Sonny absently swung the plastic bag that held the rest of the (massive, giant piece of) cake she hadn't been able to finish in it as they walked down the hallway of her floor to her apartment. They reached her door and stopped.

"Thanks," Sonny smiled up at Chad.

"It was really great," Chad smiled back. Both found themselves lost in the other eyes, the conversation halting as they took in the moment. Chad was first to realise the length of the silence.

"It was mostly great because I was there," Chad said causing Sonny to frown. "Of course it wouldn't have actually been great with you my friend," Chad said smile widening.

Sonny laughed, punching Chad lightly in the arm. "Well then, friend, I should go and get some sleep," she said turning to the door behind her.

"Wait!"

"Yes?" Sonny turned back toward Chad, instantly standing straighter as she took in his increased proximity.

"Let's...well, I'd like... um can we do this again?" Chad said his eyes darting side to side.

"Of course. As long as people don't see us and think things 'cause that would be awkward," Sonny looked down as finished, pushing her fringe out of her face.

Chad laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, it would be. I'll see you later, Sonny."

They stared at each other for another moment, and if Sonny wasn't imagining things, Chad inched a little closer to her. Then the door Sonny was partially leaning against was opened. She let out a squeak as she stumbled, and Chad reached out immediately and grabbed her arm to steady her.

"Thanks." She let out shakily.

"Oh, it's you two. I thought I heard voices." Connie Munroe was standing behind the door. "Hi Chad."

"Hey Connie." Chad had stepped back from Sonny and waved at her mother awkwardly. "I mean, uh…"

"No, Connie's fine."

"Oh, cool. I was just uh, just dropping Sonny off."

Connie's eyes widened in surprised. "I'm so sorry. I'll leave you two to it then." She shut the door again.

Sonny blinked a couple of times. "Right." She looked back at Chad. "I should get going, it's been a long night."

Chad nodded. "Right, yeah. Cool."

"Thanks, again."

Chad smiled. "You're welcome."

Unable to stop her blushing Sonny turned away from Chad and went inside her apartment. Her mother was sitting on the couch, and while her eyes might have been glued to the new episode of Mackenzie Falls there was knowing smile on her face. Sonny kept her head down as she tried to quickly scurry off to her room.

"You're going to give me all the details later young lady." Connie was met with the response of a door closing.

Once Sonny was in her room (and safe from the onslaught of questions her mother inevitably would have) she pulled her phone from her bag. It had been on silent all night, and she was genuinely shocked to see several messages and missed calls. From both Tawni and Rogan.

Where r u?- Tawni.

I'm really sorry. Just come back to the party? –Rogan.

Srsly, I cant see u anywhere. –Tawni.

K, im gonna call u. Better pick up. –Tawni

Can we at least talk tomorrow? I don't like us fighting. –Rogan.

Yeah, we can catch up tomorrow. Whatever time's easiest for you. –Sonny.

She checked the voicemail Tawni had left her.

"Sonny, I'm going to kill you. No really, I am. The doorman just told me you'd gone off with Chad and that I have to drive your car home. Do you know how many things are wrong with that? Chad Sonny? Really? We are talking about this on tomorrow you do realise. I'm so mad at you. I'm also mad at the fact you now want me to baby sit Rogan… while he's dancing with some other random girl. And she's not even pretty. This night officially sucks and it was all your idea!"

The message ended. Sonny frowned. She was fairly certain that going to the party had, in fact, been Tawni's idea. She sighed, tomorrow was looking to be a long day.

OoOoO

Chad was smiling, more so grinning, the whole way home. It wasn't until he looked in the mirror that he realised. He massaged his cheeks with his palms.

"I'm a professional smiler, why does it hurt?" Chad laughed to his reflection.

He splashed his face with water which didn't wipe the smile from his face. He didn't think anything would until the sharp realisation hit. He sighed, "Just friends."

He ran his hands through his hair...and promptly fixed it. He sighed again as he began the motions of his nightly routine.

Chad flopped onto his bed soon after, closing his eyes tightly. He opened the draw next to him, eyes still shut, grasping the photo frame it contained. With another deep sigh he opened his eyes, taking in the sand, the sun, the deep brown eyes and the sunglasses he still couldn't locate (from that time he and Sonny were dating) that stared at him from behind the glass.

He'd stuffed it up. Sometime between their breaking up and right then and there on his bed he'd admitted it to himself. He'd stuffed up big time.

Some days, she would look at him like she used to, with that adoration and, dare he go there, love. And he couldn't help but wonder if maybe, someday, she might be willing to give him another chance. Then, there were those others days, where she'd look down right disgusted at him and he knew it was hopeless. He'd lost her.

But tonight…

It had ended up being awesome. Almost, almost, like old times. Just the two of them. Their conversation went back and forth effortlessly. It was the first time in a long time that they'd both felt free enough to be themselves around the other again.

Chad smiled as he ran his fingers along the frame. He could actually do this. He could actually win her back, he was sure of it.

He just had to keep her attention away from Rogan long enough.

OoOoO

Tawni flung her hands out in front of her, "No Rogan. It's time to leave."

"But Tawni, it's my first Hollywood party. I'm making such great friends," Rogan looked at the girls he had either side of him. "Let's just stay a bit longer."

"No. We are going now." Tawni folded her arms. Rogan lifted his eyebrows as he smirked back at the flustered blonde. Tawni glared. "Fine. Stay. But I'm leaving."

Tawni headed for the bathroom not the door only because she was busting but her storm off equally dramatic regardless she assured herself, shoulders squared. She took her time reapplying her Coco Moco Coco before heading for the car. She'd never been so happy to leave a party in her life.

Her gait slowed as she approached the car, a tall dark figure leaned against it. She stopped as it spoke, "Sorry for being a jerk."

"I'm assuming you want a ride home," Tawni's sarcasm piercing.

"If it's not too much trouble."

"Whatever," Tawni tossed her hair as she approached the driver's side.

Rogan opened and the passengers door and plopped into the seat and talking immediately as thought nothing had happened. "Seriously, I don't know how you guys do it, like not get caught up in the glitz and glamour. I mean, I've known Sonny for a while and she's totally the same even though she's famous."

Without any encouragement from Tawni Rogan spoke the whole way to his apartment. He was very enthralled with his one sided conversation. The only thing stopping Tawni from snapping was the thought with which she distracted herself, 'This kid is never going to make it.'

OoOoO

Sonny rushed around her apartment making last minute additions to her outfit. Somewhere between shoes and earrings she scooped up her phone in her free hand and called Tawni, "Please tell me that you're picking me up."

Tawni spurted a quick laugh that abruptly stopped. "No."

"Tawni, you have my car," Sonny said flatly.

"Well, then, yes. But not because I want to."

"Ok, I'll see you soon," Sonny said with a roll of her eyes hanging up the phone. "And so it begins," she groaned.

Rogan seemed to be texting her every fifteen minutes to confirm that at lunch they would meet up and talk, like she was going to forget (because he wouldn't let her). Tawni was still angry at her for ditching her at the party (or at least, judging by the way she decided to insult everything about her on the drive to the studio). Chad was…

Actually, she hadn't heard from Chad at all. He was being unusually silent.