2: ON THE SECOND DAY (Yes I Am)

But then, Daria wasn't the only one with nightmares--so was Sandi. 

Sample and Hold
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Blue
Weight: 110
Disposition: Even
Mood Code: Rotary Adjustable

Right now, the brunette had long since dozed off, when she dreamt
that she was in one of the hallways of Lawndale High, when Quinn,
Stacy, Tiffany, Jodie, Mack, Brittany, Kevin, the 3 J's, and the cheerleaders
were teasing her with, "Sandi and Daria, up in a tree, K-I-double-S-I-N-G,"
before following it with raucous laughter.
"Stop it, all of you!!" protested Sandi. "Before I kick your sorry butts after 
school!!"
"Sandi's got a girlfriend, Sandi's got a girlfriend," chirped Brittany in a sing
song way.
"Scram, Ms. Eepmeister!!" roared the brunette. "I ain't got no &^$*%@#
girlfriend!!"
"Oh, yes you do," said the cheerleader, using a baby voice. " and her
name's Daria, oh, she's CU---------TE!!"
Jumping up and down in a rage, Sandi stated, "You're all cuckoo!! Just
because I kissed a geeky, brainy unpopular girl just to win a bet, that
don't mean I love her!!"

I need a unit to sample and hold
But not the angry one
A new design, new design.

I need a unit to sample and hold
But not the lonely one
A new design, new design.

I need a unit to sample and hold
But not the lonely one
A new design, new design.

Sample and hold.

That was when Daria arrived on the scene, and said, "Hey Sandi."
Turning to the auburn cynic, the brunette said, "Hello, precious."
From there, she went to Daria, and the two held each other while 
they kissed.
"Whoo-hoo, go Daria and Sandi!!" cheered Jane.
That was when the crowd chanted, "Sandi loves Daria!! Sandi loves Daria!!"

Bolting upright on her bed, Sandi shrieked, "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
It was night, with the sweat on her face. Was it Daria? Her? Impossible!! 
That bespecticled auburn haired geeky brain was the last girl she'd be 
in love with, much less kiss.

We'll send it out right away
Satisfaction guaranteed.
Please specify
The color of skin and eye
We know you'll be happy.

Don't hesitate to give us a call
We know you'll be satisfied
When you energize
And see your unit come alive
We know you'll be happy.

That kiss. It all started with that kiss.......all on account of that stupid bet.
Well, that, along with her prideful bragging boasting ways, which she
had been brought up, by special arrangement from her mother, Linda.
All because of her bragging that she'd kiss the first girl, the troubles
began. Why didn't she challenge Quinn, Tiffany or Stacy to kiss her to win
the bet? Why Daria? True, Sandi had read of the stories of how the teen
girls of camp and of high school would take such a dare similar to what
she had gone through--and did just that--in Waif. Even so, since that
kiss, the brunette hadn't been able to get the memory out of her mind.
That was when the fact came to her out of the black------Sandi Griffin
was a lesbian. In fact, since she was born, she had liked girls. But it wasn't
until when she first enrolled into Lawndale High, when she first formed
The Fashion Club and when Daria and Quinn first came to Lawndale, that 
her love for girls came of age. Which made her that part of the 48% per 
capita of Lawndale's teen girl population. 

I need a unit to sample and hold
But not the lonely one, the lonely one, the lonely one
Sample and hold.
Weight: 110.

Perfection in every details
Fabricated from the curl of the hair
To the tip of the nail
Because our units never fail
We know you'll be happy.

Heading to the bathroom, Sandi pondered those discoveries--and 
wondered. But there was still a lot of blame to place on--Quinn, 
Stacy and Tiffany for egging her on and prompting her to make that bet, 
Daria for arriving at the worst place at the worst timeand her mother 
Linda for making her an egotist and a pawn, just for her own gains in 
competing against Helen Morgendorffer, along with herself 
for allowing her boastfulness to get the worst of her. At one point, the
brunette could imagine a livid Helen shout at her with, "You %@#*$&^
lesbian!! You've ruined my daughter!!" Now THAT was something to 
compound the Morgendorffer/Griffin war even worse. 
Scowling in the mirror, Sandi muttered, "Hang you, Quinn. Hang you, 
Stacy and Tiffany. Hang you, Mom. Hang me, for that matter. And hang 
you too, Daria......."
Daria.......

I need a unit to sample and hold.

Don't hesitate to give us a call
We know you'll be satisfied
When you energize
And see your unit come alive
We know you'll be happy.

