So apparently fanfiction was being a bitch with my alerts and I didn't receive any alerts, not even for my subscriptions. I feel so sad and horrid now.
On the bright side, this chapter is up, and I'm telling you now, it's a good one. Muhahahaha.
So I'm not going to keep on this pre-chapter author's note for long. On to the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own SWAC, but I do own an autographed signed poster of it. In your faces. BOOYAH!
"What exactly did you say to her, Chad Dylan Cooper!?" Portlyn screamed as she paced through the table reading room. She and Chad had come earlier than the rest to discuss the recent turn of events.
"Nothing much really." Chad said as he rolled his water bottle back and forth nervously.
"I wouldn't call telling her that we were dating nothing much really." Portlyn slammed her hands down on the table, catching the actor by surprise. "Chad, what the hell were you thinking!?"
"Portlyn, before you go over the top over this little wrinkle in our plan, you have to see the up-side to the situation." Chad said as unscrewed the top of his bottle for a drink.
"There are no upsides Chad." Portlyn said, grabbing his bottle mid-sip and throwing it behind her, "You were supposed to set her up for her heart to be broken. Plant the seed of doubt. Make her feel miserable and unloved. Pick at her every insecurity. Destroy her from the inside ou-"
"Portlyn, get a hold of yourself. Think happy thoughts. Happy thoughts." Chad laid both hands on the actress' shoulders to simmer her down.
"Chad, I do not want to pretend to be dating you. Head over heels in love? Not exactly my thing."
"Well what did you expect me to say? That I was head over heels in love with you?" Chad scoffed, "Yeah, fat chance of that happening."
"You should have said we were just fooling around." She circled the actor and started poking him on his cheek. "You should have denied all allegations. You should have said anything but that."
Chad thought over it once more. Why hadn't he said those things? They seemed so simple and logical now that he thought of it. But they seemed so wrong. Did he want Sonny to think he was fooling around with other girls? Well, it wouldn't be surprising if she probably thought that already, but actual confirmation of that fact was somehow completely different.
When Chad failed to answer Portlyn let out a deep sigh and threw her hands up in frustration.
"Chad Dylan Cooper, sometimes I think you're doing this for the wrong reasons." Portlyn sat down across the table from the actor and started examining her nails. "Sometimes I think you're not doing this just to push the Random's buttons. It's like you have an ulterior motive." Portlyn's eyes narrowed at the blonde-haired actor.
"Ulterior motive? Pfft."
"It's that Random isn't it? Sonny has you all tied up in knots."
"Portlyn, as much as I value your input on everything, I'm going to have to say this is entirely absurd." When it came to lying to Portlyn, nothing came easier.
It was a wonder then how she could see right through his façade.
Portlyn raised her brow. "Whatever Chad. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, and I sure as hell know I'm pretty much a bitch, but I know you, and the deeper you dig yourself in, the harder it's going to be to dig yourself out."
Portlyn held Chad's hands consolingly.
"You're playing a dangerous game here, and you probably don't know it because you've never had something bite you in the butt like this. This is new territory for you."
"What exactly are you trying to tell me Portlyn?" Chad said, trying to pry his hands away from her death grip.
"Chad, I think you're in love."
Chad looked at her as if she was deranged. The concerned look just did not suit Portlyn.
"With a Random no less." Portlyn rolled her eyes.
"I have no idea what you're talking abou-"
"Let me finish, Chad." Portlyn placed a finger on Chad's baby-soft lips, silencing him. "I hate to say this, and by my favorite brand of lip gloss, I swear if you tell anybody I did, I will kill you-" Portlyn tightened her grip on the actor's hands as if to cushion a fall.
"I don't want to see you get hurt." She blurted out all at once, the words barely understandable. Portlyn then gagged and wheezed as if she had just ingested poison.
Chad smiled cockily at the actress. "Portlyn, you do your job and I'll do mine. I won't fall in love with Sonny if that's what you're worried about." He used his free hand to brush a hand through his perpetually perfect hair, "I'm way too out of her league."
Placing his hand on Portlyn's, he gave her a light squeeze of reassurance which made the actress sigh in defeat. Chad was a big boy now and he'd have to find out the hard way what it meant to fall.
There was a slight moment of silence between the two. They were in fact best friends, despite their clashing egos. Nobody else would be able to grasp the moment of mutual assurance they shared in their simple agreement. It was quite an odd relationship, as all relationships related to Chad Dylan Cooper are, and it was best not to try to comprehend each little segue of his star struck life.
