and dressed before her sister and her

folks came home, one by one.

For the rest of the day and the night, everything went well, Jake ranting

over his pop and military school, Helen talking over a day in the life with

a case she worked with Eric and Quinn doing her fashion and dating ramblings.

But for Daria Morgendorffer, that day was a strange one at that when it came

to the feelings she had--for something else..... And the auburn hated it, didn't like it

and most of all, DIDN'T want it at all. And yet........

Why did she have those feelings? And just because of one kiss? Just one bet?

Why didn't Sandi call off the bet? For that matter, why didn't she kiss Quinn?

For the moment, the auburn was puzzled over why that happened.

And then late at night, the nightmares came.

Ye gads!! Daria and Sandi, the most unlikely two, kissed each other!!

What could result from that?!? True, Daria and Sandi would NEVER

do that, but even so, what if there WERE hidden feelings stored within

themselves for years, until a quirk of fate triggered them?. And what far worse

awaited them? The fact that Daria and Sandi were of different worlds....could it be?

Though they were the most unlikely sort that would NEVER, in any shape or form,

be in some kind of love. Yet behind the cynical and stuck up masks they respectively

wore, they were women none the less. And what if, be it an alternitive universe or the

universe as we know it, something like that was discovered? A hidden talent or passion?

Who knows?

Next: 2: On The Second Day (Yes I Am)

--Ronin.