Okay, another short chapter, but don't hate. I think it's cute :3 but that's just me.
XxX Farah XxX and Everafterjunkie - You are probably the ONLY ones who don't hate Vivi's guts! Glad you like her and glad you like the story. WARNING: the following portion...basically is just about Fablehaven
Joker236 - Yes, I'd have to say you are the only one I reply to in this section. Ha! Not sure many SwaC fans read Fablehaven or Inkheart, much less both. Hope the band thing went well.
If I had Meggie read me straight there it would feel like cheating, but I'll figure something out. And why on earth would I want to subject Raxtus to the real world?
Chad
"Pardon the intrusion," I apologized lightly, smoothing out my clothes with my hands. "Tawni called and told me she screwed everything up again."
"Go away, Chad," she commanded shakily. I heard her sniff as I waited for my eyes to adjust. I came slowly over to where I thought she was.
"So, this is how you're bringing in the New Year? Alone, in your bedroom, with the lights off, crying and listening to music…" I paused as I listened to part of a verse, and smirked, laughing silently to myself. "And that's no way to spend any night."
My eyes had adjusted and she was glaring at me angrily, arms crossed and on her bed. It was kind of eerie. I backed up a few steps.
"Look, Sonny, I just want your sincere forgiveness. We don't have to be together again…I just need to hear you say it so I can sleep at night." Her look didn't soften. "I never meant to hurt you, alright? I admit it was a stupid thing to do to kiss Vivi. Really stupid. But I don't care for her, okay? I never did. And I don't know where the hell she is now, but it doesn't matter, and if she ever shows up again I'm turning her away because she has made a royal mess of my life."
She continued to glare.
"Our life, I mean." I thought I heard a growl. "Or our lives," I corrected again.
Mmm, what'cha say?
Ooh, that you only meant well?
"Well of course I did!" I answered the music stupidly. "Um…well, you know. I mean, at the moment it seemed like a good idea. And, in all fairness, it's your fault."
Her eyes bored into me like razors.
"I mean," I added quickly, realizing how it had been taken. "You always put me in your mood, Sonny, and that's trying to make everyone around me feel happy. But obviously I can't do that for both you and Vivi."
Had she even blinked since I had been there?
"Well, if you insist," I said after a moment, placing one of my gorgeous half-smiles on my face and meandering towards the window with my hands in my pockets. "I'll just be going, then."
Scaling the apartment had not been easy, by the way. Within a few seconds I was out the window in an awkward position, where my hands were behind me bracing myself against the windowsill, and my feet were before and below me on the not-too-terribly-sturdy branch of a tall tree.
I waited in this uncomfortable position for a full five seconds before I heard Sonny call, "But Chad…it's…"
"Yeah?" I called back.
I faintly heard her sigh. "It's cold outside."
I smiled to myself. Success! "Well, then, by all means, come with me and keep me warm!"
"Chad! I can't sneak out!"
Backtrack. "Sonny, you always have to do everything the way your mom tells you. She hasn't really been fair to you lately. It doesn't hurt to rebel once awhile."
"Yeah, totally," I heard her scoff as I tilted my head back to see an upside-down Sonny leaning out the window, hands right beside mine. "Have you forgotten the entire reason I'm grounded? It's because I went off to see you," she spat the pronoun with forced disgust, "without telling my mom where I was going."
"Oh, come on! She's not going to trust you anytime soon. Just come with me!"
"You don't think about the future, do you?" she pressed. "That's the whole reason we're in this mess—you didn't stop to think how your actions would affect anything. Well, I'm not going to compromise my mom's trust yet again and blow any chance I potentially could still have to—"
"This is a stimulating conversation, Sonny, it really is, but I'm not exactly a fan of staying in precarious positions for very long. It's obvious you're on the fence about this, so hurry up and make a decision and I'll be on my way."
I pushed off from the windowsill, leaning myself towards the tree and embracing the trunk as soon as I reached it. About halfway down I heard leaves rustling above me. Success.
---
"I hope you're happy with yourself," Sonny griped as she fumbled with the seatbelt. I put my tongue in my cheek to try to hide my smirk.
"You didn't have to come. I didn't force you. Now stop pretending you're not enjoying this so I can stop laughing."
She relaxed halfway there, and I think she even smiled at me once.
