Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2012 03:18:20 -0400
From: Cy-kun <cysanonymouslyanonymousemail@gmail.com>
Subject: Oh Radio Tell Me Everything You Know Chapter 10

Disclaimer: Sex: This story has it, eventually. And it's between boys. If
that bothers you, or you don't like stories that don't jump into the sex
right away, then this probably isn't for you. Copyrighted material: Again,
this story has it. I don't own the copyrights, I don't pretend to, and this
is free so I can't get sued anyway. True stories: This is not based on one.

Introduction: ...dammit! I promised myself I wouldn't be all apologizey
this time but I can't let this one go without one, tiny, big apology.
Because this lateness is totally my fault. Won't get into it, but the short
version is I'm lazy and I can't plan these chapter out for shit <_<
lol. The good news? I have a decent start on chapter 11 so even though my
boyfriends still here the wait shouldn't be as long this time :) Ok, good,
now that that's out of the way, I have to go back to trying to talk myself
out of making an "Everything" and "Radio" mod for Artificial Academy,
lol. And, trust me, that's gonna be hard. Enjoy the chapter!

	-Cy


------------------------------------------

	After the third weird look, I was seriously regretting sitting
right next to Owen.

	Maybe it would have been better if we were sitting at one of the
small tables or if Cheryl didn't decide to make this the one freaking day
she didn't run from her sixth period to lunch and was across from us, but
right now it was just me and Owen, sitting at a table that can easily seat
four on each side, RIGHT next to each other. Normally, closeness to Owen is
a good thing. Right now, it kinda looks a bit......suspect. Two boys
sitting next to each other when they don't have to, really close, sharing
smiles, with one of the boys being me?

	I can definitely see how that might look a bit gay.

	I would have felt bad for worrying about it if I was worried about
me, but I wasn't. I was scared for Owen. He didn't seem to care, he kept
smiling and talking softly to me and I was starting to suspect he kept
moving his chair closer to me when I wasn't looking because I was moving MY
chair away from him when HE wasn't looking and we never got any further
apart. God! Does he not know that just being SEEN with me is gonna start
rumors about him? Being this close is like pulling me up on the table and
making out with me in front of everyone. And great, now my lips are
tingling and I'm remembering how amazing Owen's lips feel and has it really
been two days since we kissed? Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.....

	Oh god. Where the hell was Cheryl?

	I looked over towards the door for the fiftieth time in the last
few seconds. Nope. Still not here. I was about to look away when someone
else walked in and caught my eye. Kevin. Holy crap, I completely forgot
about him. I stared for a second, feeling really squirmy and awkward about
a guy who looked so -I dunno, sad? Heartbroken? Depressed?- not ok when he
found out I had a boyfriend suddenly being, like, twenty feet away from me
and my boyfriend. And then, because apparently the universe likes to try
and do everything it can to give me a heart attack, I realized that if
Kevin sees me and Owen together he'll KNOW that he's my boyfriend RIGHT as
he looks over and sees us.

	Crap.

	He froze in place and just looked at me. I held back a wince and
wished I could pretend I didn't see him. Even though he wasn't exactly
right next to me I could actually SEE when his eyes shifted just a bit and
I knew he was looking at Owen. Crap. Crap. Crap. NOW I knew why I felt so
paranoid about him liking me. If he's the kind of guy that would want
revenge for getting rejected, all he needed to do was make one little
comment where people could overhear and Owen's life in school would be
over. And it would be all my fault.

	My throat tightened up. Kevin's eyes shifted back to mine. My heart
started beating it's way out of my chest. Kevin's eyes widened slightly in
crystal clear understanding. Oh god. This is it. He-

	He walked away.

	He turned, slumped just a bit, and walked away. I followed him with
my eyes, watching to see if he said anything to anyone, although I dunno
why. If he was gonna do something what the hell could I do to stop it? But
he just walked over to where Brandon and Drew were sitting and sat down. I
held my breath, waiting for him to quickly whisper something before three
heads turned to look at us. It never happened. He said something, Brandon
said something back, then another one of their friends sat down and started
talking while Kevin started unpacking his lunch bag. I let out a relieved
breath. Ok. So he's not a vindictive dick. Awesome. I turned back to Owen.

