A/N: Guys. I ... I don't know what to say... Oh, wait. I do.
EEEEPPPP! Thank you, thank you... thank you! Last chapter of QTO, I got 20 REVIEWS! I was like... :O MY READERS ARE THE BEST EVER! Thank you soooo much!
...Moment of hyperness over... ;) Yeah. Appreciated. Soo much :D I'm glad you guys love this story... well, lemme tell ya. It's only just beginning... ;)
swac twilight14: Ha. Tu est choute! Je m'appelle Amy et j'adore le examen en francais! xD
k.98'PeaceOutSuckas: Aww, thank you! Haha, you don't have to say that anymore! I know we is friends/sisters and stuff. You're awesome :D And as for your review on TDLOCDC (Or LWMS... can't remember...) of course I want to read your multichap! Soooo excited to read it! :D
WARNING: Chawni. Ew. Chawni. Yuck. CHAWNI! :/
I don't own SWAC... Onwards!
Chapter 24 - Kiss Cam Capers
Chad's POV
I wake up on Sunday morning, the screams and shouts and cheers from last night still pounding in my ears, like I've got a hangover (not that I'd know what that feels like…). I start to pray that it was all just some horrible nightmare, but when I open the curtains to reveal the flashes of paparazzi cameras, my fears of the occurrences last night are proved to be ever so real.
Damn it.
Last night was… odd. Really, really odd. It all happened so fast – we were just having fun, watching the game, when Hayden left to go get some snacks, and I remember telling Tawni that the date wasn't exactly working out. Confused? Well, lemme put it this way. She wore a dress to a basketball game. A fancy-shmancy, Hollywood red carpet dress. Yeah… she wouldn't know normal if it slapped her in the face.
"You just need to… act more down-to-earth." I tried to advise her as she watched the Lakers players with a disgusted look on her face, "You know what I mean?"
She shrugged, "Nope. I thought I was doing just fine."
"You're wearing a dress." I informed her. She just nodded, "To a basketball game." I added, jiggling in my seat restlessly.
She just smiled innocently, "When you told me, all I heard was 'ball'."
I rolled my eyes, patting her supportively on the back. This was going worse than I thought…
And that prompted the question – could it get any worse?
Well, yes. Yes it could.
At that moment, the crowd around us began to scream and shout "Kiss!", and when I looked around I saw that the Kiss Cam was roaming the aisles, looking for unsuspecting couples to proclaim their love to the whole stadium with a kiss.
So, baring that in mind, how do you think I felt when mine and Tawni's faces showed up on the large screen?
Answer – not good. At all.
"No!" I protested to the crowd, while Tawni just sat there, not helping at all. "We're not on a date! She's on a date with someone else!"
This is when they started to boo. So what was I supposed to do? Let them boo us when this thing could easily be resolved? Wasn't gonna happen. Plus, they were starting to throw food, and I could tell Tawni was not gonna be happy when she noticed the huge mustard stain on her pink silk dress.
So, I did it.
I made one huge mistake.
I leaned in, and softly kissed Tawni.
On the lips.
That was… not my brightest idea ever, I'll tell ya.
I pulled away, and the screams and applause were deafening me. Tawni was just staring straight at me, her mouth gaping open. She didn't – it seemed like she couldn't – say a word.
"Tawni? Chad?"
I turned around and my jaw dropped open.
Hayden was back. His expression of shock matched Tawni's, only his eyes were dark. I didn't blame him. I'd just kissed his date. He walked away, and I grabbed Tawni's hand and dragged her with me.
We drove home in total silence. Hayden had brought us all, which meant we had to leave the second he did. Tawni sat in the front with Hayden, just to try and get herself back on his good side… but I could tell in her eyes that something was going on behind them, in that maze of a brain of hers… she was thinking some very deep thoughts. I didn't ask about it, because a) Hayden might have ripped my face off if I'd even tried to talk to her, and b) I wasn't willing to attempt entering the twisted labyrinth that was the mind of Miss Tawni Hart.
I just stayed at the back and kept my big trouble-causing, Tawni-kissing mouth shut. Even when Tawni got out at her house, I just waved her off. That left just Hayden and me, in a car. Two guys – one who had come on a date, one who had kissed aforementioned guy's date who was supposed to be his incredibly annoying friend.
Not pleasant.
