Disclaimer: I don't own SWAC. I don't own Scooby Doo. I don't own Wizards of Waverly Place.
A/N: Boo! Mwah ha ha. It's Halloween peeps (although seeing as how late I'm posting this your time, it's probably already the first by the time you're reading this). Okay, so it's not a big thing down here. We get one or two knockers but other than that mostly we just think it's… dumb. (lol, Chad…) But for you Yanks it's a big deal so I'll take some time out for some Halloween fun. Plus it does kill off a challenge… ;) So here we go… prepare to be very not scared!
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55. Dogs: "Whatever you say. The point is, you've cost me my Hollywood Halloween Party and so now, I'm going to cost you yours." Sonny gave him a slightly worried look, unsure what Chad was about to do. "Yeah, roh-roah." - It's Halloween and Chad is hosting a Hollywood party. So when Sonny ruins his party, Chad plans his revenge. But what else is in the studio that could put both their revenge plans on hold?
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100 Chapter Channy Challenge… Halloween Special…
55. Dogs
"Awhooooo…" The creepy noise flooded the halls of Stage 3 as Sonny and the rest of the So Random! crew dressed for their last rehearsal before the show. It was, of course, a Halloween Special including two linked skits about two kids (Grady and Nico) who learn the hardships of too much candy, one about a witch (Tawni) who comes at Halloween to cause trouble but finds herself getting lollies instead, and Sonny and Zora's piece which involved two girls and their desperate search for the ultimate costume – one so scary they end up terrifying themselves and spend the whole of Halloween under the bed hiding from one-another. Marshall was enjoying it so much he'd taken to dressing like Dracula since Tuesday. Problem was that as he only had one costume he was bordering on stanky Dracula and was less terrifying and more tear-ifying. Grady had tried for the last few days to mirror Zora's uncanny ability to appear randomly from the strangest places and scare people. The problem with Grady was that he was as covert as an alligator in a pie shop. You could hear him snickering at least a minute before he jumped out at you. And Tawni had taken to dressing up in various 'scary' costumes. Unfortunately the only thing scary about them was just how much she had paid for them. Sonny had tried to retain as much normality as possible, simply smiling her way through plastic spiders in her hamburgers and cobwebs in her vanity drawers. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy Halloween, but that she was too busy thinking about the Halloween Night-In she'd put together for Saturday night, a spooky night of ghost stories and wacky food, starting off with a tradition she and Lucy had practiced back home in Wisconsin since they were 10: a marathon of her favourite cartoon, Scooby Doo. She loved that dog, and Shaggy and all the rest too, but mainly it was the dog. She'd even put together an awesome 'Scooby Gang' costume for everyone. They hadn't accepted it, but it hadn't stopped her dressing as her favourite crime-fighting canine. She even had his cute little red collar. Now she just had to wait till Saturday, and that meant getting through one more lunch after rehearsal and one more chance for Chad Dylan Cooper to remind the 'Randoms' he was having a huge, exclusive Hollywood Halloween party and they weren't invited. Well, Sonny had been invited, but she wasn't going without her friends and anyway, she had some Scooby to watch!
He was right on cue. "Randoms." He slipped past them in the line (never one to wait for anything so why start now?) and was handed by Brenda some very fancy-looking casserole dish. Sonny didn't miss the mussels on top. Stupid Chad. "Have I mentioned that Justin Timb…"
Sonny cut him off. "You mentioned Timberlake Chad." She tried to stay cheery but the comparison of Chad's fancy casserole to the slop she was now being dished was enough to wipe the smile off anyone's face. It was apparently pork mash and onion gravy. It looked more like something the proverbial cat had sicked up. "As well as Hudgens, Tisdale, Gomez, Montana, Cosgrove and all the other poor unfortunate females you've apparently swayed to the 'Chad Is Super' cause."
"Well, Chad is super, that's a'given," he grinned and straightened his collar with his one free hand. "But what's crawled down your windpipe this afternoon?" Sonny just ignored the question and started back to her seat. "Oh don't tell me, your lame little Random party has been cancelled?"
Sonny took the bait. "First, no. Second, it's not lame. Third, go away!" Holding up his free hand in mock surrender, Chad backed away with a grin.
Tawni took a seat beside her. "He's right though, what is wrong? You've been snappy since rehearsal."
Sonny spilled. "Scooby's collar is gone." Tawni gave her a blank look. "The sparkly red collar for my Scooby Doo costume. It was on my dressing table and now it's gone missing."