	Who was looking right at Kevin.

	"Who was that?" he asked, his eyes shifting back towards me. He
asked it casually. But real casual, not like the forced casual people get
when they're setting you up to yell at you for something. Which I kinda,
maybe expected. I mean, his boyfriend following some guy across the room
with his eyes? Yeah, I could expect some jealousy. Or maybe some- oh, it's
my turn to talk, isn't it?

	"Kevin." I answered. "Um, he's the guy who helped get me out of
the, locker." My face got a little warm. God I hated talking about that
stupid locker.

	Owen frowned and glanced back at Kevin for a second. "The one who
regretted it because it was you?" he said with an edge to his voice.

	"Um, yeah." Owen's frown deepened and, oh, he's getting mad. For
me. My chest got tight in the good way this time. And then visions of Owen
maybe getting mad enough to say something to Kevin and outing himself or
getting Kevin pissed enough to do it flashed through my head. "But we made
up! I mean, he apologized. Today. He said he was sorry and he didn't regret
helping me he was just surprised because the locker was so small and he
actually likes me so he's not like a dick or anything. Even though I kinda
said he was. But I was wrong." I bit my lip and nodded. There. Crisis
averted!

	"He LIKES you?" Owen asked. "Like, how?"

	I blinked. "Um, I dunno. He asked me out so-"

	"He asked you OUT?" Owen's mouth dropped open and a second later he
glared so hard at Kevin's back I was shocked he didn't explode.

	Ok. Crisis not averted. Crisis is laughing and dancing at how not
averted it is. Crisis is very strong.

	My heart sank. Oh god, does he think..... "I didn't say yes!" I
winced at how maybe loud that was.

	Owen looked back at me. The glare was gone. He looked surprised for
a second, then gave me one of those warm, heart stopping smiles. "I know."
he said softly. "I didn't think you did." he gave another quick look
towards Kevin's table. "I'm not mad at you. I just....." he let out an
annoyed breath. "It's me. I hate the idea of anyone else coming onto you."
he smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head. "I guess I kinda
just want you all to myself, you know?"

	I grinned. God, I love when he says things like that. "I know." I
said happily. Then I remembered what I was worried about and decided this
was a good time to tell Owen to be careful. "But, um, maybe could you not
say anything to him? Kevin I mean. I just don't want-"

	A plastic lunch tray dropped onto the table with a loud, plasticy
'SMACK' and I jumped in my seat and yelped.

	"God!" Cheryl growled and threw herself into the seat across from
me. "Why do I always forget to bring my lunch on Brick Pizza Day?" she
picked up the disturbingly solid square of pizza from the tray with two
fingers, then dropped it with a disgusted lip curl. "Ugh."

	I blushed, both for the yelp and the less than classy first
impression Cheryl made. I took a quick glance at Owen but all his attention
was focused on Cheryl. Oh well, I'll apologize for her later.

	"So," she gave her pizza an annoyed poke and turned a piercing gaze
on Owen. He looked a bit nervous, and I had to clasp my hands together to
keep from hugging him or touching him in some obviously gay way. Something
that WOULDN'T be suspicious though is glaring at Cheryl. Which I did. She
ignored me. "Do you like school pizza?"

	That....wasn't what I thought the first thing out of her mouth
would be. Apparently Owen didn't expect it either because he just blinked
at her a few times before looking over at me and cocking an eyebrow. I
shrugged. "Um, not really." he said a second later.

	"Good." she nodded, then grinned. "I like you."

	Owen blinked again. "Oh. Cool." He gave me another look and I
shrugged again. I expected either warnings not to break my heart followed
by threats or horrible teasing. Not....pizza.

	Cheryl just kept grinning then turned her attention back to her
lunch tray. "I'm gonna be throwing up all night, I know it." she sighed and
took a bite of her pizza. "Oh god." she said with her mouthful. It's as
disgusting as it sounds, trust me. "This is horrible." she took another
bite.

	We watched her eat for a few moments and then I started to get
paranoid. "Is that it?" I blurted out.