Hayden pulled up outside my apartment about ten minutes after we'd dropped off Tawni (and they were the longest ten minutes of my life, might I add). I scrambled to undo my seatbelt, desperate to leave. I put my hand on the door handle and that's when it hit me. I was being stupid. I was being childish. Sure, if I explained to Hayden, he'd understand that it was all just a big misunderstanding… right?
"Hayden?" I exhaled. He looked back at me with a semi-warm smile, but I could tell it was forced. "I'm really sorry about what happened."
He sighed, "Me too."
"I promise, it was only the Kiss Cam… it meant nothing."
He shrugged, that same sad smile on his face, "For you, it didn't."
I blinked, "What do you mean?"
"Tawni seemed kind of… fazed by the moment." He hesitated for a second, before carrying on, "It's okay though. Tawni didn't really seem like my type."
My lips curved into a slight smile. Thank goodness… he's not mad… that happiness fled quickly, though, when I realised what he'd just said. "I'm sorry, what was that about Tawni?" I said.
"She just seemed… different, after she kissed you." He admitted. As if I needed him to tell me… now he mentioned it, it was obvious what he had meant… Tawni did seem kind of in her own little world ever since that awful moment. "I wonder what was going on…" He was saying. I bit my lip, opening the door.
"Me too…" I said, before smiling at him once more, only this time it wasn't forced. At least he wasn't totally mad at me, and so what if he didn't like Tawni that much and she wasn't his type? I couldn't change that – no-one could. Besides, Tawni didn't seem to be too bothered with him either… after the kiss… I shuddered as I thought of it and as the cold night wind hit me. I shut the down behind me and made my way up to my apartment, just hoping no-one would care about what had happened that night and just forget that Tawni and I ever kissed, that the whole damned night never even happened.
Judging by the paparazzi shouts and flashes that have been my company ever since I woke up though… well, obviously my wishes were unfulfilled.
It gets to about 11am, and I decide to just have a day at home. I honestly can't be asked to go out there and talk to anyone – if I do, I'll probably be trampled by paparazzi and fans asking what I was doing, kissing Tawni, and whether we're… ugh… dating or not.
Not is of course the answer. I wouldn't date Tawni, not in a million years. Sure, she's pretty… but she has a pretty ugly personality. The vanity, the rudeness, not to mention her awful past with Sonny… I would date Sonny before I dated Tawni! Wait… not a good thing to be thinking right now…
Point is. I wouldn't date Tawni. But knowing Hollywood, they'll shake it up and turn it into something it isn't. They probably already have – there probably is an article somewhere about our kiss last night. Gossip is probably spreading across the state – across the country.
Yippee.
I flick on the TV, leaving some crazy game show playing, while I stare at my phone, trying to decide whether to turn it on or not. If I do, I'll probably get called by someone – who I won't know, most likely – asking about the "rumours". But, being the nosy guy I am, I can't resist turning it on, just to check what's going on. Straight away, my text message tone goes off.
From: Nico
Get down here to the set quick, bro. U need to talk 2 Tawni.
Oh crap.
I head down to So Random, like I'm on a mission. I hide myself from the paparazzi, making it to my car without them noticing me. I put on sunglasses and a random grey trilby I find in my closet to disguise myself. Luckily, it works – no-one stops me, no-one asks me awkward questions. For that, I'm glad.
I meet the other Randoms, minus Tawni, in the Prop House, and they all look straight up at me. The room is silent, the air is clumsily tense. Their gazes are just so… so disapproving. But also kind of confused – in fact, more confused than angry.
Nico is the first to move, after what feels like forever. He puts his hand on my shoulder friendlily, and I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding. At least I know someone's on my side for this.
"Dude." He says softly, "What happened last night?"
I explain the story to them, and afterwards they just sit there for a few seconds, taking it in, before Zora speaks.
"Tawni came in earlier. She's been here all day – I was in here, jut innocently setting up a prank for some of the Falls kids…" Unlike usually, this part of her sentence doesn't really upset or offend me. Huh. "…I heard her come in while I was in the vents, and she was talking to herself about something."
"What was she saying?" I ask, and she shrugs.
"Why don't you go see for yourself?"
So that's what I do. I leave the Prop House and walk straight to her dressing room, just hoping nothing happens. I just want to go back to my life two days ago – I hadn't kissed Tawni, I hadn't almost-kissed Sonny… everything in my life just made sense.
