A/N: Hey guys! I'm really glad you all loved the last chapter, cos I loved it too! And fear not, my dear Channy fans... their first date is drawing ever-so-nearer... *suspicious wink*.

Slinky Flower The Lovatic - Thanks for that! I'll change it when I get the chance - I thought it was 'loved', but I wasn't really paying attention when I wrote it up :P

channyfan83 - You rock. I love you, girl :P Long reviews are great reviews! There will be a sequel, based on the second book, I think - Catching Fire. And don't worry - I have a song planned that I wrote, only a few chapters away!

KellyTheLovatic - Quackidy quack :P

Chapter time! I don't own Sonny with A Chance... :(

Chapter 36 - Home For Christmas

Chad's POV

Hiatus is boring.

Seriously. This is my first time in Hollywood that I've ever not been working during the weekdays, and it's just. So. Dull.

The only person who makes it bearable is Sonny.

My bestest girl bud somehow finds a way to see me every single day, for at least a few hours. I worry that she's getting bored of me, but when I ask about my worries four days into hiatus, Sonny just shrugs and says;

"I could never get bored of you."

So that makes everything fine, I suppose.

On the first Tuesday, Mom informs me that we'll be going to Wisconsin for Christmas, while Sonny is around. The moment Mom leaves the room, Sonny's shoulders droop.

"You're leaving me." She mutters quietly. I wrap my arms around her, and she loosens immediately, a satisfied smile showing on her face.

"Only for Christmas." I whisper into her ear, kissing her softly on the head. I've been kissing her on the head a lot recently – I did it on Saturday and panicked cos I thought she'd find it weird, but Sonny just smiled when I did it and told me it made her feel loved, which I took as an acceptance. It's not a big problem, is it?

"I promise I'll be back, okay?"

Sonny shrugs, trying to act like she's angry with me even though her facial expression and little giggles every couple of seconds make it totally implausible, if a little funny.

And cute.

"Will you be back as soon as possible?" Sonny asks, pouting. I tighten my grip on her in protective instinct and kiss the top of her head.

"As soon as my Mom lets me, I'll be rushin' outta there to get back to my special girl."

Sonny blushes a furious shade of crimson – not my intention – and burrows her head into my chest, relaxing as I begin to massage her scalp.

And then our peace is destroyed by the none-to-tranquil sound of my mother clearing her throat. Since Mom found us… cuddling on Sunday, she's being very cautious whenever Sonny's around, so to not walk in on us and claim (very unjustifiably) that we are a couple.

Which we're not.

So, whenever she hears silence and is about to enter the room, she makes sure we know it. Sonny and I pull away from each other hastily – Sonny scratches the back of her head and I stretch out on the couch, giving my mom a wide smile.

"Hello, mother dearest." I chirp. She gives me – and then Sonny – a strange glare, before shaking her head, muttering something jumbled under her breath, wiping her hands on her apron, and spinning around to go back to the kitchen. Letting out a breath I didn't even know I was holding, I put a friendly arm around Sonny, not pulling her close this time but still giving her a kind smile, which just makes her blush again.

I don't know what's up with Sonny recently. She's been… shy, around me, if I'm telling the truth. I've noticed that alteration in her behaviour – her body language, the way she never starts a conversation, the way she keeps blushing and batting her eyelashes and acting all sweet and innocent like a five year-old who's meeting someone new, cowering behind her parent's leg. I don't know whether she's hiding something, or planning something, or if I should ask her about it or not because I don't want to embarrass her.

Maybe this behaviour is just… Allie? Not Sonny. Because Sonny doesn't have to be Sonny for another two weeks. Maybe this shy, sweet girl is Allie Munroe, the real thing…

Once again, I don't wanna make a big deal out of it, just in case she hasn't noticed the change herself. Knowing Sonny, she'll either be all quiet and I won't get anything out of her, or she'll step cautiously around the situation and change the subject like nothing ever happened, even though the air is clearly still affected by the moment.

I'm trying not to let Sonny's change bother me though. If anything, though I miss normal Sonny, this Sonny is kind of… sweet.

Um.

Yeah.

Anyway…

Sonny and I are cuddled up on the couch, watching the latest So Random – the one I sang on. Sonny just stares at the screen in awe for those four minutes, which makes me laugh sneeringly.

