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Daria's Party Addition – 16 – Quinn's Quandary and Thanksgiving Celebrations

By Dr T

When the football season was finally wrapped up in early November, what passed for the social scene in Lawndale took a breather. However, that also meant that the end of the first trimester would be just over a week before the short Thanksgiving break. While Daria knew she did not have anything to worry about academically, she was NOT looking forward to having double gym classes in the next trimester. She therefore steeled herself to talk with Coach Morris before the first trimester ended. Rather than doubling the number of volleyball games she would have to pretend to participate in, Daria would be joining a Freshman/Sophomore class that was doing a swimming unit with a different instructor, with Daria (who had passed water safety her Freshman year in Highland) doing more independent swimming and occasionally helping the swimming instructor.

Quinn, on the other hand, was in trouble a few days before the end of the trimester.
Jane was (as usual) out after school with Tom, so Daria was in her room, just completing another love letter exchange with Jack, when Quinn knocked on her door. After making certain the internet icon was well hidden, Daria told Quinn to come in. Seeing the look on her sister's face, Daria could only ask, "What's wrong?"

"It's that Mister O'Neill," Quinn pouted. "Apparently, he misunderstood what I wrote when he assigned us 'a five-hundred-word essay on multicultural communication'."

'More likely you misunderstood the assignment,' Daria thought. Rather than voicing that, however, she hazarded, "Let me guess, you wrote about different fashions across cultures."

"Well…across the cultures at Lawndale High, anyway." Quinn saw the look of pain flash across Daria's face, but at least she didn't say anything. Therefore, Quinn decided to ignore the expression.

Daria forced herself to merely ask, "And?"

"And that lowers my current grade in his class down to a sixty-eight," Quinn confessed. "However, I can write a seven-hundred and fifty word free-style essay, whatever that means."

"It means you pick the subject, although O'Neill will likely still express his opinion on it," Daria explained, still being patient. Still, she had a good (and as it turned out, accurate) guess about what would happen next.

"I don't suppose you'd write it for me for fifty? Honestly, that's all I have."

'More like that's the most you're willing to spare,' Daria thought. What she said, however, was, "No; O'Neill would recognize my style, even if I tried to disguise it."

Quinn slumped against the padded wall. "It feels like I'll never get out of this prison called high school."

Daria straightened up as she got an idea. "Quinn, this is an open assignment. If you really feel that way, write about that."

"What?"

"Write about how you feel about school, but be certain to make it at least a bit optimistic at the end – you know that O'Neill will eat that up."

Quinn thought about it but finally nodded with a sigh. "It's still wasting time on nonsense, but it's better than hearing Mom's 'you can do anything if you try' speech if I don't get at least a C for the term."

"I'm in total agreement there." Both teens knew that speech all too well.

Quinn sighed again. "Let me get this finished."

'Or at least started,' Daria thought, but again refrained from saying. Instead, she asked, "Big date tonight?"

Quinn shook her head. "No, but we're all going to that new Brad Pitt movie tomorrow."

As Quinn left, Daria reflected that from what she'd read, she didn't think Quinn or most of her crowd would like 'Meet Joe Black' quite as much as Quinn apparently thought she would. 'Well,' Daria mentally added, 'maybe the romantic parts will be strong enough to overpower the character of Death. If so, I'll be sure to avoid it.' With luck, 'Enemy of the State' might get good reviews when released, and she and Jack could go see that if they had time for a movie. As for Daria, she prepared herself to celebrate her 17th birthday. To her slight disappointment but not to her surprise, only Jack, Jane, and Aunt Amy remembered to say anything on the day itself. Daria would use her parents' guilt over forgetting her birthday (not for the first time) to organize Thanksgiving as she wanted.

The following Wednesday, Quinn scurried up to Daria, who was standing at her locker with Jane, before lunch. "What's wrong?" This was odd behavior from Quinn. While getting along a bit better, they usually ignored each other at school.

"Mister O'Neill gave me my paper back – it was an A!"

"Really? Well done," Daria told her as Jane came up to overhear.

"You don't understand," Quinn complained. "Okay, yes, it ups my final trimester grade enough since it replaces that awful grade, but he read part of it in class, and he wants to publish it in the school paper." The paper usually came out on Thursday.

