Sonny With a Chance of Cafeteria Work
Author's note:
Hey everybody! I want to sincerely apologize for the length of time between this update and my last one. :( I've been on hiatus on account of a musical performance I was cast in as well as final exams and the holidays. I know it's still no excuse for the lack of updates, so I'm very sorry! To make amends, I wrote a record-long chapter to make up for it. ;) I've finally overcome my busy schedule and writer's block and am on my way to finishing the story. :D Speaking of which, by the way, there will probably be anywhere from four to six chapters left of this. I have a brief outline, but so far the story has kind of written itself no matter how I plan ahead, so I'm not quite sure how long it will be. ;)
Recommended author: Mlle. Madeline; she has absolutely wonderful masterpieces! I love her hilarious style, so be sure to check out her profile and stories.
And as a final note, can I just say I am PUMPED for the new season of SWAC!!! I can't wait to see all the awesome episodes!! :D And let's keep our fingers crossed for lots of Channy. ;)
Alright, without further adieu, enjoy Chapter 8!
Chapter 8: Blackmailing
Still smiling down at her, Chad couldn't help but think how unbelievably lovable Sonny Munroe was. There she was: forced to be his personal assistant for a day, jerked out of rehearsal, and badgered by him within an inch of her life, yet her get-up-and-go spirit still hadn't vanished. For a nanosecond, the possibility of just letting her off easy this time lingered in his mind. Would it really matter just this once if he brushed their rivalry aside for the rest of the day? After all, Chad knew Sonny had enough on her plate between scrounging up enough money for another car, dealing with Brenda, and continuing her work at So Random all at the same time. Maybe he should just send her back to the prop house…
"Are you going to let me in?" Sonny asked impatiently, breaking into his thoughts in the usual way. Her expression was slightly puzzled as she wondered why the heartthrob had wasted a good full minute of his precious time to stand in the hall grinning at her. Chad cleared his throat, shaking himself out of his daze. Come on, man, what is wrong with you? He silently reprimanded himself. You're turning into a complete sap anymore around Sonny. He'd almost softened up to Sonny Monroe, almost let her win this mind game they were so clever at playing… well, not anymore. There was just one spot for first place and he'd be the one to claim it. The only way to prevent the unacceptable vulnerability that had been creeping silently upon him was to draw back into the shell of Chad Dylan Cooper, haughty teen idol and TV star.
So he replied with a self-confident smirk: "Why, are you anxious to be alone with the Chad Dylan Cooper?" Chad waggled his eyebrows coyly, but his advances were greeted with a sarcastic huff as Sonny rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
"I'll take that as a yes," he responded with a laugh. "After all, it's not everyday I give a girl access to my private dressing room," Chad continued slyly, carefully studying the girl in front of him for any reaction. No response.
Seeing that Sonny was still not fazed by his lame flirting attempts, he decided to move on.
Chad swung his ornate dressing room doors open as if to allow Sonny entrance to the grandeur of the Buckingham Palace. Sonny bit back a laugh at all the unnecessary pomp and proceeded to survey her surroundings. Although it wasn't quite as overwhelmingly magnificent as Chad was making it out to be, she was still amazed at the huge expanse and the expensive décor displayed prominently around the room.
A small glittering chandelier hung daintily from the ceiling, the bright light catching the jewels and casting tiny shimmering shadows on the walls. Underneath it were two comfortable-looking oak-framed armchairs that were embossed with meticulous designs, their plush upholstery beckoning almost audibly for Sonny to rest on them. She inhaled and the smell of fresh greenery floated in as she saw several plants flourishing on a small glass table between the chairs, some sprouting up in vases on Chad's own vanity table. Similar to the dressing room Sonny and Tawni shared, two smaller chambers flanked either side of the space. The entrance to the first was covered by a prim silver drape, which Sonny assumed to be his closet; the second, accessed by solid double-doors and labeled with the Cooper family crest, was none other than Chad Dylan Cooper's renowned bathroom.
For a split second, Sonny Munroe had to admit to feeling a tiny spark of jealousy ignite within her. She tried to remain expressionless, but all the same it was difficult to keep from coveting Chad's lovely possessions. All these beautiful things have practically been handed to this guy on a silver platter just because of his looks!
"Is that what you think?" Chad turned on her suddenly from where he had been standing in the doorway of his room. Sonny froze. Had she just spoken her thoughts aloud?
