Okay so for anyone who has read this story, it belongs to my friend. She has asked me to post it on here for her since she doesn't have time in her schedule to post it online herself. The original story is on .net and the penname is Lita Karver

"And that was the latest song from Darien Shields called "Fade Away". I hope all you loyal listeners of WESM 102.5 enjoyed it as much as I did. I hate to cut it short but the sponsors make us. We'll be right back after a few messages." The blonde radio deejay slid a button down, taking her voice off the air as the commercials began.

"Smooth, Serena. You need to work on your changeovers." Serena turned her head towards the door to her studio and nearly fell out of her seat. Standing in the doorway was a tall pony tailed brunette.

"Lita! I thought you were still recording your cooking show." The brunette shook her head.

"Nope. The executive producer and director got sick with some stomach bug so no show on how to bake the perfect chocolate cheesecake today."

"You almost sound happy. Did you put something in their food yesterday?" Lita's mouth gaped open in slight disgust.

"No I didn't!" answered the woman as she crossed her arms.

"I am just pulling your leg," the blonde chuckled. "I have a few more minutes before the commercials are over. What's up?" She pointed towards an empty chair next to her, which Lita graciously took.

"Thanks. My feet are killing me!"

"Hey, do you want to promote your show after the commercials?" asked Serena as she took a sip from her Aquafina water.

"You know I hate talking on the radio."

"You? The woman who has a world-famous cooking television show?"

"If I plug my show, will you shut your mouth?" Serena continued to laugh.

"You know I love you, Lita. But to answer your question, yes." Lita playfully shoved her best friend. "Okay, commercials are over. Just grab the headphones right there and I will let you know when to start."

"All right," said Lita as she placed the headphones gently over her ears.

"Welcome back, everyone! For those that are just tuning in, you're listening to Serena's Song Block on WESM 102.5. Before we get to our next request, I have a special guest today. Her name is Lita Kino from Kino's Kitchen. Go ahead and say hello, Lita!" Serena pointed to the brunette, signaling her to start talking.

"Hey everyone!" said Lita as she waved her hand to an invisible audience. Her other hand was fiddling with her hair in nervousness.

"So what is it that you have for us today?"

"I just wanted to say to all you listeners out there that Kino's Kitchen is on at 8:00 pm on the Food Network on Fridays and I hope y'all tune in!"

"Thanks, girl. I can smell the sugar now!" It was now Lita's turn to laugh.

"Yeah, and it is waiting for you!"

"All right, everyone! Enjoy this request for Minako's "Talk All You Want." Serena made the same motion as earlier. "Sometimes, it still surprises me that Mina is a huge star now. Who knew the metaphor-mangling goofball would be that?"

"Believe me, Serena. I wasn't entirely certain she could do it but she did. More power to her. Besides maybe she knows that new hotshot Darien Shields. His songs just make me melt!" Serena stuck her tongue out.

"His lyrics are too mushy for my tastes, but whatever."

"You're going to regret that someday when he visits your radio station."

"Sure. Sure. I'll fall and kiss his feet whenever he comes, but until then, I still don't like his music."

"Hey, Hey…no, that doesn't sound right," said a disgruntled man as his fingers played a few notes on the guitar sitting across his lap. He then scribbled in a notebook.

"Searching for the next huge hit, Dar?" The raven-haired man looked up.

"No I'm searching for a diamond record, Andrew." He then turned his attention back to his guitar.

"C'mon, "Fade Away" is great!"

"You're only saying that because you got a great drum solo on it."

"Of course."

"You're an ass sometimes."

"Hey, what got you in a pissy mood?"

"I hate radio tours. Talking to people just isn't my thing. On top of that, I haven't written a great song in months."

"Get over it. Your inspiration will come to you before you know it."

"Thanks, Mom."

"No problem, Son!" Darien couldn't help but laugh at his drummer and friend.

"What station are we visiting on Friday?" asked the rocker as he put his guitar in his guitar case.

"Let me see." Andrew's fingers flipped through a few sheets of paper. "Ah, WESM 102.5 in Lake Martin, Alabama."

"Sounds like some sort of middle of nowhere kind of place."

"Dude, it has the hottest lake resort there! What are you talking about?!"

"Whatever, I am just ready to get off this bus."

"Well, I hope y'all have had an awesome time listening to Serena's Song Block. I'm Serena Taylor, and I'll be seeing y'all tomorrow! Same station, same time!"

"Good work, Serena, but I still can't understand why you don't just use your real last name."

"People can't pronounce Tsukino as easily as Taylor." Serena took her headphones off.

"Fine then. By the way, we have a guest coming in on Friday. He'll be coming on during your show."

"Okay, who is it?" Serena continued gathering her things as her black-haired boss informed her on her guest.

"Darien Shields." Serena's mouth dropped at the sound of his name, leaving her jacket's left sleeve hanging.

"Oh God! Why him? Why not Minako instead?"

"What's wrong with him? He's a hot singer right now. Besides, Minako had scheduling conflicts."

