Chapter 3

Okay guys... I'M SO SORRY I HAVEN'T UPDATED! I've been really busy. But I hope that, if my readers are patient, I can finally make a dent in this puppy!

Disclaimer: Please don't sue me. I own nothing but the yogurt I am eating while I write this.

Song:

Anthem by Zebrahead

Sonny POV

I absolutely couldn't believe that I was here. At a party. With BEER. I never went to these stupid things. I mean, what was the point? I didn't drink.

Well, I knew what the point was this time. Three words; Chad Dylan Cooper. I had heard from Michelle that he would be here, and I sort of kind of wanted to see him. Just a quick peek at his perfect blue eyes. Then I was gone.

"Hey," some chick slurred at me as I walked towards the house where the party was. "Want some?" She sloshed the glass around beside me.

"No thanks," I said, pulling my jacked tight around my body. I wanted to find Chad already and get out of there.

I kept walking through the crowd of drunken idiots, and my ran my fingers through my hair. What was I doing here?

Just as I turned to leave, some guy stepped in front of me. I could see from the look on his face that he was totally hammered, but I couldn't really move. He kind of pinned me there.

"Want to party, sweetheart?" he asked, barely comprehensible. I was shaking. The guy was muscular, and he kind of scared me. "Because I want to party."

"No thanks," I stuttered. "I'm good. Actually, I kind of want to leave now - "

"No," he growled. He put a hand on my breast, and his eyes were horrible. Animalistic.

The guy picked his cup up, and dumped it all over me. I felt the cold, smelly liquid clinging to my white t-shirt, outlining my bra. My hair as drenched, too. It kind of sucked.

"Hey!" someone yelled. It was a familiar voice, and it made me feel a little better. Chad emerged from the crowd, looking strong, beautiful, and....angry. Really angry.

"Dude, what do you think you're doing?" His eyes fluttered to me. "And you! What do you think you're doing here?"

That kind of made me mad.

"You don't control me!"

"No, but I know you usually don't hang out here. If you did, you wouldn't be totally soaked in vodka."

He had a point, I guess.

While the drunk guy was stuttering - kind of teetering, actually – Chad latched onto my shoulder and pulled me through the crowd. Everyone let us through, and Chad pulled me to the parking lot.

We stopped in front of his car, and he unlocked the passenger seat.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Taking you home," he said, opening the door. He held it open for me, and waited sort of impatiently for me to get in.

"How do you know I didn't drive?" Chad rolled his eyes.

"You took a cab and tipped the driver a five. Am I right?" he asked. Wow. He was.

"How did you - "

"You're incredibly predictable, Sonny," Chad said with a dazzling smile. "Now get in the car."

I did what he said, climbing into the passenger seat, I actually kind of liked Chad's car. It smelled like cologne, and it was really clean.

He got in the driver's seat, and reached across my lap to open the compartment in front of me. As he did, his hand brushed my thigh accidentally and my heart skipped a beat.

Chad handed me a roll of paper towels.

"Here. You can clean up a little bit."

"Thanks," I said. Chad started the car, and pulled away from the party quickly. I stared out the window as I stared out of the window.

"So you're staying at the Hyatt, right?" he asked. I nodded.

"Predictability again?" I asked playfully.

"You're wearing you're room key around your neck."

I rose my hand up and felt my room key dangling from a chain around my neck so I wouldn't forget. I cursed myself inwardly for making such an idiot out of myself in front of Chad.

Chad stopped the car in front of the hotel, and got out of the car. He jogged around to the other side of the car (my side) and jerked my door open.

"My lady," he said with a smile. I laughed and climbed out.

"Thank you."

We entered the hotel, avoiding the strange stares from the staff as they realized that I was covered in liquor and being escorted to my room by a guy. A hot guy.

Chad showed me to my room – Room 292 – and stood outside with me as I unlocked it. As I went to step inside, Chad reluctantly turned to leave.

"Chad," I said. He turned around.

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to come in?" I asked.

Chad thought for a minute, then said, "Sure."

We walked into the room, and I motioned for him to sit on the couch. He did, sitting awkwardly down. I laughed.

"What?" he chuckled.

"You look incredibly uncomfortable," I said. He laughed along with me.

"I am!"

I tossed him a can of Coca-Cola, and laughed some more as he opened it and took a gulp.

"Okay, so I'm going to take a quick shower and wash the vodka out of my hair. If that's okay, I mean." He was my guest. Was I supposed to entertain him?

"That's fine," he said. "You smell like booze. It's kind of gross." He smiled.

"Thanks, Chad. That's really sweet of you." He rolled his eyes.

I ran over to the bathroom and took the quickest shower of my life, slipping on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt.

After I was dressed and I had pulled my wet hair up, I walked out of the hallway that lead to the sleeping area and into the living room/kitchenette, where Chad was nowhere to be find.

I took a few steps forward, and looked to see that Chad was staring out over the balcony. I smiled to myself. He looked beautiful as the moonlight caught every crevice and bump on his face.

With a sigh, I walked out onto the balcony.

"Chad?" He jumped, and I watched as he spun around to face me. "What are you looking at?"

"Everything," he said with a smile. "Want to see?"

"Sure," I said, walking up to the edge of the balcony.

Chad placed one hand on the middle of my back, and the other pointed out over the magnificent scene in front of me.

"See there?" he said. I did. You could just see the flashing lights of the city reflected off of the surface of the ocean. It was beautiful, like the sea itself was glowing.

"It's beautiful," I said.

Just then, I felt Chad's hand brush away a strand of hair that was dangling in my eyes, and sweep it behind my ear.

"Sorry," he stuttered when he realized what he'd done. "I – I have a little sister, and I'm just so used to - "

"You have a sister?" I asked. He looked kind of wary, jumpy. "What's her name?"

"Anna Marie Cooper," he said. I smiled.

"That's pretty," I said with a smile. He smiled, and his eyes wandered back out the sea.

"I wish I could be there for her more," he said. "She deserves better. I mean, she probably hates me."

"I don't think she does," I said. "I think she loves you. And I think you're a great brother." I paused, then smiled. "You know what? I think we should watch some movies."

Chad laughed, and our eyes met briefly. Something in my chest danced, almost like butterflies. It was.... nice.

"I think that sounds great."