Chapter 18

Quinn paced the length of her driveway as she flicked through the contact list in her phone. She scrolled down and stopped on 'Sandi'. Hesitantly she hit the talk button and brought the phone to her ear, as she listened to the connection tone.

"It's about time; I had Stacy leave three messages on your voice mail. You better have a good excuse for the delay in returning my call." Sandi's voice droned over the line.

Quinn sighed; she wasn't in the mood for this. "I'm sorry Sandi, things have been hectic at home." She offered as a half hearted apology.

"That's no excuse to shirk your duties in the Fashion Club." Sandi reprimanded. "In case you were to busy to check your messages, we have called an emergency meeting. We have to organise our outfits for Tuesday; God knows we don't need another incident like the dance. I will not have one of those Fielding girls show up in the same outfit as me, or any of us for that matter."

"Sandi, it's a funeral, not frivolous dance; does it really matter if you show up dressed like someone else?" Quinn's voice was bitter.

"Quinn, I'm going to put that comment down to stress. Need I remind you that the Fashion Club prides itself on being the forefront of fashion trends? Look, just get over here; we need to discuss colours."

"Sandi, two kids our age are dead, looking at colour swatches isn't what I need right now."

Quinn took the phone from her ear and glared at it. She hit the disconnect button and shoved it furiously into her pocket.

She realised she had been walking while on the phone, she glanced up and found herself in front of 111 Howard Drive; the Lane abode.

I wonder if Daria and Jane were friends by default since Jane lived downhill from us; it was easy to drift to her house without realising it. She mused and smiled to herself.

The phone vibrated in her back pocket but it went unanswered; Quinn crossed the road and walked to the front door of Jane's house. She knocked on the door tentatively; she needed someone with half a brain to talk to, though the last time she had spoken to Jane it hadn't ended well.

Jane opened the door and stared at Quinn suspiciously. "What are you doing here?" she asked carefully, her voice husky from disuse.

Quinn laughed nervously. "Just saying hi? Can I come in?"

Jane raised her eyebrows as she shrugged and moved to one side of the door to allow Quinn entry. Jane shut the door and returned to the couch and stared at the black screen of the television. Quinn sat in the opposite chair and sighed; hoping to gain Jane's attention.

Jane turned to Quinn. "What's up Red?" a small smile flickered across Jane's face.

"I..." Quinn sighed defeated. "I need someone to talk to."

"And you chose me, what happened to your Fashion Fiends? Did they bail when they realised you were sisters with a brain?" Jane chided.

"No, they, well Sandi, is too much for me at the moment; she is holding an emergency meeting. I really don't care if someone shows up at the funeral with the same shoes or bag as me."

"They are having an emergency meeting to make sure they are styled for a funeral?" Jane asked incredulously. She shook her head. "That's pretty..."

"Shallow?" Quinn offered.

"Yeah, I'm sorry to say, but, why aren't you there? It's something you'd normally do."

"I don't know, since..." Quinn inhaled sharply and pressed on. "Since Daria died, I've pretty much had to fend for myself. Things like that seem pretty trivial; I mean there's more to life than colour swatches and clothes, right? There has to be."

"I'm still having trouble understanding why you chose me to come to."

"Your house is the easiest to walk to?" Quinn smiled. "Daria always held you in high regard; that's a pretty big thing, Daria never liked anyone. I guess she would be the one I'd go to if she were alive; she always knew what to say. You have the same no-nonsense approach to life and you're probably the only one that knows how I'm feeling." Quinn's voice trailed off.

"Why not talk to Helen or Jake?"

"Please. Mom's been working all day, every day at the firm; it looks like she might make partner. And Dad? Dad left the house for the first time since the funeral today; I think he took his first shower too. The fact is they feel pretty much nonexistent; and they're always fighting. Bad. I don't know what to do." Quinn looked up at Jane helplessly.

Jane sat in silence as she digested Quinn's words. "Daria had told me your parent's relationship could become pretty turbulent; but they rarely fought in front of you. Look Quinn, I don't know how I can help you; I haven't seen my mom since April. My dad? God I couldn't tell you; the only sign he's around is the fridge will be full of developing chemicals for his photos."

There was a long pause. "What was Daria like?" Quinn asked softly.

"Huh?" Jane asked, she had been thrown off guard.

"Daria, you were really the only one that knew her. I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but she only hung with the unpopular people; I never really got a proper chance to know her. I always thought there'd be more time; we would be proper sisters after we got through high school. But... Can I hang out with you sometime? You can tell me what she was really like?"

Jane shifted uncomfortably in her chair, biding her time before answering. Fortunately before Jane could respond Trent entered the living room. He thumped lazily down the stairs, still half asleep. He noted the two girls on the couches and nodded a greeting.

"Yo. We still on for the Zon?" Jane asked.

Trent shrugged and walked into the kitchen. Jane excused herself and followed him.

"What's Quinn doing here?" He asked as he searched the bare cupboards.

"I don't know; I think I may have adopted her."

"Janey, you know what mom said about bringing home strays; besides isn't she a little high maintenance?"

Jane raised an eyebrow. "Mmm, I feel sorry for her though. She seems pretty upset."

Quinn sat on the sofa and retrieved her phone from her pocket; there was one new voicemail.

"Quinn, its Stacy. Sandi said 'How dare you hang up on her, if you don't come over now...' Sandi I can't remember it all."

"Tell her, if she doesn't get her act together and arrive on my doorstep in ten minutes I will take that as her official resignation..." Sandi's faint voice called.

"Did, you hear that?" Stacy asked. "Please Quinn, just apologize." She continued in a hushed voice.

Quinn hung up the phone; it had been ten minutes since the message was left. Quinn shrugged as she stood and walked toward the Lane kitchen. She cleared her throat to gain the attention of the siblings.

"Can I come too?" Quinn asked timidly.

Quinn stood on the front steps of her house; she was out way past midnight and it was evident her parents were waiting up for her return. She inhaled deeply and opened the door.

"Yes Linda I know it's late, but..." Helen turned at the sound of the door. "Oh, thank God! Yes Linda, that's her now...I know you wouldn't allow that...Yes I know it reflects on me...Linda, I have to go now." Helen hung up and tossed the cordless phone onto the lounge. "Where the hell were you? I called everyone." Helen cried her voice a mixture of anger and relief.

"Out." Quinn replied sullenly.

"For five hours? Where were you?"

"The Zon." Quinn shrugged.

"The Zon? The grunge club on Dega street? Who on earth were you with?" Helen threw her arms into the air.

"Jane and Trent."

"Jane and Trent Lane? Daria's Jane?" Helen asked carefully.

Quinn nodded. "We watched Trent play."

"Oh... Why didn't you have your phone on? I tried to call." Helen's voice softened.

"Mom, I was watching a grunge band play mindless music; like I could have heard my phone."

"Well I would have appreciated a call to let me know where you were; you know how I despise talking to Sandi's mother." Helen smiled. "I found a job for you, so you can repay me for those shoes."

Quinn groaned. "Really?"

"Yes, Chez Pierre. An opening for a server; you have a trial Friday for the dinner service."

Quinn opened her mouth in protest but decided against it. "Fine." She said sullenly and went to her room.