The DT Files

The DT Files

209: Ill (2)

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Ok, for this one, I'm putting the events of Fair Enough before what happens in this episode...it is vital to the secondary plot that will look as if it were the main plot and would break the rules of the DT Files...but be patient, the shipping goodness is there, you'll just have to read to find it.

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She pressed her forehead against the locker. Why had she even gotten on that ride with Quinn's brainy sister and her artsy friend? They couldn't understand why she was so upset about her last date not calling her. But, if they did, they wouldn't be so unpopular now would they?

"Why are you so sad?"

Stacy Rowe turned to see that her next door locker mate, Ted DeWitt-Clinton had asked that question. She bit her lip. Would her popularity suffer even further?

"Don't worry, your friends aren't around," Ted assured.

Stacy relaxed, "Thanks."

"So why are you so sad?"

Stacy sighed. Would harm would it do to tell him? She sighed and explained what had happened.

"Hmmmm," he began, "your emotions are as delicate as a flower," he observed.

Stacy blushed. Ted might be a geek, but he had a silver tongue under that geekiness.

"You shouldn't cry over a guy that only went out with you one time, it's not worth it."

:"It's just that..."

"You were probably being used to get a date with your other two friends. I've heard rumors that Tiffany is the easiest one...whatever that means."

Stacy's eyes widen. Tiffany wasn't the brightest of their group, but could guys use her that easily?

"Does being the easy one mean they'll have sex?" he innocently asked. Stacy nodded dumbly.

"Why do you stress yourself like that? Why stress over guys that only want your friends?" he asked again.

Stacy looked thoughtful for a moment then spoke, "You're right. I'm trying so hard to compete with Sandi and keep up with Quinn that I'm running myself into the ground. Are you free Friday night?" she shyly asked. Ted smiled. She didn't have that emotional armor that Daria did.

'She's sweet, I think I'll try to get to know her,' Ted thought.

"You just finished talking to a fashion letch," Daria dryly commented. She had seen the whole thing.

"Hmmmm, but you have that armor that she doesn't. You shield yourself behind a wall of titanium, but Stacy doesn't. Were trying to date me because you were running away from your true emotions for someone? Someone like Jane?"

Daria flushed and quickly ran off. Ted had hit a spot that she didn't like anyone to hit. She wasn't mad about him accusing her of being a lesbian, but had she used Ted to escape her emotional turmoil of Trent?

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"I have an announcement," Stacy began during the club's lunch time meeting."Due to my emotional state after my last date, I've decided to take a self imposed sabbatical for my mental health."

Shock crossed the faces of the other members of the fashion club. Sandi was furious that Stacy was going to leave and cut her power base. Quinn, on the other hand, was actually concerned for Stacy, but she would have to talk to her alone, and away from Sandi.

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"You've been quiet."

"Did I use Ted to get away from my 'problem' with Trent?"

"Do you think you did?"

"I...I..." Daria began, her face reddening from the stress she was feeling.

"You did go to that arcade with him...wait a minute, why bring this up now?"

"He was talking to Stacy...I overheard and decided to put my two cents in and he claimed I was using him to get away from admitting the truth, but what he thought was the truth was the rumor that Sandi started about..."

"Say no more, he got close to the truth but didn't hit the bull's eye huh?"

"No."

"Mmmm," Jane thought, but then noticed a severe rash spreading across her friend's face. "C'mon, to the nurse's office with you."

"Huh?"

"You've got this nasty rash on your face," Jane explained. They would stop by the bathroom to confirm Jane's observation.

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"What's wrong?" Quinn asked.

"Quinn," Stacy sighed and plowed forward, "I'm trying too hard to stay popular. I'm cracking up and I don't think I can compete with you and Sandi."

Quinn bit her lip, was her unspoken cold war with Sandi effecting more than she knew.

"Stacy..."

"It's not your fault. I should have spotted it sooner, but someone that wasn't so close to me and my problems made me see the light. I'm going to have to get myself back together, then, if I can handle it, then I'll come back," she said and Quinn sighed.

