A/N Hey guys :) I'm sorry for updating! I was up to my eyes in coursework and exam stress... my I had to do a practical for Home Economics today (which I burned) AND hand in the coursework. Ugh. Sorry for not replying to reviews... every time I try, it keeps telling me I can't and I'm using an 'outdated link' or something... What the flip? xD Lol, anyways. This chapter'll be centred on the day after the date, obviously, and the competition :) you didn't forget about the singing competition did you? Haaa...

Disclaimer; I do not own Sonny with a Chance or any songs I may or may not mention in this chapter ;)

Chapter 25

The Side Affects

SPOV

I rolled over and stretched my arms, mumbling slightly. I was still blissfully happy from the end of my date last night; despite the Chad and Tawni interruption (I was going to write Ch – awni but my fingers refuse to put those letters together as one word) I smiled at my black, glittery alarm clock- out of place as it seemed in my purple and white room, I loved it. I glared when I saw the time- I needed to get up now. I rolled back over onto my face, clutching my blanked to my chest and groaning into my pillow. (Monday morning feeling xD)

After a few minutes of totally failing to get up, my door banged open and I grunted, not rolling over. I heard my mom walk into the room.

"Sonny?" She whispered, then huffed when I didn't respond.

"SONNY MUNROE! GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF BED!" I groaned, and she threw a cushion from the living room couch at me. "Now!" She yelled, stalking back out of the room. I rolled back onto my side and peeked at my clock. Ugh. I needed to get up now or I'd be late. I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the bed and stretched my arms and legs out before finally standing up. Mom knocked on my door again.

"Don't make me ask you again!" She shouted through the door.

"I'm up!" I grumped.

I started to make my way across the room, then got distracted by the distinctive moo of my phone that indicated I had a message. I walked slowly, my nose stuck in my phone

From: Chad :)

To: Sonnnnaaayyy :D

Mornin' sunshine :D

(My guy best friend totally sent me that exact message once xD)

From: Sonnnnaaayyy :D

To: Chad :)

Morning! I'm just out of bed. Ugh. MORNINGS.

From: Chad :)

To: Sonnnnaaayyy :D

Lol. U never were a morning person. I'm used to it... and I use the chance to wake up my sisters xD

To: Chad :)

From: Sonnnnaaayyy :D

Ur an idiot and an annoying one, while ur at it, boy

From: Chad :)

To: Sonnnnaaayyy :D

Eh, you love me anyway ;)

To: Chad :)

From: Sonnnnaaayyy :D

True, true :) gotta go, text u later! x

I checked the time again, man! Fifteen minutes had passed and I was still munching my cereal (by the way, I HEART cereal) "Crap!" I mumbled, standing up quickly and throwing my bowl in the sink. "Sorry, Mom..." I muttered, running into my bedroom, grabbing clean clothes, and then into the bathroom.

About half an hour later, I was nearly ready to go- I was just putting the finishing touches on the braid in my hair. I slid a few bracelets on, and looked myself over in the mirror. Ever since my thirteenth birthday, I'd started to get very tomboy-ish- playing guitar, very little make up (when I'd actually started wearing make up), wearing jeans and Converse, occasionally dresses, and never, ever, EVER dresses. Skateboarding had always been something I'd enjoyed, so I never really felt comfortable wearing a skirt out anyway. Even with Josh, the most I'd done was wear vest tops. Now, I wanted to look good for James, but I was wearing skinny jeans, a thin vest top and a denim jacket, with light blue Converse. I suited it- so what was the point in going dressier? I'd be in and out of costume all day anyway.

With all this in mind, I ran down the stairs- I was running late, and no way could I risk being tardy after the escapade yesterday. After nearly breaking the speed limit, I got into rehearsal just in time. Everyone smiled and said their little 'good mornings', and rehearsal went on.

CDC~SM~CDC~SM~CDC

CPOV

I chuckled at Sonny's last message, then Chasity shoved her head through the door.

"Rehearsal time, Chad! Seriously, if you're late again, Kat's gonna go ballistic, so I wouldn't advise it." And with that, she ducked out. Man, sometimes, that girl actually makes sense.