	She shot me an innocent look. "What do you mean?"

	I glared. "Don't even, with the 'what, me?' look. You know what I
mean. You're not gonna threaten Owen or tell him how freaked out and girly
I was about him or make fun of us because you think we're having sex or-" I
choked. Oh god. Did I.....did I really just say that?

	An amused smirk slowly formed on Cheryl's lips. Oh crap. I did. I
blushed horribly. "Well," she said slowly. "I guess I don't even need to
now, huh?"

	I covered my face with my hands. "Oh god." I moaned. "I think I'll
just die now."

	I felt something press against my thigh. For a second I thought it
was Owens leg but then it squeezed me and I had just enough time to think
"his leg has fingers! Ew!" before I mentally slapped myself and realized it
was his hand. Even though looking at him was one of the last things I
wanted to do right then (right in front of eating school pizza because
Cheryl's right, that stuff is completely gross) I couldn't help it. My body
just reacts to Owen's comfort. I can't not look at him.

	He had a delighted grin on his face. "You got all girly about me?"

	He totally ignored the sex thing. Which was what I was really
embarrassed about so I was so relieved that he didn't bring it up -which I
shouldn't have been surprised about because Owen's the master at not
embarrassing me on purpose, remember- that I didn't get all awkward about
answering. "Well, yeah." I said. I smiled slightly. "Kinda."

	Owen giggled -freaking GIGGLED, I think my heart skipped three
beats- and gave my thigh a squeeze. "That's too cute."

	I blushed again and ducked my head, but I knew enough of my face
was still visible behind the sudden hair curtain that he could see my shy,
happy smile.

	And he wasn't the only one. "Ok, now THIS I gotta comment on."
Cheryl said. I didn't even have to look at her to picture the smirk. "Did
you actually just NOT flip out at someone calling you cute?" I opened my
mouth to answer but she turned towards Owen and continued. "Do you have any
idea how long I've been telling him how adorable he is? Like a little
puppy. And it's always 'no I'm not!' or 'shut up, Cheryl' and sometimes he
even throws things at me. He definitely never looked all happy and bashful
about it."

	I groaned. "Cheryl," I begged. "Please stop."

	"I don't think he's a puppy." Owen said. He squeezed my leg
again. "I think he's a really sexy and adorable boy." He gave me a warm
smile and I think my insides just melted. I couldn't hold back the smile
even if I wanted to. Which I kinda did actually. Want to I mean. I just
KNEW Cheryl was gonna make fun of me for getting all sappy.

	But apparently what I know is jack all because Cheryl just nodded,
sorta smugly actually. "And THAT'S why I didn't threaten him." she said to
me. "It's ridiculously obvious how much you guys 'like'-" she gave me a
sharp look as she said it which I took to mean 'like my ass, you better
tell him you love him soon you idiot', or something like that. "-each
other. Even if Andy didn't talk about how great you are all the time I
could tell."

	Owen grinned at that but I was horrified. "R-really?" I
squeaked. Oh god I really am gonna out us and get Owen beat up and shoved
into lockers and-

	"Don't freak out, Andy." Cheryl cut me off again, but this time her
voice was softer, calming. Well, in the sense that the tone was calming
because it sure as hell didn't calm me down. "I can only tell because I
know you. You aren't broadcasting gayness to the whole room." she gave me a
small smile then turned her attention to Owen. "He seems to think everyone
does nothing but watch him and wait for him to do something gay so they can
beat him up. Maybe you could, I dunno, kiss that out of him or something."
Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh god. Paranoid AND embarrassed. Thanks
Cheryl. She frowned slightly. "But don't go after Andy's virtue. You just
got together you shouldn't be jumping into bed-"

	"Oh god! Cheryl! Shut up! Shut up now!" I pleaded. I was pretty
sure my whole face was stop sign red and even Owen had that adorable
two-spots-on-his-cheek blush thing going on as he squirmed
uncomfortably. "Please. I'm not gonna have se-" I swallowed. "God I can't
even say it! How do you think I'm gonna do it?"