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He sighed to himself. He was slightly disappointed that she hadn't shown up for the gig. Trent sighed. He couldn't blame her for not wanting to come. The people that watched them made Daria uncomfortable and she was uncomfortable around almost the entire population of the planet.

'Besides,' he thought to himself, 'we haven't sounded good since...' he shook that thought off and got himself ready to play the second set. Off course, Jane hadn't come either. What was going on.

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"I've kept Trent from finding out, but there are certain students at our prison that are getting suspicious about your absence," Jane reported.

Daria sighed, "Just Jodie and Mac, no one else."

"Right, those two are the two main suspects anyway," Jane said.

"Make sure they don't tell Britney and Kevin. The last thing I need is them finding out about this. I might have to end up staying in the hospital longer for mental trauma."

"Uh..."

"What?"

"It's Trent...had you only been here a day or two then he wouldn't notice, but it's been five days..."

"Don't tell him, but if he finds out on his own...I won't kill you."

Jane relaxed a little. She could keep her brother off the trail for a little while longer, but he might just find out on his own.

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Trent sat in his car. He didn't understand why his sister had come to the hospital. He tried to keep himself from falling asleep. He needed to watch for her to come out. Seeing Jane leaving the hospital, Trent got out of the car and waited until she had left so that she wouldn't spot him. Trent headed inside and started exploring.
Hearing the familiar voices of Daria's parents, he began to get more suspicious.

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'I'll be glad when I'm 18 and can deal with these my own health with my mother threatening to sue the entire hospital,' Daria thought. The door opened and a familiar head poked itself in.

"Daria?"

Daria bit her lip. The source of her stress was at her door.

"I guess Jane was right, you were getting suspicious," she said and Trent came into the room.

"When both of you don't show up to the gig when a week ago you were coming, then the fact that you haven't been at the house in almost a week," Trent began.

"I thought you didn't notice."

Trent coughed laughed, "You come by while I'm up a lot of the time," he said with a grin.

"You didn't have to come by..." Daria began.

"I was curious. You don't get sick that much."

"Germs hate my winning personality," she said and Trent laughed.

"Rash?"

"Yeah, but they don't know why though."

"Hmmmm, I wouldn't be surprised if you got it going to our gigs."

"no, had that been the case I think I would have gotten it a long time ago."

"Yeah."

"I think it's stress."

"Stress?"
"Yeah, there's someone that is causing emotional stress that I've never felt before. In fact, this person is causing a lot of feelings that I've not let myself feel before. I don't know how to handle it. At times this person makes me feel like I'm turning into my sister."

Trent bit his lip. The hints and clues she was giving him meant that she was talking about a guy. She was stressing over a crush.

'But who...' he thought then it hit him like an anvil. The way she acted around him could only mean one thing.

"Your mother hates me."

Daria bit her lip, "You figured it out."

"Yeah."

"I know I'm probably not like the girls you've dated..."

Trent put a finger to her lips to silence her.

"I've not dated since I left high school. I think the band took most of my time and hat's probably why I sleep so much. It drains me."

"Then why...?"
"Because I enjoy the music. I think if I were to kick either Nick or Max out of the band then things would get better, but I'm not sure who'd to get rid of."

"Which is easier to replace, a bass player or a drummer?" she asked glad not to be talking about her feelings for her.

"Hmmmm, bass player," he answered after a moment of thought. "I'd date you, but your mother probably wouldn't let you."

"Seriously? You actually...?"

"Yeah. Why do you think I'm able to tell when you are joking? I dated as they called them 'brains' when I went to that prison. I found them far better company than the joiners that went."

"High school never changes does it?"

"Nah."

"What if, I make it look like I'm going to Jane's and instead of it being Jane I'm with I'm with you?"

"Hmmmm, you think you can..."

"I'm practically living at your place," Daria said and Trent smiled.

"I'm game if you are."

Daria gave a small smile and her rash started to clear up as her level of stress came down. Whether or not it worked, she wanted to try.