I'm so lost in my thoughts that I almost don't notice Sonny pass me in the So Random hallways, just near to Tawni's dressing room. She grabs my arm before I can go anywhere, and I turn around to face her, trying not to explode in her face. This is not the time to mess up yet another girl, especially since I probably have already messed up this particular girl. I don't want to make things even worse.
"Chad." She says quietly, biting her lip, eyes meeting mine. I scold myself mentally for admiring how her eyes are sparkling… this is so not the time.
"I can't talk, Sonny." I say, trying to let her down as easily as possible. I half-turn back to the direction I was heading, but she pulls me back, sharper this time.
"Going to see your girlfriend?" She hisses. Oh no… not her too!
"Sonny, I don't have a girlfriend!" I protest, but she doesn't seem to hear me. Or rather, she doesn't seem to be listening – she's dug far too deep into her own little theory – that last night was more than just a kiss.
"Yeah, right, Cooper!" She growls, "So then, you just kissed her for no reason?" She then reveals an issue of Tween Weekly from behind her back and scowls at me. Mine and Tawni's already-infamous kiss is the leading story. I almost barf – I haven't seen a picture of it until now. It just doesn't look right… it makes my head ache to see what everyone's been freaking out about.
"Well?" Sonny almost screams. I shake my head.
"Sonny, I promise you, I'm not dating-"
"I don't trust your promises right now, Chad." She spits out my name like it's poisonous. "How could you do this after all you know about her? After everything she's done to me, you still have the nerve to date her?"
My whole body suddenly feels tense. She's not listening to me…
"Sonny." I say her name slowly, so that she knows to listen carefully. "You're jumping to conclusions. Tawni is not my girlfriend."
"Then why were you kissing her?" She screams, her voice squeaking on the word 'kissing'. I just roll my eyes.
"Sonny, it was the kiss cam." I explain for what feels like the billionth time.
"That's not how the rest of the world sees it!" She growls.
"Well, the world doesn't know the whole story!" I yell back, "Seriously, Sonny, you need to listen to me! I'm your friend – best friend! You need to listen to me, trust me…"
"You ignored me." She says, her voice level a lot lower, almost shy, "All last night. You didn't call me or anything, and I was worried…" She then just chuckles emotionlessly, "I didn't know you were on a date with my worst enemy."
My hands ball into fists, and I feel like hitting her, but then, what good would that do? Plus, I can't hit Sonny… I'm not man enough to do it (rather, I'm too gentlemanly to do it).
"For the last time, Sonny." I say, speaking out each syllable clearly, hoping she'll actually understand, "We were not on a date. Why won't you listen to me? Why won't you believe me on this?"
Her eyes flash with anger, before she shakes her head and groans, raking a hand through her perfect brown hair in frustration. "Ugh, I'm just… I'm sorry, okay?" She says, fluffing her hair self-consciously. "I just… I don't know what I was thinking…"
She takes my hand, rocking it from side to side. It feels warm. It feels good.
And then, it all slides out of place.
The other Randoms round the corner behind Sonny's back, and I snatch my hand away from Sonny's and avert my eyes from her to stop them from seeing anything. I dare to look up afterwards – her lower lip is quivering, her eyes are glassy and watery. I could slap myself for making her like that.
"Fine." She whimpers, her voice breaking a little. The hurt in her voice is obvious. Great… I'm such an idiot…
She pushes her way past me, and walks off, her heels clicking loudly on the floor. I watch her go, my pleas for forgiveness trying to escape out of my mouth, but I just can't say them. Not with the Randoms around.
Wow. Why am I such a coward when it comes to Sonny?
"Chad?"
I turn back around to see my three friends staring at me, with equal looks of pure confusion on their faces.
"What happened there?" Grady asks, tilting his head a little. I open my mouth to speak, but it's unbelievably dry, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to say.
"Have you talked to Tawni yet?" Nico asks. I turn around again, watching Sonny walk further and further, until she turns the corner and is gone.
Coward. If I was really Sonny's best friend, I would've ran after her, despite what my cast-mates think. But I just don't want to cause even more problems… why is this happening? Everything was so fine until Tawni began to notice something between me and Sonny, and since then it's all just gone downhill.
I shake my head vigorously, pushing Nico's hand off my shoulder.
"I'm going home." I say, shoving my way through my friends.
I can't stay here right now…
I can't.
