Reality Bites

Episode 04: The Casting Call

By: Sailor Angie

AN: You guys gave great responses to my challenge question, and it's still open, so please more titles would be much appreciated, I'll run them all when I decide which one to use. Sorry this is a day late, Sunday snuck up on me, and I really was trying to stick to my schedule. Hope this one gets some laughs. Please read, review and enjoy!

Segment 04A

"Oh Daaarien . . ." Andrew poked his head through Darien's office door.

"I'm busy," Darien spoke without removing his eyes from the manuscript before him.

Andrew snuck around the back of his desk and snatched his glasses from his face. "I'll give them back when you give into my demands."

"Andrew," He fumed, "I can't see without my glasses."

"I know, you really should get laser surgery,, it's not like you don't have the money." Andrew laughed.

"Give them back." Darien stood up.

"Ah, ah, ah, not so fast," Andrew smirked.

"What do you want?" Darien gave in.

"Why, I thought you'd never ask." Andrew grinned wildly.

"Andrew I do not have time for this. What do you want?" He huffed.

"So cranky, you need to get laid."

"Is that what this is about? I'm not going to let you hook me up with another prostitute." Darien was beyond annoyed.

"Oh, she won't be a hooker." He mumbled.

"What?" Darien hadn't caught what he'd said.

"Nothing, listen, I want you to cut outta work early with me."

"I can't," Darien was frustrated, "I've got work to do."

"News flash Darien, you've always got work to do; that's not gonna change next week, next month, or next year. All I'm asking for is one afternoon." He played up the disappointment in his voice.

"Why?" Darien didn't trust Andrew as far as he could throw him.

"I wanna take you somewhere." Andrew answered honestly.

"I refuse to let you take me to a whorehouse." Darien folded his arms, "Now if you'll kindly return my glasses."

"This has nothing to do with a whorehouse or even alcohol; I just want you to leave work early for once and hang out with me for a while. When was the last time we've done that? Ya know just shoot the shit?"

Darien began to feel guilty for neglecting his friend. "No booze?"

"No."

"No girls?"

"No."

"Just us?"

Andrew paused, "Yeah," He lied.

"Okay, let me get my coat." Andrew handed Darien back his glasses.

"Seriously man, you do need to get laid though." Andrew chided Darien on the way out the door.

"Is that all you think about?" Darien questioned.

"Why, what do you think about?" Andrew asked innocently. Darien chuckled.

Segment 04B

"What is this?" Darien was becoming increasingly alarmed, "Why are we at a TV studio!?" He looked outside to see some trailers and sets propped up against a building.

"Don't freak out." Andrew turned into a parking stall.

"What did you do Andrew?!" Darien panicked.

Andrew turned the car off, "Don't talk and let me explain." Darien rolled his eyes, signifying Andrew could continue, "Last weekend when I brought you to that bar and you bugged out on me, I got pretty trashed and I was still mad at you when I got home. I checked my e-mail before I went to bed, like usual, but on my homepage there was a news link that said they were holding an online casting call for a new bachelor show—"

"You didn't," Darien's eyes widened.

Andrew lowered his head, "I did." He met Darien's eyes, "I gave them my phone number as a contact, and you got a call back. You're in the finals; they're really interested in you."

"So this is the call back?" Darien shook his head; he was furious.

"Just an interview," Andrew got out of the car, Darien didn't. "Aww, c'mon man."

"How DARE you!" Darien yelled.

Andrew was surprised; he'd never seen Darien react so strongly to anything, "I thought it'd be fun."

"FUN!?" Darien snapped, "If you think making a fool out of me is fun, then you can go in there and do the interview yourself." Darien stared straight through Andrew.

"Don't look at me like that; I thought it'd be an adventure. I though you could meet the girl of your dreams who didn't want your money. Cuz it seems like I haven't been finding anyone like that either." Andrew sighed, "I'm sorry, I never thought you'd be this upset." He got back in the car, and started it.

Darien turned the car off. Andrew looked at him, "Just an interview?" Darien spoke softly. Andrew nodded, "Okay." He unfastened his seatbelt.

When they entered the premises Darien was handed a number: 53.

"The guy who called said the interview was at two." Andrew and Darien sat down in the waiting room.

"It's only 1 O'clock." Darien whined, "You should have told me, I could have brought some work to do. I've got a bad feeling this is gonna take a while."

"That's exactly why I didn't tell you; now the only thing you can do to pass the time is catch up with me." Andrew smiled mischievously.

"Fine, but I gotta be outta here by six though." Darien briefly thought about the coffee shop, and that woman's clear eyes.

"Whatever." Andrew stuffed his keys in his pocket.

Segment 04C

Serena sat in the interviewing office with Daniel and Susan, allowing them to ask all the questions. She looked at her watch for the millionth time. It was quarter to six, she was gonna miss that man at the coffee house. She was surprised that she was so excited to meet someone she had only spoken to for a few minutes, but he had been so cordial.

All three stood up to shake another potential bachelor's hand; as he exited the door, Greg rushed in.

"I hope I'm not too late Serena, you didn't' miss what you had planned did you?" He set some papers down on the desk.

"Greg, what are you doing here?" She questioned.

"Relieving you of your duties, you said you had plans at the meeting on Monday."

"But it's Friday night; don't you have plans with your fiancé?" Serena was confused.

"She cancelled; she had to work late; so you go. One of us should get some action tonight," Serena turned around to protest his last comment, "Just kidding. Go out the back way and have fun." Greg smiled.

Serena stopped before exiting. She turned around and gave Greg a hug, "Thanks Greg, I owe you one." Greg had always been like an older brother to Serena.

"I couldn't stand up for you in the board room. This is the least I could do. What Diamond doesn't know won't hurt him." They both snickered, and Serena finally exited. "Number 53," Greg yelled to the large group of men in the waiting room.

Segment 04D

"Too bad you missed that hot blonde who made the announcement while you were in the bathroom." Andrew joked.

"Will you shut up about that." Darien rolled his eyes for the umpteenth time that day. Spending an hour or two with Andrew was fine, but by the time 5 O'clock rolled around, he was ready to strangle him, "If they don't finish soon, I'm leaving." Darien looked at his watch again: 5:45. The coffee shop was 3 minutes away by cab, 15 if you were walking.

Number 52 excited the room, moments later a man announced Darien's number. Darien hurried over to the room, leaving Andrew outside, "Listen I realize you guys are on a schedule, but I am too, and I've got a very important meeting in a few minutes, so let's make this short." He said in one breath.

Greg smirked, his attitude would make for good TV, "So Mr. Shields, how is your business doing?"

"Good, I've just signed a big client, so thinks are going well." Darien said shortly.

"Why do you want to be on the show?" Greg asked.

"A friend of mine signed me up actually; I haven't been able to find any women here lately that aren't after my money." Darien admitted honestly.

"Hopefully our show could help you with that task. Are you interested in the part?" Greg was honest.

Darien looked at his watch again: 5:50, "Sure, I don't care." Darien signed a contract of interest and bolted, "I'll catch a cab." He shouted as he ran past Andrew.

AN: I'm just going to re-state the challenge for those of you who may have thought of more suggestions in the past two weeks. As always, if you have questions, let me know, and I'll answer them next time. Thanks for reading, and hopefully reviewing!

Challenge #1: What do you think the bachelor type show should be named? Give me lots of suggestions no matter how goofy they are. This is reality TV, so the dumber the better.

Preview --- Episode 05: The Coffee Shop --- Will Darien and Serena cross paths at the coffee shop or miss each other by mere seconds!? DUN Dun dun, find out in the most dramatic rose ceremony—err, next chapter.