author's note: So, I had a terrible, terrible day today. Tis the day after Christmas, and I was filled with hate and anguish, simultaneously. SO, in order to deal with this negativity in a way that does not cause physical harm to anyone, I have a fic for you. :)
title: shining like a lighthouse
summary: In which Sonny executes a smile the size of Texas.
[ execute: 1) to carry out; accomplish: to execute a plan or order; 2) to perform or do: to execute a maneuver, to execute a gymnastic feat; 3) to inflict capital punishment on ]
.
It begins with the dream of a young teen from Wisconsin. A gaggle of aunts and uncles and random people from her school flock to her humble abode and suffocate her with well meaning advice. Her mom finally shoos them off with a forced smile.
"Don't worry, guys," her mom says, "as long as she keeps grinning like that- look at that; it's like the size of Texas- she'll be great."
It's kind of hard to figure out what happens next- where everything goes wrong. It's like her life is missing one giant piece. When she tries to remember, it's like waking up from a dream. For a minute, nothing quite matches up, but then it clicks that it's real life. After that, it's easy to forget the dream.
.
She washes her face with hot water, refusing to flinch as it scalds her skin. She wipes away a tiny trickle of mascara that threatens to trickle down her cheek and stares at her reflection. Her face is blank, lifeless, the tears in her eyes betraying her emotion.
Not again, Monroe, hold it in.
"Uh, Sonny?"
The voice puts a halt on her inner turmoil, and she addresses it without turning around.
"Yeah?" She picks up a puff and pretends to fix up her makeup.
"Mr. Condor wants to see you. Looks like another raise, don't you think?"
She doesn't answer for a few seconds, gathering all of her skills before turning around with the falsest genuine smile she can muster. "Wouldn't that be great?" she says brightly.
"Obviously," Tawni answers with a hesitant smile of her own.
With a pat on her hair, Sonny flounces out the door, shining like a lighthouse, attracting everyone to her light. She doesn't mean to lure them in to her, honestly. It's just that she can't keep executing the perfect smile unless she has someone to smile for.
.
She finds she's losing her touch.
"Sonny, Sonny! Smile for me!" a paparazzi, his face hiding behind a camera, demands her- just one of many vying for her attention.
She laughs graciously. "This isn't enough of a smile for you?" She masks her panic perfectly.
"Well," he says, pulling down the camera, "That's not a smile at all." She glares at the handsome blond before her .
"I don't need to smile for you, Chad." He kisses her softly. She kisses back, but she's only thinking of how to manipulate her face and brighten her eyes to fool him. She pulls a way and takes a breath.
"But I like smiling for you the best!" she exclaims with a wide grin. He smiles back and slings an arm over her shoulder, launching into a description of his newest role.
She doesn't want to lure him in, honestly. It's not like she wants him to love a lie. It's just that if he starts trying to help her, then she'll forget how to fake a smile. There's no Sonny Monroe without that smile.
.
"Sonny Monroe?"
"No, i-it's Allison." Chad shakes.
That's what the signature at the bottom of the blood-covered note said, anyway.
.
Of course it ends this way.
author's note: review, maybe?