Though some people still insisted on doing so and came up with the most inaccurate of conclusions. Leading to just the predicament they had planned to avoid.
"Wow."
The two stars were interrupted by reporter Santiago Geraldo popping into the room, camera in tow, recorder ready, wide-eyed and ready for more. Their hands clasped tight, gazes eye to eye – that was all that the reporter needed to fabricate an elaborate story of a secret romance in his head. Chad and Portlyn looked at each other in a panic.
"So it's true then? You two are dating?"
Connie Monroe sat on the kitchen counter, swinging her legs childishly as she enjoyed the morning paper quite late in the evening. Mug filled with herbal tea in one hand and newspaper in the other, she examined an article about budding Hollywood couples with a critical eye. She had gotten news that her daughter was now dating her co-star, but had not had the chance to actually ask her daughter about it due to conflicting schedules.
Digging up what she could, her stomach jumped at the journalist's retelling of Nico's grand proposal to her daughter. She was quite the proud mom, and Sonny had in fact, inherited her love for romance from her mother.
She turned the page to see another article on teen couples. This one featured the newly-debuted Chortlyn.
Connie held back a chuckle as she read the couple's name-squish. Chortlyn was just not a very appealing name to give a couple. She set the newspaper down and took in the whole of their apartment.
Their apartment, which now doubled as a greenhouse, sheltered the leftover flowers Nico had given her daughter. Looking around once more, she sat in awe of what teenagers were capable of these days.
Hearing their apartment door unlock and the shuffling of shoes outside, she could immediately tell that it was her daughter and a boy that had just walked in. Mrs. Monroe had the uncanny ability to distinguish people from the sound their shoes made against the floor. If she knew the sound well enough, she could even tell who it was exactly. All she could deduce from the kitchen counter, however, was that her daughter was with a boy, so she hurriedly ran to meet them in giddy excitement.
"Sonny Monroe, that better be your new boyfriend!" She ran up and in a frenzy of excitement jumped the poor male actor for a big bear hug.
"Mom!" Sonny jumped back in surprise once her mom pulled her in to form a group hug.
Eyes shut tight, the overexcited mother hugged the teens earnestly, effectively ruining all their outfits.
"Allison, I'm so happy you finally have a boyfriend!" Connie rubbed the back of her daughter's head lovingly.
"Uh, hey Mrs. Monroe-" The suffocated actor let out.
"Shh- I want to cherish this moment." Sonny's mom wasn't about to let her possibly-future-son-in-law get away without at least a minute of good Monroe hugging.
"Mom, this isn't my boyfriend." Sonny let out with difficulty, trying to free herself from her mother's pincer grip.
"Oh Sonny, of course this is your boyfriend." Mrs. Monroe finally let go of the teens, pushing them back to take a good look at them, "Hmmm, Nico, you've gotten a lot paler since the last time I saw you."
Sonny raised her brows at her mother. She couldn't be that dense, could she?
"And when did you dye your hair blonde?" She said, ruffling the actor's hair. "Come to think about it, you look a lot like –"
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Ch-ch-cha-cha-cha-"
"Yes, mom, it's Chad Dylan Cooper." Sonny took her mom by the arm and dragged her to the couch so she could have a seat.
Chad smiled sheepishly as he let himself in, letting down a bunch of shopping bags beside the couch.
"You. Chad. Here. Why?" Sonny's mom was still in shock.
"Sorry about this Chad. My mom's a closet Falls fan." Sonny covered her face, ashamed.
"Is that right Mrs. Monroe? Glad to hear that at least one of the Monroe's has good taste." Chad said jokingly.
Connie blushed and smiled.
"Mom, you do know he just took a jab at my taste right?" Sonny asked, hands on her hips, expecting her mother to do something. "Mom!?"
"Oh Chad Dylan-"
That was it. No way was Sonny letting her mother gawk over Chad Dylan Cooper of all people.
"Mom, don't you have a meeting to get to?" Sonny said with an implying tone as she set aside the shopping bags.
"Oh snicker doodles. Thanks for reminding me Hun." Getting off the couch, Connie made a run for her bag and gave her daughter a quick peck on the head before heading off. "Allison Monroe, you have a lot of explaining to do when I get back."
Shutting the door tight behind her, Connie Monroe left the apartment, leaving the two teenagers to ponder what had just happened.
"Well that was the most embarrassing moment of my life." Sonny plopped down on the couch and kicked her shoes off.
