A/N: Hiiii, guys! I is happy. Austin and Ally is coming on tomorrow on UK TV and I'm so excited! I'd love to write an A&A fic, but I don't have any ideas! :( Oh well... keep your eyes peeled, A&A fans!

Okay. Back to the SWAC.

KellyTheLovatic - Hun, if you know me right, Sonny won't be un-sunny for long :P

woho - Thank you!

BeingHannah923 - 'Tis okay! I'll hug Sonny for you! :D *hugs Sonny*

LaLaLaLaLaAlice - Remember how you told me about The Hunger Games a couple of chaps ago? I saw it on Sunday! It was UH-MAY-ZING. Katniss was just awesome - it's nice to see such a great, heroic female character as her! And Peeta was just awesome too. :P

CDCTheRandomWizard23 - No, Chastity doesn't know... yet. ;) The only person who does know is Ferguson... for now, anyway.

Please, guys, remember to review. My review count dropped again last chap. Your reviews always motivate me to write - I love getting feedback, so please! Anons! Members! Just go ahead and review after you've finished reading!

Annoying whine over... enjoy the chap! I don't own SWAC :P


The Double Life of CDC

Chapter 9 - Resentment and Reunions

Chad's POV

Okay… so admittedly, punching Skyler in the face isn't the brightest idea I've ever had.

It started out great. He totally deserved it. I just didn't expect for him to fight back. Which, of course, meant that as a dude, I had to do the same and keep my dignity, especially as the one who kind of started the fight in the first place.

The other thing I didn't realise, was that Condor's gossip magazine he told us was coming to interview us walked in at the exact moment we started full-on fighting, which meant that they caught the whole thing. They got pictures. They got a story. And, obviously, they put said story into their magazine without hesitation.

Which leads us to our lovely situation now – I'm sat in Condor's office, being lectured. Which, in Mr Condor's world, is actually yelling. When is that man not yelling anyway?

Condor throws a magazine in my face, which has the head story as 'Brawl At The Falls' with a none-too-flattering photo of the aftermath of our little showdown. The fight was pretty evenly-matched, I'd say – in the end we both got away with small bruises on our faces, arms, and a few on the chest, before two security guards came and dragged us away from each other.

"Care to explain this?" Condor demands, pointing at the magazine in my lap. He's using his talk-or-I'll-destroy-you voice, causing a lump to develop in my throat, making it very difficult to speak and save my butt. That's okay though, cos Condor goes on talking, or yelling, or whatever you want to call it.

"Chad, what on earth were you thinking? Starting a fight…"

"Well, he started it actually." I say, before regretting it. Condor eyes me speculatively.

"How did he start it?" He asks boredly, "Humour me."

"He punched me."

"You punched him first."

I fold my arms, "'Cause he was being a d-" I stop myself from cussing, "…a jerk."

Condor raises an eyebrow at me, "So you punched him?"

"And then he punched me!" I protest, before returning to my huffy folded-arms position. "Besides, I don't see you lecturing him about all this crap."

Condor's eyes flash, "Because, Mr. Cooper, if I placed you both in the same room at the same time, we'd be looking at a homicide!"

Knowing that there's no way I can come back at that without getting my ass fired, I stay shut up. Mr. Condor paces in front of me for a few seconds, rubbing his forehead like he's treating a headache, before he turns to me and takes the magazine out of my lap.

"This…" He says sternly, pointing at the mag, "This is your first warning. You have two more – then you're out!" My stomach twists. Oops. I forgot about Condor's three chances thing... "Now, get out of my sight! And, be useful for once and send in Skyler for me!"

I leave the room hastily, passing aforementioned jerk-face on the way. He smirks at me.

"Ooh, trouble with the big man, Chad?"

"Shut up." I tell him. "He wants to see you too – so I guess you're in trouble with the 'big man' too."

The smirk is replaced with a scowl and I can't help but grin triumphantly as the door slams behind Skyler and Condor's over-used yelling starts. So Condor seems to be putting Skyler through the same process now… Ha. He deserves it, unlike me, cos I did nothing wrong.

Kinda.

Okay, so, yeah. Maybe punching Sky wasn't the best idea, and now I'm in trouble. Knowing Condor, he'll keep a hawk-eye on me (heh, get it? Hawk? Condor? They're both birds?) for like the rest of my, hmm, life.

Yippee.

Now all I've gotta do is not. Mess. Up. Otherwise, I really will be far too close to Condor's 'fired' line, and he'll hate me with a vengeance for all this bad press. Then, strike three, and I'll be fired. And no Mack Falls job means no excuse to see Sonny, because now that Mack is 'gone', my job at the Falls is the only way I can still see her beautiful face.

