Dedication: To Celeste – you are a better friend than anyone could ever wish for. You're sweet, you're smart, but most of all you're supportive. Everyone should be allowed to know someone like you.
Ray tapped his fingers on the table, staring at the clock. Both Lily and Robbie were late, which was pretty unusual as Robbie was never late for anything.
A moment later, Robbie raced into the station, Lily close behind him. "Sorry we're late, I was just telling Lily about who Stephens put you with in chem."
Lily laughed and took her seat. "I can't believe he put you with Christiana Collins of all people. She's in my music class, and she always writes lyrics about death and sadness, and suicide, and did I mention death? She's really depressing."
Ray gave her a funny look. "Christy's not THAT bad."
"Sure… she's only THE BIGGEST GOTH THAT ROSCOE HAS EVER SEEN! Why are you defending her, anyway? Before today you didn't even know that she existed."
Ray flinched and held a hand to his heart. "Ouch beautiful lady… that shot went straight to home."
Travis looked up from where he was adjusting the controls in the sound booth. "Buddha said that if you simply judge by outer appearances, you are no better than one who is blind."
Lily raised an eyebrow at Travis. "Sure. I'll take your word on that. So Ray, why are you so defensive towards someone you've never noticed before, never cared about before, and have absolutely NOTHING in common with?"
Robbie held up his hands and applauded. "Good question Lily… a very good question that I for one would like to know the answer to. So what do you have to say about this, Ray?"
"Ok… why is everyone making this out into such a big deal? We're partnered together, and all I did was talk to her and find out that she's not as bad as she looks."
Travis held up his fingers. "We're on in five… four… three… two… one." He paused to turn up the volumes on their microphones. "You're on the air."
"This is Radio…"
"Free…"
"Roscoe, the voice of Roscoe High."
"I'm Question Mark and I'm wondering, is it normal to care about someone you barely know? Shady Lane, your thoughts?"
Lily smirked at Ray as she leaned into the microphone to speak. "If it's a crush… no. If you wouldn't even look at this person under any circumstances… I'd say yes." She straightened up and smiled innocently at Ray, whose mouth was fully open. "Pronto, you got anything to add to that? Or are you just going to work on your goldfish impressions?"
"Uh… um… I think it's fine. Yeah. Totally and completely fine… uh huh… Smog! Smog. What do you… um… what do you think about… whatever the topic was. Since you never really speak, I wanna hear what you think."
Travis rolled his eyes. "Alright then, Pronto, I'll humor you. I think that love should never be rushed, but a spark should never be blown out; it should be sheltered and fed to keep it burning. But on the other hand, you don't want to rush and suffocate it with too much wood. It should burn slowly, but it will ultimately last for so much longer."
Ray toyed with the hem of his shirt. "I'm not really sure I understood that. Alright, to the public! What do YOU think about the subject… whatever it is?"
Travis held up a clipboard with the caller's name on it.
Robbie leaned into his microphone. 'Ok Golden Phoenix, what do you think?"
A smooth female voice that sounded very familiar came over the line. "Love is amazing. You should never rush love, because I had a crush on a guy for a long time. When we finally got together, we took things slow, and now we have a great relationship."
Ray glanced over at Travis and realized that he was blushing. Audrey, he thought, shaking his head.
They took a few more calls, then Travis cut to a song and slipped off his headphones.
"Was that Audrey?" Lily was laughing at Travis, who was still red. He nodded slowly, and Lily laughed harder. "Oh my gosh, I cannot BELIEVE you didn't tell us! I mean, I knew you guys liked each other, but… oh my gosh!"
Robbie's eyes widened and he tapped Lily on the shoulder. "Lily, shut up."
"Why–" Lily fell silent just as the song ended.
"Alright, we're back, and ready to take your song requests. Smog?" Robbie turned to the sound booth, and Travis held up his clipboard.
"Fallen Angel, you're on the air."
"I'd like to hear 'Bring Me To Life' by Evanescence and Paul McCoy, and I'm dedicating this song to someone that I just met, and someone that I'd like to know better, Ray Brennan."
A silence filled the room as everyone realized who was on the line. Travis quietly slotted in the CD and pressed play.
For once, Robbie was too surprised to speak. Lily was wondering about what was going on between this new girl and her best friend, Travis was being his usual silent self and Ray was just confused about what all this meant.
How can you see into my eyes like open
doors
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb
Without a soul
My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life
(I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside)
Bring me to life
Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love darling
Only you are the life among the dead
(All this time I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me)
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
(Without a thought
Without a voice
Without a soul)
Don't let me die here
(There must be something more)
Bring me to life
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life
(I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside)
Bring me to life
Evanescence feat. Paul McCoy – Bring Me To Life