"So, on the one hand, it will be somewhat embarrassing…."

"Somewhat?! More like very. What could be the upside?" Quinn demanded.

"Mom will like it, even if she doesn't actually read it," Daria pointed out. "And it's something to add on your future college applications."

"Those are true," Quinn had to admit.

"Look, I just got back two rejections and one acceptance for some short stories. I hate being rejected, but it feels good to know someone impartial likes some of what I write." Daria was deliberately downplaying how badly she took having her work not being accepted, especially since one of those rejections had been a flat rejection; at least the other had said to try again with future projects. These rejections were only made bearable because of Jack's encouragement. "I understand your friends might tease you about it, but just shrug and remind them it's just Mister O'Neill's way. If you make a big thing about it in any way, so will they. You might even have to keep going in that direction if you let it snowball on you."

Quinn shuddered at that last idea. Still, she realized that Daria was right – yes, she'd get some teasing from some of her crowd, but not the two who meant the most to her (Stacy and Tori). On the other hand, she would score points with her mother, maybe even a cash award. The part of future college applications was already forgotten. "Thanks, Daria!"

"People like her have the weirdest priorities," Jane commented as Quinn disappeared down the corridor.

"True," Daria agreed. "Are you all set for dinner with the Sloanes next Thursday?"

"I still don't know what to wear," Jane admitted. Dinner would be at the country club, which Jane had been to thanks to Daria and Jack.

"We'll figure that out this weekend," Daria assured her.

"And do you know what you and Jack will be doing, or perhaps I should ask 'where you'll be doing it'?" Jane teased, her eyebrows waggling.

"If I knew, I certainly wouldn't tell you," Daria teased back. "Actually, Jack's sister is going to Barbados with some of her sorority sisters, or at least that's the story. So, the other four will be joining us for Thanksgiving dinner. Mother is already starting to panic." Daria smirked. "She's scoured the on-line ratings for the best deals on the best possible deli foods. I talked her out of getting caviar because I know Missus Frasier and Dad both hate it. Of course, even though she's never used any of it to my knowledge, she does have complete place settings of stemware, dishes, and silverware for twelve – her grandmother willed it to her, although she claims Aunt Rita got the best sets. She dug out the silverware Saturday, and poor Dad had to polish it all. Quinn was supposed to help, but she slipped away."

"That…sounds typical for the Morgendorffer clan. And thanks for helping me out with the country club; that sounds like a plan as well, Amiga." Jane only hoped that she didn't make a fool of herself in front of the Sloanes at such a formal dinner. "Err, any hints as to formal table manners would be accepted."

Daria merely smiled, saying, "That will take all of ten minutes at the most, and likely far less." This reminded her that her mother was already harping on Jake, Quinn, and even Daria herself on their formal manners. (Daria's retort that she had had much more recent practice than Helen herself had directed Helen's reminders mostly on Jake.) She, Jack, and their families would have Thanksgiving dinner together at the Morgendorffers' this year as she had planned. Hopefully that meant the Frasiers would return the invitation the next year, where if everything worked out, she and Jack would drop their bombshell. She would prefer her mother not to have the home court advantage when that announcement was made

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As Thanksgiving approached, the only snag that came up for Daria's plans for the rest of that calendar year was yet another plan of Principal Li's – this one mandatory 'volunteering' in December in preparation for the holiday season – a plan apparently designed to earn Lawndale High (and Ms Li) some sort of award. Daria had considered procrastinating in signing up, but had been passing by the 'volunteer' lists before lunch that Monday and decided to look things over, and realized that most things listed did NOT appeal to her. She signed herself and Jane up for the only two docent spots at the Lawndale Museum of Art. When she told Jane, she was thankful Daria had passed by, as she knew she wouldn't have looked into volunteer spots until it was too late to sign up for something decent. This particular volunteerism would of course also look good on any art program applications, and of course Mrs. Sloane was on the Museum's Board of Directors. While Tom seemed indifferent about how Jane and his parents got along, Jane did want to make a good impression. Not only did she like Tom, even if, other than the sex, he was only good for cheap dates, they usually spent some time each week at his home, and the Sloanes had a remarkedly well-stocked refrigerator, and she was granted free access to it.