"Look, it's just that I think his music kind of sucks." Serena put on the rest of her jacket. It was her boss's turn to be shocked.

"You're the first person to say that. But I want you to forget that and be extremely nice to him on Friday."

"Fine," said a pouting Serena. She took her time card and clocked out. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Raye, have you heard from Amy yet? She said she was coming for dinner but she didn't say what time she'd be over here," called out Serena as she walked into her apartment.

"Yeah, she said she would be running late by about 20 minutes," her roommate shouted from her bedroom. Serena continued her home-from-work routine.

"God, what a day!" signed Serena as she plopped herself on her living room couch.

"Rough?" asked Raye as she continued to rub her damp, long black hair with a towel.

"Not really. I just got some news about the guest for my show on Friday. I am telling you that I am not looking forward to it."

"C'mon, it can't be that bad."

"It's Darien Shields."

"WHAT?! He is going to be on your radio show?!"

"Gee, you sound enthusiastic."

"I only think that he is one of the hottest musicians out there! Please get me an autograph, a picture, a piece of his clothing if you could!" Raye's hands were clasped together as she crawled to Serena on her knees.

"Raye, get off the floor! You look like a groveling idiot right now!"

"Man, aren't you a little pissy, meatball brain?" Raye rose from her knees.

"I'm sorry. I am just not really looking forward to him being on my show. I don't like his music. I play it because the listeners request his songs all the time."

"If I was in your position, I would not be acting like that."

"Thanks, Mom. I needed that." Serena rubbed her temples as she felt a headache coming on.

"One day, you are going to regret saying that."

"Lita already told me that today."

"Well I just told you again. C'mon, go get freshened up. Lita and Amy should be here soon." Serena removed herself from the couch and went into her bathroom to take a shower.

RING! RING! RING! Darien picked up his cell phone as it lit up, signaling an incoming call.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Darien! It's Minako!"

"Oh, hey, Mina! How are you?"

"I'm good. I just wanted to ask a favor of you."

"What's that?"

"I know that you are visiting WESM on Friday."

"Have you been stalking me again?" Darien could hear Mina chuckle on the other end of the phone.

"Sure I have. No, it is just that a dear friend of mine works there and you might be on her show. I just wanted you to be really nice to her."

"I forgot that you were the Little Miss Country Girl from small town Alabama."

"Funny…"

"Nah, don't worry. I may hate these radio tours, but I never let it show."

"Hey, she's quite a looker so maybe it won't be so bad. You might get a date out of this."

"I don't date radio deejays."

"Sure. Sure. You'll regret saying that someday."

"All right, Mina. Good-bye!"

"Lita, you won't believe this but Serena's going to have…" Serena quickly put her hand over Raye's mouth, regretting the decision as Raye spit some of her spaghetti into it. Serena gagged and rushed over to the kitchen sink to wash it. Amy laughed at the situation as she received a glare from the flustered blonde.

"Good one, Raye. So what's this about, Serena?" asked the brunette as she took a sip of her wine.

"Darien Shields is going to be on her show!" Lita spit out her wine and knocked her glass over as Amy dropped her fork on her plate.

"No way!"

"Seriously?" exclaimed the short blue-haired woman. Everyone then stared at Amy.

"I had no idea you liked this guy," said Raye as she helped Lita clean up the wine mess. Amy then blushed.

"His music is a guilty pleasure…can't help it." The woman then took a bite of her garlic bread. Everyone else in the room shook their head.

"Am I the only one who doesn't think this guy is some sort of god?" asked Serena as she returned to the table.

"YES!" shouted the other three women in the room.

"Y'all are just crazy fans."

"What are you going to ask him?" questioned Raye as she returned to her seat.

"I don't know. Whatever comes to mind."

"It's not fair! You get to touch him!" whined Lita.

"Lita! I won't be touching him!"

"Then how might you shake his hand then when you introduce yourself if you're not going to touch him?" asked Amy, raising one eyebrow towards Serena.

"Okay, I'll shake his hand and ask him a few questions. It's no big deal."

"It's Darien Shields! What could be bigger than that!?" exclaimed Raye.

"Now I thought that I was the whiny one of the group."

"No, that was mainly Mina and you. Now that Mina's touring all the…wait! I bet Mina has his number! Don't stars know stars?" asked Lita as she frantically searched for her cell phone in her purse.

"I don't think we should be bothering Mina about that…"

"Too late," said Raye as she raised her phone to the women at the table.

"Hey, girls! I miss y'all!" said Mina through the loud speaker on Raye's phone.

"Mina, we miss you!" said Raye.

"How is everything going? Amy, what about you and med school? How is that working out?"

"I am ready to finish. Graduation is on December 15 so put it in your planner."

"That's a long way away but I'll be there. Lita, I have been watching your cooking show religiously. How is that going for you?"

"Pretty good. There won't be a new episode this week due to the executive producer and the director getting sick."

"What did you do? Put salt in some cookies?"

"No! It was not intentional. They got sick from I don't know what."

"I'm just messing with you, girl! Raye, what about you and your boutique?"