I actually was on time. Kat grinned at me as I took my stance in the library set, with Marta opposite me.

"And... action!" Kat called. I clasped my hands behind my back, and slipped into Mackenzie.

"Penelope, I can't do this anymore..." I said dramatically, looking at the floor (and to the left, of course)

"Why not, Mackenzie?" She asked, putting her hand on my arm. Despite its teen audience, the Falls is one of the most innocent, clean programmes around. Seriously, I think Spongebob has more, ahem, themes than we do.

Not that I'm complaining. My mom would kill me.

I finished the scence, fighting the desire to yawn. Oh, look, Mackenzie changed his mind about dating Penelope again. Who will he go to now? Chloe or Portlyn? How will we survive the wait? Man, even I think my show is overrated... not that I'd ever admit that. After shooting a few scenes (note; it is now Saturday. Both MF and SR will be rehearsing, only MF shooting.) I wandered around the set, then slowed down as I spied James. I fought back a grimace as I noticed what he was doing; arranging flowers. And as I got closer, I could hear him practising to ask Tawni out in the mirror. Pathetic.

I glared at his back, furious that he was going to go through with breaking my best friend. And the only thing I could do was pick up the pieces.

I shook my head, then walked on. I noticed the extra's room, and decided to check on Hayley. I considered knocking, but what would be the point? I threw the door open.

A gaggle of nervous looking teens stared at me. They were all fairly young; I remembered that they'd been hired to be the younger students in the school in Mackenzie Falls (what? You didn't think there was a reason we all walk around in uniform?) I quickly spotted my sibling's blonde hair, in the middle of all the others. Well, now was time to insert my brotherly presence. Plus, I needed to know where my slime-ball of a step-father was. I slung my arm around her shoulders.

"What's up, Hayles?" I asked cheerfully. She rolled her eyes, but didn't shrug me off.

"What do you need, Chad?" I played the innocent act. Just like when she was starting middle school...

"What, a guy can't come visit his little sis?" I asked. The group of extras she'd been talking to looked surprised. Yes, she's my sister. Yes, Chad Dylan Cooper isn't a bullying brother. I'm a good brother.

"Not when he's at work, he can't. What is it?"

"'Kay, caught me. First, what's Charles at today?" I lowered my voice so that no one would overhear us. She winced.

"Well... Dad's at work today." She said quietly. I stiffened and turned her to face me fully.

"Hayles, that guy is not our father. Our dad isn't even our dad, not anymore. We don't have a dad!" I snapped. "The closest I've ever had to a father is Uncle Damon." I said firmly, then dropped my voice. "And he's gone now..." (If I ever named Sonny's dad something else, I'm changing it now. Sorry.) She forced a smile.

"Well, he's at work all day. I think he's going out tonight though." I tensed.

"Well, if he's in a state, I want you to get out, alright? Stay at a friend's place or something. I'm sick of him." She nodded slowly.

"Me too." People were starting to look at us strangely, and I realized they must be curious as to what we were talking so secretively about. I raised my voice slightly.

"Oh, and Mom said I had to give you pocket money, Hayley. Hold on..." She playfully made a show of tapping her foot while I pulled my wallet out, then yanked a couple of twenties out. I shoved them in her hand.

"There, knock yourself out." I said nicely.

"Thanks, bro!"

"You're welcome. I have to go shoot. See ya later, sis!" I kissed her forehead quickly before heading back to the main rehearsal room. Everyone else looked stunned. Except, that is, for Hayley. Yeah, I'm a family guy. I kiss my sisters and hug my mom, look out for my sisters and call my mom. So what?

"Oh, there you are Chad. Come on, I want to get this scene done before lunch."

"Sorry, Kat, I had to give my sister some money. I think Charles refused... again." I muttered the last part, and Kat offered a sympathetic smile. I grimaced at her then walked onto set.

"Right, so from the scene when James asks out Chasity, then!" Katrina announced. I stiffened. Me and James doing a scene together? Since when? The only non-main character in this scene was the bad boy who robs a bank... Ugh, James plays a cool character? A character I have to interact with? Kill. Me. Now.

I grimaced as Kat called action.

