Author's Note:
Thanks for your reviews! Sorry it's been so long since I updated and this is so short. School / SSATs have been kicking my ass! Please keep reading and reviewing!
hold on, baby you're losing it
the waters high, your jumping into it
and letting go and no one knows
that you cry, but you don't tell anyone
that you might not be the golden one
and your tied together with a smile
but your coming undone
- tied together with a smile by Taylor Swift
Penny looked nervous talking about her ex-beau, but Chad was intrigued. Penny had dated Ben? He was suddenly interested in what she had to say. Not only would he learn more about that ass, but it would drive Sonny crazy.
"Well I met him in 8th grade when he came to one of my dad's parties. I was only thirteen and he completely charmed me. I was totally naïve, but I fell fast. He insisted we keep our relationship private, and we only went out in random spots no one would talk about, to the movies, or at our houses. I thought it was totally normal for a big celeb like Ben to want to keep his relationship out of the public eye – but I now realize that he was ashamed to be with a normal girl and didn't want to look like a sleaze by dating a girl four years younger than him!" Penny fumed.
Chad gasped. That meant that Ben was almost twenty one, and so he was almost five years older than Sonny! Penny took Chad's gasp as a cue to keep talking about how crappy a boyfriend Ben was. "He was gone all the time, and forbade me to hang out with other guys and I had to call him every night. I felt suffocated but thought I was in love and thought that the price of love was sometimes not having fun. Ben seemed so nice, but he really wasn't. When he was around, he was always pushing me to farther than I was ready, and I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't say no. He was older, and I did what I had to do because I thought I needed him." Chad was shocked. Penny pretty much had just implied that she and Ben had sex. His mind instantly jumped to Sonny, and he started to worry about her.
"Wow, could he get any sleazier?" Chad asked. He couldn't stop thinking about Sonny, but he forced himself to focus on Penny. Penny shook her head.
"I have no idea. I'm not sure that he's a horrible guy, but he's lost. Or he was. Maybe he's changed? I don't know. We began to pull away in the start of 10th grade, I started to grow up and mature and realize it wasn't a healthy relationship but as much as I hated to admit, I was still in love with them. We had a bit more healthy relationship after I confronted him, but I dug up some nasty secrets about his pat and was appalled he wasn't honest with me. When I got asked to prom by a junior, I decided to grow up and break up with him." Penny explained. She took a swig of the ice water on the table and smiled bashfully at Chad. "Sorry I didn't mean to unload on you." She apologized.
Chad shrugged and waved his hand in the air. "No worries, I don't mind." He said easily. He was actually pleased he had chosen such a good girl to make Sonny jealous, not only had he uprooted serious dirt on Ben, but Penny was actually pretty cool. Penny grinned at Chad, and Chad grinned back.
"You know, I'm very pleasantly surprised by you CDC." Penny said with a smirk.
"Most people are." Chad said smoothly, twisting the fork between his fingers while giving Penny one of his famous stares with the full force of his bright, sapphire eyes.
Sonny stood on the tiny vanity seat of her dressing room she shared with Tawni, fiddling with her brown locks. The cast of So Random! had stayed later to practice a sketch, and then were going to gala at Cherry, the hip new club that Condor Studios had rented. Sonny sighed, defeated.
"I have no idea what to do with myself tonight. I wanna look good, but have no ideas." Sonny complained. Despite the fact that they had only gotten back to their dressing room ten minutes ago, Tawni was almost fully groomed.
"If you let me finish my makeup I'll help you." Tawni said as she layered her lashes with mascara. Sonny gasped, did Tawny Hart really just offer to help her? Tawni saw Sonny's open mouth and smirked.
"Uh, thanks but I don't know Tawni…" Sonny said, trailing off. She and Tawni didn't exactly have the same style.
"Well do you want my help or not?" Tawni demanded. Sonny glanced at Tawni. She did look pretty tonight. She wore a dark green wrinkled gauze dress with sweetheart neckline and gathered elastic banding at top hem with strappy black gladiator heels. She had swept her blond hair back in some kind of twist and she wore a thin black headband in her hair and looked gorgeous.