	She looked at me thoughtfully. Please, please, please just believe
me and drop it. "Ok." she said finally. "I guess you're right. I just
worry, you know?" Then she frowned again. "But when you DO do it be careful
with him ok?" she said to Owen. "He-"

	"Cheryl!" I screamed. It got me some looks from surrounding
tables. "This is not you shutting up!"

	"Ok, ok." she held up her hands in surrender and shot me an
apologetic look. God! Why is it she only ever sees the line AFTER she
crosses it by a mile?

	After that it took a few awkward minutes for any conversation to
get started. Cheryl apparently didn't wanna say anything to upset me and
Owen looked more embarrassed and uncomfortable than I'd ever seen him. I
hated it. I don't even need to get into how I was feeling because if you've
been paying attention at ALL you can probably guess. But, after a few
minutes of weirdness, Cheryl hurt her tooth on the overcooked brick pizza
and started cursing up a storm and by the time she was done insulting the
pizza AND a pretty good portion of it's nonexistent pizza family tree we
were both laughing and the mood was broken.

	Sex, or anything that could even be sorta related to sex, wasn't
brought up again, thank freaking god. I was so grateful that I didn't even
care that the conversation was mostly focused around me. Well, me and Owen
I guess. Owen.....surprised me. After the awkwardness was gone he seemed
really eager and happy talking to Cheryl about us. Nothing too personal
-not that we'd done anything all that 'personal' I guess- but he told her
the story of how he liked me in school, then on the phone and then found
out the two boys he liked were the same person. I'd already told it to her
before, but it was when I was freaking out about going on our date and I
realized I left a lot of it out. Actually, looking back, I'm pretty sure I
wasn't making a whole lot of sense about anything that night.

	She asked questions, he answered. I even joined in later on. It was
nice. Even nicer than last period in some ways because this was CHERYL and
OWEN, two of the most important people in my life, getting along like
they'd known each other for....well, not forever, but definitely way longer
than twenty minutes. And Owen seemed so comfortable talking about us. It
surprised me.

	I got to ask him about it when Cheryl went to buy another drink to
wash down the "rock of pizza" that she said she could still feel fighting
it's way down her throat. "I'm sorry about her." I said. "Um, about
the.....you know. She's...." I sighed. "I'd love to say she's not usually
like that but I don't wanna lie to you."

	Owen laughed. "It's ok. She's..." We shared a look of total
understanding. "Yeah, but I like her. I'm glad you have a friend like
that."

	I blushed and smiled. "Yeah. I'm kinda surprised how good you got
along with her." I paused. "Not that I thought you'd hate her! Or that you
should or anything! I just...." I sighed. "I'm being 'cute' again, right?"

	"Yep." Owen said with a grin.

	I smiled slightly. "But, I mean, I'm surprised you're so ok with
talking to her. You know, about....us, and stuff." I blushed a bit as I
said "us". God, we haven't even really said out loud what "us" is yet. I
mean, I THINK we're boyfriends but, ok, not the time to think about this.

	Owen just shrugged. "I never really had anyone to talk to about
being-" his voice lowered slightly, almost unconsciously I
thought. "-gay. Or liking guys. I wanted to tell my friends how much you
mean to me SO many times last period and it sucked that I couldn't. They
knew I liked you. Well, not YOU, but they knew I liked someone and that was
as close as I ever came and I didn't like pretending I was talking about a
girl. So talking about it like it's not a big secret or having to worry
about what I'm saying for the first time ever was....awesome." He smiled at
me. "Guess I really like talking about you." He shrugged sorta awkwardly
but his smile never changed.

	My smile got wider. I couldn't help it even though my defenses were
kicking back in and screaming that two boys smiling at each other like this
is NOT the way to keep sexuality secret. But, come on! You heard what he
said! How can I not smile at that? "Thanks." I winced and blushed
slightly. Oh god, is that really the best I can do?  "I mean-I do too! Like
talking. About you! I mean, not, you know, talking in general even though
that's nice sometimes.  And....I like that you like liking talking
about....." I closed my eyes. "Oh god. Shutting up now. I'm such a loser."