"All parents are embarrassing Allison." Chad laughed as he took his seat beside her, pulling her legs up onto his lap as he gave her a much needed foot rub.
Sonny would have kicked him in the face if she weren't so tired.
The two had gone on an impromptu shopping trip in preparation for Sonny's date and Chad did not give Sonny a moment of ease. If you thought Tawni was an extreme shopper, you were wrong. Nobody spelled extreme shopper like Chad Dylan Cooper did.
In a matter of two hours, Chad had put together three potential ensembles which Sonny could mix and match to suit her mood for the date. If Chad wasn't an actor, he'd be a heck of a stylist.
"Mmmm Chad, that feels so good." Sonny let her head fall back into the arm of the couch as she shut her eyes. Sonny Monroe would never know how her low hum which bordered a moan affected the conceited actor so. He set down her feet and scooted to the opposite side of the couch to prevent her from ever knowing. It was ridiculous how much she affected him.
Sonny sat up to see why the actor had stopped his ministrations, to see him rubbing his temples vigorously. "Does your head hurt Chad?"
Chad looked up at the actress, concern now painted on her face. "Oh, I fine. Just having a sudden sensory overload. Must be all the flowers in here." He tried to guise his embarrassed disposition with a laugh.
Sonny looked around. She really should have left the flowers at the studio. The smell which coated her apartment was overwhelming. "Sorry about that." She frowned. "Your face is all red. You sure you're not coming down with something?"
Sonny sat herself closer to Chad, placing her hand on his forehead to check his temperature. Her proximity was unnerving.
Chad stood up. "I'm fine, really. How about we fix up some popcorn and get to that movie?" He straightened out his shirt and adjusted his trousers for good measure.
"Uh, sure. I left the last two bags where you left them." Sonny reached out for Chad's DVD case which lay on the coffee table. "Do you mind watching Lion King today? I'm so up for a feel-good Disney movie."
Sonny's face had a childish glow to it as she asked, and Chad couldn't say no, despite having watched the movie practically a million times with his family. "Sure, I'll go take care of the popcorn."
Sonny turned on the TV to see the latest Entertainment news flash across her screen. The words flashed in bold caught her attention.
Chad's new catch!?
Sonny turned up the volume. "Chad, since when were you and Portlyn public?" She asked Chad who was busying himself in the kitchen.
Chad popped his head out the door to see what Sonny was talking about.
"Oh crap, they actually aired the story." Chad came out with two cans of soda in hand. "I didn't think Santiago was serious when he said it would make primetime news. This is a disaster."
Sonny looked up at the actor and gestured for him to take a seat. Taking one can of soda from the blonde, she turned back to the TV to see if Santiago had gotten any of the intimate details of the now debuted couple's relationship.
"They're blowing the whole thing out of proportion." Chad said, annoyed, stretching his arms out across the couch head and crossing his leg.
"You don't seem so concerned though." Sonny turned to him as she took a sip of her soda. "Maybe this is a good thing. It'll give more of an incentive to be a good boy." She smiled and gave him a pat on the head.
"Tss, Chad Dylan Cooper cannot be tamed by the media." Chad swatted her hand off his hair.
Sonny shrugged. "I bet Portlyn's happy about this."
"Oh you have no idea." Chad took a sip of his drink to stop himself from going off about how Portlyn blew her top off. "Now stop watching this crap and put the DVD on."
Sonny laughed at his impatience. "Yes, boss."
Just as Sonny inserted the DVD into the player, the lights went out and the TV screen flickered into black nothingness.
"There go the lights." Sonny stiffened.
"There goes our popcorn." Chad turned his head back. The popping had stopped.
"There goes our movie." Sonny pouted amidst the darkness.
Chad couldn't help but laugh at their situation. The power was out and Sonny's apartment was pitch-black. There was half-popped popcorn in the microwave and there Sonny was, pouting as if it was the end of the world.
Using what light his eyes could register in the darkness, Chad got up and carefully made his way into Sonny's room.
"Chad!? Where are you going!? What're you doing in my room!?" Sonny had half the heart to run after him, but didn't trust her eyesight to lead her past the now pitch-black room.
"Relax Sonny, I saw some candles in your bathroom cupboard when I was digging around for hair product." Chad snickered as he raided her closet, feeling his way for some candles. "Do you have a lighter or a match in here somewhere?" He shouted from her room.
"I think I saw some matches in the kitchen. I'll go look." Sonny stood up and started making her way blindly into the kitchen. Halfway there she tripped on a stray shopping bag and fell, taking a lampstand with her.