I stood before Chasity, as she became Chloe and I became Mackenzie. I talked to her quietly, not really saying anything; we knew the camera's focus was on James, walking up behind her, not our dialogue.

"Hey, Chloe!" James made his (character's) presence noticed.

"Oh, hello, James." Chloe said, smiling shyly. I frowned, just as the script directed. I had to act like I disapproved of his presence, which wasn't hard. He took her hand, and started some speech about wanting to go out with her. Now I had to look all anguished as he asked out my supposedly secret girlfriend. Mack's big decision. Ugh.

I made it through the rest of rehearsal without punching James in the face, which was a relief; as much as I would've enjoyed it, I didn't need another beating after the two- I mean, the one fight I got into yesterday. (Ohhh, what's he hiding? ;D)

Kat called lunch and I walked slowly to the cafeteria. I sat down with the rest of my cast. After a few minutes of me totally not paying attention, and wincing when loud, fake giggles from the girls interupted my thoughts, I'd had enough. I stood up.

"I'm going for a walk." I announced. Marta tried to make me stay, but I ignored her advances. I walked out, barely noticing as I passed the So Random cast. A little bit later, I suddenly registered the fact that I'd seen them- with Sonny leading them- going where James was.

"Crap!" I swore out loud. James and Sonny and Tawni? I knew James was planning on asking Tawni out today; was he going to do it blatantly in Sonny's face?

Oh, dear gosh...

The worry gnawed at my stomach. But I couldn't go back in there- it'd look too suspicious. I'd wait til I heard a frantic Random. Sigh. What kind of useless best friend was I?

All too quickly, lunch was over. I couldn't tell from James whether he'd asked Tawni out or not, short of actually asking him, which I stubbornly refused to do. And through the next few hours of rehearsal, I didn't dare wonder how my girl was doing.

CDC~SM~CDC~SM~CDC

Coming into lunch, we passed a spaced Chad in the hall. He didn't even notice us, not even to insult my cast or 'fight' with me. I guessed he was stressed about something... probably not anything I could help.

We sat down at our usual table. I got distracted as I saw James get up from the Mack Falls table to get fro-yo. I sighed contentedly, and Tawni sent me a worried look. James approached our table, and I squealed inside. I sat up slightly.

But weirdly, he didn't look at me.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" He asked... Tawni? He looked at ease, hands in pockets. I shrugged mentally. He was probably just going to grill her about interrupting our date last night. Oh, that must've been why Chad was so distracted! I was well aware he didn't like that I'd gone out with James, and James must have given him a grilling during their rehearsal earlier. Yeah, that was obviously it!

I smiled down at the lunch my mom had made me. She'd finally accepted that the I wasn't exaggerating about the cafeteria food when I showed her a video of our dinner races we'd had last week... watching to see whose food crawled off the plate first. We were bored, okay?

Tawni came back in a few minutes later, looking peeved. Haha, she never does like getting told off. She gave me a funny look when she saw me smiling.

"What?" I asked innocently.

"Nothing..." She mumbled, shaking her head. She gave me a worried glance every few minutes during lunch, but I ignored them. She didn't like James. So what? I was going out with him, not her.

We headed back to rehearsal, and it passed quickly. Tawni and I walked back to our dressing room together. I gasped as I saw a gorgeous bunch of flowers sitting on the little table.

"Wow, they're beautiful!" I gasped. Tawni looked awed, too.

"You wanna look at the label, or can I?" Whenever flowers were here, they were normally for Tawni, but we took it in turns checking the label just to see.

"It's your turn!" Tawni said, smiling and sitting at her vanity. I skipped over to the table. I pulled the little note out of the flowers.

"Dear Tawni..." I read out. "Aw, who's got their eye on you now, Tawn?" I gushed. She rolled her eyes.

"Just read the note, Allison!" She said.

"Alright, alright..." I cleared my throat. "'Dear Tawni. It was really nice seeing you. I didn't realize how much I missed you so... I want you to give us another chance. Please, think about it? Go out with me? Yours, James.' Awww, and it has little kisses on it!" I gushed, then stopped suddenly, the blood draining from my face.

