Note: I apologize in advance for the unoriginal parts. I'm trying to add in as much as I can think of. I'm sure this plot line is also very popular, but if I existed in this world, this is my dream life, so...what can I do? Thanks for reading.

It all began when my friends started talking about some people that they called Simple Simon, The Count, Angus 'The Nut' Nutsford, and above all, Midnight Mark. I worked ten hour days at a café in Sheringham that rarely played any kind of music, so I had no idea what they were talking about. Then, on my 25th birthday, they introduced me to something that would dramatically change my life. Radio Rock.

From that night on, I was fully versed in the lingo of Rock n' Roll. I could sing every song Radio Rock played by heart, I knew the shifts of every DJ, I knew their names, I knew their voices. Then, one night in November, my friends and I were at a pub that was playing Radio Rock. The Count was broadcasting and he went into one of his signature opening monologues that I had learned well. I was a little drunk, so I jumped up on the table and started reciting it, loudly. The entire pub broke into applause when it was over. Grinning, I hopped down.

A few moments later, a man came over. He was very thin, and I figured I could knock him over if I sneezed in his direction. "Good evening," he said. "My name is Quentin."

"Good evening," we all replied.

He turned to me. "That was a very impressive speech. What's your name?"

"Chelsea Black."

"You have a fine voice. Have you ever considered broadcasting?"

"No," I answered, a little shocked.

He nodded as if he expected as much. "I have a proposal for you. You see, I am the founder of Radio Rock..." At this point, my friends all gasped and giggled. "...and I have been considering a temporary exception to the no women allowed rule. I want to see how a female DJ would be accepted. I am asking you to be that temporary exception. Now, before you answer, you need to remember, we are based on a ship in the middle of the North Sea, the only other woman aboard is a lesbian, and if you're not popular, you'll be promptly sent back to shore."

"I accept!" I said without a pause. All my friends started clapping and whispering to each other.

"Wonderful!" Quentin exclaimed. "How long do you need to pack?"

"Maybe an hour once I get home."

"How far do you live from here?"

"Just right down the street."

"Then, I shall escort you. I'd like to depart as soon as possible. These little excursions to shore are rather far and in between, but I love that boat. Come." He offered me his arm, so I took it gently for fear of pulling him over. I waved at my friends as we departed.

On the way to my house, I asked, "Why don't you allow women on board, Quentin?"

"They tend to complicate things. The guys compete over them and get distracted...things become problematic."

"Why am I different?"

"Like I said, I'm curious to see how it works. You seem like you're pretty sure of yourself and you're not going to let them do anything to you that you don't want them to."

"You got that right. Oh, crap. I just thought of something."

"What's that?"

"I have a job."

"Well, you'd best get rid of it."

"I'll write them a note and post it on their door when we leave. I assume we'll be headed for the harbor." He nodded. "Good. It's on the way. Here's my place."

I led him into my house, got him some tea, then ran to my room to start packing. I basically threw every article of clothing I had in the big suitcase, and packed a few of my other things in the smaller one like my clock, my tiny stash of records, my record player, and my second pair of tennis shoes. Within the hour, I was ready to go. "Alright, Quentin."

"Aren't you going to write your employer a note?"

"Oh, yeah!" I grabbed some paper out of a drawer and hastily scribbled a note.

"What are you going to tell them?"

"That a dreadful family emergency has called me immediately to London, and that I won't be coming back."

"Well done," he told me with a grin. I returned it and put the note in an envelope. We departed, and along the way, I stopped by the café and stuck the note on the door.

Once we reached the harbor, Quentin led the way to a boat. The captain greeted him, then looked at me a bit oddly. "Rules change?" he asked.

"She's a temporary exception."

"Whatever you say."

With that, we were aboard and en route to the ship dubbed Radio Rock. As the ship loomed on the horizon, Quentin came over to me. "Are you nervous, Chelsea?"

"A little. I've never broadcasted before."

"You'll be allowed to observe for a few days before we give you a spot. You'll do fine, I'm sure."