But if she hated kissing a brain, then why had she liked kissing Daria?
Maybe because it WAS her first kiss, even from another girl.
And if the auburn hated kissing another girl, much less a popular and
shallow one, why did she kiss back? Was Daria secretly a lesbian in
spite of her relationship with Tom Sloane and didn't know it? Was
she bi? For someone that kissed back, Daria kept her feelings
hidden afterwards.

I need a unit to sample and hold.

We know you'll be happy 110
We know you'll be happy
We know you'll be happy.

But not the lonely one
A new design, new design
Perfection in every detail, new design
Sample and hold.

But, most important of all: was the brunette falling in love with the
auburn cynic? Even attracted to her? Romanticlly? No. Impossible!!  
There was no way, in any shape and/or form that was likely!! 
Or WAS it........?
Troubled by all these, Sandi could only stare in the mirror in 
frustration.

Daria staggered in her sleepwear to the kitchen where Helen, in her 
blazer and skirt, was checking out her papers for her latest case.
Glancing up at her daughter, Helen stated, "Is something bothering
you, Daria? Seems like you didn't get much sleep last night."
"How could I?" said the auburn. "Sandi's been trying to kiss me in 
my dreams."
"Sandi? As in Sandi Griffin, the head of The Fashion Club?"
"The same. I didn't think a stuck up and shallow girl like her 
had the hots for me."
Suddenly what Daria heard next wasn't Helen's voice--but Sandi's:
"Poor sweetie....."
Upon turning around, she could see, Sandi dressed up like Helen,
holding her arms out to her and crooning, "Come to mommy...."

And that was when the auburn bolted up from her bed, waking
up from such a bizarre nightmare. And already she could see a 
lot of consulting with Jane waiting for her.

An irate Anthony De Martino had finished collecting test papers 
from his students after they had finished completing the questions
on each of the papers. Right now, he checked out the first one
before approaching Sandi, ranting on her with, "Sandi, I 
admire your well done WORK on your test, but there's only TWO
details I should point OUT to you--for instance, in question 78,
the ANSWER to 'who were the Presidents on MOUNT Rushmore?'
is Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Roosevelt----but YOU 
wrote 'Moe, Larry, Curly and SHEMP!!' And in question 87,
the RIGHT answer to 'WHAT did Julius Caesar SAY when Brutus
stabbed him?' IS 'Et tu, Brute?', NOT 'Ouch, that HURTS!!' What's
HAPPENED to you?!?"
Her head hanging, Sandi muttered, "Oop...."

Inside the cafeteria section, The Fashion Club were having their
fare of salads and diet soda, but the fact that their brunette
leader had nearly botched up on her test had them worried.
"Flunking a few of the tests?" said Stacy. "That ain't like you, 
Sandi."
"So what else is new?" said Sandi. "Anyone can have an few 
mistakes now and then, so what's the big deal?"
"But you've always had a perfect track record when it comes
to schoolwork," said Quinn. 
"Something's not right," said Tiffany. "Lately you've been somber
and troubled since you kissed Quinn's sister."
"What's with you all? Like, I don't see a Fashion Club, I see a
kangaroo court. Anyone can have their share of mood swings now 
and then."
"We're just concerned," said Quinn. "You're my best friend, and I
care for you so much."
"And I care for you too. Right now, I am trying to deal with my state 
of mind, and hopefully I'll be fine." Turning to Tiffany, the brunette said,
"Tiffany, can you meet with me in the bathroom after lunch? I'd like your
opinion on mascara."
"OK...." drawled Tiffany.
Turning to Stacy and Quinn, Sandi said, "Stacy, you and Quinn meet me 
and Tiffany for fashion coordination check before the last few classes
after lunch, ok?"
Reluctantly Stacy sighed, "OK. We hope you're getting better."
"We'll meet you there then?" said Quinn.
"Yup."

After lunch, Sandi and Tiffany entered the bathroom and that was when
the Asian drawler asked, "So what types of mascara did you bring?"
Glancing left and right, the brunette paused before saying, "The same
as before.......I said that to get you here, because you're the only one I 
can trust outside of Quinn, for if she found out, it would break her heart.
As a yesperson in The Fashion Club, you trust me."
"Uh.......I don't follow you....."
Hanging her head in shame, Sandi spoke up somberly with, "Like, I got a 
confession to make........for all my life, I am a lesbian, a bi that loves girls."
"You've GOT to be joking...." said a shocked Tiffany.
"It's.......NO JOKE. For I don't know how long, I felt that way. When Quinn
and her sister first came to Lawndale........Quinn was SO gorgeous......but
her sister, for her geeky glasses wearing looks, was no slouch--that is, 
if she'd do something with her looks. When Quinn joined the club, I was 
in seventh heaven." 
"Brr. You mean you were a lesbian the whole time, and we didn't know
that?"
"Mmmmm-hmm. It wasn't until that article in Waif inspired me to call you 
all together to see if any of you might be like me......."