Later on, I'm lying on my bed in my room, examining the pattern on the ceiling and wondering how and why my life has gotten so crappy in the last few short days.
And that's when the doorbell sounds.
I get up, stomping my way across the apartment, and open the door (because Mom is out so I have to get it myself), and there she is. The route of the whole problem:
Tawni Hart.
She looks up at me, much shorter than usual against me because she doesn't seem to be wearing heels. Huh…
"Chad…" She whimpers. I melt, before realising that she is the whole reason Sonny is upset with me, and I fold my arms and scowl at her menacingly.
"What the hell do you want?" I ask, walking to the centre of the room and slumping down on the couch, leaving the door wide open. She just follows me in and sits next to me on the couch, putting her hand on my knee. I just shove it off, irritably.
"We need to talk about what happened…"
"There's nothing to talk about." I say sternly. "Just get out – I don't like this. If people see you here…"
"I've been thinking about the kiss." She blurts out. I just growl.
"So has the rest of the country." I say, and she frowns. I give up the whole angry thing after seeing her frown and just decide to shut up and listen to her. I take a deep breath. "What do you want?" I say, calmer this time.
She gulps loudly, before putting her hand back on my knee. "I've been thinking about, well, a lot of things…" She looks up at me, her sapphire eyes serious, "Mostly about us."
I shudder a little. I don't like how she said "us". Not one bit.
"Tawni…" I choke out, "I…"
"I think I have feelings for you." She says softly. It takes a moment for the words to sink in.
"You what?"
She hangs her head, almost shamefully. "I needed to tell you… I didn't know what I was meant to say… to do…"
I can barely focus on her words… this is all just so… so weird! Tawni Hart… has feelings for me? When I first came to So Random, that was all I wanted to hear. I had that massive crush on Tawni, but it's all gone now. I'm sure of it.
I think…
I mean, the feelings would've gone… of course they would've… after all the crap I've learnt that she gave Sonny, there's no way I'd want to be with a girl like her…
Right?
Right…
Tawni shakes her head, getting up off the couch. "I'm sorry, Chad…" She says, "I shouldn't have done this, it was wrong to come to you like this…"
She gets up and leaves the apartment, before I can even say anything. I watch her with a dumbfounded expression on my face.
What in the…?
*the next day…*
Tween Hear-Say Magazine…
So Random's Secret Couple?
The eyes of the country have been on Condor Studios for the last few days. As we eagerly await the end of our favourite show's seasons (including number one drama Melody Falls and everyone's fave sketch-comedy show So Random!), and so if someone sneezes, the whole country seems to know. This is the time of year, people, when a huge news story usually comes about in America's favourite studio! And what could be a bigger news story than this? Hold on to your hats, people! Here it comes…
We all know that newest Random and proud Wisconsinite Chad Dylan Cooper has been the press's main focus since he stepped off that plane, with his side-cracking jokes, his stunning cuteness (and, of course, those blue eyes…), and we were sure he'd find lurve in La La Land sometime soon. So we were shocked (and also super happy!) to find love may be blooming for Mr Cooper. And no, not in the form of drama actress and infamous egomaniac Sonny Munroe, who he's been seen with by our secret sources many times… our lips are sealed! Rather, our favourite teen comedian seems to be getting comfy with fellow Random, Tawni Hart! Yes, people! That's right!
Their kiss was probably the most talked-about yesterday, with millions of views on YouTube and "#ChawniKissCam!" a top trend on Twitter all day. The two left and were unheard of for the next few hours, refusing to talk to any press. But, oh, we caught them! Tawni Hart was seen visiting her supposed boyfriend's apartment last night, and although we didn't catch their conversation, we're sure it was something to do with this possibly "relationship".
So, what do y'all think about the latest hot Hollywood couple? Are they real? Are they not? Are you a Chawni fan? Whatever the outcome, we'll be here to report it all!
See you next week!
…
Boyfriend?
Chawni?
Relationship?
…
Oh, boy…
A/N: DON'T ATTACK ME WITH BRICKS! I know... Chawni. But hey. we all love drama, don't we... kinda? Meh, I dunno... me and my silly mind making all these Chawni moments... Channy to come! I promise! *heart*
Pleasepleaseplease review even if you hated the Chawni! Getting 20 reviews last time made me all happy-like! :D
Peace!
Ooh, and I have a jab on Thursday. If I don't update before then, wish me luck! *heart*
~Amy x