3: ON THE THIRD DAY (Strange Days) Somehow Sandi and Daria had found the ship of good fortune, for they had both reached home just in time, thus staying in their mothers' good graces. Right now, Daria was in the bathroom washing off her smeared lipstick along with her face while Jane wrung a wet towel over her head. "You OK?" said the artist. "Couldn't be better," replied the auburn. "But next time you've got to teach me how to run--I think my boots need a 70,000 mile rotation." "It's a miracle you didn't fall off that clock tower--even after those bells rang your chimes. You know it's hard to believe that after all that useless chasing all over Lawndale, all Sandi wanted to do was just talk with you over that kiss. Not only that, she said she was a lesbian?" "Yup. Worse still, she proved to me that she was in love with me." "WHAT?!!?" Jane's cobalt blue eyes bugged out. "She said she loved me, because I was her first kiss. She was torn between me and Quinn--till that kiss changed everything." "Now I've seen everything--ol' S. G.'s got it bad, which proves Football Brain and Eep Eep The Road Runner were evesdropping." "I got a feeling," said Daria, who had dried her hair, "we're in for some strange days." "Boy, we're sure thankful that Sandi's not in our class," said Jane. "since she's a year below me and you. Can you imagine if she was in the same year as you, and in our class--and worst of all, with a crush on you? She would been behind you blowing kisses, gushing and making goo goo eyes at you? Not to mention stick love notes in your locker." Grinning her Mona Lisa grin, Daria said, "Griffin Girl Goes Gaga For Geeky Girl, coming up next on Sick Sad World." "EW!!!!" said Quinn, who had just stepped in the bathroom. "That is even worse than that half baked story Brittany and Kevin told me, Stacy and Tiffany!!" "They told you that?" said the auburn. "Right after you and Sandi hightailed it from The Pizza Prince--uh, I mean, King," replied the redhead. "Did she make it back home?" "From what she told me on the phone, she made it just in time. She said that all she wanted to do was just talk over that kiss you two did, all just to win a bet.....by the way, you two DID talk and not fight?" Quinn's eyebrows had just narrowed. "Absolutely," said Daria. "Do pigs fly?" "EW!!" gasped the redhead. "Pigs flying?!? Anyhow, Daria, Sandi just called an emergency meeting here, so--" "I won't fail you, Captain Kirk," said the auburn. "Me and Jane will stay out of your bouncy hair." But Sandi's bunch wasn't the only thing showing up that night at the Morgendorffer home, for Trent, Jesse, Nick, Max, Monique and Tom came by, and--to the surprise of Jake and Helen--took out all the padded walls and wall mounted rails. Then Jane stuck on the walls and ceiling, the glow in the dark stars, while Tom gave Daria, a fluorescent black light to make the stars glow. When that job was finished, Jane said, "Our finest hour is at hand, so prepare to be stupid--uh, I mean stupified." Entering the room, Helen said in amazement, "Well, that is history!! Daria, what made you, after so many years, finally get rid of that padded walling?" "Let's just say Jane gave me the idea," said the auburn. "Well, let's see the new miracle," said Jake. Then he got flustered with, "Where's my camcorder?!?" "Ok, group," said Jane. "let's blast off on the space shuttle Enterprise." "Go for it, Janey," said Trent. So the artist turned off the lights just as Daria turned on the black light lamp for a few seconds, then turned that off-- --and instantly Daria's room was transformed into a vast galaxy of glowing stars and planets, all over the walls and the ceiling, where, in the center, was the centerpiece: an intricate chartlike map of the solar system of the planets, moons, planetary symbols and the orbit trajectories. For Jane Lane, it was her greatest endevor, and it came up trumps. "Incredible.....!!" said Helen. "Fascinating.....!!" said Jake. "It's your greatest triumph, Janey," said Trent. "Cool," said Jesse. "Fantastic," said Nick. "Beam me up, Scotty," said Max. "What a trip," said Monique. "You did it, Jane....!!" said Tom. "Not bad," said Daria. "My finest hour indeed," said Jane. At that moment, Sandi and her fellow Fashion Clubbers stoliclly entered, the brunette stating, "Like, can you stop the noise?!? We've got a meeting........!!" Upon seeing