	"You're not a loser." Owen gave my thigh a squeeze. Did I say that
part out loud? And when did his hand get there? Oh god Andy, who cares,
just enjoy it. I opened my eyes and saw Owen giving me a serious
look. "You're cute. And adorable. And sexy. And I really wanna kiss you
right now."

	I moaned.....ok, fine, maybe it was a whimper. "Me too." And,
honestly, if I wasn't so worried about what would happen to Owen, I think I
would have done it. Everyone already "knows" I'm gay anyway, why shouldn't
I get the perks along with the abuse? I bit the inside of my cheek to stop
THOSE thoughts before I ended up doing something stupid. Rumors about what
might have happened with Jarred and kissing a boy in front of a hundred
witnesses are very, very different. I'd probably get lynched. Do people
still lynch? God, focus!

	"You're not gonna kiss, right?" Came a voice from right FREAKING
next to us.

	"Shit!" Owen jumped in his seat.

	"Gaah!" I yelped and glared at a suddenly
not-across-the-room-anymore Cheryl. "You gave me a heart attack!"

	"Because," she went on like neither of us had said anything. "Aside
from the whole 'being in school thing', I think seeing Andy kissing anyone
would be really, really disturbing and I'd kinda like to hold off on that
for as long as I can." And with that she walked around us, sat back in her
seat, and took a big gulp of her PowerAde. "God! I can still feel it
there!" She drank more.

	Me and Owen shared a look. I have no idea what kind of look. If
there such a thing as a "I can't believe we almost just kissed wow she
scared the crap out of me and she's kinda being weird" look then maybe that
was it. But more likely it was just us wanting to look at each other.

	No more was said about kissing. A lot more was said about the
pizza. And there was even a bit of conversation about normal stuff like
movies. We ended up talking about John Carter for a bit. Cheryl was shocked
that I actually liked a summer movie and I was shocked that Cheryl already
saw it twice. Then Cheryl and Owen started talking about movies that I'd
never seen and I just sat back and watched them, smiling to myself and
being happy that they were getting along so well, until the bell rang.

	Cheryl froze mid sentence, then gave a great, heaving sigh. "I
don't have my history book, do I?" She looked around like it might suddenly
appear but after a few seconds she was still as bookless as
before. "Dammit." she got up and started talking hurriedly. "It was cool
meeting you, you're good for Andy, blah blah blah I need to go to my locker
all the way across the WHOLE school now so bye." And with that she ran off,
shoving people out of her way.

	We watched her go until she was out the doors. "I like her." Owen
grinned.

	I grinned back. "I kinda like her too." We started walking towards
the doors. "But, I'm glad you do."

	We managed to get out without anyone saying anything to me, sort of
rare for lunchtime, and we walked together until we had to go down
different halls. Or, actually, I walked with him until he had to go down
the freshman hall because MY class was at the whole other end of the
school, but so what? If I can deal with being late for Kevin I sure as hell
can do it for Owen too. We actually passed the locker I broke out of at one
point. The top was surprisingly fine but the bottom looked like someone had
tried to kick it back into shape and gave up halfway through. I groaned
when I saw it, which Owen heard and noticed the locker. He glared at it for
a second, which made me feel happy for some reason.

	"Well," Owen said reluctantly when we got to the freshman hall. "I
should get to class."

	I swallowed. "Me too." I didn't want to though. I'd just had the
best day I'd ever had at school and it was all because of Owen. Part of me
was sure everything would turn to shit again the second he was out of sight
but an even bigger part but didn't wanna leave him. Jesus, I didn't have
this much of a problem leaving him after our DATE for fucks sake! Maybe
kisses make it easier?

	Don't. Even. Think about it.

	"I'll call you tonight." I said. "Um, the show I mean, I'll call
the show. Which you probably already know because I call EVERY night and-"
Owen's giggle cut me off. I sighed. "Cute?"

	"Cute." he nodded seriously, then smiled. "I'll talk to you
tonight." He looked around quickly, then gave my hand a quick squeeze. My
heart started to race and I knew I wouldn't be washing that hand for the
rest of the day.

	I waved as he walked away. Then, in a sudden burst of insight and
inspiration, I took out my phone. I don't usually bring it to school -no
need to have something more valuable than a schedule for people to destroy-
but I took it this morning in case Owen started the picture game up
again. I held it up and waited.

