Brittany approached Daria’s hospital room. (She wasn’t sure what to make of the orderly’s references to ‘Mrs. Sullivan’.) She heard Jane speaking. “…They probably haven't even noticed you’re gone.”
She entered the room. “Daria?”
Daria was surprised. “Brittany? What are you doing here?”
She twirled a few strands of her loose hair. “Um, I just
wanted to thank you for not going back on our deal, and I thought I might find
Jane here and tell her I did kind of go back on our deal, but I also kind of
went back on your part of our deal so there's no use in you doing that.”
“We had a deal?” Jane asked.
“And to see how you were,” Brittany added, ignoring
Jane’s question. “Um, you're kind of red.” The lighting in the night club was a
lot dimmer than in that hospital room.
“Yes, but I’m probably okay,” Daria said.
“Great!” Brittany said.
“What was our deal?” Jane asked.
Brittany was about to answer when Mack and Jodie entered.
They must have arrived at the hospital straight after her.
“Daria?” Jodie asked.
“What are you doing here?” Daria asked as Jodie and Mack
went over to her.
“Well, Brittany said you had some brain fever or
something, but you weren't in the hospital. So, I kept asking Jane, who finally
admitted you had a rash and you were in the hospital.”
‘Oops!’ Brittany thought.
“So, we just figured we'd come down here and see for
ourselves how you were,” Mack added.
“I’m probably OK,” Daria admitted.
“So, that’s cool,” Mack said.
“For a human lobster,” Daria added.
“Oh, so you're a little red. It could happen to anybody,”
Jodie said.
Mack gave her a look, looking at her and himself.
‘Of course, it wouldn’t be as obvious on them,’ Brittany
thought.
“Well, it could happen to lots of people,” Jodie added.
Quinn entered Daria’s hospital room. She hoped to see
Doctor Phillips. She saw that Jane, Jodie Mack and Brittany were already there.
‘A bit busy,’ she thought. She wasn’t sure why Brittany was changing her look.
But this wasn’t the time to ask her why. “Daria?” she asked.
“Quinn?” Daria asked.
“How are you?” Quinn asked.
“Oh, I’m…” Daria began.
But Quinn interrupted. “Is that Dr. Phillips coming by
today? I've got, um, a twinge.”
Kevin then entered the room. “Daria?” he asked.
‘Is everyone coming here?’ Quinn wondered.
“Kevin?” Daria asked.
“What are you doing here?” Brittany asked.
Kevin gave her a strange look before saying. “I went over
to Mack's house and, like, the basement was empty. Daria, am I glad to see you!”
‘What’s he talking about?’ Quinn thought.
“Um, thanks Kevin.”
“I was afraid they’d start the operation without me,”
Kevin added.
Daria gave Mack and Jodie a look.
“It’s a long story,” Mack explained.
“Maybe later, when you have your strength back,” Jodie
added.
Then another, older person entered. “Daria?” she asked
uncertainly.
“Who are you?” Daria asked.
“I’m Mrs. Sullivan. Did I leave an enema bag here?”
‘Ew!’ Quinn thought.
“I don’t think so,” Daria responded to Mrs. Sullivan. She
could see Quinn and Brittany both looking uncomfortable as a result of her
question.
“Sorry, I just wanted to check,” Mrs. Sullivan said.
“That’s OK,” Daria said.
No one else arrived after Mrs. Sullivan left. They
chatted for a while before leaving. Jane watched Quinn go last. “Did she really
come here because of Dr. Phillips?” she asked. “And what’s up with Brittany and
her hair?”
“Somewhere deep down, Quinn does care. But I’m sure she
won’t admit it,” Daria said. “As far as Brittany goes. I’m not sure.”
The next Monday, Brittany thought things over as she got
ready for school. It turned out that Daria’s rash was caused by anxiety. She
wasn’t sure what Daria had to be anxious about. She supposed that it was
something she wouldn’t know about.
She twirled a strand of hair as she thought about this.
She had already decided to keep her hair dark, still liking the difference. She
tied it into her customary pigtails, ready for the new school week.
But she didn’t know that difficult times were ahead.
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