Chad's Chad-tastic, Unfailable Plan (part 2)
Sonny's POV
A/N: Thanks so much for all the reviews, guys!! Seriously, after reading all of them I was grinning like an idiot. I'm so so so SO happy that you guys think I did Chad pretty in-character. And so, thanks to popular demand, I decided to make this story a two-shot. Sorry if it sucks. I wanted to write/post it tonight (this morning) but it definitely took some work and wasn't as effortless as the last chapter. THIS STORY IS IN SONNY'S POV.
Oh (sorry this note is getting so long! The chapter is soon I promise!), and I noticed that a couple of you really liked the line about Sonny having the peace picnic with the cows in Wisconsin. Credit for that line goes directly to my friend Allison, who read over the story before I posted it, as she does for basically everything I write. In this chapter, credit for the "slow shirt takeoff" goes to Allison as well.
I'm doubled over, laughing hysterically at Grady. He's pretending to be Dolphin Boy. Which is fitting, since we're at a pool party that Mr. Condor decided to throw for the casts of So Random! and MacKenzie Falls.
It's a pretty decked-out party, too. Mr. Condor really went all out, considering he's not even here to enjoy it. Anyway, it's a HUGE pool. Definitely bigger than any of the ones I've ever seen back in Wisconsin. It has a big hot tub that overflows like a waterfall into a much bigger pool. The entire thing is decorated with beautiful blue and green tiles that were probably imported from Spain. Or somewhere far away that's known for really great, expensive tile.
To the left of the pool is a dozen lounge chairs, and beyond those are a few round wooden tables to sit and eat. That's where the rest of my cast and I are currently hanging out.
At the far end of the pool is a large covered deck that has a buffet of hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, shrimp and sodas. The steaks and shrimp seem a little out of place at this party, but I guess they're there to appease the cast members of the Falls.
Speaking of the cast members from the Falls, right now they're under the deck. They've basically stayed there the whole forty-five minutes or so that we've been there. I guess they don't want to get burned in the sun or associate themselves with us Randoms or something. I'm not really sure, but that's their problem because I for one was having a GREAT time. Who needs those stuck-up Falls kids anyways?
The one person missing from the party is Chad. We're all required to be here, so I know that he'll show up at some point. But I'm surprised that he's not here yet – he rarely turns down any chance to make fun of me or my friends and make himself look even better than he is… I mean, than he believes himself to be.
Nico interrupted my laughing fit by nudging me. "Hey Sonny, look who finally showed up."
I looked over to where Nico was pointing. And there stood Chad, frozen, mouth wide open, staring at… me? I cocked my head and walked over.
By the time I reached him, he had revived from… whatever was wrong with him to begin with. Besides all the normal jerky ego stuff, that is. He shook his head slightly as if to clear his mind and then grinned at me winningly.
"Munroe."
I raised my eyebrows. "Cooper."
"Looks like I can't even finish making my entrance without you coming over to talk to me."
"Well maybe I wouldn't have to if it didn't take you five minutes to 'make your entrance.' The only reason I'm over here is because I saw you staring. At me. Care to explain why?"
Chad hesitated for a second too long before quickly recovering. "Actually, Munroe, I was staring at Brady over here. What was with the flailing?"
Um. Okay. He was SO not staring at Grady. He was staring at ME. But if that's how he wants to play, well then two can play at that game, Mr. CDC.
"His name is GRADY. And he's re-enacting the Dolphin Boy sketch," I said matter-of-factly.
By this time we had made our way over to the chairs along the side of the pool. Chad smirked at my response and threw his towel onto a chair. He then proceeded to take off his shirt. And by "take off his shirt," I mean "lift it slowly, inch-by-inch, smirking at me all the while." A minute later, when he had only lifted it just past his belly-button, I couldn't take it anymore.
"Um… Chad?" I asked, looking at him oddly.
"Yes, Sonny?"
"… What are you doing?"
"Taking off my shirt. What does it LOOK like I'm doing?" He continued pulling it off as he explained, with that stupid smirk on his face all the while.
"And why is it taking you so long?"
"Why are you watching?" His voice was muffled because now the shirt was partially over his head, but I knew he was still smirking. Idiot.
I grimaced. "I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that we were having a conversation."