Speaking of Sonny…

"Hey."

A shy voice comes up to me, and when I look up from my lap, I see two shining brown eyes staring back at me.

"Hey, Sonny." I breathe. Seeing that girl almost makes all this crap worthwhile. Even though it is kind of because of her that I got in trouble. But hey - I was being heroic and saving the beautiful girl. Is that a crime?

"Hi." Sonny mumbles softly, "Um, can I sit next to you?"

I think my smile gets just a little too wide at this request. "Sure."

"Cool." Sonny sits down beside me, shuffling around, making herself comfortable on the couch outside Condor's office, before I feel her warm hand grab my one and squeeze it tight. And then – then – she embraces me in a hug.

I could almost faint.

"Thank you." She whispers into my ear.

"For what?"

Sonny pauses for a second, probably thinking about what to say, "For yesterday. I mean, I don't approve of violence, but you stood up for me – that was really sweet. And hey, I've never had two guys fight over me before!"

Her precious laugh dances off of her tongue, making the air around us light, bouncy, happy. I try to laugh along with her, but mine sounds pretty much tone-deaf in comparison to her flawless melody.

"Don't mention it." I say. Sonny giggles, before clearing her throat uncomfortably, pulling away from the hug and tugging at her collar on her pink gingham shirt to clear her airway.

"Sorry." She apologises weakly, her eyes glistening just perfectly, "I'm a hugger."

...

C'mon. Seriously. How did someone so perfect end up here? Earth doesn't deserve her. She should be up in Heaven, as an angel. She'd make a pretty good one, for sure. She's so sweet, and kind, and just perfect.

"Not a problem." I say, shrugging. Her gentle giggle lightens the air once again, and she hugs me softly one last time before getting up and skipping (yes, skipping) delicately back towards the set, her hair swinging around her shoulders.

Damn

"Sonny!" I call after her. Sonny whirls around, an innocent, curious look on her face.

"Yeah, Chad?" She asks. I don't know whether this is the best idea or not, but Sonny was so hurt about Mack leaving, and she probably still is. Like it or not, I have to bring him back. I'll find some other way to get Sonny to fall for Chad, and not Mack. Y'know, hopefully.

"Um, I know you miss Mack."

Sonny's face falls. She tries to chase away the sad look with a smile, but it doesn't work. I hate seeing her so crushed. What I'm about to do is for her and only her…

"Yeah…" She breathes, shrugging a little, "I'm… trying to get by."

"Well…" I shuffle my feet against the floor, "What if I told you that I know a way for you to see Mack again?"

Immediately, Sonny's face lights up. Her lower lip begins to quiver. "A-are you serious?" I nod. Delighted, she runs over and hugs me tightly. Ahh…

"Aw, Chad, you're the best!"

Heart, please slow down before you pump your way outta my chest…

Thank you.

Sonny clears her throat again, pulling away from the hug. She takes my hand and skips towards the set, dragging me along with her in her path of perfection…

Sonny's POV

I fiddle with my hair, swallowing the hint of fear in the back of my throat. Nervous, I tap my foot against the grass beneath my feet, tugging at the small heart-shaped pendant attached to the chain around my neck. I pull down my white florally dress, suddenly worrying that my appearance may be a little too… inappropriate for me to be wearing in public, alone, at nine o'clock at night. I look at my watch, getting impatient.

Maybe Chad was just tricking me, saying that if I came here, I'd get to see Mack. Maybe he was just saying that in hope that I'd go and be disappointed. Or get hurt by some freak. Or worse.

I shake my head. No. Chad wouldn't do that. I mean, I don't think he would, but I've been stood here for thirty minutes and I'm waiting out in the cold for a boy who is supposed to have moved to Minnesota. I'm starting to get chilly in my short-sleeved white cardigan, and now that the park is emptying, I'm starting to feel lonely, and kind of scared. I swear, if Chad tries anything…

I suddenly hear a snap. The snapping of a twig. I gulp, wrapping my arms around myself, as if that will make me invisible somehow. I look around, shivering – whether because I'm cold or scared, I'm not entirely certain.

Then, something taps my shoulder. Terrified, I turn around and whack the dark, hooded figure, causing him to moan and yell out several times.

"Don't- you- dare- touch- me!" I scream at him.

"Sonny! Sonny!"

"How do you know my name?" I ask the boy. He chuckles, and I reach for my handbag, stupidly thinking that something in there will fend off this crazed boy. Shame I don't have pepper spray…

"Because…" He takes down his hood and my heart just about skips a beat, "It's me."