	Owen got maybe five feet down the hall before he looked back and
when he did I snapped his picture. His eyes widened in surprise, then he
flashed me a playful little smirk. I grinned wickedly as him and he
threateningly reached a hand into one of his pockets, slowly. I laughed and
gave him one last quick wave then darted around the corner before he could
get his phone out.

	I heard a loud laugh and then Owen shouted, "I'll get you next
time, Gadget!"

	I wondered what the hell he was talking about, then decided it was
probably a movie quote I didn't get. There'd been a few of those when him
and Cheryl were talking about movies. I shrugged to myself. Oh well. I get
what he's saying even if I don't get the reference. I giggled to
myself. "You just try." I said under my breath, then started towards my
class. While I walked I pulled up the picture on my phone.

	My breath caught in my throat. Wow. It was a perfect shot of
Owen. His whole body was in the frame, rocker boy clothes and all. His hair
looked like it was blowing slightly, probably from walking forward, and he
was looking directly at the phone with this look in his eyes like he was
trying to drink in the last sight of me or something. It was kinda sad, but
it made me love him just a little bit more. I stroked his face softly and
smiled.

	Then the phone buzzed and I freaked out and almost dropped it.

	Shit! What the hell was-oh, a text. It was from Cheryl. How the
hell did she know I even had my phone? Oh well, might as well read it.

	'hey that lumpy thing in ur pants was ur phone, right?'

	I sighed. 'yeah, what?' I typed back. It took an embarrassingly
long time. Stupid touchpad.

	'good. so radioboy was cool'

	I grinned happily. 'gladf you thin so' Yeah I don't know how to
backspace on this thing. I don't text a lot, sue me.

	'liked hearing about how u 2 met. U know the best part tho?'

	'what?' I typed back.

	'u wooed him by acting like yourself! ha! told you! >:D'

	I narrowed my eyes. Goddamn her. I took the extra time to make sure
my reply was typed out perfectly.

	'I. Hate. You.'

	The phone buzzed again right as I got to class, but I ignored
it. Not that I needed to read it. I could practically hear her laughter all
the way across the school.

**

	I was panting by the time I got up the stairs and into my room.

	Dammit, running up sixteen stairs shouldn't get me this winded!
Grrrr! It's all my stupid parents fault. Dinner at 5:45? Really? Ok, yeah,
that's sorta normal for us I guess but in a post-Owen world sitting at a
table NOT in my room at six is just freaking inexcusable. Speaking of
Owen.....

	I raced over to my radio, barely even pausing to close the door
tightly behind me, and turned it on.

	-"quest by Thomas, it's 'Get to the Choppa' by Austrian Death
Machine."

	I sighed happily. God that VOICE. Suddenly, I didn't care that I
apparently had no stamina and was more than a half hour late to Owen's
show. Ok, maybe I DID care about the lateness thing. I picked up my phone
and dialed the number from memory.

	"Hi sexy." Owen's voice was low and seductive and almost purring
and for a second I stopped breathing. Then he laughed. "Ok, sorry, that was
kinda lame."

	I giggled at his self conscious tone. "No. It wasn't lame. It-" I
clamped my mouth shut before I could say "almost made me cum", damn Cheryl
anyway for bringing up sex! I swallowed.  "-um, it wasn't lame." I said, my
voice sounding scratchy. I swallowed again. "I'm sorry for being so late!
My parents made me eat dinner right before your show." I help my breath,
hoping he'd accept the apology- and the subject change.

	"It's cool." he said easily. Then paused. "Ok, so maybe I was a bit
worried." he admitted sheepishly.

	"You were worried?" I asked with a smile.

	"Um, yeah." God I could just picture him scratching the back of his
head and smiling self consciously. "You usually call right away and I
thought maybe something happened and-" he cut himself off with a little
exhalation of air. "Sorry. I know I keep coming off all needy and
smothering-"

	"No!" I yelled. "I...you don't." My heart started beating a little
faster. God Andy, just say it. "Um, and......maybe I like it." I blushed,
then felt stupid for doing it when he couldn't even see, THEN felt stupid
for feeling stupid because I don't WANT him to see. I'm such a mess.