He finally finished taking off his shirt, and took great care to flex every single one of his arm muscles (very toned arm muscles, might I add… not that I'm looking) as he did so. "Really, Sonny? Really? Because I was under the impression that you were having trouble speaking because you were too busy staring at me."
Darn those stupid contract requirements that make him have pretty muscles... and darn that stupid big fat head of his that makes him flaunt it.
"Well, I was under the impression that you forgot how to take off a shirt," I said indignantly, proud that I had managed such a clever response in such a short amount of time, especially considering the circumstances. Nice save, Munroe, nice save.
Chad grinned. "Keep on tellin' yourself that Sonny." And with that he casually jumped into the shallow end of the pool.
I took the opportunity to calm myself down a bit. I was completely over-reacting. It is a pool, after all. It's perfectly acceptable, even encouraged for guys to not wear shirts while at pools.
And normally I am fine with that. I have been around many, many guys who aren't wearing shirts.
At pools, of course.
But this isn't fair. Because Chad looks… nice without a shirt. Very nice. I mean, he's supposed to look good, because it's his job, and because he's so egotistical and obsessed with himself it would make sense for him to go the extra mile and work out to the point where he's kind of ripped. Not TOO ripped, like those gross guys advertising the BowFlex or AbGlider or whatever on TV. Just… nice ripped.
Very, VERY nice ripped.
Okay, Sonny. Keep your cool. He's Chad Dylan Cooper, your annoying-beyond-belief egomaniac co-worker who just so happens to look good without a shirt on. You got this.
Chad leaned against the side the pool so that he was only a couple of feet away from me. And smirked. Again. Stupid smirk. "Hey Munroe, you going to get in the pool? That is, if you can tear your eyes away from me long enough to jump in."
"Um…" I intelligently stammered. So much for staying cool.
"Come on. I know I'm hard to resist."
I glared at him. First he takes off his shirt. Slowly. And now he's trying to entice me into the pool with him. Even for Chad, he's in rare form today.
"What's going on, Chad? What's your ulterior motive? I know you have one."
"Sonny. I'm hurt. And bored. So get in the pool."
"Why don't you go ask your own cast members? You haven't even said a word to them, and it's been months since filming ended," I said, stalling.
He shrugged. "I saw a couple of them over the break. Besides, they're boring. They won't get in because they think it'll mess up their hair."
"You don't know that. You haven't asked them."
He frowned slightly. "I don't have to. I've been working with them long enough to know."
I looked over at the deck, where the rest of the MacKenzie Falls cast were sitting. Sure enough, they were completely ignoring us, except for Portlyn, who looked mildly interested in our conversation, even though she was too far away to hear it.
"Oh."
"Yeah. So you getting in or not?"
"I don't know… I don't trust you. I know you better than to think you're being nice, Chad. You're up to something."
He frowned again and seemed at a loss for words for a couple of seconds. "Can't I just spend some time with my favorite Random?"
Awww.
Wait. Don't fall for it, Sonny. If I wasn't sure if he was up to something before, I KNOW he's up to something now.
"Since when have I been your favorite anything?" I asked. Ha. Trapped him.
"Since when haven't you been?" He grinned, all signs of fleeting vulnerability gone.
And down went my barrier. I blame the charm. And the stupid attractiveness. Because I get it now. This was his plan all along. He's trying to use his Chad charm and his… good muscles to make me swoon and fall into his arms.
Well… his plan is working. I've fallen, and I've fallen hard.
But that doesn't mean he has to know.
So yeah, I'll get in the pool, and I'll play whatever silly little game he wants to play. But what I WON'T show him is that his plan is working, has worked since the moment he took off his shirt, since the moment I caught him staring at me, since the moment he stole my frozen yogurt the first day we met in the Commissary.
So there, Chad Dylan Cooper. I WIN.
A/N: So there it is! If you didn't like this chapter, pretend it didn't happen and that it was just a one-shot. If you did, YAY!!! I'm glad. :D I know it's open-ended… but I kind of like how it ends. But if you disagree (or if you agree), tell me in a REVIEW. :D Because I love them. And because they're helpful. And because they obviously keep me going, or else I wouldn't have even thought of writing this chapter.
