The Lab Brat

“The Lab Brat” was the seventh episode of the first season of Daria. It first aired on MTV on April 14, 1997. It was written by Peggy Nicoll.

Summary
This episode begins with Janet Barch, the man-hating science teacher, assigning partners for a lab project, involving running rats through a maze. Upchuck ends up paired with cheerleader Brittany Taylor. Upchuck, as it turns out, has pictures of Brittany in compromising (and disturbing) positions with the Quarterback of a football team from another school, and blackmails Brittany into being his slave for the duration of the project. (While it's fairly clear that nothing sexual occurred between these two, it's not spelled out one way or the other either.)

Daria, however, is paired with Brittany's boyfriend, football player Kevin Thompson. ("We've never been separated on a school project," Brittany complains to Kevin. "What will we do?"  Jane replies, "Pass?")

Quinn uses her proximity to Kevin as an excuse to spend a week attempting to ingratiate herself with the Quarterback.

Hilarity ensues.

“The Lab Brat” and Fanfic
The Lane cats Zachary and Taylor get into the act in "The Maze Thing" by Richard Lobinske.