Dedicated to the first two reviewers of my very first fic, DannySam Lover20 and southernchristiangirl. Virtual cookies to you all! When I came back from dinner and saw the reviews, I started jumping up and down and doing a happy dance (my sister thought that I was insane). I love you guys! This next fic is really crappy, but I got the title and couldn't shake the idea from my head. Enjoy!

Sonshine on a Cloudy Day

Chad Dylan Cooper doesn't do sad. When Sonny humiliated me at my birthday party, I brushed it off with a dismissive smile and the threat of revenge (not that I would ever do anything to my Sonny). Even when I didn't get the part of Troy Bolton is High School Musical; I didn't cast a down face. Instead, I convinced myself that the role of an attractive basketball player was beneath me. But when my grandmother died after a long battle with cancer, I was completely and utterly depressed. That is, until a certain Sonshine came to cheer me up.

I came in to work that fateful Monday with the full intentions of having a wonderful day. That was until I got the text that would change my life.

Chad-

I don't know how to say this.

Your mom just called me and she said that your grandma died.

I'm so sorry. Please come home soon.

-Dad

I sat in my car rereading those five lines of text over and over until my vision blurred. Grandma had been the most important thing in my life to me, even more so than my parents. She was the one that convinced me to start an acting career and who came to every single audition I ever had. I couldn't bear to believe that she was really gone. After a few minutes convincing myself that my grandmother had indeed passed away, I rushed out of my BMW and into the studio, with the full intent of continuing my nervous breakdown in the Fall's dressing room. About halfway there, I ran into Sonny.

"Oh, hey Chad," she greeted. "What's up?"

Stupid Sonny. Stupid nice. Why did Little Miss Sonshine pick this of all days to say hi to me?

"Sorry…Sonny…can't…talk…" I could barely choke out a few words before breaking down in sobs.

Sonny's eyes widened. God, I must be scaring her.

"Ch-Chad? What's wrong?" Sonny hesitantly enveloped me in a hug, as if I were a porcelain doll, ready to break.

"M-m-my-my g-grandma, s-she passed-d away. S-he h-had cancer-r," I squeaked.

Covering my face with my hands, I parted to two fingers to observe the girl in front of me. Her mouth had formed an "o" shape and she appeared to be wondering how to approach me.

"Chad," Sonny began, "I am so, so sorry. If there's anything at all I can do, please tell me."

I nodded, scared to speak. It was just then that Sonny and I were still on the floor. Reading my mind, she pulled me off the ground and into a warm embrace.

"Look, do you remember last year when I had the flu and stayed home for two weeks?"

"Yeah," I whispered.

"I wasn't really sick. I was home because my dad died in a car crash. I-," Sonny paused, eyes glittering with tears. "I was having a nervous breakdown."

Thinking about Sonny bawling her eyes out made me wince. It was impossible to picture this sweet, bubbly girl being anything but that.

"It's difficult, Chad. You'd be heartless if it wasn't. But the only way to get back to normal is to let go and know that your grandmother is in a better place, for lack of a non-secular term."

I stared at Sonny with glassy eyes. "Thanks."

"Any time. I have to go to rehearsals, but I'll be back to check on you afterwards, okay?"

Going to rehearsals seemed much more approachable than before and, even though I'll never admit it to anyone; I skipped all the way there.

Yep. I just needed some Sonshine on a cloudy day.