"Yes!" Sonny said enthusiastically. Tawni walked over to Sonny with her makeup bag and spun Sonny around so she was facing Tawni' face and Sonny felt a little close for comfort but said nothing as Tawni worked with mascara, lip gloss, and blush on Sonny's face. When she was done, she didn't let Sonny look in the mirror, and walked around to fiddle with Sonny's hair.
"What are you wearing?" Tawni questioned.
"Well I was thinking that black dress and those red heels." Sonny pointed to the black dress hanging in her closet, the shoes arranged neatly under.
"Uhhm no. Way too boring. You have that gorgeous silver dress hanging right there, and you should wear my shoes, I have the same pair in a size smaller. I always buy two sizes of everything." Tawni urged. Sonny glanced at the silver dress hanging in her closet. It was a smug fit, it had been sent over as a gift from Mr. Condor's assistant as a thank you for babysitting his daughter. It was a tight, silver Herve Leger number, and Sonny felt so self-conscious in it, it was so short and revealing.
"I really don't know Tawni. It's not something I'd usually wear. And since when do you share shoes!?" Sonny exclaimed. Tawni rolled her eyes as she reached for her flat iron,
"You need a fresh wardrobe change, if only for tonight. And sharing my shoes is a one time thing, so I'd take advantage of it." Tawni said with a laugh. Sonny agreed half-heartedly and sat patiently while Tawni finished her hair. When Tawni spun Sonny around to look at herself in the mirror, Sonny gasped.
Her lips were painted a glossy golden-pink and her cheeks were brushed with rosy pink. Her eyelashes were thickly coated with black mascara that made her brown eyes look doe-like. Silver liner sparkled on the bottom lid of her eye and illuminated her eyes even more. Her hair was completely straight for once, and it reached down past her chest. Tawni helped Sonny pour herself into the dress and strap on the ridiculous heels. Sonny thanked Tawni profusely and slipped on a pair of thin, jeweled black hoops into her first holes, and small pearls in her second holes.
"I don't know… I don't feel like myself." Sonny admitted as she looked at herself in the mirror.
"Oh stop saying that! You look hot!" Tawni exclaimed as she re-glossed her lips for the hundredth time. "But not as hot as me, of course!" She added. Sonny just laughed, as she wobbled out of the room to meet their cast and Ben at the comissionary.
Everyone's mouths dropped open as Sonny and Tawni walked into the room. Sonny thought everyone looked great, but Ben looked especially gorgeous tonight. Nico wore a dark purple dress shirt with a grey vest over it with a gray fedora and black pants. Grady wore a gray polo with white pants and light blue and yellow Nike ids. Zora was dressed in a typical Zora outfit, but she looked great. Ben looked gorgeous, as usual in black leather pants, a baggy white shirt, and a black vest.
"Hey babe." Ben said huskily as he hugged her waist tightly. "You look unbelievable tonight." He whispered into her ear. She giggled at the feel of his warm breath on her ear and kissed him gently on the cheek.
"Ugh okay let's limit the PDA." Grady groaned. He and Nico exchanged looks, and Sonny pulled away, embarrassed. She entwined her fingers with Bens' as they walked out to the limo waiting for them.
The group chatted as the limo rolled out onto the streets of Hollywood, into the city of bright lights and frenzied fever. The gala was being held at the ultra-exclusive new club Lunar, which was apparently so elite that there wasn't even sign or address for it. If you were high enough in the hierarchy – you knew where it was.
The limo pulled up in front of a nondescript black building, and despite the fact that it was not even close to being a red-carpet event, paparazzi were waiting and ready for them with their massive lens.
The cast plus Ben piled out of the limo and started to pose immediately. Sonny posed with Ben at first, their arms around each other and huge grins plastered on their face. But then she started posing with her cast, which is what she was supposed to be doing, and she wanted too.
She made goofy poses with Nico and Grady, a huge cheesy smile on her face. She and Tawni linked arms and pouted their lips, showing off their matching shoes. Eventually, a new car pulled up that bore other stars and the cast was rushed inside.
"Wow, this is beautiful!" Sonny gasped. The executives at Condor studios had rented out Lunar privately for tonight, and had decorated it especially for the gala. Huge posters of the various shows hung on the walls, music was pumping through the room, and food was spread out on huge tables.