"Calm down, Sonny." I snort as she applauds the Chad on the screen. To be honest, I find it kind of awkward watching myself on TV – watching So Random was Sonny's idea, not mine. No, seriously.

"That was just…" Sonny trails off into silence, rubbing the back of her head, unsure of how to finish her sentence.

"Awful?" I assist her with a smirk, "Scary? Weak? Stupid?"

Sonny rolls her eyes lightly, "No, you scaredy-cat." She says, flicking her bangs out of her face with her hand, "I was gonna say… special."

"In a bad way?"

"In a brilliant way." She says, resting her head on my chest. "Chad, stop being so down on yourself."

"Oh, like you?" I say sarcastically. Sonny sighs, obviously not finding my comment funny.

"Not like me." She murmurs, "I'm a freakin' coward."

"You're not." I mumble into her ear, kissing her head once again. Sonny's breathing seems to speed up rapidly when I do so, but I ignore the change. Maybe I shouldn't. But right now it just doesn't seem like a big deal.

"I am." Sonny argues feebly, like a young child quarrelling with her parents.

"Sonny, you're not a coward just because of all this." I tell her, "If anything, you're the strongest person I've met."

Sonny snorts. "Yeah, right."

I don't try to pursue that topic any further, because my mother enters the room, alerting Sonny and I to pull apart from each other again. Ugh.

"I, um, hate to break up the fun, kids…" She says, "But in case you haven't noticed, it's nearly eleven."

Eyes widening, Sonny and I look to each other in shock.

"Pfft. Time sure flies when you're havin' fun…" I say to her, rolling my eyes.

"Tell me 'bout it…" Sonny says, getting up off the couch. I follow her to the door, leaning casually against the doorframe as she opens the front door.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow." She says, "I'm gonna have to get your Christmas present – I was hoping I'd have more time but since you're leaving on Thursday, I suppose I'd best bring it around tomorrow."

"Yeah." I agree, "You're gonna have to help me pack or something!"

Sonny forces a laugh, smiling sadly. I pick up on her solemn mood straight away, and lift her chin up with my fingers.

"Hey, hey…" I say, giving her a kind smile, "No need to be sad, okay? I'll be in Wisconsin for the, like, a week. It'll fly by."

Sonny tries to smile again, but it comes off so forced. "It won't without you." She murmurs, looking down at her feet. Hating to see her upset, I embrace her in another hug, breathing slowly into her hair.

"I'll text you." I promise. "Everyday. And call you, whenever I get the chance. You can talk to my family – not my friends, though. That wouldn't be pretty for me."

Sonny giggles gently, "You realise how hilarious you are?"

I fake a smug look, "Well, I'm a natural comedian. It runs through my veins." Sonny laughs, so hard that she snorts multiple times. I know this isn't the appropriate thing to say about my best friend, but she still looks so beautiful. And I make sure to tell her, which makes her blush.

"Don't blush!" I laugh, "It's a hundred percent true."

Dropping the subject like a hot potato, Sonny tucks her bangs behind her ear carefully. "Are you sure I can't come with you? I could squeeze into your luggage!"

I chuckle, "You think you'd fit?"

"Have you seen me?" She smirks, "I'm, like, a lil' voodoo doll!"

Laughing hysterically, I grab her hand, "Only a hundred times more beautiful, and only slightly less crazy!"

Sonny flicks her hair back arrogantly, "Well, you know me." She winks, "I strive to be my craziest!"

"And succeed." I roll my eyes lightly, kissing her on the forehead, "Have a good night, beautiful."

"You too, handsome."

"Pfft. Shut up."

"Never."

And so, in a clatter of giggles and silliness, Sonny leaves the apartment, beaming once again.

And when Sonny is smiling, I smile too.

Sonny's POV

Our last day together before Chad has to leave to Wisconsin comes too fast.

I knock on the door to Chad's apartment hastily, clutching a small festively-decorated box in one hand. I just want to spend as much time with Chad before he goes. I don't know what I'm going to do without him.

Pfft. How sad my life must be if the only thing I can imagine doing is spending time with him. I need Melody Falls to come back… luckily, I'll be back to work at the end of next week, so if Chad isn't back from Wisconsin I'll at least have a distraction. I need to stop thinking about him in… that way.