"Actually now you mention it, I have lost a pair of earrings, they were on my dressing table this morning too, I remember seeing them there."
"I lost my 'Grady bling'," Grady said, taking a seat. The girls looked blank.
Nico interpreted. "That ugly silver wristband he wears." The taller-boy motioned to Grady's now bare wrist. "And someone's taken the shiny new phone cover I just bought."
"And my periscope." Zora added. No one asked why she had a periscope. It was better not to know. "We have a thief!"
"Yeah, and no guesses for who." Sonny muttered. The others looked blank. "Chad Dylan Cooper and the cast of Mackenzie Falls!" It was obvious to her and slowly it dawned on the others. "They're doing it to sabotage our Halloween Night-In!" They all nodded slowly. "So we need to get our revenge."
"What do you have planned?" Tawni gave a sly smile as the others leant forward and Sonny outlined her plan of attack.
*
It was late, well past when the cast of So Random! should be at home. That night's show had been a resounding success and so they were hyped for the next part of the plan they had very subtly titled Eccie, which was the way to say E-C-E, Ending Chad's Ego… The five figures, dressed head-to-toe in black, crept down the halls of Stage 2, sliding past the 'Do Not Admit' wall (Jason Earles? What had he done to Chad?) and into the main stage. It no longer resembled the set of Mackenzie Falls they were used to but was plastered with black curtains, skeletons and pumpkin candles just waiting to be lit. The set for Chad's Hollywood Halloween Party. Well, for now at least.
The plan was simple but genius, if Sonny said so herself, and involved one terrified producer, one infestation of cockroaches and a whole lot of crazy. Sonny turned to Zora who was the only one openly holding anything. "Ready?" She gave a grin. "By the way, how did you get hold of so many in such a short amount of time?"
Zora shrugged. "I know people."
Sonny knew she didn't want to know those people. She just grinned. "Well, do your stuff."
"First!" Tawni squealed. "First we need to put up the barrier."
"Oh yeah, right. Grady, the barrier please." He produced from his coat a small spray bottle and started squeezing a soft white and green liquid on the ground. It was a mix of starch and cucumber, two things cockroaches hated. She'd read that on a lolly wrapper once! As soon as the liquid was wide around them and gave them a path back to the doorway, Grady disappeared to spray the other doors to ensure their little friends didn't escape before morning. They had a lot of work to do, and leaving Stage 2 before that happened was not a possibility. He returned five minutes later with a grin and stepped back into the circle as Zora tipped the bag to the floor outside the circle. Some of the cockroaches sniffed the cucumber mix but they quickly ran away from it. Nico and Grady high-fived at their mix as Tawni just stood watching with disgust as over 100 large cockroaches ran every which way, many scuttling into the dark places around the set, the others headed for the pumpkins and other food stuffs around the place. As they lost sight of most of them, the So Random! cast just backed-up to the doorway and shut it behind them, ensuring it too was well sprayed. Then, with grins and high-fives amongst themselves, they headed home and waited for the morning revelations.
*
Portlyn's scream could be heard from Stage 3. A blood-curdling yell that just fit the day. It was Halloween morning. Sonny was putting the last touches on her Scooby Doo costume (minus the fancy new red collar that was still missing) that she had every intention of wearing all day. As there came another long scream from the Mackenzie Falls starlet, Sonny glanced at Tawni with a grin. "I think she found our present."
Tawni just clapped her hands excitedly. "Soon their stupid party will be crushed like a cockroach…" she smacked her fist into her palm and wiggled it a bit before stopping with a smile. "Metaphorically speaking of course."
"Of course." Then, with a grin, the two So Random! girls headed to the cafeteria to find some breakfast.
*
"Call mister Condor and tell him we need pest exterminators at double time…" The Mackenzie Falls producer, a wiry little man named Richard O'Boyle glanced at his assistant, a chubby blonde woman with extravagant glasses perched on her nose. "Now Sara, you know how much I hate cockroaches!" Sara skedaddled.
As Richard took a seat, Sonny and Tawni watching on from behind a plate of toast and jam, trying hard to look like they weren't listening in, Portlyn ran into the room and straight to Richard's side. "Chad needs a minute of your time."
Sonny rolled her eyes at the reality that Chad sent Portlyn ahead to demand the producer's time. It was just so Chad! Richard nodded. "I think I know what this is about."