Chad ran out her room to make out a blurry vision of the actress struggling to untangle herself from the mess of wires she was now in. He couldn't help but laugh. He took out his cell phone and used its backlight as a makeshift flashlight as he helped the actress back to her feet.
"Why didn't you use that thing earlier?" Sonny scolded him, dusting her pants off. She grabbed the phone from him as she dug through the drawers for some matches. Finding some, she lighted the candles that Chad had laid out in strategic places.
Once the candles were lit the two stars gaped at the room around them. The candles lit the room perfectly, accenting the flowers perfectly. It almost looked like a scene from a fairytale.
"Woah. It's beautiful." Sonny breathed.
Chad turned to look at her and his breath hitched. The candles caught her features perfectly, the lighting making her seem like she was glowing angel. She turned to him and smiled.
"Yeah, beautiful."
Sonny made her way back to the couch and sat down. "So-"
Chad sat on the floor in front of her, head between her legs. He sat there, leaning his head against her leg. "What now?"
Sonny placed her hands on the actor's head and played with his hair. "Your hair's sorta tickling my knees."
Chad looked up at the brunette, a devious smirk painted on his face. He grabbed the hand that was on his head and pulled the actress down onto the floor with him.
"Chad! What gives!?" She laughed out as a tickle fight ensued between them.
Sonny pulled the actor down so she was straddling him. "No more little miss sunshine." She said tauntingly, making a lunge for Chad's sides.
Chad's laughing was uncontrollable. "Uncle! Uncle!" He screamed out, wanting her to stop.
Sonny got up as soon as she realized the position she was in. Chad didn't seem to mind. Following in suit, they both plopped back down on the couch, breathless.
"That killed three minutes. Now what?" Chad teased.
Sonny thought for a moment when it hit her. Wide-eyed in excitement, she jumped in her seat, giddy.
"How about we play Never Have I Ever?" She asked, practically clapping in excitement.
Chad cocked a brow at her. He'd never heard of such a game.
"Don't tell me you've never played Never Have I Ever." She punched him playfully.
"Ow, don't punish me just because I don't entertain myself with juvenile icebreakers." He rubbed his arm, faking pain.
"It's perfect! I really don't know anything about you Chad, and you've practically saved me twice. This way we can get to know each other better!" She smiled warmly. "We start with three points each. Basically each round begins with Never have I ever… And you complete the thought. If the person you tell that to has done whatever you said, he loses a point. If he hasn't, then you lose a point. The first one to lose all the points well, loses." Sonny looked at Chad expectantly.
"That is the most stupid thing I've ever heard." Chad said, trying to keep in a laugh. Sonny pouted. "But I guess it beats sitting here doing nothing."
Sonny smiled readjusted her position so both her legs were crouched up on the couch.
"What does the loser have to do?" Chad said, making himself comfortable with the throw pillows on the couch. "If we're playing this, it has to be more exciting."
Sonny paused for a thought. "Do we have to?"
"Yes, we have to." Chad threw a pillow at her. "How about the loser has to do one dare."
Retrieving the pillow which bounced right off her face, Sonny thought a moment and agreed. "Fine, but the dares should be within reason."
"Whatever Monroe. Just prepare go down." Chad smirked.
"I'll go first." Sonny announced, three fingers now held up to her score, "Never have I ever… eaten a bug."
"That's no fun, I doubt anybody in their right mind would eat a bug anyway." Chad said, disappointed. "You just wasted a turn and you lose a point."
Sonny stuck her tongue out at him and withdrew a finger, leaving only two up. She leaned back in her seat, waiting for Chad to come up with something.
"Never have I ever… Watched an episode of So Random." Chad smirked.
"THAT'S A LIE!" Sonny jumped from her seat, pointing at him accusingly. "You told me that night! You said you were watching my show when you remembered that you ditched me!"
"Fine, fine, I watched an episode of So Random. I'll pick something else."
"Oh no you don't, Chad Dylan Cooper. Just for lying you lose a point." Sonny crossed her arms, demandingly.
"You've got to be kidding me." Chad said exasperated, "How do I know if you're not lying yourself?"
"I have no reason to." Sonny answered confidently.
Chad sat back down, defeated. "Fine, I guess it's your turn now." Sonny clapped, triumphant. "But no stupid things like never wearing toe socks."
Sonny frowned. "Fine."