"I-Is that w-what I think about what?" she countered slowly, unsure of what to do. Sonny couldn't help but notice the injured frown that Chad was trying to dismiss from his countenance.
"That I have all this stuff just because of my looks? Really, Sonny? Really?" he crossed his arms and looked away. There was a glimmer of something she'd never seen before in those sapphire eyes. Something that hinted that underneath his heart of stone, the great Chad Dylan Cooper had a soft spot that either could be nourished or squelched by her influence alone.
All at once, Sonny felt ashamed. What right did she have to assume that everything had been a downhill slope for Chad? In fact, little did she know that the case was just the opposite. It had been a difficult journey to stardom for the young man, filled with the ever-critical press, directors who were constantly pushing him towards unhealthy compromises, and friends who'd pledged their loyalty but abandoned him after they'd mooched off of his new-found popularity and wealth.
"Chad, I'm sorry," she said softly, sincerely. The slight catch in her voice caused the King of Drama himself to relent and cast his gaze down upon her. The heartfelt look he found within her eyes was so touching that he couldn't help but forgive her. In fact, if he hadn't been currently resigned to hiding behind the façade of Chad Dylan Cooper, he'd have probably attacked her in a bear hug already. But that would have to wait…
"Well, er… don't worry about it," Chad responded, trying to lighten up the mood. A faint smile lit across his face as he realized how he could turn this whole melancholy conversation around. "Besides, I always knew you were a sucker for my looks," he added smugly, with a glint of fun in his eyes.
Sonny caught that look and started to grin. It was miraculous how they could turn from enemies to friends in mere seconds. "Yeah right. Keep on dreamin', Cooper," she retorted. "The only time you've ever been good-looking was at your birthday party when your face was half-covered with cake." She gave one of her signature belly-laughs before adding mirthfully, "And that's a compliment!"
Chad gasped in mock surprise and held his hand dramatically to his heart. "Ouch, Munroe, that's getting personal. Everyone knows this face is the hottest on the planet, even when it's being concealed by cake." He grinned self-assuredly at her before his glance rested on a gargantuan cardboard box that was placed up against the wall. All at once the real reason why he'd called Sonny over in the first place came flooding back. He frowned regretfully. It was time to get to work, and what he was about to do wouldn't be easy for him at all – or for Sonny.
***********
Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, Brenda was methodically ridding the half-full stainless steel chafing dishes of their revolting contents and cleaning them to be used later on that evening. She grunted as she scraped the remains of burnt cottage cheese casserole into the large retail garbage can. If only that Sonny girl was here to help with the "dirty work", she mused. Speaking of that Sonny girl, she'd been nothing but trouble since the day she'd set foot in the cafeteria. Not only had she challenged Brenda's time-tested partial methods, but she'd been carrying out seditious acts right behind the veteran cafeteria worker's back. Brenda wanted more than anything to give Sonny the pink slip, so to speak, and rid the cafeteria of her reformist presence for good.
The worst part about it was that Sonny Munroe was currently experiencing the favor of the venerated Chad Dylan Cooper, for reasons unbeknownst to Brenda… and in fact, the rest of Condor Studios. It would be like walking on eggshells to try to fire the girl without reaping the displeasure of the TV star and ruining her good standing with the Mackenzie Falls cast she'd built up over the last ten years.
In truth, the only way for Sonny Munroe to be fired without any suspicion falling on Brenda was to manipulate a situation where the girl would be forced to break one of the requirements the woman had name from the start. Thinking back to her conversation with Marshall, Brenda was beginning to despair that she'd ever be able to get rid of Sonny until a brilliant idea lit upon her.
One of the conditions for termination had been that Sonny must never miss a day of work for any reason whatsoever. But what if the girl would happen to suddenly fall sick and be unable to come to the cafeteria? Brenda would have no choice but to fire her for such an infringement. She needed to ensure that Sonny would catch some sort of illness, enough to keep her away for at least a day.
Brenda glanced across the cafeteria to some sliced raw ham that had been left there from the day before. It had been too old to serve for yesterday's meal, so she'd set it out to be disposed of later. Picking up a slice of the slimy, smelly meat, she crept over to the lunchbox Sonny always placed on her shelf in the corner of the room. Inside was a neatly-packed dinner, including a sandwich. Brenda sneakily slid the intruder in between the slices of bread, arranged everything just as it was, and continued on with her work, a victorious sneer stretching over her face.