That volunteerism would need to be dealt with starting the following week, after the break. More importantly, all the paperwork for her entering Raft University the upcoming summer had been submitted, as the paperwork for her early graduation had finally been approved just as the application period for Raft opened. What mattered even more to Daria at the moment was that the short Thanksgiving break was about to start. This would be Jack's first return to Lawndale. True, she wrote him via his university account from her AOL account (which Helen monitored) at least three times a week, and nearly every day to his personal account from her private one, but she missed him in many ways. She hoped they were still as emotionally connected in the same manner they had been the previous summer, that their time together would be much more than just a physical reunion. They were both a bit insecure about their future, unsurprising considering their ages and circumstances. Each, however, was worried about how the other was feeling; both were sure about their own feelings and desires.

Of course, she missed his touch as well, and wanted that physical reunion almost as much as she needed the emotional connection.

Jack actually left Boston Tuesday afternoon, although he didn't drive the whole way back home that day. He arrived in Lawndale just before noon Wednesday, and his first stop was at the branch of the bank to retrieve their rings from the safety deposit box they had there. Donning his wedding ring, he went to the 'Dutchman Inn' and signed in – he had made the reservation a few weeks before. Lawndale High had a half day scheduled, and so Jack had arranged to pick up Daria on a side street near the school (where neither Jeffy nor Quinn should see the car). They ate a quick light late lunch at a diner near the hotel, and spent the afternoon in each other's arms, as well as making love.

As eager as they had been to fully use the bed, they had spent nearly an hour using it for snuggling, nuzzling, and in foreplay, and nearly as long in after-play. As both were to a fair degree romantics (under a very cynical and snarky defensive exterior in Daria's case, and a mildly sarcastic one in Jack's). They were both even more pleased with the emotional connection they had instantly reestablished than they were with the physical ones, and they were both VERY pleased with the latter.

Daria made it home just after 5:30, and was the first one home – Quinn and her cohort were still planning their Black Friday assault on the Lawndale malls and boutiques, Jake was going to have dinner with a client, and Helen was making certain everything was lined up in her office for the holiday break, and then would be picking up the various remaining components of the big meal the next afternoon. As it was just going to be her mother and herself, Daria microwaved a burrito as well as tortilla chips with salsa and way too much cheese for herself, and then made certain her mother's Lean Cuisine choices were atop the frozen lasagna so she could find and make her choice whenever she got home.

Jack easily got home in time for dinner as well.

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Of the eight people who would be eating dinner at the Morgendorffers that Thanksgiving, really only two were nervous ahead of time – Helen and Jeffy. Slightly surprising Helen at first, Daria had calmly set the table in the almost never-used dining room late that morning and helped Helen get everything ready – Jake was watching the parade and then the pre-game football programs while Quinn was on the phone, still planning the next day's assault with her friends. Helen was a bit confused about why (and how) Daria was so calm, at least outwardly. While Daria was not close with the Frasiers, she had met them often enough and liked them well enough to not be nervous about their presence – a little nervous about her father going off on an embarrassing rant, but that was all. Also, while she had the (correct) impression that Jack's father liked her and liked that she and Jack were a couple, it was even clearer that Jack's mother liked them together even more. Plus, of course, Daria's earlier worries had been erased by the previous afternoon in the hotel room.

Jeffy was nervous because he still had his crush on Quinn (and moreover was of course still trying to out-compete Joey and Jamie for her attention), and as far as he was concerned the fact that he was having a formal dinner with her family meant he had the edge – totally ignoring the fact that his brother and Quinn's sister were in a relationship, and that was the only reason why this dinner was happening. His parents just wanted to know the Morgendorffers better – also Jack's mother especially wanted the pair to stick together. As far as she was concerned, putting Jeffy and Quinn together for the afternoon was a bonus – as much as she loved her only daughter and Jack, she rather doted on Jeffy.