But as fate would have it, the ventilation air duct system from the bathroom
led to the exhaust stacks located on the roof of the Lawndale High building
where right now, Kevin and Brittany were kissing big time nearby--and that
was when the blonde bimbo heard Tiffany say:
"So you DID think Stacy, Quinn and I were lesbians.......brr."
Breaking off the kiss, Brittany hissed, "Sst!! Kevvy....!!"
"What babe?" said the quarterback.
"Listen......!!" From there, the cheerleader and Kevin crawled to the nearby duct
just as Sandi spoke:
"Yup.......and then Daria  had to step in right after I said I'd kiss the first girl that
came in here."
"After all, you brought it on yourself."
"Since then," said the brunette, "I started having nightmares, along with strange 
feelings....for Quinn's sister.......the fact that she, of all people, was my first kiss,
I couldn't get her and the day we kissed--along with the fact that I enjoyed it--
out of my mind."
"No wonder you nearly goofed up on those tests," said the drawler.
"It wasn't until, like, just now at the cafeteria, that I came to a conclusion that
I didn't think would happen to me, nor want at all, not in my lifetime......Tiffany....
I think I am falling in love with Daria......!!"
Upon hearing that, Kevin blurted out, "HOLY DOG POO!!" 
Brittany on the other hand, fell on her back and was laughing her head off.
"You......?" said Tiffany. "In love with Quinn's sister? That geeky brain?
You've GOT to be joking."
"Like," said the brunette, "it's no joke. And I know she must be one herself,
hidden beneath that cynical shell she's got....!! Oh, Tiffany, I've gone 
cuckoo....!!"
"No.......I think you've got it bad.........you're in love," said the Asian. "And it's
S-O wrong....."
"Anyhow.....what I just said is a secret between me and you. Understood?"
"Understood. Safe and sound, safe as milk."
"Whatever. Let's go."
From there, the sound of footsteps could be heard, indicating that Sandi
and Tiffany had departed. From there, Kevin muttered, "That sucks," before
he turned to a guffawing Brittany who was on her knees.
"Babe!!" said the quarterback in disbelief. "That ain't funny!!"
"Like hell it ain't!!" giggled the cheerleader. "Sandi Griffin, the President of The
Fashion Club, in love with Little Miss Muffet Daria?!? Gimme a break!!"
"But you heard it, an' I heard it.......an' we STILL don't believe it......!!"
"We'd best believe it, or not, Kevvy--just like Ripley. Poor Daria......y-you
don't think she could be in love with Sandi.....?"
"Sandi and Daria in love......." muttered Kevin. "Now THAT is what I'd call THE 
oddest couple in Lawndale. I betcha Upchuck must be blubberin'  'bout that."
"Wow...." said Brittany. "If Tom Sloane learned of that, he'd be furious."
"An' if Quinn learned of that, she'd kick their butts."
"Amen, Kevvy."