If nothing else, that rotten ham would serve as a little food poisoning – nothing too violent, but enough to force that Sonny girl to stay home with a stomach-ache for half a day. Brenda gave herself a mental pat on the back for her ingenious idea. Now her reign in the cafeteria would be unquestioned, and things could go back to the way they were to start with.
***********
Back in Chad's dressing room, Sonny Munroe was currently being forced to do the most idiotic thing she'd ever done in her lifetime for the most idiotic person she'd ever met. She gritted her teeth with disgust and looked down at the neatly handwritten list she was in the process of composing, shaking the writer's cramp out of her right hand. The first few lines read:
1. You have great hair.
2. You should marry me.
3. You're ten times cuter than Zac Efron.
4. Your acting's awesome…
And so on and so on. She'd unwillingly written over 200 short sentences about the great Chad Dylan Cooper, many of them saying the exact same thing in different words. Sonny thought back to just an hour ago when he'd first announced his real purpose in calling her over from the prop house. He'd led the way to an oversized refrigerator box and ripped it open vigorously with his bare hands. Sonny had been momentarily impressed at this enormous feat of strength, but those thoughts had been overcome with deep, deep hatred as he began to explain her role in the endeavor.
Her conversation with the universal god of the "tween screen", as Chad Dylan Cooper had so modestly termed himself, had been a disagreeable one.
"This," Chad had explained as he reached through a jagged hole into the box and produced a handful of letters, "is called fan mail." He'd assumed the air of a kindergarten teacher, glancing emphatically at her to make sure his point was understood.
"Yeah… what about it?" Sonny had rejoined slowly, not quite comprehending the importance Chad was placing on the whole situation. She'd been in Hollywood scene for almost a year now and knew very well what fan mail was, what it looked like, and what to do with it.
"I'm just making sure you know what it is, since you've probably never seen anything like it before." Amazingly, he had still kept a straight face. Sonny would have loved to have slapped that face clear across the room, but instead she practiced restraint.
"Haha, very funny, Chad," she'd said, throwing her hands up in mock hilarity as she glared back at him. "For your information, I get a box that exact same size every week, just like you do," she retorted, hoping to provide solid proof that they were equals, regardless of the rivalry between their shows.
"Oh, no, this is just today's mail," Chad had shrugged indifferently. "That's why I need you. I'm so behind with all of this, so you're going to…" He'd been cut off by Sonny.
"Don't you have paid help to read through and organize this stuff?" Sonny had reminded him, her brow wrinkled in confusion.
"No! Don't you know that Chad Dylan Cooper personally reads every single fan letter he receives?" Chad had widened his eyes at her, acting as if that fact was the most widely-known in the world. She'd stared back at him disbelievingly.
"Just kidding," he'd grinned smugly. "That's what I claim to do, so the easiest way for me to keep my word without having to read through all this junk is for you to help me."
"What? No, Chad, I am NOT about to help you lie to the world and disappoint your fans at the same time! What kind of person do you think I am?" Sonny had shaken her head disgustedly, turning on her heel and reaching for the doorknob of his dressing room.
Somehow Chad had been too fast for her. His tall frame blocked her exit and he'd replied calmly and quietly, "I think you'd better stay here, Sonny." He'd looked gravely in her eyes, and in that moment she'd remembered their agreement in the kitchen and his power to blackmail her. And she desperately needed that job, which was her only means to getting a new car.
So she'd faltered under his gaze and as a result agreed to help him carry out his idiotic plan. Simply put, Sonny was to read through a large chunk of his letters and distill each one into a single sentence, and then list them together for him to read later. That way, his vow to the press would remain unbroken because he was reading a miniscule portion of each individual message, but at the same time he wouldn't have to interrupt his busy schedule to read the 14-page letters obsessed fan-girls had written. At least that was how Chad Dylan Cooper had explained it to her, although she saw no method to the madness.
So here she was, sitting cross-legged on the soft carpet of his dressing room and skimming over a note from yet another disillusioned teen who'd written a poem about Chad. It almost made her want to gag. If only they all knew the real Chad Dylan Cooper; then he'd only get about 2 letters a day instead of 2,000.
Sonny bit her lip, glared stiffly at the next blank line on the page, and then epitomized it into a single sentence…
223. You and I were meant for each other.
…Before stuffing it in an extra-large trash bag with a shudder and moving on. Groaning in frustration, she checked the time on her phone: 4:30 p.m. Well, hopefully her So Random castmates had finished the Cinderella sketch. They'd have to wait until tomorrow to rehearse it before performing it in two days. It won't be too hard for me to get into character, Sonny thought ruefully, as she thought about her current situation.