My jaw drops open. I lift my hand to trace the boy's face, almost not believing he's there. Which is stupid, because it's only been a couple of days since I last saw him, but I thought I'd never see him again anyway.

"M-Mack?" I stutter out. He nods, grinning at me.

"Yup, Sonny. It's me."

My first reaction for this is complete and utter mind-blowing happiness. I mean, I thought Mack was gone, forever, and that I'd never see him again. But he's here – Chad wasn't lying to me. He really is here.

And then the happiness fades and the anger builds and I whack Mack on the arm, pulling a face at him.

"Ow!" Mack complains, gripping his arm where I hit him. I roll my eyes.

"You're such a wuss." I comment.

"I've been told." He admits gingerly, "Why'd you hit me?"

"Because you…" I yell, waving my arms around, unable to find the right words, "You're… here!"

Mack's eyebrows crease together. "So… you'd rather I just go?"

"No! No, no, no…" I say, grabbing his arm before he leaves again, "I don't want you going anywhere ever again! I thought you were gone forever – why are you back?"

Mack sighs, "Thank Chad." He says after a few seconds of thought, "He knew that I didn't want to leave here – leave you – so he tried to find somewhere for me to stay that my parents would agree to. He didn't have any space at his apartment, but one of his buddies has a spare room that Chad knew about. He asked the guy, and he said yes, and my parents approved 'cos this guy's a nice guy, and, well, here I am."

Unable to hold a grudge anymore, I let myself relax, and smile a little. Mack's back… I should be happy! Heck, I am happy!

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm thankful for Chad." I say, rolling my eyes lightly to the sky. Mack chuckles.

"Yeah… the guy's great." He says, "Awesome, fun, considerate, charming…"

"Whoa, whoa!" I laugh, "Slow down… or do you wanna go date him rather than me?"

Mack blinks, "Date?"

"Is that not what you're here for?"

"Oh, yeah, yeah, of course." Mack smiles shyly. Aw… "Um, Sonny… will you… you know? G-go out, maybe, um, with um… with…"

"You're such a weirdo." I laugh, hugging him tightly, before whispering in his ear, "Yes. I'll go out with you."

"Great!"

Chad's POV

Uh oh.

Okay, so maybe bringing Mack back wasn't my brightest idea ever. Now 'Mack' has a girlfriend – the girl that Chad happens to really, really like. And no, by the way, I'm not jealous, 'cos it's myself.

Duh.

And now I need to find a 'nice guy' to be Mack's room-mate.

Great.

Wait… I've an idea!


"Ferg, buddy!"

My friend opens the door, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Dude, why are you dressed as Mack?"

"I need your help." I say pleadingly, ignoring his question. He exhales boredly.

"What do ya want, man?" He asks, folding his arms and leaning against the doorframe.

"I need 'Mack' to become your room-mate."

Ferg blinks a few times. "…Why?"

"Because I – Mack – told Sonny that he had a room-mate and could stay in Hollywood because of it, and because I'm your amazing friend, you kinda owe me, so please?"

He just gapes at me incredulously, "Enlighten me, Chad… how do I owe you?"

"Just please?"

In the end, Ferguson gives in to my pathetic begging and ranting on about how I'm his best friend and friends help friends out and blah, blah, blah-bitty-blah. I bring Sonny up, who is waiting in my car (I told her that I had to check that Ferg was okay with me bringing her here, and that she'd have to wait in the car while I asked. Really it was just so that I could convince Ferg to go along with my plan which, fortunately, he has).

Then, when Sonny has to leave, she says a friendly goodbye to Ferguson (obviously, she's buying all this 'room-mate' stuff) and I send her down to the car. Before I can follow, though, Ferg pulls me back, raising an eyebrow at me warily.

"I sure hope you know what you're doing, dude." He tells me.

"Don't worry, I've got this." I reply. He winces.

"Just… be careful." He warns me, "If you get caught by someone close to you, or Sonny, or… just, be careful. You don't want Condor to find out about this… your job'll be at stake, man."

"I'll be fine." I say, resisting the urge to roll my eyes, like a teen ignoring advice from a nosy parent. Ferg's a great guy, but he's worrying too much. I got this. I know what I'm doing…

I think.


A/N: Okay. That's that chapter done. So there we go! Manny is official! :D

So, Chad's gettin' himself tangled up in all this, huh? What do you think? Will he get caught? Who will catch him first?

Review to find out! :D

~Amy x