"Thanks. So, my shipmates will include: Dr. Dave, the Count, Simple Simon, Midnight Mark, Angus 'The Nut', John the newsman...who am I leaving out?"

"Thick Kevin, he cleans, Felicity, she cooks, Harold, he cleans and helps out with broadcasts, and Bob, he's a DJ. 3 am to 6 am."

"Oh. I've never heard him. I'm usually asleep during those hours."

"As are all normal people," he replied with a smirk. "You probably won't see Bob much. You might not ever see him."

"Oh...alright then." After that, he left me alone, and I turned back to the growing ball of light that we were going to. There lay my future. I couldn't dispel that thought. My future relied deeply upon that ship. I wasn't sure where it was going, but that ship was the hinge point.

Our little transport boat pulled up to the side of the ship smoothly. Quentin ascended to the deck, then turned and held out his hand for my luggage. I passed it all up there, then climbed aboard myself. I honestly hadn't expected it to be a cargo ship. I didn't know why I hadn't expected that. Of course it had to be large to accommodate so many people for so long. Radio Rock was painted in large white letters on the deck. I grinned. I was already having fun.

Quentin took me below deck to the living room/kitchen. It was full of people, all talking amongst themselves. "Excuse me! Quiet!" Quentin called, and the room fell silent. "This is Chelsea Black. She's going to be my experimental temporary exception to the no women rule. She has a great voice for broadcasting, and she proved it by climbing atop a table in a pub and reciting your opener right along with you, Count. Her American accent was pretty impressive as well." A rather rotund, bearded man at the bar raised a glass to me. I smiled and nodded. "No badgering the girl, and who she sleeps with aboard this ship is totally and exclusively up to her." I blushed, and the others laughed. "I expect you all to make her feel welcome." His announcement finished, he pat me on the shoulder and walked out, and I was left to weather through all the greetings.

The man who had raised his glass to me came over first. "Hi. I'm the Count."

I shook his hand. "It's a real honor, sir."

"The honor is all mine, fair lady."

I grinned and turned to the next guy. He had long dark hair and pretty blue eyes that just bubbled over with excitement. "Hi! I'm Simon!" he exclaimed in a pronounced Irish accent while shaking my hand hard enough to break it off.

"Simple Simon! I think you're the first DJ I heard about!"

"Well, that's nice."

"Yeah, It's bloody brilliant," another rotund man muttered. He had glasses and a little bit of an arrogant air about him. "I'm David."

I took his hand and nodded. "Dr. Dave. You came next. You see, my friends introduced me to your station, but first I heard about all of the DJs. Every one of you has a fan in my group."

"Really?" a voice called from the corner.

I knew the voice well. "Yes, Angus 'The Nut' Nutsford!" I called. "My friend Lola absolutely loves your show. Listens to it every single day."

A girl came up to me and said, "I think you just made his day. I'm Felicity."

"Ah. The lesbian. A pleasure, Felicity." I shook her hand and glanced at the clock. It was just after midnight. "I guess Mark is broadcasting," I said.

"That he is, and I am about to go do a newscast so forgive me if I say hello and run!" a man that I assumed was John called as he hastily exited the room.

"Hi, I'm Harold!" the black guy on the couch called while giving me a wave.

I waved back and turned to the final guy in the room. "I take it you're Kevin." He nodded. "Quentin called you Thick Kevin. How come?"

"No idea," he answered with a shrug.

"It's because he's incredibly thick!" Felicity answered.

"I see," I laughed. "Well, I'm very glad to have met you all. I'm looking forward to this stay."

"We're very glad to have you here," the Count said. "And if you ever need anything, if any of these crazy guys start bugging you...you come to me, ok? I'm taking it upon myself to make sure that you're looked after."

"You really don't have to do that."

"I know, but I'm going to. I'm your guardian, you hear?"

"Ok. Thank you." I looked around at all the smiling faces looking at me. Oh yeah, my future was here with these people. "So, where do I sleep?"