Hey guys! Sorry I haven't updated, I've been so busy the last couple of days. So much Homework! Thanks for all the reviews! Please keep reviewing, they're the only reason I keep writing, and special thanks to those who have reviewed almost every chapter! The feedback is so encouraging! Hope you like the chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot line!

Chapter Twenty-Four

That morning was pretty awkward. I went downstairs to find my mom cooking bacon for breakfast. When I smiled at her quizzically, she motioned for me to sit down.

"Sonny. Look, I know you don't want to, and I don't either, but after work, we need to talk."

"About what?"

"About what we began discussing last night…"

"I can't mom!" I cried, desperately trying to think of an excuse.

"Why not?"

"I'm…sleeping over at someone's house tonight!" I flinched when my voice rose in pitch, as it usually did when I lied.

"Chad's?" she asked, raising her eyebrow.

"No! It's…one of the girls. We haven't really gotten off to a great start, and I was really hoping to use tonight as a chance to bond. It's the only night she can do for weeks!" I crossed my fingers, hoping she would believe me.

"Well, okay. But the next night, definitely. Okay?"

"Sounds great, mom. I've got to go now, mom!" I stood up and walked towards the door.

"Sonny? You have an hour before you need to be at work!"

"We…we need to be in early today!" I said over my shoulder as I walked out the front door.

"Don't you need a lift?"

"Chad's picking me up down the block. Bye, mom!"

Slamming the door a little harder than I had meant to, I jogged down the path. Then I realised, I'd be waiting an hour for Chad! I grabbed my phone out of my coat pocket and dialled his number.

"Hello?" he said groggily.

"Hey, Chad, it's Sonny. Can you come get me? I need a lift."

"What? You're early."

"Trying to avoid a talk with my mother." I rolled my eyes.

"So you told her?"

"Yup. She didn't even care. Well, she asked if we used protection, so I told her yeah."

"How could we forget, right? Awkward much…"

"Just don't mention it. Anyway, I also said I was sleeping over at one of the Falls girls' place tonight, so I could avoid it later."

"But you're not, right?"

"I'd rather explain to my mother, in detail, exactly what happened that night."

"Okay. So, you wanna stay over here?"

"Would you mind?""

"'Course not. But I might have a little difficulty with that lift you just asked for."

"Why?"

"I have a job to do. Remember?"

"Oh, yeah. I can't believe I forgot. I still don't like it!"

"Yeah, Sonshine, I know." He sighed, clearly not wanting to argue with me. So I let it go.

"So, I'm on my own?"

"Nah, Sonshine, I'll come get you."

"Aw, thanks Chaddy!" I smiled.

"You're lucky you're cute."

"Would you still love me if I wasn't cute?"

"What? Why would you ask me that? You aren't planning on getting surgery, right?"

"No! I just wondered…"

"Well, then, of course I'd still love you. You'd still be Sonny."

"Aw, Chad, you're so sweet. Now hurry up and come get me! It's cold."

"Gimme a minute, I'm not even out of bed yet."

"Well, be quick!"

"I will. See you soon."

"Bye."

I hung up the phone and sat down on the curb to wait for Chad. Checking the time, I realised that my mom would be leaving the house right about now, and if she saw I hadn't gone yet, she'd be suspicious. Turning around, I searched frantically for somewhere to hide. When I heard an engine rev from our driveway, dove into the bushes, scratching myself in too many places to count.

I watched as her car drove by, and I saw her nodding her head along with the music on the radio. Smirking, I slowly tried to extricate myself from the bush, but was failing miserably. Ten minutes later, I was crying, my clothes were ripped, and I was even more tangled up than I was in the first place. I jumped when I heard an engine, then relaxed when I realised it was Chad. He pulled up and got out, looking around. I assumed he was looking for me, so I called out to him.

"Chad! I'm over here!"

He looked over in my direction, frowning, obviously confused. Doesn't take a lot to confuse him though, to be fair.

"Sonny?"

"Over here! I'm...erm…in the bush." I mumbled, embarrassed.

He spotted me and smirked, walking over.

"What the fuck are you doing in a bush, Sonshine?"

"Language!" I said automatically.

"Sorry, mom! What the hell are you doing in a bush?"

"Well, it's complicated. I was hiding from my mom, and I got stuck. Help me!"

"So, you didn't think to hide behind the wall?" he said, pointing to the wall separating our neighbour's garden from the street.

"That's someone's garden." I said.

"So?" he frowned, and I would have hit him if I hadn't been busy trying to get out of the bush.

"I can't go in somebody's garden! That's trespassing!"

"Nobody's home." He shrugged.

"So? I would have known I had done it, and I would have felt guilty for ages!"

"Sonny, would you really rather get stuck in a bush than go into someone else's garden for twenty seconds?" he raised his eyebrows, and I had to admit he had a point.

"Well, I never thought I would get stuck in the flipping bush!"

"Calm down, Sonshine. Here, gimme your hand, I'll pull you out."

"I would, but it's stuck."

"Helpful." He groaned sarcastically.

"Can't you grab me and just pull me out?"

"It's gonna be awkward. But I can try." He said, slipping his hands under my arms and trying to pull me upwards. He managed to drag me about half way out before I slid free quickly and we went flying. He landed on the ground and I ended up on top of him. Smirking, he whispered in my ear.

"So, did you enjoy the other night so much you're willing to do it again on the street? Man, I must be good!"

"Chad! You're the one that fell. I guess you just like the feeling of me on top of you."

"I'm not going to deny that…" he raised his eyebrows suggestively, and I smacked his arm, rolling off him.

"C'mon, let's go to work."

"You aren't really considering going to work like that, are you?"

I looked at him questioningly, and he looked pointedly at my body, which was now quite visible in various places due to the amount of holes in my clothes.

"Whoops! Good thing I'm close to home!" I giggled, turning to hide my blush as I tried to hold my clothes together in a way that hid most of my body.

Walking back towards the front door, I reached under the welcome mat for the spare key. It wasn't there. Then I remembered where it was; the key bowl by the door. Inside. I'd used it not long ago and never put it back.

"Erm, Chad?" I looked at him nervously.

"Yeah?"

"I can't get in."

"Well, then, you can't go to work."

"I could go in and get some clothes from my dressing room…"

"Nuh-uh. You're not going anywhere in that, even if you are just running in to get changed. You can come to mine and see if I have anything that will fit you. Or my aunt."

"Sounds good. But we'll have to be quick, I don't want to be late."

"You won't. Plus, I need to get back soon. Teddy said the guy would be there with the things," he checked his watch, and grimaced, "five minutes ago. Shit, he's going to kill me!"

"Language." I murmured, but shot him an apologetic look when he glared at me.

"Can we go now? The later I am, the angrier he'll be. With any luck, he'll be late. They usually are…"

"C'mon, Chad, what are we waiting for?" I jumped down the steps and ran towards the car, smiling when I heard him chuckle and follow me.

We jumped in the car and started driving home. He was putting on a brave face, but I could tell he was worried. Grabbing his hand, I smiled as he visibly relaxed. I hoped that me being there would stop them from overreacting this time too, but somehow I doubted it…