What did I do last night? Chad woke up, his head pounding. He didn't remember coming home. The last thing he remembered was talking to Nico and Grady. He wasn't sure what they were talking about. He guessed they were trying to cheer him up, but he wasn't sure.
He sat up in bed and immediately ran to the bathroom. Chad ended up on the floor, after puking his guts out. Thank you, toilet bowl. Thank you for being cool on the side. He lay there for several minutes, making sure he was done throwing up. When he felt sure, he stood up, unevenly.
Chad looked at himself in the mirror. I look like hell. His hair was all over the place. His eyes were dry and bloodshot. His lips looked redder than usual. He wiped his mouth and saw that his hand had a red mark on it.
Chad rubbed the red mark and saw it disappear. He rubbed his mouth and saw the redness go away as well. He looked at his arms and didn't see anything. Taking off his T-shirt, Chad saw more smears on him. He ran his finger over a mark and put it into his mouth. Oh no. Chad knew it was lipstick, it tasted like strawberries. Chad lowered his pajamas and saw more of it on his dick. What have I done?
Sonny was laying her in her bed. She hadn't slept alone that often and this was the first time since she broke up with and fired Joshua. She had done well without him. Her show was a success and she really connected with the audience.
But she missed his warmth. She missed his touches. She missed his kisses. Sonny wasn't going back to him, but she felt so alone now. I'm going back to Wisconsin, after the tour. Sonny picked up the phone and placed a call.
"Hello?"
"Hi, mom, it's Sonny."
"Hi, Sonny. How are you?" her mom asked. "I haven't heard from you in so long."
"I know, I'm sorry," Sonny tried to explain. "Things have been really hectic. I should have called sooner, but I just couldn't."
"That's okay, you're calling now. How is everything?"
"Okay, the tour is going well."
"How is Joshua?"
"We broke up."
"I'm so sorry. He seemed like such a nice guy."
"Yeah, that was kind of the problem. He only seemed like a nice guy."
"He didn't hurt you, did he?"
Sonny thought about that. Yes was the answer, but could she really tell her mom that. Could she really tell her mom that Joshua had her on uppers, downers, and who knows what else? No. Sonny couldn't do that.
"No, but like I said, he wasn't a nice guy. He had a control problem and I wasn't going to have him tell me what to do all the time."
"I'm proud of you, Sonny. So many times you see a young woman in a bad relationship because they think that's all there is. I'm glad you're looking out for that. You've got a good head on your shoulders."
"Thanks, Mom," Sonny said, half heartedly. She knew that for a while she didn't have a good head on her shoulders. But Sonny came through in the end.
"Here I am asking all the questions. You obviously had something to say. What was it Sonny?"
"I was wondering if I could come visit you in Wisconsin after the tour is over."
"That would be great. I haven't seen you in so long. It would be absolutely perfect. We can really catch up and I can so you how much the place has changed."
"Middleton's changed?"
"Not really. The movie theatre got a big up grade though. We'll have to check it out. Any sexy stars that you want to see?"
"Mom!" Sonny was shocked to hear her mother speak about another man being sexy.
"Oh come on, you're twenty-one now. I know you think men are sexy."
"We'll see what's out."
"Great."
"I've got to go, mom. I need to rest for the next show."
"How mature! I understand. I'll talk to you later."
"I've missed talking to you, mom."
"I've missed talking to you, too."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Sonny hung up the phone and tried to get some sleep. She pulled the covers over her head, but still felt cold with no one there.
Chad's cell phone began to ring and he looked to see who it was. Samantha Ryan was the name showing.
"Hello?" Chad said.
"Hi, Chad. It's Sam."
"Sam? You never let me call you that. And you never call me Chad."
"I thought we went over this last night, when I drove you home."
And then all the memories flooded back to Chad. The drinking, the advice from Nico and Grady, calling Sam, and the sex.
"Look, Samantha, about last night. That was a mistake."
"I don't think it was. It was wonderful."
"No, that can't happen again."
"I don't understand," Sam said, a little worried.
"There can be no us, no relationship."
"But you said you loved me."
"I was drunk. You took advantage of me. Let's go back to the way things were and forget everything that happened."
"I can't believe you, Chad," Sam was on the verge of crying. "I thought you were different than the other stars. You just like everyone else."
"Don't pin this on me. You know exactly what you did."
"If you do this, I will guarantee that your works will get terrible reviews. I will make it my life's work to destroy you. You wouldn't burn that bridge, would you?"
"Flame on," Chad replied, hanging up the phone. He didn't have time to worry about that. He thought about what Nico had said. He needed a grand romantic gesture. He called the only person he thought could help him.
"Hello, Tawni," Chad said into the phone. "I need some help. Do you know when Sonny will be back in L.A.?"
