Chapter Eight

The next two and a half weeks passed pretty quickly. I argued with Chad a lot, but at least he wasn't intentionally mean to me. My mom managed to catch up with Mackenzie Falls, and she was really looking forward to the new episode. Four days before the episode was due to air, we had one scene left to film. The last scene, the scene that I had done my best to avoid in rehearsals. Where Chad, as Mackenzie, has to kiss me, as Isabella.

Walking onto set that day, I felt someone staring at me. Looking around, I spotted Chad, and waved. He smiled shortly, and then beckoned for me to go over.

"Hey Chad. What's up?" I asked. He looked worried about something.

"We have to film the kiss scene today. I don't want things to be awkward between us, so do you think you would rather change the script so that we don't kiss, because Penelope walks in or something?"

"Nah, it'll be fine. We're going to have to do it at some point anyway, we might as well get it over with. Don't worry, it won't be awkward. You're my friend. It'll be like kissing my brother."

"You have a brother?"

"Nope." I smiled widely.

"Oh. Anyway, I would be your very hot older brother that all your friends liked, right?"

"Sure Chad, whatever helps you sleep at night."

"Thanks. Means a lot to me." He murmured sarcastically.

"Watch the sarcasm. Complexion, remember?"

"Ha ha, very funny. Speaking of friends, are yours looking forward to your TV debut?"

"Well, actually, I haven't told anyone."

"Why not?"

"Because, most of my friends are blabbermouths, so it would probably end up in a magazine. Plus, most of them wouldn't believe me. Remember when you locked me in your dressing room?"

"Yeah."

"Well, Lucy texted me. I told her I was locked in Chad Dylan Cooper's dressing room, and she said 'yeah, right. Next you'll be telling me you're on Mackenzie Falls.' I thought I'd surprise her. And when they all see my face on the screen, they can't exactly say that I was lying, can they?"

"I guess, but I can't believe you've kept it a secret. I don't think I could have."

"Yeah, well, that's why I have so many friends. I'm great at keeping secrets."

"Can you keep one of mine?"

"Sure. What?"

"I think," he leant down to whisper in my ear, "I'm looking forward to our kiss scene later. And I think you are too."

"Maybe," I laughed, blushing bright red, "deep down. Way, way deep down."

"Aw, c'mon Munroe. Admit it. You can't wait to kiss me."

"Well, I guess I'm not dreading it as much as I thought I would. But I'm not exactly happy about it."

"Sure you are." He said, smirking.

"No, I'm not."

"Yeah, you are."

"No, I'm not!"

"Yeah you are!"

"No I'm not!"

"Yeah, you are!"

"No!"

"Yeah!"

"No!"

"Yeah!"

"Yeah!"

"No! Wait-"

"Ha! Tricked you."

"Touché, Munroe."

"I'm going to get ready for filming."

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Good."

"Good."

"So, are we good?"

"Oh, we are so good." I smiled and left for my dressing room.

"Mackenzie, Chloe loves you. I can't do this to her!" I said dramatically, careful not to over-act.

"Yes you can. She'll never find out." Replied Chad, walking towards me. I walked backwards, until I was against the wall.

"What if she does? She'll never forgive me!"

"Me and her were never an item, Isabella. We've never even kissed."

"She still loves you, and she knows that I know that she loves you."

"So? Look, I like Chloe. But I like you more. A lot more. I just get this, this feeling, when I'm around you, and I just really want to kiss you."

"But-"

"Shhh," he said, putting his finger to my lips, like he did in rehearsal, "the time for talking is over."

He smiled. He did that in rehearsal too. He leant in. He did that in rehearsal too. Then he kissed me. He definitely did not do that in rehearsal. It was just a quick kiss, only lasting a few seconds at the most, before the director yelled 'cut' and he pulled away, smirking. But it was the best kiss I had ever had.

"So, Sonny. Did you like it?"

"It was okay." It was magical.

"Really, Sonny, really?"

"Yes, Chad, really."