"Wait, James? James who?" I exclaimed, shocked.

Tawni threw herself across the room to see the note, looking even more shocked than I felt. She snatched the note out of my hands, then took a deep breath and faced me.

"Well," She said in a falsely cheerful tone. I knew her well enough to see she was faking. "I only know one James, so I'm assuming from the name, and the easily recognisable handwriting, James Conroy!" She said, all the sweetness gone from her tone by the end. I sat totally still, shocked. James had been playing me all along!

I couldn't believe it. Tawni had tried to warn me. Chad had tried to warn me. But I'd been so stupid and stubborn and idiotic, and I'd fallen for it! I couldn't believe it. I was crushed. I felt humiliated and belittled as I imagined James laughing at the thought of me.

"Allie?" Tawni asked gently, touching my shoulder. I whirled, suddenly furious at her. She was the one he was blatantly going out with in front of me. She'd probably known!

"Leave me alone!" I spat. She looked hurt. "Stupid boy stealer! Get out!" Still looking hurt, she picked herself up and left. I slammed the door after her, then threw a cushion across the room, where it fell to the floor with a pathetic thump.

"Ugh!" I yelled in frustration. I felt so pathetic. I crossed the room and lifted the flowers, deeply sniffing their sweet, floral smell, before screaming and throwing them on the ground, then kicking them into a messy disarray. I growled wordlessly at them, then burst into tears. Within seconds, I was rocking myself on the floor, my arms wrapped tightly around my chest. I was so wired and irritated that I couldn't stay though; I rocketed to my feet and staggered around the room, angry tears of humiliation pouring down my face.

"She's in here..." I was distantly aware of someone saying. I turned to see Tawni, Nico and Grady come into the room.

"Allie? You alright?" Grady asked tentatively. I stared at them for a few seconds, before slowly picky up a small bottle of cheap perfume. They stared at me, puzzled. I drew my arm back slowly, then threw the bottle at them with all the strength I could produce. The bottle smashed against the wall, sprinkling perfume and glass on the floor and knocking a few of Tawni's pictures of herself to the ground.

"Get lost!" I yelled.

"Taking that as a no then..." Nico said, and they backed out slowly, then ran. Over the next hour, they kept coming in, I kept screaming, and I refused to calm down.

CDC~SM~CDC~SM~CDC

CPOV

After rehearsal, I was passing the So Random set. I was nearly all the way past when I heard a familiar scream of fury. Sonny. Whoa, how had the Randoms managed to tick her off so badly? Had she found out the truth about James? I was guessing it was the latter. Without deciding it, I found my feet taking me in the direction of Sonny's dressing room.

The Randoms (apart from Sonny) were standing outside Tawni's door into their dressing room. I could hear the sobs- and occasional screams- of my best friend coming from inside. The Randoms were all eyeing the door uneasily.

"It's your turn," Tawni was saying to the little, sneaky one in a persuasive tone.

"No! It's... uh... Grady's!" Zora yelled back. Huh. Sneaky little girl was scared? What were they talking about? I watched as they argued, and Zora eventually gave in. She took a deep breath and walked through the door of the dressing room. She said something to Sonny, but all I could hear of her reply was a scream and a smashing noise. I could only guess she'd thrown something. Zora came back out.

"Now it's Grady's turn!" She said, hiding behind Tawni. As the blonde boy stepped towards the door, I realized they were taking it in turns to try and calm Sonny.

Tawni spotted me.

"What do you want Pooper?" I ignored the question.

"What are you all doing? Sonny's throwing a screaming hissy fit? Aren't you all supposed to be her friends?" I asked.

Tawni glared at me. "We are. That scumbag James sent me flowers, and Allie threw a fit. She hasn't let any of us in for like an hour. And she's totally crying her eyes out, too. We're trying to calm her down, and it's not exactly going well!" She cried. Whoa, she must be distressed if she's bothering to tell me. As Grady stepped back out, I commented.

"You're obviously doing it wrong, then, aren't you? Let me talk to her." I went to step forward, but they blocked my entrance.

"No way, she's already upset enough!" Nico snapped. I sighed in frustration.