"Things couldn't be better! I just had a record-selling month!"

"Congrats, Raye!"

"I am very excited about that. Now, to the real reason I called you…"

"What's that? Have some juicy gossip?"

"Do you have Dar…"

"Raye! Mina, it's nothing. Raye and the rest of us just wanted to see how you were doing?"

"Oh, come on, Serena. Mina, do you have Darien Shields's phone number?" Serena slid her hand down her face in defeat.

"Yes, and I am not giving it to you."

"Oh, c'mon, Mina! Friends share things!" pleaded Lita.

"Sorry, guys. I can't. But, anyway, Serena, are you excited that he is going to be on your radio show on Friday?"

"I guess."

"Serena, he's a hot celeb. What more could a woman want?"

"I just don't see what the appeal is about him."

"You're going to regret saying that. He's a good guy. Go out with him." Serena's mouth opened in shock.

"He is just appearing on my show! It is not like I have to go on a date with him!"

"Hey, Amy, Lita, and I would date him in a heartbeat."

"Serena, I told him to be nice to you and that you were amazingly gorgeous so have fun with him!"

"Thanks, Mina…" Mina laughed over the loud speaker.

"Oh c'mon, Serena. Remember, "when at Rome…"" The singer was immediately interrupted by loud bursts of laughter.

"You'll never change…" Lita managed to say through her laughter.

"It's "when in Rome,"" corrected Amy.

"Damn it! I knew I would mangle it again! Oh well, at least I'm still the old Mina at heart!"

"Next time you come into town, we'll have to have one of our girls' nights."

"Of course. That sounds like a plan to me, Raye. Listen, I have to run and finish some recording, but I promise to call y'all later. I love all of y'all and miss y'all tons!"

"Miss ya, Blondie!" shouted Lita.

"Come and see us soon!" said Serena, despite the slight embarrassment she suffered from the conversation.

"Talk to you later!" said Amy.

"We love you bunches!" exclaimed Raye.

"Serena, have fun with Darien on your show and call me with the juicy details!" The group listened to Mina's last words of the conversation as she soon hung up her phone. Raye hung hers up in response.

"Man, I thought she would give us the number," sighed Raye as she started clearing the dining room table.

"There is a good reason why she didn't," pointed out Serena as she started washing the dishes.

"Oh, do tell."

"Because of fans like you and Lita and Amy," answered the blonde as she pointed a soapy finger towards each of the women. "He doesn't need any more stalkers."

"Well, if you get his number during your show, you better share it with us!"

"I don't even think I'll get his number. For all we know, he could be a very private person!"

"Fine, at least get an autograph for us then," grunted Raye in defeat.

"Hey everyone! I've got a special surprise for y'all. During tomorrow's show, Darien Shields is going to stop by and talk about his upcoming album so tune in! There will also be a contest to win an autographed copy of his latest single "Fade Away" so get excited!" Serena looked towards her phone, noticing that many callers were already calling in. "Let's figure out what our next song will be. Hello? You're on WESM 102.5! What can I play for you?"

"Oh my God! I'm on the radio! Oh my God! I just love your program!" screamed an overly anxious teenaged girl, Serena's usual type of caller.

"Why, thank you! What's your request?"

"Oh my God! Please play Darien's "Fade Away! I just love that song!"

"No problem. Here's Darien Shields with "Fade Away!"

"Her voice sounds interesting," said Darien as he turned away from his radio.
"Yeah, and you get to see her tomorrow!" exclaimed Mina.

"So tell me more about her. I like to be prepared for these radio interviews." Mina was a little hesitant to talk about one of her best friends, especially since she wasn't fond of his music. There was only one way to respond to his question.

"Now, now. You'll just have to wait!"

"Fine. I just hope that she won't choke up or something. That gets to be annoying sometimes."

"The joys of being a celebrity…believe me, I know how you feel. So, are you going to ask her out?"

"C'mon, Mina. I've already told you that I don't date radio deejays. I am just going into an interview, not the Dating Game."

"One day, you're going to want a girl around. I am only trying to help you out."

"Sometimes, I wonder how we became friends."

"I'm only doing my job, just helping you out with your love life."

"Whatever, I don't have time for a girlfriend right now. I lead too hectic of a lifestyle right now."

"Oh, that's right. You're Mr. Hotshot Rocker." Mina couldn't help but giggle out loud.

"Like I said before, it's a wonder how we became friends."

"Haha! Now have fun tomorrow. If you hurt her in any way, I'm coming after your ass!" said Mina as she made the empty threat.

"Now I'm scared." It was Darien's turn to be sarcastic.

"You know, I bet you are too much of a chicken to ask her out. Start with a small step, ask her for her number or something."

"If I do that, will you shut your mouth about my love life?"

"Of course, because then I know I would have won in the end! I know what is going to happen!"

"Haha! Not a chance! The challenge is on, Minako!" Darien hung up his phone. 'What did I just get myself into?' He then proceeded to sit down and pick up his guitar, playing a few notes that were dancing inside of his head.

"I was the only one…"