Sequel to "Commitment Issues".  Jane figures out something important and Daria invites her to be a co-host on her radio show.  The show that is unnacountably popular at LHS.  Disclaimer: Do Not Own Daria AT ALL.  COMPLETE.  No intention of writing a part 3.  DT

Jane was
beginning to wonder what was going the hell on.  No, scrap that, she
was beginning to wonder how the hell she hadn't noticed it sooner and
why she wasn't doing something more drastic about it now that she had
discovered it. 

Tom, her
boyfriend Tom, had been slowly cold-shouldering her into being
sick of him for some time it seemed.  Their first week together was
all over the shop, their first whole month had been pretty damn fun,
so had their second and they had just about been getting into
comfortable whatever-together-ness in the third, at least, she had
thought so. 

Turned
out, it was not so. 

What she
had thought was Tommy boy's getting comfortable, was actually him
getting disinterested.  Sure, she was the wild art chick who had
liberated him, however slightly, from the world of his family, but it
seemed that she just wasn't smart
enough for him.  Jerk.  So she wasn't into reading all the
intellectuals he and Daria could have long conversations about, so
what?  She was a Lane, not a Sloan or a Morgandorffer.  She was smart
her way, rather than
the obvious way that either of them were.  Daria had the advantage
over Tom in that area though, which got Jane smiling again. 

Oh
yes, Daria was smarter, more cynical and she knew how to push the
other girls buttons to get a reaction.  It was even better more
recently, since darling, slightly uptight Daria had begun working at
the radio station, and
dating one ridiculously laid back musician beginning to make good. 

Really,
it was enough to make Jane question if, after Tom shows up for their
date and she tells him that they're over, whether she should give the
big lug Jesse a go, or brave the dreaded Ruthiemer gene. 

...
did she really just think that?  Damn. 

Almost
on cue, the doorbell rang.  It was either Daria or Tom, and Jane was
really hoping it was the former, she needed to get her head examined,
and apart from Trent, Daria was the best person at it that she knew. 

Keeping
her thrice-pierced ear pricked, she heard Trent loaf to the door and
the hinges wail slightly as the barrier swung open to permit entry. 

Trent,
from his position on the couch in the living room raised a wondering
eyebrow when he began to hear the yelling. 

It
had started with a "What?"  from Tom, so whatever was going on, he
figured Janey was putting her foot down over something.  When emotion
and relationship details started being flung at high decibels, he
decided it would be better to wait for Daria to arrive out front,
rather than waiting inside where he could hear it all. 

It
didn't work.  Jane had left her window open and the yelling was even
clearer than it had been from the living room.  He stared up at the
open window with some distaste, wishing that one of them would
realise they were broadcasting their relationship to the
neighbourhood and shut it. 

"Hey
Trent, any idea what's going on?" 

Trent
jumped at Daria's words.  When had she gotten there?  She was
standing beside him, staring up at Jane's window, backpack over one
shoulder and combat boots on her feet. 

"Hey
Daria.  No, but they've actually been at it for a while now.  Don't
know what happened." 

The
yelling died down at last, and Trent invited Daria into the house. 
Before they'd closed the door, Tom came down the stairs and just
about charged the couple, headed only for the door. 

"And
don't come back!"  Jane yelled from the top of the stairs, just
before the door slammed shut.  Spotting Trent and Daria by the door
with as much of an expression as either of them were inclined to ever
show, Jane smiled. 

"Hey
Daria, I'm glad you're here, I wanted to talk to you.  If that's okay
with you of course, Trent," Jane said, still taking delight in the
fact that they had finally
gotten together. 

"Just
gimme a sec to kiss him hello first, and then I'll be right up,"
Daria promised. 

Trent
smirked and slid an arm around Daria's waist. 

Jane
smiled and waved to indicating she'd be in her room working on her
next masterpiece until they were done making out. 

---

"So
you finally dumped the jerk from the family concerned with your tax
bracket, and now you're questioning your taste in men," Daria
summarised once Jane had explained the situation. 

"I
wouldn't worry about it too much, but I'd recommend working on your
selection criteria," recommened the red head. 

"Mm,
good plan, but I seem to have only had relationships that don't
work, so how am I meant to make criterea for a good
boyfriend?" 

"You
may have a point there.  Hey Jane, there was something I wanted to
talk to you about as well," Daria said, abruptly changing the
subject when she could no longer think of even vaguely useful
answers. 

"Shoot." 

"It's
about my radio show.  It's great and all, but I think it would be
better if I had someone to talk with, so that listeners are getting
more than just my cynicism.  I've talked to the station
manager, and she's agreed that me having a cohost, and maybe some
guests, would add some variety to my show." 

Jane's
jaw had dropped and her eyes were bugging out slightly at this point,
not quite believing that she was hearing what she thought she was
hearing. 

Daria
allowed a small Mona Lisa smile to slip onto her face at Jane's
expression. 

"Daria!" 
It seemed to be all Jane could say when she finally found her voice.