"Whatever you say, Sonshine."

"Sonshine? Really, Chad, really?"

"Can't friends give other friends nicknames?"

"Well, I guess, but 'Sonshine'? How cheesy can you get?"

"Oh, trust me, I could get much cheesier."

"I guess. Anyway, we're done filming. My first episode, done! This is so much easier than I imagined!"

"Yeah, but Sonny, you had three weeks to rehearse and film this episode. From now on, you'll only have a week."

"Oh, I'm sure I'll manage."

"Well, if you ever need any help, come to me."

"I will. If everyone else is busy." I joked, laughing.

"Fine, you do that!"

"Fine, I will!"

"Good!"

"Good!"

"So, are we good?"

"Oh, we are so good." Then I did something I never thought I would have done. I leant forward and kissed him on the cheek.

"Wh-wh-what was th-that for?" he asked, shocked.

"What? Can't friends kiss friends on the cheek?"

"I guess."

"Great. I have to go, my mom wanted me to call her when I finished filming."

"Okay. See you later."

"Bye Chad."

He walked off, across set, still looking bemused. Shaking my head slightly, I turned, only to come face-to-face with Marta.

"Hey, Marta. You okay?"

"Hands off my boyfriend, bitch." I flinched.

"What? I never touched your boyfriend!"

"Erm, actually, you just did. I saw you."

"What? Oh, you mean Chad? I didn't realise you two were dating!"

"Well, we're not exactly 'exclusive' yet, but still. Hands off, he's mine!"

"Hey, calm down, we only kissed because of the Falls. It was scripted, you know that."

"You kissed him again."

"Yeah, on the cheek. He's my friend, I've kissed friends on the cheek before."

"Have you kissed guy-friends on the cheek before?"

"Yeah, actually, all the time. Ask anyone."

"Okay, I believe you. But you better watch out Munroe. Don't even think about making a move on him."

"Trust me, I wasn't."

"You'd better mean it." And with a toss of her hair, she was gone. Weird, I thought, why would she think I would make a move on Chad?

The answer to my question was right in front of me, but I was too blind, or stubborn, to realise.

I went back to my dressing room, to find Anna sat up against the wall, playing on her phone.

"Hey Anna!" I said.

"Hey Sonny. I was just waiting for you. I have something to tell you."

"Okay, sure," I said, unlocking the door and stepping inside, "are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just that Stan and I used to date, but we broke up, like I told you. Only, I lied about the whole 'no sparks' thing."

"Really? Then why did you break up?"

"There was am incident."

"Anna, I can't help you if you don't tell me what happened."

"I guess…okay. I caught him cheating on me."

"What?"

"Yeah, I walked in on him making out with this girl when I decided to surprise him at work one day. So, I dumped his ass."

"Good for you. So, why were you making out with him a few weeks ago?"

"I don't know, I mean, we passed in the corridor, and we said 'hi' to each other, and then he randomly blurted out 'I'm so sorry, Anna', and I said 'I forgave you a long time ago, Stan. I want us to be friends', and he said okay, then he hugged me, and all of a sudden, we were kissing. Then you walked in."

"Okay. So, what did you want to ask me about?"

"Well, nothing's happened since then. I mean, we've talked, but nothing more. And then yesterday, he came up to me and asked me to give him another chance. And I know I forgave him and everything, but I'm not sure. I still really like him, but what if he does it again? I don't want to have my heart broken like that again, Sonny!"

"Calm down, Anna," I said, "don't get upset about it. Look, you have to follow your heart, okay? I know that your head is telling you that he isn't worth the pain, but does your heart agree? Do you really want to go through life wondering 'what if'?"

"You know what? I don't. Thanks Sonny, you rock!" she said, standing up from where she was sat on the couch and hugging me.

"Glad I could help."

"Oh, and Sonny?" she said from the doorway.

"Yeah?"

"I think you should try taking your own advice. Follow your heart."

"What do you-" I started to say, but she was already gone.