A/N: I'm so glad ya'll liked this story! I got a lot of story and author alerts when I logged onto my email today (:

For those who asked about my previous A/N, if you've seen it on the news a boy was killed at a high school in Queensland in Australia. It was my brother school, and if you live in America or whatnot (love that word!), it basically means we have dances together and do a lot of interschool stuff. Anyway, he was stabbed in a bathroom at 8:15 am. It really shook up their school, which a lot of my friends go to. It's just put a strain on our school lives, and everyone's sad.

I hope you enjoy this, and in the next few chapters we get the unimaginable . . . Just to have a cliffhanger there (:

Sonny picked up her lunch slowly – which she had made. They learnt long ago it was better to have a peanut butter sandwich for lunch than potential road kill. She tried to imitate some of the skinny girls on Mackenzie Falls. They ate like birds, nibbling on the ends of foods and leaving the rest.

Sonny sighed in frustration and finally took one big bite. She smiled at the taste on her tongue. Although, the Mackenzie falls girls had hardly touched their salads. She sunk lower in her chair, hiding her legs from view.

"You really gonna eat that?" asked a Meal Or No Meal girl, her expression smug. Sonny studied the leggy, toned brunette and sunk even lower.

"So what if I do?"

The girl laughed, twirling a lock of hazelnut brown hair and smiling sweetly. She spoke, though, like she was talking to a three year old. "Oh sweetheart. This is Hollywood."

"No shit, sweetie," Sonny snapped back acidly. She could feel her insides crumbling. Her heart raced and her head spun. She thought she was going to be sick.

The girl clapped her hands together and gave her a look that clearly stated that she was so much better than Sonny. "I'd lose some weight if I were you. I mean, come on, no body really believes that whole you're-still-beautiful-even-if-your-dress-size-is-tablecloth."

Sonny laughed bitterly as the girl walked away, but she cringed as soon as she felt alone again. Clutching her stomach, Sonny began to sweat. She wasn't fat, was she?

Nico slid out a chair and sat with her. Sonny felt like she could breathe again. Having someone there made her feel not so alone, which she already knew she was anyway. They were silent for most of the time, just happy to have someone to sit with.

"We're so fucked," Sonny whispered. Her hands trembled, and she had to grasp onto the table to keep her balance.

"So very, very fucked," Nico agreed, looking out the window.

Nico thrummed his fingers on the table for a while before stretching and standing up. Before he left though, he said, "Thankyou."

Sonny didn't have to ask what he meant, she just already knew. Thankyou for not prying, thankyou for not asking questions, thankyou for not freaking out. Even though Zora, Tawni and Sonny were already a little freaked out at the thought anyway.

It wasn't very long afterwards that she felt her chest heave. Her lank frame shivered as she heard his voice, and could smell that wonderful smell that she loved. It was everything good in the world – the smell of rain falling, baking cookies, walking into a lolly shop, newborn babies, the salty scent of the ocean on a hot day, chocolate fresh out of the packet . . .

He was everything.

And she didn't know who had blown it more.

His cocky but somehow sweet voice echoed through the room, falling on her ears like it was the most important sound in the world.

Forget about him.

I can't.

You don't need him.

I miss him.

He doesn't want you anymore. He never did.

I know . . .

So forget about him.

I still can't.

You hate him.

I love him.

Sonny fought with herself silently as the Mackenzie Falls table chuckled, sounding like the kings they probably were. Their show was top of the ratings, while her cast was falling apart.

Sonny jumped up suddenly, unable to take it any longer. Her eyes flickered to the rival show, and she met Chad's eyes. His gaze lingered on her for a while before Sonny winced and sprinted out the door.

She really wanted to believe they meant something again.