Chad waited for Sonny to come up with something, whilst thinking for his next turn. What had he never done that Sonny surely had? He could just say something biologically impossible for a male to do but that would be pushing the rules. He glanced back at Sonny, who was thinking intently on what she was about to say.
"Never have I ever seen someone of the opposite sex naked." Sonny smiled a tentative smile.
Chad just stared.
"Uh well, I –"
"CHAD!" Sonny gasped, "You've seen a naked girl!?" She seemed truly surprised.
"I'm a guy Sonny! I have needs!" Chad defended himself.
Sonny laughed. "I knew it. You're a guy after all."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" He teased.
"Hey, you're the one with the adult movie in his DVD case." Sonny raised her hand in defense. "You seem like the type of guy who hides dirty magazines under his bed." Sonny bit back a laugh. "I, however, am a good girl."
Chad stood up, "Well we're going to have to change that now, huh?" He wore a mischievous smile as he started unbuttoning his shirt.
"Ch-chad, what are you doing?" Sonny asked nervously backing herself up from the couch.
"It's hot; the AC hasn't been running for awhile." He threw his shirt off and sat back down. "Now what you said is only half true. You lose half a point."
Chad smirked as Sonny bent half of a finger down, defeated. Sonny avoided gazing Chad's perfectly sculpted chest, or at least tried to. "Your turn, Cooper."
Chad smiled at the childishness of the girl in front of him. He took a serious tone as he began his turn and thought deeply about what he was about to say. "Never have I ever fallen in love."
He looked up at Sonny to see her reaction. A sad look had replaced her bashful countenance as she pulled down another finger. "I have, I guess." Sonny sighed.
Chad winced inwardly.
"I think it was a year before I joined So Random." Sonny wore a sad smile.
"What happened?" Chad blurted out without thinking.
"I guess he just got tired of me." She let out a breath, "No biggy."
Silence.
"I'm sorry." Was all Chad could say.
"It's nothing." Sonny sat up, shaking the atmosphere off, "It's my turn now, and you only have a point left Chad."
"Hey, you only have half a point left. The odds are still more or less even."
"Humph." Sonny arranged her posture and breathed in before she let out her confession. "Never have I ever kissed a boy." She said it so confidently Chad burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Sonny asked, anger rising. "I'm sure you've kissed someone before Chad. I saw you kiss Portlyn. And you kissed Janine!"
Chad couldn't stop laughing. "Sonny, you said you never kissed a boy." Chad was in tears by now. "I may have kissed a pig, but I'm pretty sure I've never kissed a boy in my life."
Sonny's eyes widened in realization.
"You lose Monroe." Chad barely regained his composure as Sonny started smacking herself on the head.
"How the heck did I not see that!?" She scolded herself.
Chad held her hand back before she went in for another smack on the head. "So you've never kissed a boy Monroe?"
Sonny looked up to see Chad's face right in front of hers, a smile no longer inhabiting it. His gaze was piercing and the time she spent avoiding glances at his half-naked figure was in vain because at that moment, nothing could stop her from taking in the whole of Chad Dylan Cooper.
The flickering candlelight highlighted his sculpted musculature as he drew closer to her, her wrist still held firmly in his hand.
"Tell you what, I'll give you a break. I'll go for one more turn, and then you tell me if you still lose." Chad's voice was husky and labored as he leaned in closer, his nose grazing Sonny's ear as he whispered.
"Shoot." Sonny breathed, her voice hitching at his proximity.
He drew his face back and leaned it in so his forehead rested on hers, exchanging heat from the contact. His breath against her skin made her anxious.
"Never." Chad released her wrist, letting it fall limply against her side.
"Have I ever." He raised his hand to caress the side of her cheek gently.
"Wanted to kiss someone in front of me." He pulled her against him, needy for contact.
"As bad as I do now." Chad's eyes pierced into hers, azure to her russet depths. "Who loses?"
"I-I lose." Sonny wrapped her hands around his neck bringing his face closer. Noses barely touching Chad smirked.
"Then I dare you to kiss me, Monroe."
I'm noticing my chapters get longer and longer. I have no idea why.
Either way the next chapter's going to be steamy :D And it's also going to include a bonus chapter involving Chad, Sonny and a little Tawni and Josh spying, so watch out for that one.
Sorry to leave you with this cliffie, but how else will I keep you reading?
Tell me what you guys think.
And btw, sorry for any grammatical/spelling errors. Didn't have time to beta this one. Go ahead and point out any you see, so I can correct them here on fanfiction.
Read, Review and Recommend!
-AnotherDarnApple