Portlyn ran off, the So Random! girls noticing her hair wasn't it's usual immaculate self this morning, likely ruffled in her desperate attempt to rid herself of cockroaches. A few seconds later, in walked Chad. "Richard! What's this about cockroaches? What do you mean Stage 3 is out of bounds?"
"You'll have to ask Portlyn Chad, she found them this morning. About 100 of them she said." Chad glared. "You know how much I hate cockroaches."
"Oh grow up, they're not dangerous!" The menace slipped from Chad's voice as he realised what this all meant. "How long will Stage 3 be out of action?" Richard shrugged. "My Hollywood Halloween Party?"
"I'm sorry Chad, you're going to have to cancel or move the venue. We can't let you have it in there. The exterminators will be in there all afternoon."
Chad growled. "This does not happen to Chad Dylan Cooper!" He waved a fist as if cursing the heavens and Sonny let out a giggle just loud enough to draw attention to herself. "Something funny Monroe?"
Sonny just shrugged. "Well, it's just that, seemingly this sort of thing does happen to Chad Dylan Cooper."
He turned on the girls. "You two have something to do with this," they feigned innocence. "Yes, you do, and I will prove it if it's the last thing I do!" His extravagant vengeance bid finished with a fist into the air.
The producer looked between the girls and his star. "What exactly are you going to do?"
Chad spun on his heel dramatically. "I have some cockroaches to meet." Then, stamping his heel and shooting Sonny one last look, he left the cafeteria.
*
They didn't see Chad again until a little after 3pm as they were setting up for their Halloween Night-In, Sonny slapping back Grady's hand as he tried once again to steal a pumpkin-face chip. He wandered into the Prop House, as usual uninvited, with a sour look on his face. "Cockroaches?" They all looked at him blankly. "Really? Cockroaches?"
"As usual Chad, we have absolutely no idea what you're on about." Sonny spoke up.
Chad nodded slowly. "Oh really?" He pointed to the carpeted ground of the Prop House and a stain no one had noticed. "There's a line of stains from the door of Stage 3 all the way back here. Care to explain that?"
Grady grabbed a pair of pants sitting nearby and noticed the large green stain on the back. "Oh man, it leaked!" Tawni rolled her eyes and Nico sighed, whacking him in the arm. "These are new too."
"Fine," Sonny gave in. "We let the cockroaches loose, but only because you stole our things."
Chad gaped. "What? Why would I want anything belonging to a Random?"
"Well someone stole our stuff and you're the safest bet because, well, to be honest when anything happens around here it's always you!"
"Whatever you say. The point is, you've cost me my Hollywood Halloween Party and so now, I'm going to cost you yours." Sonny gave him a slightly worried look, unsure what Chad was about to do. "Yeah, roh-roah." His impersonation of Scooby was scarily good but none of the cast noticed as he stalked off again, his threat still ringing in the air.
Sonny broke it with a soft chuckle. "What's the worst he could do?" The others looked around at one another before Sonny just grabbed the chips. "Come on, let's get into it."
*
Something thumped from above them, the room the kids had once commandeered in their desperate bid to get Chad away from their Prop House, but it now lay empty. It was late into the evening and despite promises he'd return, Chad had yet to show his face. The movement upstairs was the first sign. Sonny looked up at it quickly. "What is he up to?"
"What is who up to?" Chad's voice sounded from the doorway just as there came another thump from upstairs. He glanced at it but then frowned back at the TV. "Scooby Doo? Really? You know it's the old prospector's ghost after some gold that isn't his. In the end he'll be foiled by those 'pesky kids' and everyone will laugh and laugh." He rolled his eyes. "It got old very quickly, when I was six!"
"Just go ahead Chad, do your worst and let us carry on with our night."
Chad just smiled and took a seat, grabbing a bowl of popcorn straight out of Nico's hands. "I just thought I'd stick around." He grinned. "How's that for revenge?" Something thudded upstairs again.
"Okay, seriously, whoever you sent up there, tell them to break it up." Sonny snapped.
"I'm not doing that. Must be rats."
"You're a rat." Sonny growled. "And look, you've made your point, you didn't steal our stuff, now go away. You're ruining my Halloween Night-In."
"Which is my aim." He grinned cruelly. "Here, have some popcorn."