Somewhere, later in the day, near one of the busiest twin main line railroad
tracks in Lawndale, Daria and Jane were walking alongside them, till they 
reached the double track railroad tunnel known as, according to its
engraved writing on the concreate portal above: R. R. TUNNEL NO. 558.
"You nuts, Jane?" said Daria, a hint of surprise. "That is a dangerous, if not a 
restricted place."
"Why do you think we're trying to do what we got to do, quick like a bunny,
and hightail it out of here?" said the artist with a grin.
"Just why'd you bring me here?"
"Did you see the film version of Pink Floyd's The Wall?"
"As in the one starring Bob Geldof of The Boomtown Rats?"
"The same," said Jane. "In the film, the child Pink places a bullet--" here, Jane
produced an unmarked .357 Magnum bullet from her pocket, "--on one of the
rails of a railroad track before the oncoming train runs over it, setting it off."
Shaking her head, the auburn said, "Where'd you get that bullet?!?"
"When my sister Penny came from Colombia for one of our family reunions,
she brought with her some of her unmarked bullets and weapons; somehow,
she forgot one of these bullets here." Holding up the bullet, the artist
entered the tunnel till she stopped twelve feet inside.
"Jane!!" said a shocked Daria who had followed her. "Come out of there!!"
"Just a moment." Crouching near the right hand tracks, Jane carefully placed
the bullet on one of the rails. From there, she said, "OK, let's go."
Just then, Quinn's voice could be heard: "Daria!! Jane!!" 
"Now what?" muttered the auburn.
Daria's redhead sister entered and ran up to them. "What're you two doin' 
here?!?" she hissed. 
"I was intent on asking you that." said Daria.
"I saw you and Jane head that way. Don't you know it's dangerous in
here? Anyhow, Daria.......I meant to tell you......if it's any consolatation
to you, it's mine, Tiffany, and Stacy's fault for egging Sandi on to kiss you."
"Kind of figured. Then Sandi wasn't the only one that brought it on herself."
"Hey, here comes the train!!" said Jane. "Let's beat it!!"
How right she was--its headlight lighting up the vast tunnel, one of the
largest diesels, the Lawndale Universal Lines number 7000 locomotive
was barreling down at 70 miles per hour, blowing its airhorn. Upon seeing that, 
Jane and Quinn ran out from the tunnel, and on to safety--and that was when 
they turned and saw that Daria was still in the tunnel, in the path of the 
highballing train, transfixed by its headlight, unmindful of its horn.
"Daria!!" called Jane. "Come on!!"
"Get off the tracks!!" called Quinn.
And that was when the auburn DID get off the tracks, and hightailed it for 
the right hand wall of the tunnel, flattening herself against it--seconds before 
the 806 ton locomotive sped past, its wheels crushing and harmlessly 
detonatiing the bullet that Jane had placed.
What happened next was straight out of the scene from the film version of
Pink Floyd's The Wall; the speeding train was a hodgepodge of tank cars, 
box cars, gondolas, flat cars, auto carriers, container cars and piggy back cars, 
the wheels clicking and clacking on the rails, the heavy rumbling echoing in the 
tunnel, a whoosh of wind blowing Daria's hair--and that was when the auburn 
cynic, who was hugging the wall, closing her eyes and oblivious to the train, 
heard over the din, Sandi's voice:
"YOU!!"
HAD she heard it? Opening her eyes, Daria turned to the source of the voice, 
and to her surprise, saw through the gaps between the railroad cars, Sandi, at 
the other side of the tunnel's far wall, across the tracks, pointing to her.
"YOU!!"
No. It couldn't be. Why would Sandi be here? Was it a hallucination? Still it 
seemed so REAL........and yet the brunette called out,"You did it!!"
The auburn couldn't believe what was happening. First the kiss, then the
nightmares, then her inability to concentrate on her work and now that.
"You kissed me, Daria!!"
When the train finally left the tunnel, Sandi was gone. Trying to get her 
thoughts together, Daria picked up the crushed bullet, and staggered out 
from the tunnel, and back to safety where Quinn and Jane ran to her.
"You OK?" said the artist.
"DAA-RIAAA!!" shrilled Quinn. "What's the matter with you?!? You've could've
been killed in there!!"
Unfazed by her sister's verbal onslought, Daria asked, "Where'd Sandi run off 
to?"
"Sandi?!?" said the redhead. "In the railroad tunnel?!? Why would she be doing
there? Daria, you're nuts!!"
"All I know is what I saw."
"That couldn't be. Sandi was on her way with Stacy and Tiffany to Cashman's,
and I'd meet them later--and that was when I saw you and Jane on your way 
here."
"If you ask me," said Jane to her auburn friend, "you've got Sandi on your 
mind."
""As long as it ain't love," said a puzzled Daria.
"Well, I don't know....we DO know you've been flunking a few of today's tests,
and we all know of your perfect record," said the artist.
"You too, Daria?" said Quinn in surprise. "Sandi flunked several of her tests for
today herself. It's not like her to do that--for that matter, it's not like you too 
either."
"Me and Sandi in love....," said the auburn.
"....is THAT possible?" said Jane. From there, The Partners In Crime joined
Quinn in a chorus of, "EW!!!!"