Mrs Cooper answers the door, smiling when she sees me – she may be protective of her son, but she seems to have grown pretty fond of me. Y'know, when she's not trying to drag Chad and I apart. Ha.

"Come on in, Sonny." She says, before turning her head back into the house, "Chad!" She shouts, "Sonny's here!"

I cover my mouth with my hand, hiding a laugh as I hear clattering in Chad's room. He's such a dork. But he's my dork. And, by the way, now I've admitted to myself my true feelings, addressing Chad as 'mine' isn't so weird to me. I just… I wish he really was mine.

Chad crashes into the living room, holding a box of a similar size and design as mine, with a goofy smile on his face. He looks so cute… I just wish I could tell him so…

"Hey." He grins, showing off his teeth. I feel my cheeks burn.

"Hi." I say. My voice sounds kinda shy, and Chad picks up on that.

"You okay?"

"I- I'm fine." I pause for a moment to think up a lie. Or at least a half-truth. "Just… I'm gonna miss you."

It's true. I will miss him. But that's not the reason I'm acting so shy. Either way, Chad coos out an 'aw', walking over to the couch, planting himself there, placing his little box on the coffee table and patting the space next to him. Obediently, I sit, still clutching the small box containing his present.

"So…" He says, "Do you want your present first?"

"Sure…" I say as he passes me the box. Forgetting about Chad's leaving and my little insecurities about that in the moment, I unceremoniously dump his present on the coffee table to inspect my present. I shake the box, as excited and eager as a little kid.

"Shall I open it now?" I say, "Or wait 'til Christmas Day?"

Chad shrugs, "Open it now." He says, "I wanna see your reaction to make sure you don't hate it."

I giggle, scanning the red ribbon around the box experimentally, trying to figure out a way to get inside the trap to receive the prize (I love ribbons around presents, but I can never open them!). "I'm sure I won't hate it!" I say, patting him on the knee. He shrugs, pulling a face.

"I'll be the judge of that when I see your face." He says semi-sternly, "I'm not the best gift-giver – why buy someone something when you can just give 'em a hug?"

I snort, "Cheap-skate." I joke.

"Eh, you love me anyway." He smirks, "So, go ahead and open it! I have to leave the state tomorrow, remember?"

Giggling quietly, I fiddle with the ribbon, unable to break it. Chad watches, looking like waiting is causing him physical pain for about three minutes, before he snatches the present off of me.

"Gimme that…" He mumbles, inspecting the ribbon like an expert. "Mom!" He yells, after a few moments, "You got any scissors?"

"In the drawer, sweetie!" Mrs Cooper shouts back from the kitchen. Muttering quietly to himself, he fishes the scissors out of the drawer and snips the ribbon, releasing the box.

"I swear, the ribbon was my lovely mother's idea, not mine." He says, making us both burst out laughing, "Ribbon is seriously the creation of the devil!"

"'Course it is, Chaddy Chad Chad." I say, snatching my present back. Lifting the lid on the box, I throw all the red tissue paper inside to the side to be met with my present, at last.

A smaller box is sat in the original box, and it looks like it is sat on top of something. I take the smaller box out to see the back of a picture frame. Curious, I lift it out, and my smile widens the moment I see the front of the picture frame.

The words 'Best Friends' are spread across the top of the frame, and are made of marble, by the looks of it. Each letter is a different shade of purple – from a redder shade of purple to a more blue shade, and the rest of the frame is white. Chad's already put a picture of us in – it's a picture that his Mom took the other week, of us close together on the couch, pulling faces and laughing. My stomach twists inside my chest – "Best Friends". Of course. Because, though I have more-than friends' feelings for Chad, he certainly does not feel the same for me, I can assure you. Need proof? Just look at this picture frame.

'Best Friends'. That's all.

"So…?" Chad asks expectantly. I almost forgot he was there. "What do you think? Mom helped with it – I think it's kinda girly, but if you like it, that's all that matters…" I plaster a grin on my face, especially for Chad, hugging him softly.

"I love it." I tell him. It's not a lie. I love it, sure… but for all the wrong reasons. "I really do."

Chad grins, "That's great! Oh, but there's something else…" He points to the previously-neglected miniature box. It's red, velvet, which makes me smile. Jewellery?