She stood to her feet and stretched her legs a little bit. Thankfully, she was alone in Chad Dylan Cooper's dressing room; he had disappeared about fifteen minutes ago behind the mystical double doors for an "important meeting". To Sonny, it sounded like a bowling match was being held behind those doors, but she knew her ears must be deceiving her.
Sonny decided to make use of this golden opportunity to snoop and consequently tip-toed over to Chad's vanity. A brightly-colored Tween Weekly magazine caught her eye; namely, the picture of a certain well-known jerkface that was consuming three-fourths of the front cover. Shaking her head, she opened to the feature article on Chad Dylan Cooper, hoping to get a good laugh out of the interview and see what new lies the heartthrob had invented this time.
She was shocked to see her picture side-by-side to one of Chad, the title overhead reading "Mackenzie Falls Star Spills About Relationship". Curiosity overcoming her, she read on to assess the damage. In the interview, Chad had insisted that she'd been in love with him since the day she arrived at Condor Studios. Sonny seethed inwardly but couldn't help recognizing a small nugget of truth in what he was saying.
However, the final part was what enraged her the most:
Heraldo:Mr. Cooper, although you claim that Sonny Munroe wants to pursue a relationship with you, do you have any evidence to support this assumption?
Cooper: Um, well… yes, I do.
Heraldo: Is there any kind of written or photographic evidence you can provide Tween Weekly readers with to ease their suspicions?
Cooper: I could show you some written proof, but not at the moment. I'd need to talk everything over with my agents first.
Heraldo: Well, it's about time to wrap up. Anything you'd like to say about your perspective on the relationship?
Cooper: Um, just that it's no surprise Sonny's fallen for me. I mean she's a nice girl and all, and I kinda feel sorry for her. After all, she's up against millions of girls who feel the same way about me.
Heraldo: Well, thanks, Mr. Cooper. I'll give you a call in the next few days to see if we can get a hold of that evidence.
Cooper: Sounds good.
Heraldo: It's been my pleasure to speak with you. Take care.
Cooper: Same.
Sonny felt like marching right up to those double doors, tearing them down, and engaging in a heated fist fight with Chad. When had she ever told him she had feelings for him? More specifically, when had she ever written or sent anything to him that would suggest so, like he claimed? Although Sonny's fiery spirit was persuading her to have it out with Chad Dylan Cooper there and then, her intuition advised another course of action: while she had the opportunity, looking for and destroying the proof might be the best form of damage control.
She immediately began quietly opening the drawers of his vanity, looking for anything she might have written him in days past. A complete and silent search revealed nothing. Sonny sighed with frustration. Of course, the "evidence" that Chad had threatened to send to Tween Weekly could be anywhere: hidden somewhere in the studio, or in his car, or in his apartment. Trying to find it would just be a hopeless case.
Shoulders slumped, she returned to gather up her things and go. She'd had quite enough of these blackmailing threats from Chad and was thoroughly fed up with all of the manipulation. Sonny Munroe has a life, she reminded herself encouragingly, and it's not going to be controlled by heartless, egotistical jerk like Chad Dylan Cooper. As she stuffed the rest of his unopened fan mail vindictively into the trash bag, knowing he wouldn't care about or notice their absence, Sonny had half a mind to tear up the long list she'd just written under Chad's orders. After all, why should she help a guy that was perpetually out to get her?
Picking up the sheets of paper, she struggled internally over what to do. On the one hand she could take a chance, dispose of all that hard work, and risk Chad's retaliation and ultimately the loss of her job. On the other hand, Sonny could surrender the list to Chad, resume working in the cafeteria, and make her life a whole lot easier. She pored over her neatly-written list of fans' sentences exulting over the talent and charm of Chad Dylan Cooper. You know, if anyone found this list, it'd be quite incriminating on my part, she thought, as a suspicion sparked in her mind.
Suddenly the answer burst upon her like a round of exploding fireworks. The list was the tool Chad was planning to use to prove his point to Tween Weekly readers across the nation! Sonny couldn't believe she'd been suckered into his masterful plan to prove to Santiago that she'd completely fallen for him. And sure enough, once the magazine published a picture of that list, no one would be able to deny it was in her hand-writing and written specifically about Chad.