By the time Daria and Jane entered The Pizza King--with the opening bass
lines of Pink Floyd's The Happiest Days Of Our Lives playing in the background
--there was some activity happening in one corner of the place--and it was 
centered on one Charles "Upchuck" Ruttheimer III, who was bawling his head
off.
"Did we miss something?" said the artist.
"Seems like Upchuck just got turned down by Cristina Aguilera," said
the auburn.
That was when Andrea came up to the duo and said, "Hey, did you hear the
latest rumor?"
"Rumor?" said Jane.
"According to Kevin and Brittany," said the goth girl, "they overheard Sandi
Griffin confide to Tiffany Blum Deckler, that she was in love with"--she pointed to
Daria--"Daria here."
"WH------------AT?!!?" gasped The Partners In Crime.
As if to verify that statement, Jodie and Mack showed up, the former saying,
"We thought they were pulling our leg, but they claim they definitely heard
Sandi say it, word for word. Needless to say, the first person they told was
Upchuck, and now, he says he is heartbroken, having lusted for you and
Sandi." Shaking her head in disbelief, Jodie added, "Can you believe such
a half baked story?"
"You're saying," said Daria, "that Brittany and Kevin claim that they heard
Sandi say she's got the hots for me? Surely you jest."
"Who knows?" said Mack glumly. "We're living with a whole bunch of
freakazoids when it comes to Upchuck, Brittany, Kevin and Sandi."
Turning to her friend, the auburn asked, "What do you think?"
"Seems like we just stepped into The Twilight Zone," said Jane.
"Submitted for your approval," said Andrea,"When Daria Morgendorffer 
stepped in The Pizza King, she had no idea that a rumour that Sandi
Griffin, the President of The Fashion Club, had said to her friend Tiffany,
aka The Gal That Says A Few Words, that she not only kissed our glasses
wearing heroine, but also fell in love with her. Rumor or real story? Who
knows? All we know is that all may be revealed when Daria and Sandi wind
up--in The Twilight Zone."
Surprised by the goth girl's statement, Daria grinned her best Mona Lisa
smirk, saying, "I couldn't had said it better myself."
"Ditto," said the artist.
Just then, Sandi, with Stacy, Tiffany and Quinn in tow entered, and stoliclly
approached the auburn and boldly spoke with,"Daria, you, me, in the 
bathroom----NOW."
Paling, Daria turned to Jane and murmured, "You don't think she's still
teed off over that kiss?"
"Could be," murmured the arttist. "She may also be furious over the
rumor that Kevin The Thomson and Brittany The Taylor spread to much 
of Lawndale High."
"Something tells me the lipstick just hit the fan." Turning on her heels, the
auburn ran out the door, only for Sandi to follow her, demanding, "Like,
where do you think you're going?!?"
"To the land of hunger, where else?" was the reply.
That was when the brunette reached out and grabbed Daria's arm,
trying to pull her back. "Stop it, Daria, and listen to me!!"
NO!!" said a frightful Daria, who tried to pull free from Sandi's grip.
"The last thing I need is a run in with you!!"
"Will you listen to me?!?"
"No!!"
"Yes!!"
"No!!"
"Yes!!"
"No!!" 
Pulling her arm free, the auburn ran down the sidewalk, with the
brunette coming on behind and calling out, "Daria, stop!!"
From the door of The Pizza King, Quinn called out, "Sandi!! Come back,
Sandi!!"
"What're you trying to do?!?" said Stacy.
"You're crazy," said Tiffany. Then under her breath, she added, "Crazy in 
love...."

Try as she might, Daria found out the hard way she was unable to shake 
Sandi off her trail. Part of the problem was that the auburn's Doc Marten
boots were heavy and clumsy when it came to speed. That, along with 
the fact that Daria wasn't as fit to run like Jane was. But then, Sandi's
lithe weight (as part of The Fashion Club's requisite) and her running shoes
had a hand in the brunette's ability to stay on Daria's tail. 
So in place after place--The Clean-Itt-Up Laundromat, up the fire escape
and along the roof of an apartment building, a local supermarket, even
a gas station--no matter where the auburn hid out at, there was The Fashion
Club brunette, always taking her by surprise, and saying, "Stop it, Daria,
and listen to me!!"
It wasn't until Daria reached Dega Street, when she darted into The Zen,
and into the bathroom--only for Sandi to come out of one of the stalls
saying, "You can't run forever, Daria!!"
Back on Dega St., the auburn ran across--and nearly causing several cars
to collide and drivers to shout, "Hey, stupid, look both ways before you cross
the street!!"--before reaching the other side, to The Red Barchetta Hotel.
But then, the fact that the Morgendorffer house was in the route between
The Pizza King and Dega St., where The Zen and the hotel were, Daria could
had hid out at home--but then she didn't think of it. Besides, there was no 
telling if the brunette could break down the door--or worse.
Entering the hotel, running past the vast marbled foyer and the registration
section, Daria ran past the fountain in the center foyer, and upon glancing 
back, she could see Sandi, a yard behind her, still chasing. Ahead was a
gauntlet of twelve elevator doors--six on the left hand side, and six on the
right hand side--and that was when, with a boundful leap, the auburn
skidded to a halt at the extreme right elevator on the left hand wall, and
jabbed the up button franticlly, while the brunette was getting nearer--
and at last, the doors opened, and Daria ran in, jabbing the button for
the 12th floor, closing the doors, which slammed in the hapless Sandi's
face.