the stars and planets, she was transfixed, along with Quinn, Stacy and Tiffany. "Breathtaking....!!" said Sandi. "Did Jane do THAT.......?!?" said Stacy. "Just like the universe itself....!!" said Tiffany. "Jane, you outdid yourself!!" said Quinn. "Can you dig it?" said the artist. "I knew that I could." For a moment, the brunette stared at the ceiling map before turning her attention back to her fashion freaks and said, "Let's get it over with." From there, she and her Fashion Clubbers headed out the door. Unbeknownst to anyone, Daria, while staring at the stars, chanced to spot Sandi's departure, and thought, "Forgive me Tom, but........I....think am falling in love with Sandi......and the last time I felt like that was with Trent...." Returning back to Quinn's room, Sandi and co. settled down before the brunette--in the most sober way--said, "Anyhow, I called you here, for what could be the most second serious moment........y' see, the time's come for me to do the most unheard of first in The Fashion Club's history.........I am placing myself on a fashion sabbatical, till I can get back what I lost--my fashion state of mind." "WHAT?!?" said Quinn. "Brr," said Tiffany. "Oh, Sandi, you CAN'T do that!!" wailed Stacy. "Settle down, I didn't say I'd part ways with you!! There is no way in Hell I can be a president when I couldn't concentrate on important matters. Anyhow, Quinn, I am entrusting you as acting president, till I get back. Just don't lead The Club into a fashion faux pas, OK?" "If you say so," said Quinn. "I just wish you were going with me and Tiffany to Stacy's for tomorrow night's sleepover." "Well, the fact my folks will be out of town for two days, and my brothers will be at camp, I'll have all the time to meditate and pick up the pieces." "I hope you know what you're doing," said Tiffany. "Get well soon, Sandi....," wept Stacy. "Staa-cy," said the testy brunette, "have you no faith in me?!? We've had a lot of strange days here, and I don't need strange sobbers like you....." But even while Sandi was scolding her pigtailed friend, something else was on her mind--and that something else was Daria........ Wednesday, the third day of the week. Say no more. As before, neither Daria, nor Sandi could sleep at all. But now, both had come to a conclusion--to take the next step that was within their minds and souls. As strange coincidences went, Helen, before heading off to work, said that she and Jake would be out of town for two days, finishing up with, "I hope you can be the girl of the house, Daria." "Aye aye, Captain Kirk," said the auburn. 'Captain Kirk?" said Jake in disdain. "I thought Picard made the better captain." "Da-AD!!" said Quinn. "I thought the gal from Voyager ruled." Sighing, Helen said, "Well, I hope you can take care of everything here." Then upon noticing her eldest daugher's state of reverie, she asked, "Daria? You feeling OK?" "Let's just say I couldn't sleep at all," was the reply. "Well, it'll be quiet tonight, kiddo, with your sister staying with her friends and me and your mom on vacation," said Jake. "Uh, Jake.......," said Helen. "you sure Picard makes the better captain than Kirk?" Upon arriving at Lawndale High, Daria pondered over the fact that it took her some time to develop a crush for Tom, compared with the near thing with Trent and now Sandi. Right now, she was talking with Jane down one of the halls. "Thanks so much for the stars," said the auburn. "Maybe they'll settle my state of mind back to Grade A status." "Much obliged," said the artist. "But you sure looked like a zombie when you saw Sandi head out the door last night." "Stop it, Jane. How much you wanna bet ol' S. G.'s forgotten me, and is back to her old rotten self?" "Bet heavily on it." Arriving at her locker, Daria opened it up so she could store her back pack-- and that was when a greeting card with fancy ornate heart patterns tumbled out. On the front, in the most gorgeous lettering font, was: SANDI LOVES DARIA. "You were saying?" said Jane. "One thing's for sure," said Daria. "At least we know she can draw just like you." "Beam me up, Scotty. There's no intelligence here." It was then that Daria remembered her meeting with Sandi atop the roof of the Lawndale High building; knowing the brunette would be expecting her, the auburn headed up to the roof before lunchtime, hoping she would rejoin her