All of a sudden, Sonny grinned brilliantly and exhaled with relief. Well, no magazine was going to get this list. She'd destroy it herself, or better yet ask Zora of a creative way to do it so as to leave no trace behind.
She was marching triumphantly out with the papers when the double doors on the other side of the room suddenly swung open, revealing a confused Chad Dylan Cooper.
"Leaving already?" he asked, his eyebrows raised quizzically. "I didn't think you'd be able to finish that quickly. Well, just let me know where the list is, and I'll take it from there," he offered, stepping forward.
"The list?" Sonny questioned, feigning ignorance. Her face cleared as she pretended to remember. "Oh, right – you mean that "evidence" you were going to send to Tween Weekly to support your lies?" She smiled pityingly. "Yeah, I found out, Chad. And there's no use trying to get it from me because I'm leaving right now to destroy it. So have a nice day, and don't knock yourself out trying to find something new to incriminate me with." She stomped deliberately down the hall as the heartthrob ran after her.
"Sonny!" he barked. "I can't believe you've been snooping through my stuff! I trusted you to work respectably in my room without supervision, and this is what I get for it." Chad glared at her dramatically, his eyes narrowing as he thought of his next move. "But you're coming right back in here, because you're still my personal assistant until the end of the day, unless you want to bid goodbye to your job." He cursed himself inwardly for sounding so cruel. But Chad knew deep down inside that it was only an empty threat; he held Sonny in too high esteem to completely ruin her life. Thank God all those acting classes had paid off, he thought as his face remained impassive and stern when Sonny swiveled around to confront him.
"I don't think so, Chad – because now I have the power to blackmail you with this," she countered, drawing the folded list from her pocket and waving it in his face. "Tween Weekly would just love to get some dirt on you, and this whole incident would be the perfect story for them." She laughed as his mouth opened in protest, about to walk away until he grabbed her arm.
"Look, Sonny…" he sighed as those lovely brown eyes turned towards him once again, full of suspicion and determination. He'd been about to tell her off once and for all, but his mind performed a somersault just as she faced him. I should never have even thought about using her like that, he groaned inwardly as his heart began melting like it usually did when he was in close proximity to Sonny Munroe. "I… I've been really… um, well, stupid about this whole thing, okay? And I know you probably don't want to, but I'd be willing to call this whole dumb argument-thing quits," he said, speaking sincerely and meaning every word he spoke aloud. There was an awkward silence as both pairs of eyes studied the floor. "S-So what do you think?" Chad broke in uncertainly, holding his breath.
"I think," Sonny paused and furrowed her eyebrows. "…I think that I'll let you off the hook just this once, Chad, but only because you did sort of do me a favor back there in the cafeteria, even if you were out to get me all along," she looked pointedly at him but couldn't help it as a smile played at the corner of her lips. Chad noticed and returned a sheepish grin as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck. Sonny Munroe, you are the best, he thought penitently.
Sonny looked startled as she mumbled, "Was that a compliment?"
Chad Dylan Cooper was tongue-tied for the first time in his life. Glancing quickly at her before returning his gaze to his well-polished Italian shoes, he responded, "Um, I just said that out loud, didn't I?"
"Yeah, you did," Sonny replied, smiling shyly. She fumbled around her pocket for her cell phone and cleared her throat as Chad remained silent. "Well, it's almost five, I'd better head off to work." She turned to go but was arrested by a gentle grip on her shoulder, stopped once again for the umpteenth time that day by Chad Dylan Cooper.
"Sonny, you know what I just said?" He looked meaningfully down at the brunette as he continued. "Well… I meant it," he stated softly, his warm hand still resting lightly on her. Sonny Munroe almost swooned for the first time in her life. A real, sincere compliment from Chad Dylan Cooper?
"Thanks," she said quietly, her mind in a dither as she began to walk unsteadily down the hall towards the cafeteria. A thoughtful Chad was left in her wake, staring after her retreating figure.
Miracles still do exist, Sonny thought, as a pleasant warm feeling bubbled up inside of her. At least she'd have a lot to think about to take her mind off of work tonight…
So just to let you guys know, I'm feeling really insecure about this chapter. I'm not quite sure whether I like it or not. And please forgive me if there are mistakes - I haven't had a whole lot of time to proofread.
Please let me know what you think about it – good or bad, I love it all! Thanks to everyone who has been so diligent in reviewing this story. I seriously squeal every time I get a notification about a new review. :) Y'all are awesome!
All the best,
Victoria L., a.k.a. addicted2SWAC
