Sonny With a Chance of Cafeteria Work

Author's note:

Hey everyone, so this is the first SWAC story I've ever written, inspired by the others I've read on this site. I came up with the plot line one night when I couldn't go to sleep, so hopefully no one else has already published a similar story! I don't even know if anybody will read this, but I had so much fun writing it and hope whoever does will enjoy it as well.

Disclaimer: I definitely do not own Sonny With a Chance; if I did, I wouldn't be writing this episode – you guys would have already seen it on TV. Haha :)

Chapter 1: Thinking Again

The morning sun glinted off of the metal guard gate which stood like a sentinel before the massive building that was Condor Studios. Tickling the few small trees scattered sparsely through the parking lot, a slight zephyr stirred the air and breathed refreshing wafts of air to the California climate.

What a perfect day, Sonny sighed blissfully, inhaling the warm air as she rolled – rather, as she chugged – into the lot with her window cranked down. The engine clunked along contentedly like an old friend, brakes squealing as she squeezed the small seventeen-year-old car into a parking space. Sonny turned off the ignition, manually revolved the handle to raise the window, and stepped out, turning the key in the lock after she carefully shut the door. The old thing had served her well, but she could never predict from one day to the next whether the engine would start up; she really needed another car. Glancing across the parking lot to the row opposite her, Sonny saw the unmistakable convertible that she had come to identify as Chad Dylan Cooper's venerated mode of transportation. She shook her head at the sun's reflection glaring off the pristine windshield and polished exterior.

I wonder how many people he hires to clean that thing every day, Sonny laughed inwardly, still staring at the luxurious car. To her astonishment the driver's door opened, and the king of drama himself lazily got out, smirking. Hands in his pockets, Chad Dylan Cooper strode towards her, his blonde hair as perfect and his sparkling blue eyes as alluring as ever.

"Hey, Sonny," he called, "Can't get enough of my Chadness, huh?" He shrugged his shoulders and smiled knowingly. "I mean, I already know how much you admire me and all, but it's really not necessary to stand there ogling me across a parking lot." Chad chuckled dryly, amused at how fast Sonny's peaceful demeanor shifted into a disgusted glare as he approached her. Of course, the teen idol would never admit to gazing at her himself, which was precisely what he had been doing undercover of his tinted windshield and the sun's blinding glare. Just several seconds ago, he had been admiring the girl clad in a short emerald dress, topped with a leather jacket and the familiar leather boots. The dress hugged her figure perfectly, setting off her brown eyes and luscious chestnut locks. Sonny Munroe sure was pretty cute, Chad had admitted to himself while sitting there in his car. Stupid cute.

The sound of Sonny speaking brought him back to earth with a jolt. "Yeah? So that's what you think I was doing?" she countered, her voice getting high. "W-w-well, for your information I didn't even know you were in the car because I was too busy trying to calculate how much money you waste on that imperial vehicle of majesty over there." She snorted sarcastically and turned away toward the entrance of the studio, with Chad following her, furiously searching his brain for a comeback. Because everyone knew that Chad Dylan Cooper did not lose arguments.

"Come on, Munroe – no need to take your jealousy out on my car," he said, taunting her quietly. "Just admit it – you've fallen for me… and my convertible." The heartthrob didn't have to wait long for his words to trigger a reaction.

Sonny whirled around to face him, now a few feet from entering the building. "You know what, Chad?" she said in a huff. "You know just the way to ruin a perfect morning! I was calm and optimistic and looking forward to today until you showed up," she said, shaking her head while her brown curls swept over her shoulders.

"And," she said, leaving him with a final piece of her mind, "I would never want to have a car like yours if it means I'd end up a jerk like you." She emphasized her point by poking her finger into his shoulder and turning on her heel with chin held high, slamming the studio door behind her. A wide-eyed Chad was left in her wake, shrugging his shoulders non-chalantly after the spunky girl that he found it so easy to annoy. "Well, little Miss Sunshine is heated today," he said to himself. Quickly composing himself, he sauntered into the lobby, confident as usual and ready to start the day now that he had satisfactorily ticked off Sonny.