I pick up the box – lucky, this one doesn't have a devil-ribbon – and lift the lid to reveal a small, silver, heart-shaped pendant, that is designed to look like it has a bow around it.

"Open it." Chad instructs excitedly. Raising an eyebrow, a fiddle with the pendant. It snaps open after a few seconds, and I squint to see it's a locket – a locket with the same picture in it as the picture frame. I smile, blinking back a single tear of joy.

"Sonny?"

I glance up at Chad. Sweet, innocent little Chad… I fling my arms around him once more, making him laugh.

"I thought that, well, if I'm not around, you can wear that… and I'll always be with you." Chad explains, "You like it?"

"It's… it's beautiful, Chad." I say.

"Want me to put it on you?" He asks. I nod wordlessly. Isn't this something a boyfriend usually does to his girlfriend? If only…

"Thank you." I say once Chad is done. He smiles.

"You're welcome." He says, before pulling away from the hug and diving towards his present. I snicker. The guy's a little kid, okay? "My turn!" He shrieks, staring at the box as if he's expecting it to do something.

"You know that box ain't gonna open itself?" I tell him with a smirk. He gasps in fake-shock.

"Really?" He feigns a surprised look, before it breaks into a smirk and he opens the box. I bite my lip, quietly hoping to myself he'll like my present as much as I loved his.

The moment he peers inside, his eyes widen and his smile grows. "No way…" He mumbles, putting his hand in the box. He takes out the presents I got him, grinning.

"I thought I'd get you a pick to replace that one I lost." I explain. Yeah… I lost his guitar pick. It's a long and complicated story involving a garden hose, a birdbath and a box of tissues. Really, don't ask. "And as for the book… I thought you'd need a songbook to store all those awesome songs you plan to write!" Chad had been telling me the other day that one of his life-long dreams was to make an album someday. But he didn't have a songbook, and he wanted one real bad. The one I got him is blue – the same color as the pick – and has 'Chad' engraved across it in yellow – again, same as the pick. Chad flicks through the empty pages, grinning, before dumping the present down on the coffee table next to the now-empty boxes and my picture frame and wrapping his arms around me.

"They're perfect." He gushes, "Thank you so much…"

"Merry Christmas, Chad." I say. He takes in a deep breath.

"Merry Christmas, beautiful."

Chad's POV

Ten o'clock comes to quick. Mom has to practically drag Sonny to the door, me following, eager to say a goodbye to my best friend once more before I have to leave. I'm going to miss her. You know, a lot. I'm trying to stay strong for her though, I really am.

"I'm gonna miss you." She says to me shyly, embracing me in a hug.

"I'll miss you too." I tell her, pulling away from the hug gently, trying to smile, "But remember that I'll text you everyday, and call you whenever I can – and you'll have me with you in your locket!"

Sonny looks down at the locket around her neck, wrapping her fingers around it, holding it tight. She smiles softly at me.

"Take care of yourself, yeah?" She says. I nod, and she giggles. "Good. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you…"

"Nothing'll happen to me." I say, "I promise."

"I love you." She says.

"Love you too." I reply.

With a relieved look on her face, Sonny embraces me in one last hug, squeezing me a little tighter, before pulling away, smiling and waving, and leaving the apartment, with the picture frame tucked under her arm, still fiddling with the heart pendant.

I love you…

Her words ring in my ear, and I can't help but smile as I close the door behind her.

*20 hours later...*

"Yo, Chad!"

The moment I step out of Mom's car, outside the hotel we're staying at, I am bro-punched, left, right, and centre, by my idiot friends, who texted me to say they were waited outside the hotel. I smirk. It's not exactly the same as a hug from Sonny, but it's familiar. It's home.

"Jacob. Danny. Terence. Quit being idiots."

"No way, man!" Terence, the tallest one, laughs. Terence has short, spiked, ink-black hair, which he runs a hand through. Since it's gelled, the hair just jumps back up after Terence moves his hand away.

"Yeah, we've missed you too much." Danny says, flicking his dark brown bangs out of his face, smirking. Danny's just about taller than me, and if anyone in this group of dorks can be considered the 'cool' one, it's him. He actually used to hang out with the populars until high school, and then he just decided they were all jerks and joined us. "It's been way too long."