"Look, I have three sisters and a divorced mother, I flipping know how to calm a girl down! Get out of my way!" Stunned at my little revelations, they granted me entrance. I stepped in quietly and shut the door behind me.

"Sonny?" I asked softly.

"Go away!" She yelled, picking up a little deadly looking chair, preparing to throw it.

"No, put the chair down, Son. What's happened?"

She surveyed me through puffy eyes. "C'mon, Sonny, the poor chair never hurt you. Put it down!" She continued to look at me then dropped the chair suddenly, and dropped to the floor after it. She started sobbing.

I walked over to her and carried the chair to the corner of the room. I turned back and crouched down beside her.

"Come here," I said, putting an arm around her shoulders. She turned her face into my shirt, crying in earnest. I rubbed her back, not talking, letting her get all the tears out first. After about fifteen minutes, her sobs started to get a bit quieter, although she did not stop crying.

"What happened?" I asked softly.

"You... right..." She sobbed. "He... James sent... Tawni flowers... asked her out... ignored me!" She babbled, fresh tears pouring down her face. I understood enough, both from the mess of flowers on the floor and her words, to know exactly what had happened. She wrapped her arms around my chest, clinging to me. I let her cry.

After a little while, she pulled back to look me in the face. She looked so... forlorn, her mascara dripping, her hair stuck to her wet cheeks. "Why are only jerks and idiots attracted to me? They play with me then discard me like... rubbish! What'd wrong with me?" She cried, bursting into yet another round of tears. I pulled her closer to me.

"Listen to me, Munroe. There is nothing wrong with you! You're the most important person in my life. You're gorgeous and beautiful and awesome and funny and sweet and amazing and brilliant and perfect. Those guys are the ones who have something wrong; dumping you? They need their heads checked out! Don't let em get you down, Sonshine, because they are worthless." I said firmly. Her eyes gleamed with unshed tears, and I kissed her forehead. "Perfect." I repeated for emphasis. She kissed my cheek.

"Thank you." She said simply, then went back to crying in my shirt. She had her fists curled round the material, gripping on like her life depended on it.

I heard the door creak, and looked up to see the Randoms coming in. I tightened my arms around my best friend, and she continued to cling to me and sob, oblivious of their presence. Their jaws fell open when they saw that, instead of killing me, Sonny had cried to me and clung to me and been comforted by me. I rocked her gently, pretending I hadn't noticed them.

"It's okay. It's okay. I'll get that scumbag's butt fired from this studios, and you'll never have to see him again, okay?" She nodded into my shirt.

"Good girl. C'mon, smile for me. I need to see that you're okay." She pulled away , singing Little House.

"Just a sec," I assured her.

"Hello?" I answered it, not checking the Caller ID.

"Hello, Chad. Why aren't you home, son?"

"First off, Charles, I'm not your son. Second, I'm with Sonny. Third, I'm seventeen. I don't need to be home. And seeing as your not actually related to me, you can't control me." He laughed coldly, sending chills down my spine.

"Oh, haven't you learned yet, I can, Chad... don't worry, son, when you get home, I'll be waiting." Fear crackled in my head, but I ignored it.

"Don't count on it!" I spat, then hung up. Risky. But I had to attend to Sonny.

"Everything okay?" She asked. I laughed lightly.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" I said lightly. "It's fine. Just Charles being his annoying psychotic self."

"Oh." She nodded. "Well, you know what? You're right. I am okay. I'm just gonna go home, and chill." She pulled away from me, ignoring the mess on the floor as she stood up. I stood up too.

"Thanks again..." She said, a little shaky. She leaned forward and gave me a hug.

I kissed her forehead, and we let go of each other.

"Anytime." I informed her, smiling a little. She smiled the most genuine smile I'd seen since I'd got here, then leaned up and kissed me on the cheek, before walking out.

Now, I'd have to face Charles.

A/N. So love it? Hate it? Is anyone suspicious of Charles yet? That he's something other than just mean... Haha! Oh, and Chad's ringtone, Little House is by the Fray. Anyways, love you all. I enjoyed writing this chapter! Please review, cos, as we all know, reviews are love :)

Nangelgirl x