partner in crime at the cafeteria. It turned out however, she didn't need to wait so long, for Sandi came up behind her, clasped each hand over Daria's bespecticled eyes and said, "Guess who?" "Oh, please.....," muttered the auburn who turned to face the brunette, who said, "Like, you're no fun sometimes!!" After sharing a deep long kiss, Sandi said, "Hello, precious. Did you get the love note I stuck in your locker?" "Yup," replied Daria. "and I must say, you draw just as good as Jane." "It pays off when such a talent is used for The Fashion Club's dress designs for get togethers and stuff." Staring deeply in the auburn's eyes, the brunette added, "Daria........do you feel a something you can't explain........something impelling you....to take the next step......for the ultimate test of time?" "Like some kind of bat signal? I feel the same way....and the last times I felt like that was first with Trent, and then with Tom." "As in Trent Lane, your friend's brother? That band he is in sounds like a Doors cover band." "I said the same thing too," said Daria. "So.........supposing we're ready to take the next step........if we do.......how? And where?" "I DO know my folks will be out of town," said Sandi. "Yours too?" "How'd you guess? S-O---------in that case, I think I MAY know just the place......." "You do?" "Just........leave everything to me, and I'll break out the bat signal." "What?" "I'll call you when it's all set for tonight." "Tonight......," murmured the brunette. Writing on a piece of paper, she handed it to Daria. "Here's my cell phone number. I'll be at Cashman's between 3:30 and 4:00, so call me then." Then under her breath, she hissed, "DON'T LOSE IT!!" "All I can say is.......I am going to hate myself in the morning," said the auburn doubtfully. "Just as long as you don't try to make a brain out of me," said the brunette. "Just as long as you don't make a fashion freak out of me. Let's get back to our respective compadres." "Like, so be it." From there, Sandi and Daria kissed together before heading back down the stairs. For the rest of the day, it was business as usual at Lawndale High. But after school was out for the day, Daria hightailed it till she reached Dega St--and The Red Barchetta Hotel. As luck would have it, she saw Aunt Amy at the registration desk. "Why hello, Daria," said Amy. "So what brings you here, besides your feet?" Looking all around to ensure she wasn't spotted by anyone she knew, the auburn replied discreetly, "I need a room here for tonight." Her eyebrows shooting up in surprise, Amy said, "What happened? Did you and your family have it out again?" "Let's just say it's more than that, and I need a place of peace to crash out and get my bearings, just for one night." "You DO know it costs $150 per night here." Pulling out a fistful of bills, Daria handed them to Amy who said, "Oh, right, I hadn't counted on all that bribe money you collected from your mom and sister. Well.........as a favor to my favorite niece, I'll see what I can do. Wait here." Turning to a computer terminal, Amy typed several entries then handed Daria a form for her to sign in, just like all the hotels. When she had finished, the paper was handed back, and Amy inputted that into the computer. That done, she said, "OK, you got yourself a room for the night," before handing a plastic keycard to the auburn. "Room 2112, on the 21st floor." "Thanks, Amy." "Anything for my favorite niece." Soon after that, Daria ran out, across the street, to The Zen and into a nearby phone booth. The fact that the clock tower had chimed 3:30 beforehand was all the auburn needed to know. Using the cell number Sandi had gave her, she placed the call. "Like, who is it?" "Quinn's cousin or whatever." "Shh!! You're lucky I was able to break from Quinn and the others and hide out in the bathroom here!! So what's up?" Looking all around now and then, Daria said, "I got a room for tonight, so consider that another triumph for the ship of good fortune." "You know, if anyone got wind of what we had in mind, we'd be sooooo in trouble......" "Not only that, we'll hate ourselves in the morning. But then, it's no worse than athlete's feet and diaper rash." "EW!!" The brunette was a bit testy in her voice. "So, where'll we meet?" "The Red Barchetta Hotel." "The Red Barchetta Hotel." "Room 2112." "Room 2112." "On the 21st floor." "On