Sonny pulled it from his grasp. "Don't offer me my own popcorn!" He 'ooh'ed like he'd just won an unspoken war with her. There came another thump from upstairs. "Okay that's it, if you and thumpy-mc-thump up there don't leave soon you will be hit with a b…" something crashed from upstairs, breaking her sentence. "What the heck is that?"
"Maybe it's Bernard." Grady said, his voice shaking in what Sonny wrote off as dramatics.
"Who is Bernard?" Sonny asked, frowning.
"Bernard is one of the builders who built the original Condor Studios." Chad spoke up. "He was working on the lights and something happened. He was electrocuted and fell to the ground. He was working alone so no one found his body until morning. There have been many sightings of him, especially around the anniversary of his death."
"And let me guess, his anniversary is Halloween?" The others nodded, looking worried. "Oh please, you all actually believe this?"
"Maybe he took our stuff." Tawni spoke up, casting a look at the ceiling with a worried look.
"Has he ever stolen anything before?" Sonny asked, still not believing it. Tawni shook her head. "Then I was right, it was Chad!" She pointed an accusatory finger at the blonde figure beside her.
"Do you have proof?"
"Do you have proof Bernard exists?" Sonny returned.
"Do you have proof he doesn't?"
"Maybe I'll go get some."
"Maybe I'll come with you to prove he does."
"Good."
"Good."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Let's go then." Sonny finished, putting the popcorn down and grabbing a stick of bright red licorice to eat on the go.
"You're on." Then, stalking from the room, Chad left. Sonny glanced back at the others.
"If I return alone, tell them the ghost took him." Then, with a grin, she followed the blonde jerk-throb from the room.
Tawni just glanced at the others. "Who's for changing to the Wizards of Waverly Place movie?" The other three voted yes. Tawni grabbed the remote and Sonny's bowl of popcorn. Nico cast her a look. "Well she won't be needing this where she's going!"
*
"How about you turn on the light." Sonny instructed, whacking Chad with the last of her licorice. It gave a healthy thwack sound as it connected with his upper-arm.
"Noooo…" Chad muttered sarcastically. "That never occurred to me." He gave the light switch a loud click and nothing happened. He did it a few times more to show. "It's out."
Sonny shrugged although he couldn't see it. "Whatever, keep walking, I'll let your shiny ego guide my way." She couldn't see his frown but she could sense it. "Come on, we haven't got all night to find your precious ghost."
"Maybe you should lead."
Sonny scoffed. "Why, are you scared?"
"Chad Dylan Cooper does not get scared… but you're the one who says there's no ghost so well, you should lead."
"Scared." But Sonny stepped around him and continued down the upstairs hall, making her way to the empty storeroom based on memory alone. She stumbled on a few things along the way, the whole time gripping the wall at the last minute to stop herself falling. But when she kicked a table she gave a low groan as her feet gave out from under her. Something tapped her arm as she sat there, glaring into the darkness, and she jumped before realising it was Chad offering her a hand. She'd almost forgotten he was there.
"Who's scared now Monroe?"
Sonny gave a 'pfft' sound, but she didn't quite pull it off. She was maybe a little nervous about exactly what was in the storeroom. Not that she would ever confess that to Chad. "I'm not scared, just a klutz. There's a difference."
"Well if you're just going to sit there all night and debate this that's fine, but I have places to be so just take my hand and let's keep going."
Sonny grabbed the nearest thing (except his hand) and pulled herself to her feet. "I'd rather hug a ghost." They continued, finally making it to the storeroom. Sonny's hand gripped the doorknob and paused, casting Chad a look. He seemed to notice the break in movement.
"If you get attacked then I'll be right here."
"Oh great, I feel so safe now." Then turning the handle she pushed it open and stepped inside. As she let the door go it swung almost to a close behind her, pushed by something. 'Or someone' Sonny let herself think. She frowned at her own subconscious. "Okay Bernard, wherever you are come on out and show yo…" she stopped as she saw the window across the room. The curtains were open and she could see the window itself was as well. Sitting on the ledge was a very familiar wristband. She moved towards it quickly and picked it up. "Grady's bling." She laughed and pocketed it, frowning around the room, squinting in the small amount of light cast by the moonlight streaming in. On a shelf nearby sat Tawni's earrings; one on the top shelf and the other fallen to the bottom. She grabbed them too and soon found the rest of the belongings, all except her Scooby collar. She frowned again before sighing. It was gone. Then something moved behind the door and Sonny gave a soft cry. Chad's voice sounded from outside.
"Sonny?"