"It's pretty nice." Ben agreed. "I'm going to go get us some drinks babe." He said, hugging Sonny tightly and kissing her on the cheek. Sonny offered a weak smile at him and he ran off to get drinks.
Sonny twirled around on her ridiculously high heels, enjoying the feel of the hot lights on her skin and her hair lightly brushing the skin on her back. She was interrupted of her moment of bliss by a familiar voice.
"Sonny!" Chad's voice rang out. Sonny whirled around to see Chad with a pretty girl who had reddish hair. "This is my girlfriend, Penny." He said smugly. He looked Sonny up and down, and Sonny suddenly felt very self conscious. Sonny's heart deflated. She had been sure that Chad was making Penny up. She also felt something else – was that…jealousy? No. She was with Ben. She didn't care about Chad.
"Nice to meet you." Sonny said feebly. Penny smiled and held out her hand to shake, but Sonny didn't take it. Penny cast a confused glance at Chad, but Chad just shrugged.
Sonny twisted her fingers behind her back uncomfortably. Luckily (or so she thought), Ben appeared holding two crystal champagne flutes full of water.
He gasped audibly when he saw Chad and Penny. "Penny!?" Ben exclaimed. Penny's green eyes widened. "Wha-wha-what are you doing here?" Ben stuttered. Sonny looked from Ben to Penny to Chad. What was going on?
"Chad is my boyfriend." Penny said nervously. Ben's eyes widened, and he looked like her couldn't breathe for a second.
"Oh." Ben whispered inaudibly. Sonny, still confused, was getting annoyed. She had no idea what was happening, she had never seen Ben act like this.
No one spoke for a moment, and stale awkwardness hung in the air. "Okay, so what's going on?" Sonny demanded, putting her hands on her hips. Penny looked at Chad, as if he should explain but he said nothing and just looked at his shiny black shoes.
"Well, Ben and I kind of dated…for three years." Penny finally explained. Sonny gasped. What!? Chad was dating Ben's longtime ex-girlfriend? Ben suddenly looked very angry.
"Penny can we talk?" Ben asked irritably. Penny nodded and Ben led her off to the side. Once they were out of hearing range, Sonny punched Chad in the arm.
"Ow! What was that for?" Chad screeched, rubbing his arm up and down. He glared at Sonny, but she didn't even notice.
"You're such an ass! You're dating my boyfriend's ex on purpose!" Sonny shouted. Suddenly, they both heard the array of clicking noises. Chad quickly realized that the photographers were taking pictures of their fight when the whole point of the gala was to see all of the shows merging together.
Chad ushered Sonny outside, his hand on her elbow. As soon as they were outside, Sonny yanked her arm away. "Not cool Chad!"
"People were staring." Chad shrugged. "That's the last thing we need right now.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sonny retorted hotly.
"It means that your boyfriend sucks!" Chad yelled. "Look Sonny," His voice softened. "Penny told me all about Ben. Not only did he constantly ignore her, cheat on her, and hide it all from her, but he practically raped her! He hasn't done anything to you, right?" Chad asked furiously.
"No!" Sonny exclaimed. "Chad just shut up, what do you know? You are SUCH an asshole! You're just dating Penny because she's Ben's ex because you know it would piss me off!" Sonny suddenly noticed that it was raining. Really hard. In Hollywood. The world was coming to an end.
"No that's not true!" Chad yelled back. "I didn't even know that at first. But Sonny, he's not being honest with you. Who knows what he hasn't told you? He's a first class asshole, not me!"
"Look Chad. I can handle myself. You aren't my dad, your not my brother, and your not my boyfriend! So why do you care?" Sonny screamed. Chad just stared at her.
"You know why." Chad said huskily. He leaned forward and grabbed Sonny around her waist. Sonny stared at him, his blue eyes shined with honesty. But she couldn't let herself believe him. She wouldn't. Even if she loved him.
"Sorry Chad. I have to get back to my boyfriend." Sonny said, walking away from Chad on her black heels, leaving him in the rain. Chad felt like her heels were stabbing them in the heart. He felt vulnerable, for the first time. All because of her.