the 21st floor." "I'll be waiting at the elevator there." "7:00 tonight?" "7:00 tonight." "Fine." After hanging up, Daria took a cab to The Pizza King and met up with Jane for their usual quota of pizza slices. For the moment, the furor Brittany and Kevin had caused was forgotten. Afterwards, it was back to the Morgendorffer house. Helen and Jake had just left, and now Quinn was ready to go, waiting for Stacy and Tiffany to pick her up, the former having gotten her driver license. "Just don't get yourself on a popcorn high tonight," the auburn said. "EW!!" was the redhead's reply. After Quinn and co. had parted, Daria got her stuff ready in her backpack, turned on the house alarm, locked up the place, and headed for the hotel. Once inside, on the 21st floor, in room 2112, which had red, white and gold wallpaper, Daria set down her pack and looked out through the window which overlooked The Zen down below. Picking up the phone, she placed a call to Jane, who said, "Yo." "It's me, Jane," said the auburn. "I'll be hiding out at the hotel till I can get my bearings, so I thought you should know." "As in The Red Barchetta Hotel?!? That posh place? How'd you--?" "It pays to save your bribe money." "Oh, right, the ol' legal tender from Quinn and Helen. Well.....take care of yourself." "Will do." After hanging up, Daria tuned into Sick Sad World, which had its share of fascinating stories. So far......that WAS a challenge. Which also nearly broke every rule in the Daria canon. But it was too late to turn back now. But most important, would she succeed with Sandi where she failed with Tom? Sandi Griffin. Quinn's best friend. Another girl. And right now, Daria wondered what Jane and Alison would think of all that. The time was now, for just as Sick Sad World ended, up overhead, the clock chimed 7:00; with that in mind, the auburn got up and taking the keycard with her, headed down the hall, to the elevator section. "Please, let it be Doomsday tonight....." she muttered. One second later, one of the elevator doors opened, and Sandi stepped out, wearing, of all things, a black and white Blues Brothers type suit, black shades and a black porkpie hat. With a slight grin and a nod, she followed Daria back to room 2112. Entering their room, the auburn quipped, "All hail the runner up from The Blues Brothers Look Alike contest." "Ha ha, Daria," said the brunette, taking off her hat and glasses. Then upon looking over the nicely decorated interior of room 2112, she added in amazement, "Like, HOW were you able to afford a night at a hotel like THAT?!? It must cost a fortune for even a brain like you!!" "Don't underestimate The First National Bank Of Daria Morgendorffer." "What?" "Bribe money I collected over the years from Quinn and Mom." "A shrewd move," agreed Sandi. "No wonder you never want to get a job." "Maybe, maybe not. Just think of it as free enterprise." Right now, Daria had just taken off the sheets off the bed and was setting up her portable CD player and its small speakers, while the brunette set down the back pack she was carrying before taking off her tie and coat. When she had finished, the auburn was standing before her. "You know, I'll be hating myself in the morning," she said. "You and me both. But will you still have respect for me? I got an image to protect for the honor of The Fashion Club." "To quote Pink, let's get the party started." From there, the girls shared a kiss before the brunette pulled one of the sheets over them, while the auburn took off her glasses, placed them on the night stand, and turned off the light. "I love you, Daria," sighed Sandi. "I love you too, Sandi," murmured Daria, who, realizing what she had said, blurted out, "OOP!! Did I say THAT....?" "Yup." was the reply. Right now, all the cynic could do was drop off to sleep--but tomorrow would be a whole different story. For now, she wanted to sleep, enjoying the company--and love--of one Sandi Jillian Griffin. So it finally happened.But what's going to happen the morning after? Will it be just a one night last stand, or will it be a secret affair, unknown to the worlds of Daria's Sick Sad Bunch and Sandi's Fashionistas?So there's no guarantee that another chance ain't likely to occur again Who knows? But then, how long can the love Daria and Sandi share last? Next: 4: On The Fourth Day (Stop It, I Love It) --Weenie Hut Jr.