Helen didn't so much dwell on any of those aspects of the day. She knew, however, that the Frasiers were at the top of what passed for the social scene in an area larger than the county, and were near the top financially, only behind the Sloanes but far ahead of families like the Landons and Taylors. Despite all her rebellion against her mother's values, Helen's early training was kicking in, and she wanted to make certain that she and her family made a good impression. As nervous as she was, she appreciated that Daria seemed very calm – in fact, almost serene despite having been somewhat 'antsy' the previous few days until the previous evening. Helen did not make any connections for any possible reasons why Daria was now so much calmer and content.

At 12:15, fifteen minutes before the Frasiers were to arrive, Daria put the final touches on her duties and chased her parents upstairs to finish changing and getting Quinn off the phone so that Quinn could help their mother with the microwaving of dinner when it was time while Daria and Jake entertained the Frasiers. Daria then quickly changed herself.

When the Frasiers arrived at 12:33, Daria was the only one downstairs. When she opened the door, three of the four blinked. Jeffey, however, was already looking for Quinn.

Daria had on, of all things, a two-toned dark green dirndl and an open collared white blouse with green trim which showed off her figure, especially doing just a tiny bit more than hinting at her cleavage, and her dress boots. When the Morgendorffers drifted down the stairs, they were equally amazed, as none knew Daria had purchased such an outfit. A somewhat dazed Helen led Quinn into the kitchen to help finish preparing the food (microwaving most of the food, warming a few things like the biscuits in the oven, etc.). Daria served her father and the Frasiers glasses of sherry and then led Jack up the stairs to her room, where they spent nearly five minutes in one long, deep, kiss.

When they finally broke their embrace, Jack said softly, "That is one very flattering, sexy outfit, wife."

"I thought you'd like it, husband," she replied in the same tones. She leaned against his chest and said, "This break is too short." They both sighed, which made Jack laugh and Daria give a silent chuckle. The pair then went back down the stairs, hand-in-hand, where dinner was about to be served.

Mrs. Frasier was properly appreciative of the dinnerware, stemware, and silverware; everyone agreed that the food was delicious. By the time the Frasiers left a few minutes after 3:30, a relieved Helen had decided that everything had been a success. From the time she had seen Daria in that very uncharacteristic outfit, she was sure the pair was still smitten – she would have to see how things seemed between them after the Christmas/New Year break. As it was, she could hardly disapprove of Daria leaving with the Frasiers. She and Jack were going to the country club for dancing – Mrs. Frasier assuring Helen that while the club's afternoon dinner had been formal (Helen was aware of Daria and Jane's work to ensure Jane had been dressed properly), that evening only light snacks would be served and semi-formal attire would be appropriate, although no doubt some of the formal diners might still be at the club. (Daria hoped Jane would still be there.)

Of course, no one but the young couple knew they would be spending the time between 4:00 and 7:15 in their hotel room. They had months of affection (and sex) to partially catch up on, and they fully planned on doing so in the limited time available.

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That evening, Jeffy was feeling good because of the three friends, he was the oldest. He had taken the driving course Lawndale High had offered in the first trimester and he had in fact just passed his driver's test. Neither of his two friends/competitors would be able to drive Quinn anywhere until well into the new year. He made sure Quinn knew that he would be inheriting his older brother's Lexus for Christmas. Jack would be getting a small SUV or truck of some kind to replace it. Jeffy was more sure than ever that he had the lead on securing Quinn.

Jake was happy for a number of reasons. While not as alcoholic as a martini, a glass of cream sherry before dinner, a glass of rosé with dinner, and two glasses of 20-year-old tawny port with the dessert had helped keep him mellow (and rantless) over the afternoon. He and Mr. Frasier, although still very formal towards each other, had connected over discussions of the local business conditions and a mutual interest in the NFL. Also, while Helen was still somewhat concerned about Jack and Daria's relationship, on the whole, Jake approved almost as much as Jay Frasier.

Helen was relieved that the dinner had been as close to perfect as could be expected. In addition, she and Jack's mother had connected about as well as their husbands had. Quinn had kept Jeffy entertained (or perhaps it was the other way around), and Jack and Daria, although clearly devoted to each other, kept the social interactions going all around. It was only as she was falling asleep that Helen would realize that while technically she had been the hostess, the afternoon had really been Daria and Jack's show.

Quinn went to sleep very happy; she had looked so cute and there would be competitive shopping the next two days.