"You can't tell us that you haven't missed us back, dude." Jake says. Jacob Lawrence… he's the worse of them all. He has mocha-colored skin and dark hair – the same shade as Terence – only he's a total maniac. He was the one who always got us into crazy situations, back in 'the days'. I laugh at my mental friends, fist-pounding each of them.

"Okay, okay." I say, raising my hands in surrender, "I have missed you dorks a little."

My friends erupt with laughter, and I just have to laugh with them. I've missed my stupid, crazy, messed-up friends. They're total morons, but hey – their friends.

Mom passes me her credit card to pay for the hotel room while she goes to park the car, and my friends follow me into the hotel like dogs following a pack leader. We enter the lobby – it's not all that fancy. Just a few sofas, a table, and a counter right at the back, where a redhead girl is sat, reading a magazine. I grin, recognising the girl right away. Tina. She used to be in my French class, and was one of the 'popular' girls who hardly knew of my existence until she heard that I was going to Hollywood, and then she, like her friends, crowded me like crazed fan-girls.

Well, this should be fun.

"Hey!" I shout to her, ambling up, with my friends following. Tina looks up from her magazine and her eyes widen when she sees me.

"Oh… my… gosh." She says, "Chad Dylan Cooper is here! What is Chad Dylan Cooper doing here?"

I stifle a laugh. Being famous does have its weird moments… I could never get used to girls being excited to see me. It's weird. "Don'tcha remember me, Tina?" I ask, "I did know you before I was famous."

Tina blinks a couple of times, frozen. "Remind me...?"

What did I say? No one knew I even existed until I got famous. How sweet, huh?

"Chad. From French class. I left four months ago to star on So Random. Ring any bells?"

"Oh, yeah!" Tina smiles, trying to play it cool. She flicks her hair behind her ear, grinning seductively. "Wassup Chad? I've missed you so much…"

"Sure…"

"So, Chad…" She smiles, "You got some big Hollywood girlfriend? Cos if not, I'm still free. Well, I'm not, but I can dump him for you..."

Pulling a face, I sigh. "Uh… sorry, Tina. I'd really love to date you…" Not. Oh, gosh, how to let her down gently… think, Chad, think… "But I… can't. Um, yeah. Because… I have… a girlfriend."

I can almost feel my friends freeze up beside me, feel their gazes fix onto me like homing missiles. Ugh. I almost forgot they were here. This is not good… now I'm gonna have to tell them who this girlfriend is, because they'll interrogate me about it and there's no way they're gonna let me leave it alone until they hear what they wanna hear.

Great.

No, it's okay. I'll figure that out later…

"Oh. Okay." Tina says, suddenly losing interest. "Your room is number 14. Down the hallway, that way." Pointing to her left, eyes back down on the magazine, she gives me the room key and I pay with Mom's card, and, laughing, me and my pals make our way down the hall.

This is bad. Very bad.

So my friends think I have a girlfriend. This is not gonna go well. I could always hope and pray that they've changed and they're not total nosy dorks anymore, but knowing the boys, that's not possible.

We walk into the room Mom and I are gonna be staying in for the night. We'll be moving into Gran's house tomorrow – Mom and I will get the spare beds down from the attic and sleep in the back room – but we thought it would be easier if we slept over here tonight and got it done in the morning rather than spending the whole evening setting it all up. Mom and I have been travelling for hours – we're tired, we stink, and a fancy hotel bed looks so much more attractive right now than a stupid put-up on.

The hotel room is pretty nice. As you walk in, there is a wardrobe to the left, and to the right, there is a door to the bathroom. Oh, joyous shower…

It has two beds – one double, one single. A wide vanity-mirror is at the foot of the beds, against the wall. Some fancy paining sits above the double bed, and a welcome pack sits on a bedside table in between the two beds, welcoming us to the hotel, telling us of breakfast times, what to do if there were to be a fire; you know, all the usual stuff.

I place mine and Mom's suitcases on the double bed, opening mine and rooting through it. Jacob, Danny and Terence huddle up by the closet, whispering none-too-quietly. About me, obviously. Rolling my eyes, I fish my toothbrush and toothpaste out of my bag – Mom and I took turns driving, and while Mom was driving I tended to doze off, and I can still taste the disgusting sleep-breath – and make my way into the bathroom. It's pretty standard – toilet, sink, bath and shower. I brush for a little while, before hearing a clattering by the door. I turn to see those dork-heads, stood at the door, gazing at me with matched looks of part curiosity mixed with evilness. I let out a deep sigh.

