21

Chad Dylan Cooper was slumped in his leather recliner. His eyes stung and he could tell they were swelling. His nose and cheeks were red with distraught and for once in his short life, he didn't care how terrible he appeared. There was only one thing on his mind and that one, single thing was Sonny Munroe.

He knew it would be difficult to make things work but she had seemed to just give up so easily. But then again, she had lost her friends and her job…Chad couldn't help but try to understand how terrible she must have felt today. He didn't want her to suffer, he didn't want her to lose her friends all because of him. Was he really worth all this trouble?

He had known Sonny for about a year and had been everything but nice to her. He had been cruel and deceiving and hurtful while she only wanted to be friends. Chad did like her, that was clear from the whole vacation and kiss caught on camera. But did she really deserve him or did she deserve something more, something better? He sure wasn't worth all the pain she had been put through that day.

As Chad was thinking things over, the door of the lounge flew open and stormed a very blonde, very angry tornado. She marched up to him and crossed her arms over her chest.

"What are you doing here?" Chad asked, his voice worn down and tired, defeated, "You're banned."

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Tawni demanded.

"What are you talking about?"

"I am talking about you sitting on your lazy butt instead of out there trying to win her back!" Tawni shouted as if Chad Dylan Cooper was the densest person in the world – and at the moment, he was.

"You want me to try and win her back?" Chad asked, his brow furrowing with perplexity, "You, the one who made her quit her job, you, the one who made her miserable, you, the one who didn't want us together in the first place?"

"Yes," Tawni shooed him over with her hand and sat down next to him on the huge chair. Chad quickly moved away from her presence and scooted as far away from her as he could without falling out of the chair.

"Why?"

"Because she is miserable, Chad Dylan Cooper! I don't always like Sonny but I am her friend. I don't like seeing her mope around the dressing room like some kicked puppy. Besides, she's totally running her makeup from all that crying and the sight of her is just simply horrendous!"

"You're too kind," Chad's voice was clipped.

"I just don't like seeing her so miserable and knowing you're the one to blame. She didn't want to break up with you, Cooper. I was terrible to her and I don't have any excuse for the way I acted. I feel horrible for breaking you up and I want you to get back together!"

"You can't always get what you want," Chad told her, "Besides, I don't know if I even want to get back together with her."

"What?" Tawni gasped.

"I am not worth this, Tammy…."

"Tawni, but continue."

"Tawni," Chad corrected, "I mean, she lost all of her friends and her job because of me. I have been awful to her over this past year and I just don't think I am worth this. She needs someone better than me."

"Are you kidding me?" Tawni's shrill laugh caused Chad's ears to pulse, "She's in love with you, Cooper!"

"What?"

"She's in love with you, or at least something close to love. All I know is she is crazy for you and has been sitting around miserable. Of course you're worth it! I mean, with all the crying and ruined makeup and soggy Kleenexes, there must be something she sees in you that's worth all of it."

"You think?" Chad asked, raising a hopeful eyebrow.

"Yes," Tawni nodded truthfully.

"I just have one question," Chad began, "If you are so concerned about us getting back together, why did you want to try and break us up?"

"I was hoping you wouldn't ask that," Tawni blushed and began to play with her perfectly manicured nails, "The thing is, do you remember the premiere of How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days?"

"Yeah," Chad nodded.

"Well…I was there too. I wasn't a big name actress or anything like that at the time but I did some small parts. Anyways, I saw you standing there and I went over and asked you to sign an autograph for me and you did. I've kept it still. Well, ever since, I've kind of had a crush on you…totally weird huh?" Tawni smiled awkwardly.

"I'm flattered," Chad smiled at the girl, "Really. So you were just…"

"Jealous," Tawni finished for him, "I am so sorry I screwed everything up."

"Yeah well, what's done is done," Chad bit his lower lip and thought for a second, "So you think she'd be willing to take me back?"

"In a heartbeat," Tawni grinned, "So what are you just sitting here for! Go get her back, Cooper!"

Chad stood up from the chair and brushed the wrinkles from his jacket, "How do I look?"

"You're Chad Dylan Cooper," Tawni replied, "You look perfect."

"Thanks, Tawni, for everything."

"Blah, blah, blah, you're welcome – now go!"

Chad couldn't help but laugh as he made his way out of the lounge. So Tawni liked him? That was strange but he was glad she had said something and he was glad that Sonny wanted him back. The thought of her crying and moping killed him. He had to do something, he had to win her back.

Sonny was sitting on the red, leather couch when someone knocked on the door. She wiped a tear from her cheek and called for whoever it was to come in. Thinking it would be Nico or Grady or even Marshall, she was surprised to see Chad standing there with a bunch of roses in his hand and a dopy grin plastered on his face.

"Chad?" Sonny asked in shock.

"What will it take, Munroe?" Chad asked, "Anything you ask, I'll do it. Just tell me what it will take for me to win you back and I'll do it in a heartbeat."