10 Don’t go anywhere, love

Steve

"Good morning, caller, this is Steve of Midnight Radio Fridays. What is your name and what song would you like to hear?"

"Good morning, Steve! It's so weird to say morning right now hahaha," said the bubbly voice on the other end of the line. She sounded giddy and a bit nervous. Definitely a Geend.

"I know, but it's right now 1:45 and most definitely Friday morning, so good morning to you," I teased her. "May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"

"Oh it's Candy," she giggled. "I just came from Popvaganza. You left early!"

"Ah, a Girl Next Door, I see," I feigned surprise. This is not actually surprising, most of the callers are Geends. It's why I got this gig, I already have a captured audience. "So, Candy, did you and your friends enjoy Popvaganza tonight?"

"We did, but we were trying to find you during the last song and you weren't there! You owe us!"

"I'm very lucky indeed that people still wonder where I am, so how can I possibly make it up to you?" A very dangerous offer, but what the hell.

"Could you please play Everything You Are right now? It's my favourite Boy Next Door song, and you never sing it live anymore."

"What? We sang it during the River Festival last month!"

"That's so long ago, and the River Festival was too far from here..." she suddenly sounded less petulant, and quite sad. "I'm sorry we didn't get to see you at River Festival, it was too expensive and we have to save our allowance..."

"Candy, sweetie, don't be sorry, you saw us at Popvaganza tonight, and that makes up for all the times you couldn't come to our shows," I said, soothingly. We have our share or crazy fans, but most of them are just like Candy, just trying to get through their teenaged years as happily as possible. It feels overwhelming sometimes, to be partly responsible for this happiness. I raised my hand to the radio engineers in the next booth so that they can get a USB from me. "Okay, just for you, a special dedicated live version of Everything You Are, and you can pretend we sang it just for you tonight at Popvaganza. How's that?"

"Oh, Steve, thank you so much!" Candy squealed. Then, "But, Steve? Can I.. can I ask you something else?"

I was going through my personal folder for the recording of the live version of Everything You Are, because the radio station didn't have it. "Yes, Candy?" I asked as I transferred the MP3 to the USB, but I was only half listening as she chattered on, I was focused on my files. I looked up and Teresa was beside me, her hand out to receive the USB. I ejected the USB and placed it in her palm, softly stroking her wrist in the process. She rolled her eyes and jogged back to the next booth. I kept my smile at a minimum; ever since they started live streaming these radio shows, I have to be constantly performing. Usually it's fine, but kinda tiring when after a Popvaganza or annoying when I can't even flirt with Teresa properly. I picked up my tumbler of water and took a sip, finally tuning back into what Candy was saying.

"...I'm really sorry to ask, but I need to know, since you're obviously not a virgin, when was your first time and did you like it?"

I choked on my water so hard, that Arnie had to play a recording of me saying, "Don't go anywhere, love, Midnight Radio Fridays will be right back..." and Teresa switched through to the call to tell Candy to stay on the line while I recovered from my ongoing near-death experience.