"What do you want?" I ask them after spitting in the sink. Jacob steps forward, smiling like one of those weird cartoons. I bite my lip, knowing what's coming.

"Tell us about your girlfriend." Jake says, his smile becoming slightly pleading.

"Uh… no."

The boys groan. "C'mooonn!" Terence pleas, "We're your buds!"

"Which is exactly why I can't tell you."

Before the boys can protest any further, a ringing sound goes off in the room next door. I tighten up as I recognise the ring as that song, Ours.

Sonny's ring.

Noticing me tensing up, the boys' smiles widen, like the Cheshire Cat. Afterwards, we just have a mad scramble, trying to get to the phone first. Unfortunately, Terence, being at the door 'n' all, gets to the phone before me. He picks it up, looking at the screen, grinning sneakily.

"Sonny?" He reads, "Sonny Munroe?"

"Don't you dare…" I say sternly when I realise his intentions.

Too late.

"Hellooooo, beau-tiful!" He coos, causing the other two to laugh hysterically. I snatch the phone off of him.

"Hey, Sonny!"

"Chad?" Sonny's sweet voice comes through the other end, "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine." I say, throwing a pillow at Terence while the three of them continue to snigger.

"Oh…" Sonny says, not sounding all that convinced. "I was just calling to check you had a good journey…"

"Yeah, it was okay." I shrug, shoving Danny away as he tries to listen in on the conversation. "A little… long, but we're there now."

"Oh, good!" She says, suddenly perking up, "I was worried about you…"

Danny smirks. "Oh, Chad!" He says, putting on a high-pitched voice, "I was so worried about you…"

"Shut up." I hiss, shaking my head, "Sorry, Sonny, I really have to go."

"Oh… okay." Sonny says slowly. "I love you."

"Yeah, you too."

I hang up, before throwing a pillow at each of my friends. (I have no idea where he got all those pillows from o_O) Now I remember why I used to turn my phone off around these morons.

Oh well.

"Dude, you're dating Sonny Munroe?" Jacob asks, wiggling his eyebrows, "How the heck did you do it – did you win a 'Date A Totally Hot Celebrity' contest?"

"No."

"Did you tell her that you were a British supermodel?"

"No."

"Was she desperate and did you-"

"No!" I scream, "Dan, do not even think of continuing that sentence! She's not even my girlfriend!"

"Yeah, you're just saying that." Dan says, smiling proudly, folding his arms.

"I swear to it!" I say, "She's just… my friend."

"Sure…" Jake laughs, winking, "She said she loved you and you said that you love her back!"

"And?"

"Dude, she said she was worried about you!"

"And?"

Jacob puts a friendly hand on my shoulder, "Dude, you may think you're just friends with this girl, but she obviously has a different impression!"

I blink, "You think?"

"Positive." He nods.

I don't know whether I believe him or not. I mean… surely, Sonny doesn't have those feelings for me? Sonny is so open to me usually… she would've told me if this was the case… surely…?

"It doesn't matter anyway, dude…" Jacob continues, "You have to tell us everything! What's it like in Hollywood?"

I smile, thankful for a distraction from Sonny. "It's great." I say, "So much fun!"

The questions flood in – at one time, Danny asks if I've met any jerks.

"Yes." I say, "The Melody Falls cast… some are okay, like Sonny…" I ignore them as they elbow each other, "But some are just horrible. Oh, and you will not believe who I saw there the other week!"

I tell them about the encounter with the Pig-heads, and when I'm asked about if 'Chad's Support System Version 2.0' was better than them, I know that I've got my protective, down-right bonkers friends back.

It's good to be home.

A/N: Apologies for the lack of Channy in the second half, but I think the bromance and the flood of Channy in the first half made up for it, right?

I hope you guys enjoyed this! If you did, make sure to review!

Ooh, and if you're an Austin & Ally fan and you haven't yet, please go read my A&A one-shot 'Pancakes & Pickles'! I very much enjoyed writing it and hope you guys enjoy reading it!

Make sure to review! The more reviews, the faster I'll update!

~Amy x