***********

"Hey, Tawn," Sonny greeted the blonde diva as she entered the dressing room they both shared. Passing Tawni Hart's glittery pink-and-gold themed expanse, she crossed to her own side. Sonny set her purse down on her vanity, plopped into the chair and sighed loudly, watching Tawni apply more gloss on her already shimmering lips.

Tawni glanced at Sonny's reflection in the mirror and put the applicator back in the bottle. "OK, Sonny, what's wrong?" she questioned in a stilted tone. "Normally I wouldn't really care," she added, interrupting her castmate, "but after Hayden dropped by and gave me my favorite Cocoa Moco Cocoa lip gloss, I feel like being generous to the world!" Tawni finished brightly, opening her arms wide dramatically and clasping her favored cosmetic to her heart.

Sonny smiled wryly as her friend ended her dreamy monologue. Some things - especially Tawni's love of lip gloss – would never change. "Well, I'm glad to hear that you guys are getting along better." Returning to her castmate's original query, Sonny continued worriedly, "But I'm OK, I guess – it's just Chad is pushing my buttons again, that's all." She really was tired of Chad continually badgering her about her crush on him. From the very first time she'd seen him, Sonny had been attracted to the teen heartthrob, but had desperately tried to hide her affections. More than anything, she had hoped it wasn't a one-way feeling and was awaiting the day when Chad would admit he'd fallen for her as well. But her hopes were dashed almost every time they spoke – either Chad Dylan Cooper had no feelings for her, or he was keeping up the biggest façade in history. Sonny had prayed desperately that it was just the second reason.

Before letting her mind wander any further, she paused, collected her thoughts, and changed the subject before her friend delved into the soul-searching topic that Sonny had come to dread. "By the way, Tawn, do you know of any part-time jobs around here?" she asked.

"Jobs? What's a job?" Tawni whispered thoughtfully to herself, tapping her finger on her chin. "Oh, you mean something where you actually have to work hard to get more money?" she exclaimed as the idea hit her. Sonny nodded slowly with an encouraging smile. It was almost like the time Sonny had revealed that Tawni's cold closet for winter coats was in fact a refrigerator.

"Oh, I don't know," the blonde continued, uninterested. "I've never had to work outside of Hollywood – I'm so pretty people would just pay money to look at me, without me having to do anything," she sighed contentedly. "Why would you want to do more work anyways?" Tawni questioned confusedly.

"As much as I hate the thought, I'm gonna have to get rid of my car. I really need a newer one since mine is threatening to break down any minute, but I'd have to get another job somewhere to pay for it." Sonny sighed. "All of what I'm earning now is going towards college, so I need to find part-time work somewhere." After spending a few seconds in thought, she grinned as a brilliant idea waltzed into her ever-scheming mind.

"Oh, great, she's thinking again!" came a voice from above, as both girls turned to see Zora spying out of her vent. Her impish face, framed by two braids, could be seen peering out from her familiar haunt. Tawni threw up her hands in surrender. "I'm just going to have to give into the fact that I'll never have true privacy with a professional sneak like you spying around, Zora."

Sonny laughed, got up out of her chair and started towards the door. "Yes, Zora, I am thinking again - and I'm gonna ask Marshall if he knows of any jobs around the studio I can apply for while we're filming this season's shows." She strode out briskly in her leather boots, leaving both of her castmates staring after her.

"She's sure on a mission," Tawni commented, swiveling back around in her chair to study her reflection.

"And if I know Sonny and there's a job to be had, she'll get it," Zora said wryly, slamming her vent closed and retiring into the shadowy depths of her domain.

So what do you think? I would really welcome constructive criticism or comments as I am a new writer; and I'll see if I can't pick up a few tips from all you experienced ones out there. ;) I've written four finished chapters but will wait a few days to upload them one at a time so I can get some good reviews to know how to continue. So please review!

~ Victoria L. a.k.a. addicted2SWAC