Safe for the moment in the ascending elevator car, Daria leaned against 
the wall. On both sides of the doors were the control panels, each with 
a complicated quota of buttons; above them, was the two color LED
floor counter, which was counting the levels to the 12th floor. But when
the 12th floor was reached and the doors opened, there was Sandi.
"Like, you just don't get it," she said.
The auburn couldn't believe it. The brunette known as Sandi Jillian Griffin
had never been that relentless before. and now the whole farce was
getting out of hand. Jabbing the button for the 27th floor, she said,
"Sorry, we're all full up," before the doors seperated Daria from Sandi.
So far, so good--but for how long? The floor counter was counting:
23....24....25....26....27. The doors opened......and there was no one.
No one at all. 
Breathing a sigh, the auburn started to step out--and that was when 
the brunette jumped out from behind a fake decorative bush near the
elevator, and stated to enter. 
"Gahh!!" gasped Daria. "Leave me alone!!" She reached for the last 
button on the panel, a topmost button marked CT--short for Clock Tower;
the doors started to close, but Sandi said, "No, you don't," before she stuck
out her hand, blocking the doors, causing them to reopen. The safety
feature built in the elevator on her side, the brunette stepped in the car
before the doors could close, and the elevator was on its way to the
last level. 
"You just don't give up, do you?" said the auburn.
"We Griffins were born to be relentless," said the brunette.
Glancing back at the counter, Daria could see she was getting nearer,
for it was now counting: 28....29....30....CT (for Clock Tower). The doors 
opened, Daria ran out, and so did Sandi--who called out, "Daria, stop!!"
--before they headed down the passage, and into a vast complex of
gears, flywheels and the three huge weights, hanging on pulleys and
cables in their own shafts, which powered the clock, the carillon and
the big bell.

Reaching a door at the far end of the wall ahead, the auburn opened
it and stepped through--to the outside of the tower, dwarfed by the giant 
clock face--and perched on a five foot ledge, which overlooked the 
whole Dega St., Lawndale, The Zen, and who knew what. Needless to
say Daria gasped at almost falling over the edge. "I don't wanna be
remembered like that...." she muttered. "Of all the places I had to hide,
I had to hide here--Jane'll never believe that....." 
Stepping back carefully so that she was away from the edge, the auburn
backed up--and that was when someone spoke,"Like, now will you listen to
me?"
Turning 'round, Daria could see it was Sandi coming out from the door in
the clock face.
 "We can't go on meeting like that," the auburn stated 
before she added,"Just punch me one and get it over with."
"Like, punch you?!?" said the brunette. "You thought I was picking a fight
with you?!? Like, no way!! All I wanted was to say that we need to talk.
Y' see.....I've got a confession to make. Remember when we kissed the
other day? Well......since then.......oh,what's the use?!? I love you, Daria!!"
"WHAT?!!?" For Daria, what she just heard proved that Brittany and Kevin
HAD overheard Sandi and Tiffany. "You can't be THAT serious, can you?"
"Yes I am....," replied Sandi somberly.
Suddenly, the clock's second hand reached 60, and at the same moment,
the hour hand touched 5--and that was when the carillon bells played the
Whittington tune, the vibrations, if not the noise, from them taking the auburn
and the brunette by surprise; that was followed by the big bell which rang 
five times, causing the girls to stick their fingers in their ears.
"Whoa!!" said Sandi. 
"And I thought the noise Trent and his band made," said Daria," was the
noisiest thing in Lawndale!!" 
Seeing her chance, the auburn ran back through the door in the clock
face, back into the tower works--just as the bell sounded its fifth strike.
Shaking her head to stop the ringing, the brunette turned to where
Daria was, only she wasn't there.
"Hey, come back here!!"

Back in the tower, Daria had reached the elevators, when the doors of 
the extreme right elevator opened, and Amy Barksdale stuck her head
out and said, "Hey, Daria!! Over here!!"
Grateful her favorite aunt had come, the auburn entered the 
car, and soon they were on their way down.
"Thanks for coming for me, Aunt Amy."
"Antything for my favorite niece," said Amy. "Only, what were you doing in 
the clock tower? It's a restricted section which can only be reached, using
a keycard--wait a minute......" Spotting a keycard slot in the left hand panel,
she pulled out a plastic card. "Well, no wonder....!! One of the staffers left
a keycard here after the last maintenance check. Better get that back
to them before Tachibana shreds someone's jockey shorts."
"Tachibana?" echoed Daria.
"Eiji Tachibana, the owner, founder and general manager of The Red 
Barchetta Hotel--and my latest boyfriend."
Shaking her head in amazement, Daria said, "You sure know how to aim
high when it comes to dating."
"If I told you half the the stories 'bout the last few dudes that spent their
money like water," said Amy, "you'd be beyond amazed. By the way,
how's your mom and dad doing?"
Sighing, the auburn replied, "Don't ask."

