Alright. I felt that an update was in order. Especially now, that I'm back home from Guatemala. For all you wondering, the trip was great! But I sure am glad to be back home! Thanks to everyone who posted as callers. I didn't get as many as I hoped, but maybe next time. I think I'll try something like this in the near future. Enough of me, now for chapter 4.

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Robbie picked up the phone and pushed the button for line one.

"Caller #1, you're on the air. What would you like to add to this conversation?"

"Ok Question Mark, I think the real question is what is a self manufactured cover? What exactly are you talking about? Outside manufacturing, such as clothing or inside, such as attitude? Because if it is outside, then it might just be someone trying something new out. And if it is inside then it could just be someone trying to be more up beat or something around those lines. But if you are talking about people trying to hide themselves rather then improve or expand on themselves then I think that is bad and stupid."

"It was meant more on the lines of hiding your feelings about something, or someone, because of fear. And I would agree with you that it's bad and stupid." Robbie glanced quickly at Ray, then at Lily, and then Travis. Travis was holding up the chalkboard with "Jake" written on it.

Robbie put the phone over to another line and said, "Hey Jake. What are your thoughts on the subject?"

"I've fallen hard for this girl for three months now and I finally got up the courage to ask her out to the school dance but she's already got a date. Now I'm acting like I don't like her that way any more, but the truth is I like her even more now. What should I do, Shady?"

"Well," Lily began, "just because she already has a date to the dance doesn't mean that she's really into him. It could easily be a friend of hers as a back up or something. Don't lose hope! Sometimes you just need to be straight-forward. Let her know what's up, what you're thinking. Chances are things will work out somehow."

"Thanks Shady. I'll try that."

"Sometimes you need to change your point of view. Other times you just need some good music. So this time, it's "Sometimes" by Bodega." Lily said, as she grabbed her Bodega cd. She popped the cd in the player, and looked around the room. She noticed that Ray seemed somewhat distant. He hadn't spoken lately. Curiosity was eating her away. She crumpled up a scrap piece of paper and tossed it at Ray. "What's on your mind, Ray?" She asked. She was just a little concerned. But then, this was Ray. How normal could he be?

"Hey! What was that for?" was Ray's response. He was back in reality now. He had been thinking about what Robbie was saying. About hiding his feelings. The ones about Lily. He wanted to ask her to Mickey's still. He could just pretend that it was to "hang out" and nothing more. Wasn't it though? He just wanted to "hang out" with the girl he likes. That shouldn't be a crime.

"Nothing. You were going all spacey. That's all." Lily stated.

"Oh. Okay." He hadn't realized that his thinking about something was that obvious.

"What's everyone doing after the show?" Robbie asked. He hoped that his asking would set up a context for Ray to ask Lily to Mickey's or something. It was the least he could do for a friend.

Ray looked at Robbie for a sense of assurance before he would add to the conversation. He was determined to ask Lily to Mickey's, and now was a better time than any. But he couldn't be so obvious. Robbie grinned at Ray as to tell him to just ask her already. A little motivation should help him along.

Ray began, "Anyone going to Mickey's?"

"I've got some fun and exciting father-son bonding planned. Dad's taking me to a hockey game. So I doubt I'll be going to Mickey's today." Robbie replied.

"Audrey and I were planning on going out to the movies." Travis added.

"What about you Lil?" Ray asked, quite nervously.

"Well, I don't really have anything planned. I don't see why I couldn't go for a while." Lily replied.

"Great!" Ray realized that he should probably try not to let himself come across too overjoyed. "Gotta play it cool Brennan." He thought to himself.

"We're back on in 5 guys." Travis stated.

Lily brought the show back in with one of her famous guitar intros.

"Before we end our show today, we'd like to add in one more segment. A little something I like to call "Roast Beef." Have any beef you'd like to roast? Call in, while our oven is pre-heated." Robbie began. Travis held up the chalk board with "caller #1" written on it. "Alright, caller number one, you're on the air."

"Hi Question Mark. This is Ed..." Ed began.

"...and Ted." Ted finished.

Robbie chuckled. "What can we help you guys with today?"

"We're tired of being the 'smart' ones." Ed and Ted stated in unison.

"What do you mean?" Robbie replied, confused.

"We want to be normal, cool people. Like you guys." Ed explained.

"We aren't normal, cool people." Ray began. "Well, we are cool, but..."

Lily interrupted him. "Please ignore Pronto's stupidity. Ed, Ted, both of you are normal, cool people."

"Maybe we're normal. Normal nerds." Ted added.

"Just because you two are different, have your own unique interests, but just haven't completely embraced that yet doesn't mean that you aren't normal, cool people. You're normal and cool in your own ways." Travis stated.

"Don't resort to a self manufactured cover guys. People respect you for who you are and what you think. You just need to be more confident." Robbie added.

"I think you guys are right." Ed said.

"Well, of course we are!" Ray blurted. Lily shot him a punch-worthy glare. If she was any closer to him she would have punched him.

"We're only right because it's the truth. As long as you're true to yourselves you will be normal, cool people." Robbie added. He looked in Travis' direction and noticed him gesturing to wrap things up. "That's all the time we have for today. This is Radio Free Roscoe, signing off."

Travis switched off the main power on the switch board and everyone took off their headphones and set them down in their usual places. After Travis was done shutting everything down, he headed towards the door and stated, "I'd better get going. Don't want to keep Audrey waiting."

"Right. See ya!" Robbie said.

"Bye Travis!" Lily said.

"See ya Swam...er...see ya." Ray attempted to correct himself. Travis sent him a glare before he turned to go out the door. Lily walked up to Ray and punched him. "You gotta stop calling him Swami. He doesn't appreciate it."

"Sorry." Ray started rubbing his arm. "It just kind of slipped."

"Okay, but try to not let it 'kind of slip' again."

"Well guys, I'm outta here. Have fun at Mickey's." Robbie said as he gathered his things and headed towards the door.

"Alright, see ya!" Ray said.

"Bye!" Lily said.

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holy cow. I can't believe how long it's been since I've updated! I know this isn't all that long or anything, but it's something to hold you all over till I'm done spending my waking moments doing school things. Our b- ball team made it to super sectionals!! Woot woot! Heh. Yea....why don't you go.....hmm...REVIEW! now. Ok. Thanks for reading!