	"Like...it?" Owen sounded confused.

	"Um, yeah, you really aren't needy or smothering but-" I
hesitated. How do I even describe it? Do I even want to? Aren't I supposed
to get annoyed at stuff like that? Would he think less of me for liking it?
I took a deep breath. As annoying as it is to admit this, Cheryl
technically WAS right. I did woo him by being myself. Even if the myself I
was and the myself I wanted to be were very different. I decided just to go
with it. Owen had never looked down on me before. I had to trust that he
wouldn't start now. "I like it when you're protective. And when you get mad
for me when you hear about bad stuff that happened to me. And when you get
jealous when I'm talking with your friends. And when you look like you
wanna kick someone's ass for asking me out. I....I like it. It makes me
feel l-" I stopped myself from saying "loved". Over the phone is not how I
wanna say it for the first time. "-really good."

	Owen was silent for a few seconds and I held my breath. Please
don't think less of me. Please don't think I'm weird. Please don't think
I'm being a stupid girl about- "Really?" he asked tentatively. "You're not
just saying that?"

	I took a tiny breath. That didn't sound mad, right? "I'm not." I
answered. "I really do."

	Owen's small laugh sounded relieved. "I'm....I'm glad. I...I
dunno. I just always thought people didn't like that and I know you told me
you hate when Cheryl does stuff like that so I tried not to, you know, be
like that. I just like you so much and part of me hates that the rest of
the world gets to see you when it doesn't appreciate you and whenever I
hear about something that happened to you or I remember all the crap I saw
and was too shy to do anything about I just wanna shove you behind me and
protect you from everything." He took a deep breath. "But I don't wanna
drive you away, or annoy you."

	My heart felt like it was gonna explode from being so filled with
love and I couldn't stop smiling. Not even realizing how right Cheryl was
when she said I needed a hero could lessen it. "You won't." Then something
he said stuck out. "And don't worry about being like Cheryl. The stuff she
does annoys me because she's Cheryl, and it won't annoy me if you do it
because you're you. I...." My face heated up slightly. "I don't think
there's anything you could do that would annoy me. Or drive me away."

	"I hope not." Owen said. He said it softly, but there was so much
strength, so much hope, behind those three words that it felt like he'd
shouted them. I smiled, but before I could say anything Owen
sighed. "Dammit, it's gonna hang up. You need to request something."

	A dozen love songs popped into my head. Yeah, not gonna
happen. When I tell Owen that I love him it'll be in person with my own
words, not some song someone else wrote. I tried to think of something I
actually kinda sorta forgot that I needed to have a song. All I was
thinking about was talking to Owen. And then a song, and an idea, popped
into my head. "Smile by Uncle Kracker. And, um," I hesitated, then gathered
up my courage. "Can I dedicate it to someone?"

	"You can." Owen said. He didn't sound annoyed or hurt, which I only
realized were possibilities AFTER I didn't hear them in his voice. Way to
think ahead Andy. "Who?"

	"Y-you." I knew I was blushing again.

	"Coming right up." Owen said happily. He hung up, and that's when
it hit me that, if anyone was listening, a guy named Andy dedicating a song
about someone making them happy to a guy named Owen would send up a pretty
big "homo" signal. Especially if Owen's friends listened. I started to
panic. Dammit I should have said not to say his own name on the radio!

	Turns out I didn't even need to bother. "Our next song is dedicated
to Owen and it's from.....someone very important to him. 'Smile' by Uncle
Kracker."

	The song started to play and the panic was replaced by.....ok,
fine, a smile. No pun intended. I lay back on my bed and listened, feeling
happy. It was still kind of amazing how much I could say that lately. I'm
feeling happy. The only thing that could make me happier right now is if
Owen was laying next to me holding my hand.

	And, for once, not even the awkward thought of us being in the same
bed could take away how much I wanted that.

-------------------------------------------------

	Why is this year so awesome for summer movies and video games? It's
like life just doesn't want me to have free time for writing.