Author's Note: First off, I am SO sorry for not updating in like, forever! D: Schoolwork just got a little crazy... Dx And I probably won't reply to your reviews for each chapter like I used to... If you ask a quesiton then I might PM you the answer, but I just don't have the time to reply to everyone, sorry. :( Anyways, this is not my favorite chapter, but it's necessary to the plot. So you'll just have to bear with me. :)
So... here's chapter 10! :)
Chapter 10: Unexpected Invitation
(Chad)
I looked at the woman standing in my room. She was about middle-aged - mid forties maybe. I didn't know her, and she wasn't wearing a lab coat, so she wasn't a doctor or anything. Who was she?
Sonny spun around, and, upon seeing who was standing there, squeaked, "Mom!"
Mom? So this is Sonny's mother? Upon closer inspection, I began to notice the similarities between them: the same dark, wavy hair, the same chocolate brown eyes, the same smile, even the same faded blue jeans.
"Allison, when I said that you should sing for him, I didn't think you'd actually do it!" said Mrs. Munroe, smiling from ear to ear. Why is she so happy? All that Sonny did was sing for me... No big deal, right?
"Well..." Sonny said hesitantly, obviously trying to think of something to say, "Ummm... You see –"
"I don't really care what made you do it, Sonny! I'm just glad you finally got over your fear!" interrupted Mrs. Munroe. Wait... fear? What fear?
"What fear?" I asked, silently cursing myself for not keeping my mouth shut once I noticed how embarrassed Sonny became.
"Well... Umm... Chad, you see... I've... Umm... Never actually sung for anyone else before," she mumbled, and I was shocked. She's never sung for anyone before? Then, another thought hit me: Why'd she choose to sing to me then? What was different about me that made her comfortable enough to sing to me? It couldn't possibly be... No, that's not possible. She couldn't possibly... Like me...
Could she?
My heart fluttered at this possibility. Not that I liked Sonny or anything! Umm... Ok... Maybe I liked her a little bit. Not that that mattered. She was a Random, and I was Chad Dylan Cooper, star of the number one tween drama Mackenzie Falls. But... She was also the girl who's saved my life twice, and the only one to come and visit me here in the hospital... NO! I ordered myself. It can never happen! Stop thinking about Sonny like that! Come to think of it, she probably only sang for me because I annoyed her by saying that she was scared. She just did it to prove a point. Nothing more. Nothing more...
I was brought back into reality by a delicious smell. I realized that Sonny's mother had handed her a paper bag, and Sonny had opened it, unleashing the intoxicating smell of fast food. My mouth began to water as Sonny spread the contents of the bag onto a nearby table and started to eat some French Fries.
She glanced over at me and, most likely noticing the look on my face, picked up a fry and held it out to me.
"Sorry Chad," she said sheepishly, "Would you like one?"
I began to reach for it, but was interrupted by someone clearing their throat. I looked up to see a man in a lab coat standing next to Mrs. Munroe. I hadn't even heard him come in. I must have been too distracted by my thoughts and the delicious food in front of me to notice it. Based on the fact that he was wearing a lab coat, I assumed he was the doctor.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Mr. Cooper," he said, giving me a stern look.
"But I'm hungry," I complained.
"You may be hungry now," he stated, "but once that medication wears off you will definitely be regretting eating all that greasy food."
I looked down at my hands and sighed, knowing he was right. This sense of health was merely an allusion. Once I got out of here I would feel God-awful, and probably upchuck anything that I had eaten, especially if it was fast food like McDonald's.
"The medicine will run out in approximately 30 minutes," the man continued, "and after that it will take about 45 minutes to begin to get out if your system. Unfortunately, it also means that you will feel worse before you start to feel better. And, because you won't be in any real danger, we will have to discharge you. The hospital is very busy right now, and we'd like to give your bed to someone who really needs it as soon as possible."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The hospital was kicking me, Chad Dylan Cooper, out? "I-I umm... I umm..." was all that came out of my mouth.
"If you like, we could get you a phone to call your parents and tell them where you are. We would have done it sooner but we couldn't find their phone numbers anywhere," the doctor informed me.
I looked around at Sonny and her mom standing there. I didn't want to say this out loud with them there, but this doctor guy wanted answers and to be honest he kind of scared me a little. Now, Chad Dylan Cooper does NOT get intimidated by others, but occasionally Chad does.
I sighed, and, after mentally preparing myself for what I was about to reveal, said quietly, "You couldn't get in touch with them because that's not possible right now. At this moment, my mother is somewhere in the middle of Africa. Bottom line: No phone service." I saw Sonny's eyebrows shoot up out of the corner of my eyes, and I inwardly groaned, knowing that at some point she was going to make me talk about this in greater detail, which I would prefer not to do.
The doctor just nodded, obviously trying to mask his surprise as well. "And your father?" was all that he managed to say.
I fidgeted in my bed and looked at a random spot on the wall. This was the hardest fact to say out loud, but I finally got the courage to say, trying my best to keep my voice even, "I haven't spoken to my father in years." There it was... Out in the open. I flinched when I heard a small gasp, presumably coming from Sonny.
"Oh," was the doctor's response. "And when did you say your mother will return?" I hadn't said anything about that, actually. But I just shrugged it off. I had more important things to worry about.
I cleared my throat. "Two or three weeks," I said quietly. I saw Sonny's eyes fill with pity, and that just made me angry. I didn't need her sympathy and I didn't want it either. "But that's ok. I'm old enough to stay by myself," I added that little bit just because I wanted that look of hers to go away so I wouldn't have to see it anymore.
I looked at the doctor with pleading eyes, silently begging him to agree with me and just let me go home - back to the life where I was Chad Dylan Cooper, the guy that people envied, not felt sorry for. But unfortunately, he stared right back at me and said, "Absolutely not. There is no way that you will be able to survive on your own. You'll barely have the strength to stand up, never mind to take care of yourself. I'm sorry Mr. Cooper, but I just cannot allow it."
I slumped my shoulders, defeated. There goes that idea.
"Well, what do I do now?" I asked the doctor, and then scolded myself. I sounded like a scared little kid. I mean, I was terrified, but I wasn't planning on letting it show!
Suddenly, Sonny blurted out something that I never could have anticipated in a million years: "He could stay with us!"
My mouth dropped open and I could only stare.
Author's Note: TA-DA! Yeah, I know. Not the most exciting chapter. But like I said, it was necessary. =_="
I'm assuming you all can see where this story is headed now, right? ;P
So yeah, ummm... let's make it something easy... how about 105 reviews? I'll be amazed if I get that many... most of you probably gave up on me a while ago. Dx
BUT I'M BACK, BABY! ;D
I'll try to start updating regularly again. :)
Read and Review Please! :D
~ Servy )