The fact that Daria was Amy's favorite niece, the latter chose not to 
ask what the former was doing in the clock tower, much less press
any charges against her. So far, the auburn had eluded Sandi for
the moment--again; having reached the main floor, she hightailed
from The Red Barchetta Hotel, through the forest section of town
which was a hopeful shortcut to home. Along the way, however, 
she was thinking over what Sandi had said back at the clock tower,
that she, the most stuck up member of The Fashion Club, was in
love with her, of all people. Sandi Griffin. Quinn's best friend. 
Another girl. One thing was for sure, it definitely verified Brittany
and Kevin's story.
Had it been the kiss that started it all? Daria was puzzled--and 
worst of all, now way beyond worn out from all the running, and, 
a few yards near the edge of the forest, marked by a large oak 
tree, unable to continue. Right now, upon stopping to rest near 
the said tree,she was panting and gasping for breath--but once 
again, Sandi's voice broke into the auburn's reverie with, "What's 
the matter, Daria?"
Against her better judgement, Daria looked up--
--and on one of the strongest branches of the oak tree overhead,
was the brunette, who now said, "Can't see the forest between the 
trees?"
Already luckless, strengthless and unable to run further, the auburn
groaned, "Oh----------no.....!!" before she fell to the grassy ground, 
on her back.
Jumping down from the branch of the tree to the ground, Sandi
knelt down near Daria, and said for the second time, "Like I said,
now will you listen to me?"
"OK, you got me," said a breathless Daria. "It was that kiss wasn't it?"
"Yup," replied the brunette. "That, and something else--the fact that
for all my life, I am a lesbian....even up to the day you and Quinn
first came to Lawndale.....you two were so gorgeous, but I couldn't
decide....which of you two was a lesbian like me--you, Quinn or 
both....."
"And you thought me and Quinn were bi too. I had a feeling you 
were one judging from what you said to me at the clock tower."
"What did I say to you?"
"You said,  'Yes I am,' which is the album title of another lesbian--
Melissa Ethridge," said the auburn, who was gradually getting her 
strengh back. 
"But there's more." From there, the brunette related to the cynic 
auburn, everything she had told Tiffany in the Lawndale High
bathroom, from the feelings she enjoyed when she kissed 
Daria, everything. When she had finished, the auburn said, 
"Sandi, you're blowing the whole thing out of perportion. 
I couldn't be bi, let alone a beauty."
"Maybe not a beauty on the outside, but inside, there's
a beautiful sweet girl--and, like, a sexy one at that, just 
waiting with potential, given the right makeover from
The Fashion Club, to bring it to the surface. But no--you
keep any hint of beauty, let alone any passion of love,
behind those walls of cynicism....!!" Tears were now
streaming from the brunette's eyes and down her face
while she sobbed, "Me, and the rest of The Fashion Club 
almost came close to flushing out that beauty hidden
within you for that make over at the parade, when you 
and that rugrat Tad Gupty climbed onto our float!! Even
Stacy was willing to share her scrunchie for you!! But
YOU had to go and use blackmail on Quinn to get out 
of it!! You were my first kiss.......and now.....sob.....now,
you prove to me that brains like you have no passion of 
love!!" 
Pitching her head back, Sandi wailed her loudest, "OH,
DARIA, YOU DON'T LOVE ME!! JUST WHEN I THOUGHT YOU
DID!! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!"
True, Daria wasn't one for sympathy, but even so, she 
couldn't stand anyone crying--not even Sandi. Getting
up on her knees, she crawled over to the brunette and
muttered, "What did I do to deserve it? Please let there be 
for me, a brain hemorrage." Then, she reached out and
placed a comforting hand on the brunette's shoulder,
and said, "Listen, Sandi, you don't have to cry 'bout it."
"I can't help it," sobbed Sandi. "If, like, you don't love me, 
then why'd you kiss back in the first place?"
A good question indeed....why? For the auburn, the feel
of Sandi's rose petal mouth, the way it felt so creamy, so
sensuous, its silk feel, no doubt from the lipstick the 
brunette used. And that was when it dawned on Daria, 
as why she kissed back, not to mentionwhy she enjoyed 
kissing another girl......the incredible
sparks of passion flowing from those lips, and spreading
all over Daria's body, triggering all sorts of hidden 
feelings she never knew she had. For what she felt was 
the joy of her first kiss from another girl. So if she had been 
a bi and didn't know it till Sandi's kiss awakened them....
still, she had to be sure......even it was against her
reputation as a cynic.....even if cost her love life with
Tom....even if it meant hurling a monkey wrench
into the relationship works with Jane and Quinn....
and there was only one way--dredge out the lover
within her......
Already the auburn was drawn to the brunette's lovely face,