"I'm fine, it's just…" then she saw it and smiled. A racoon. And the little bugger had one last item in his mouth: her Scooby Doo collar. She made the connection. All of the items were shiny; the diamond in the earrings, the sparkles on the periscope, the metal wristband, the phone cover and the fake red diamantés on the collar. A ghost indeed. All they had was a thief. But then Chad spoke up again and Sonny saw her chance. Rubbing at her throat so she could do her best work, she gave a Portlyn-style scream and a yell. "Oh my gosh, it's Bernard!" A thump and the sound of feet hurrying down the hall told Sonny he'd bought it. Chad had scampered. Sonny gave a chuckle and turned her attention back to the racoon that was watching her with big eyes. "Alright buddy, now, hand over the collar."
*
By the time Sunday rolled around everyone knew about the racoon, which had been now lovingly titled Bernie by the So Random! cast and crew, as well about Chad Dylan Cooper's selfish retreat under the knowledge sweet little Sonny Monroe had come into contact with the ghost of Stage 3. Chad was now avoiding all unnecessary contact and hadn't come to the cafeteria for lunch. So when Sonny and her friends enjoyed a Chad-free lunch they didn't question why, just grinned and relished it. Of course when they got back to the Prop House that afternoon, questions about the whole thing rose again, especially from those that weren't there that night to hear Sonny's story firsthand. Josh the mail guy especially enjoyed the part where Chad returned to the Prop House as white as said ghost and told the 'Randoms' Sonny had been taken and despite doing his best to get inside the storeroom, Chad was unable to save her. He'd then rushed from Stage 3 in double time whilst the others headed upstairs to find Sonny coaxing her collar from a racoon's mouth with the promise of red licorice. They were also pleased to find their belongings could be linked to Bernie as well.
"Speaking of Bernie, you think he could be behind the movement of a few of my items?" Josh had asked before leaving. "It's just, I noticed this morning my step ladder has been moved out its usual location."
"And I found my hammer on the second floor this morning," the set builder Nick piped up. "And I recall leaving it on the stage floor yesterday afternoon."
Tawni frowned. "And my fluffy earmuffs are gone."
"Stepladder? Hammer? Earmuffs? They're all building types of…" Sonny stopped. "No, that's silly, the anniversary was yesterday ago."
Marshall appeared at the doorway. "I just heard about Bernie, I came to…" Marshall stopped as he noticed the looks on the cast and crew's faces. "What, what is it?"
"Bernard the builder, when is the anniversary of his death?" Sonny asked, her voice trembling just a little.
Marshall frowned. "Well, they believe he died after midnight so that would make it today, why?"
As a thump sounded from upstairs everyone in the room looked up quickly then, making excuses for it, all rushed from the Prop House. All that remained as they left was the soft sound of hammering coming from nearby…
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A/N: Hope you all had a great Halloween…
Here's what's coming up next…
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Up next;
Part 3:
10. Camera: "What would happen to you if this came out?" Sonny grinned, waving the photo in his face. - Sonny gets sent a fancy new camera from her aunt and uses it continuously, eventually catching Chad in a very compromising position...
31. Movies: "What movie is that then? 'Nightmare on Jerk Street?'" - It's Costume Party time for the cast and crew of Condor Studios. When Sonny's costume is ridiculed by a certain blond haired jerkthrob, Zora helps Sonny get her revenge...
49. Traffic: "Is walking on the highway an option?" Chad shook his head. "No." - Chad and Sonny get stuck in traffic and are forced to play nice...
71. Sun: "Oh look, it's Mackenzie the dramatic lobster!" - Chad is far too vain for his own good, so Sonny decides to teach him a lesson...
and then…
Part 4:
38. Spa: "Women's day spa Chad... women." - Tawni and Sonny head to a day spa for a day of relaxing, but that's easier said than done when Chad turns up...
57. Kidnapper: "Mr. Pookie?" She waved the photo in Tawni's face. "Someone has Mr. Pookie!" - Someone is holding Sonny's prized toy hostage but who would do such a thing, and why?
69. Dumped: "Awww, it's adorable." "I'M adorable, IT is flea-ridden." - When Sonny adopts a lost puppy, Chad finds himself competing for her attention...
84. Party: "'Actors for Actor's Rights'? More like 'Snobs for Chad's right to be treated better than he deserves'." - Sonny petitions for better treatment for the lesser shows on the lot, but one tween drama cast stands in her way...
