YAY! Long chapter! I'm so happy! Yay! :D Anyway, hope you guys like this LONG chapter. Sorry, just so happy it's one of the longest chapters...carry on...

Chapter 25-What To Do

Chad's POV

I sit in my room, upset and confused. I don't know why-today should be the greatest day of my life. It's my 18th birthday-I should be partying, having fun. I'm finally an adult…so why am I finding it so hard to sort out an adult problem?

I can't believe Sonny has to leave…and she didn't even tell me until now. I just don't understand why she can't just stay with me, but I guess it's kept her from her family for so long now. Sonny-like me-is a real family person. I remember when she first came; I'd hear her crying at night. I'd open her door just a crack and see her under the covers, hugging a framed photo of her Mom. About a week into it, she stopped, but now she's started doing it again. She really does miss her Mom, her family, and if she wants to see them again, I'm in no position to stop her.

There's only one problem-I don't want Sonny to go. I've got so used to seeing her smiling face every morning, every evening. She's helped me with so many of my problems, and I don't want her to go. Not back to Wisconsin anyway, I'd barely get to see her until she came back here, and I don't even know if she'll be able to do that. I really just need someone to talk to, and if I can't talk to Sonny, then who?

"I'm sorry, Chad," Mel's voice says over the phone. You know Mel? The waitress at the patio and a new friend of Sonny's. Before all of this happened, Mel and Sonny were becoming great friends, and Sonny always went to Mel for advice. They must've bonded while Sonny was writing her song, when she performed it that night. I still wish I'd been there to see it…anyway, I thought that if Sonny gets great advice from her, maybe she can help me with my problem too. Guess not.

"I really can't come over." She tells me, and I sigh. "This place makes me work way too much."

"That's a shame." I say, "I really need your help."

"Well, what's the problem?" She asks.

"Sonny might be moving back to Wisconsin."

"What?" She yells, "She can't! The Sonny Munroe I know wouldn't do that." She pauses, before groaning, "What did you do to Sonny?"

"Nothing!" I protest, "But…she feels like she has no choice. She thinks she's wasting my time when she's here, but she's really not."

"I understand." She sighs, "But…what are you gonna do? It's not like you can't buy her another house here!"

She laughs, but I smile, realising that could be an option. Well…why not?

She stops laughing. "Chad? You're not thinking what I think you're thinking…are you?"

I sigh, "You're right." I say, "It's too ridiculous. I can't buy Sonny a whole house."

"Don't worry, Chad," I say, "I'll think of something. Just…try and find some way to stop her."

"I will," I say, "Thanks, Mel."

"Anytime."

I hang up, just as confused as before. Try and find a way to stop her…well, how? Even though Sonny really doesn't want to go, she has no choice. Even I can't stop things that have to happen.

I hear a knock on the door. Please be Sonny, I want to talk to her…

"Chad?"

I groan. This is the person I least want to talk to right now. "Go away, Melanie."

She enters the room, shutting the door behind her. "I heard you talking to your friend. Is everything OK?"

"Just peachy." I sigh, turning my back to her. She sighs, sitting on the bed.

"Are you sure? You seemed a little upset. Even now."

I sigh, not wanting to talk to her.

"Chad," She sighs, "I know you don't exactly like me right now, but I want to help you. If you don't even talk to me, don't even tell me what's wrong, I can't do that. Please, Chad, just talk to me. Tell me what's going on."

I sigh. I don't want to tell her. She's one of the only people I hate at the moment, but then, why? She's never done anything wrong, except be the woman who replaced my Mom, but then, it's not her fault, right? You can't help who you fall for, after all.

"It's Sonny." I tell her, still not turning around. "Sonny might be going back to Wisconsin."

"Why's that?" She asks.

"How should I know?" I ask, but she glares angrily, and I sigh. "Sorry. She has no choice, she said. I don't know why though."

"Do you think maybe she's trying to get away?" She asks.

"Are you saying that she now hates me or something and wants to get away from me?" I ask, angry, and she sighs.

"Not at all, Chad." She says, "I don't know what's wrong with her, OK? Maybe she just feels like she's taking up space being here."

"Yeah, that's what she told me." I say.

"So…what are you going to do?" She asks, and I sigh.

"That's exactly what I'm trying to figure out." I say, "And it was going well until I was interrupted."

She sighs, "Sorry, Chad. If you don't want me here, I'll just go."

She gets up, heading for the door, and I sigh. I really hate myself right now. I'm being a total jerk-I know. Melanie's only trying to help, and I'm pushing her away.

"Wait." I say, turning to the door, and she turns back.

"Yes, Chad?"

"Sorry about that." I say, and she smiles "I know you were just trying to help, but I think I need to think alone right now."

She nods, "It's OK, Chad. I know you don't exactly like me right now, but you'll get to it. I'm not an evil step-mother, you know?"

I smile, "Yeah, I know."

Melanie smiles, shutting the door behind her. I turn away, trying to think of ways I can get Sonny back. How is this even going to work? I just don't know what Sonny would want me to do.

"Oh, and Chad?" I hear a voice say, and turn to see Melanie, stood in the door. "I know it won't be much help, but if you're wondering what to do about Sonny, just do what you think is right. What would she really appreciate?"

She smiles, shutting the door, and I smile too. What would Sonny really appreciate? What would any girl appreciate?

…I realise what I need to do, sure it will be tough, but I'm sure I can do it. Sonny will be so happy to find out that I'm doing this for her, she may be I little surprised, but it's what I need to do.

I pick up my phone and make a call. "Mel?" I say, "I need your help."

"Anything, Chad." She says.

I smile, knowing my goal. I will get Sonny her dream house, whether it will cost me or not…

LONG, LONG, LONG ;) I'm just celebrating, hope it was a good LONG chapter. ...I'm done. XD