her green eyes dewy with tears, her equally dewy mouth....
that did it. Dredging her courage, Daria stammered, "So you 
say a brain like me ain't got no passion--but with your help, 
I MAY prove you wrong."
"Excuse me?" said Sandi.
Muttering a quick "Forgive me, Tom, Jane and Quinn," the
auburn threw her arms 'round the brunette, pulled her in as close
as she could, molding her body with hers and fully kissed as
long and as deep on the mouth, never stopping.
At first, Sandi was shocked, then upset, then loving the kiss
while she soon relaxed, kissing along with Daria, as firm and
deep and long and sweet, moaning, "Mmmmmmm," through
her still kissing lips, closing her eyes and pulling the auburn 
even closer, and grabbing handfuls of Daria's hair.....never mind
that she was a geeky brain, just don't let it end.....to love and
kiss the sweet girl hidden beneath that brainy cynic facade.....
Daria, for her part, was also relaxed, closing her eyes, moaning,
and holding onto the brunette's hair which was fragnant with the
scent of jasmine. It was at that point however, that Daria thought
of something that she hadn't thought of trying with Tom, and 
chose to try it on Sandi.
To start with, the auburn ran the tip of her index fingernail up and
down the brunette's back and spine till she moaned through her kiss,
till she also took to doing the same to Daria, which sent waves of
emotion that she never thought she'd feel before--and that was when 
she stuck her tongue way deep in Sandi's mouth for a French kiss;
needless to say, it didn't take long for the brunette to stick her tongue
in the auburn's and entwine it with the other tongue.
For Sandi, it was like she was flying high above the clouds in a Icarus
like state of mind, away from the troubles of her two bratty brothers,
her tyrannical mother, the clueless Tiffany, the crybaby Stacy, from
the so called geeks and the pressures of The Fashion Club--and so
forth.
For Daria, it was like that first kiss she had with Tom, only it was much 
more intense. For that matter, she and Tom never even gotten around 
to French kissing, and now she was finally doing just that--even if it was
coming from another girl, who was also Quinn's best friend, and the
selfish egotistical high strung President of The Fashion Club. And it
felt great. The whole thing was like hurtling through the same time
warp that brought Dave Bowman and his space pod in the film
2001: A Space Oydessy. And right now, thoughts were running 
through her mind: "I didn't think it could happen to me....not like that.
Forget the fact I am kissing a stuck up prissy popular girl, forget those
inane Lawndale High faculty, forget Quinn, forget my folks, forget
even Jane, Trent, and Tom.........but, PLEASE, may the moment we 
share last....!! Please don't stop!!"
Sandi didn't want to stop herself, wanting such a state of bliss she
and Daria were in to last. When they finally did have to stop, they
were panting, sweating, with their lipstick smeared,
"Oh boy......!!" said the auburn.
"You see?" breathed the brunette. "You could do it......and, like,
you truly proved me wrong....."
"Now you can punch my lights out--but wait till I take my glasses off."
"Maybe you're a geeky unpopular brainy misery chick on the outside....
but inside, you're something else.....!!"
Smirking her Mona Lisa smirk, Daria stated, "Maybe you should change
the name of your group to The Passion Club."
For the first time, Sandi was laughing gently before saying, "I doubt it.
It wouldn't have the right ring to it--or WOULD it?" 
Just then, Jane's voice could be heard faintly: "HEY!! Daria!! Is that you?!?"
"Time to go," said the auburn. "If I know Jane, she'll call the hospital."
The girls got up one their feet, and just as they were ready to part, the
brunette asked, "When will I see you again?"
At first, Daria thought of saying, "You got your kiss, what more do you 
want?" Instead however, she said, "Tomorrow, at the rooftop of the 
Lawndale High building, where Brittany and Kevin make out."
Sandi paused before saying, "OK," and blew a kiss, heading off down
the forest to rejoin with The Fashion Club while Daria crossed the edge 
of the forest and out onto the street, to rejoin with Jane.

So once again, it seems that not only is Sandi bisexual, but now so is 
Daria. For a cynic, our glasses wearing heroine truly DID have a
vast storehouse of passion hidden within, and all it took was a
passionate kiss with Sandi to bring it to the surface. So quite
obviously, it's only a matter of time before the auburn heroine and
the cliquey brunette imminently take the next step.....guess 
what that next step may be. Could Daria succeed with
Sandi when she failed with Tom? If so, how? Where? When?
We know now that Sandi is TRULY in love with Daria......but IS
Daria truly in love with Sandi.......? Only time will tell.......
Oh, almost forgot--sorry it was such a long chapter, but I did 
all I could to show the details rather than tell, eh?

Next: 3: On The Third Day  (Strange Days)

--Weenie Hut Jr.