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Earlier, Jack and Daria finally left their hotel room and arrived at the country club around 7:40. While they had met in passing previously at Winged Tree, Jack reintroduced Daria more formally to Mr. and Mrs. Sloane, as they had stayed at the club. While they were pleased to greet her again, as Jane often spoke about her those few times she talked with Tom's parents and they remembered her from the Cotillion, Daria was disappointed that Jane (and Tom) had left long before.

"I don't know why Tom dislikes the club so much," Daria overheard from Mrs. Sloane, despite it being a barely out loud grumble. Although tempted, Daria did not voice her opinion – that while Tom certainly enjoyed the privileges of wealth and status, he disliked the responsibilities. Instead, Daria inquired if Jane had mentioned the docent work the two of them would be doing over the weeks leading up to their December holiday break. Jane had, and this gave the pair something more neutral to chat about, although Daria thought something was bothering Mrs. Sloane. After that, however, Daria concentrated on dancing, holding her lover, her husband, tightly whenever possible. Those who knew Daria well would have been surprised to see the small smile of contentment she had almost the entire evening.

Helen, although still having reservations, understood that Daria and Jack would spend both Friday and Saturday afternoons and evenings together. She of course did not know where and how they were spending some of that time together. The idea that Jack would actually get a hotel room for the two of them had not occurred to her. By the time Jack dropped Daria off Saturday night just before 11:00, both were physically satiated for the time being. Emotionally, however, they both yearned to spend more time together – as much as they were still very much in lust with each other, each loved the other even more.

While she had hoped the pair had at least slightly cooled in their affections, Helen, seeing her elder daughter's mood that Sunday, understood it had not. On the whole, that left Helen with very mixed feelings. She admitted to herself, however, that if Daria was only a few years older, she'd be far less worried and much happier about her relationship.

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Daria finally motivated herself enough to call Jane the middle of Sunday afternoon. She learned that on the whole, Thanksgiving with the Sloanes had not gone as well as Jane had hoped. This was not because she had committed even one social faux pas (something she had feared), but because of all things, she had gotten on too well with Tom's parents. Tom had been almost nasty about the docent job, even after Jane had explained the coercion Ms Li was exerting on the students.

Worse, Tom was also refusing to attend the Snow Ball that year. Jane was starting to wonder if Tom was ashamed of her. He wasn't, he was just determined to avoid anything social when he could. Also, although he could not admit it to himself, he was also a bit of a penny pincher in some situations (i.e. most things that he was not very interested in). He felt the fact that he had gone to the Thanksgiving dinner with Jane at the country club and would have a family dinner at Christmas should excuse him from anything more involved with his family, or with Jane other than a movie or going with her to hear Mystic Spiral, plus the sex of course. He was determined to avoid any meal fancier than pizza, a burger, or a diner whenever possible.

Jane, since she did want to come off as any sort of gold digger, did not complain much to Tom about these things, but did with Daria. Questioned, Jane felt she was still enjoying dating Tom, but she did have to admit she was enjoying the sex more than the dating. Jane didn't realize that this was in part because she ran the sexual side while Tom controlled the dating aspects.

The Monday after Thanksgiving, Daria and Jane, slightly more formally dressed than usual, showed up at the Museum for training. The head docent knew them both, especially Jane. In fact, Jane quickly showed she knew nearly all of the exhibits moderately to very well, a few better than the head docent did. Daria was not as familiar with the exhibits as Jane, but she knew the different areas of the museum and the basics better than some of the docents they already had. With the two agreeing to continue dressing a bit more formally, he was glad to add them as tour guides leading up towards Christmas. There was an annual holiday exhibit, and this allowed the regular docents to concentrate on giving tours there over the next few weeks. He was only sorry the pair would not be volunteering through New Year's.

The pair enjoyed their docent work, although Jane regretted that it took some time away from Tom in the late afternoons. Daria had wondered if Tom would show up at the museum to bug them as he tended to do most other places. The fact that his mother loved the museum kept him away from actually entering the building, although he was parked out front waiting for Jane most evenings.

On the whole, both Daria and Jane got a lot out of the experience, which was more than most of their peers could say about their volunteer experiences.