Tawni walked into the cafeteria for lunch. As she headed toward the line her gaze fell upon a very sullen Chad Dylan Cooper.
She walked to the front to grab her sandwich and salad. She tried not to look back over at the star- she didn't want to feel bad for the person who had put them through so much- but with another glance
she found herself annoyingly heading over to his table.

"Hey Chad" She tried to smile.

"Hey" He didn't bother looking up as he stirred his potato salad.

"So..." She tapped her finger on her tray "How's work?"

Chad glanced up "fine" He went back to his stirring.

Tawni looked around awkwardly- encouraging people was all too new and the pressure of knowing how to do it well was building inside her.

"You can go Tawni"

She glanced down and Chad was still not looking at her.

"Thanks, but you can go."

Tawni was confused for a moment but then realized he was offering her an out. (He knew what it was like to want to help but feel useless and out of practice)

She felt relieved but still wanted to encourage him. "Just remember..." she took the napkin from her plate and offered it to him. (A flag of surrender) "things always land right side up, eventually."

He looked up at her and she gave him a compassionate half smile.

He smiled and took the napkin. "Thanks Tawni"

She Nodded and made her way back out the door.

Chad sighed- something he had felt unable to do for awhile. It was all frozen in his mind and he felt very shocked. Was Sonny already dating some other guy?
If not it was quite obvious that she would soon be willing to start dating again. He lowered his face into his hands and began to massage his temples. She was ready to move on
but he most certainly was not. He could almost feel his head throb from the thoughts.

"Chad?" He looked up to see Sonny standing in front of him. "Can I sit down?"

Chad opened his mouth but nothing came out. For one of the few times in his life he had no words. What was he suppose to say? Was he suppose to be mad and give her the cold shoulder,
or was he suppose to be thankful she came over at all?

In the midst of these thoughts Sonny took it upon herself to be seated.

"I'm sorry Chad"

Chad brought his gaze over to hers. He still couldn't speak but his brow lowered a bit.

Sonny took a deep breath. "Chad I have to tell you something."

Chad suddenly felt sick to his stomach. Suddenly he realized not knowing was better than knowing.

"Sonny, I don't really have time for this." He said it nicely but he quickly gathered his food.

"Chad please wait" Sonny placed her hand on his to stop him.

He continued to gather his things but a bit slower.

"Chad I've been talking to someone..."

"I know." Chad cut her off.

She lowered her brow "What?" He looked up at her. "I saw you talking to some guy in the prop house."

Sonny's expression didn't change

Chad waited for an explanation but not long. "It doesn't matter Sonny. I told you I gotta go anyway."

"Chad sit down." He paused and looked at her- she held a unyielding look.

He felt he had to obey. He sat back down but didn't look at her. "Now, I'm going to talk and don't interrupt me ok?"

He gave no answer.

"Ok. I don't think I should have started with that line." Chad rolled his eyes at the obvious statement.

"Look, my time at So Random has been amazing."

Chad looked up at her

"But lately I have really had this overwhelming passion for my music. You know how much I love my music."

Chad felt able to nod.

Sonny sighed "I don't know what's wrong with me." She let her face fall into her hands. "I've been floundering over my jokes, and I've been on edge with everybody."

She shook her head and spoke with a far off look in her eye. "Don't you ever feel like it's time for something new?"

Chad felt a lump in his throat. He had seen Sonny's reviews lately. He thought maybe her struggle was with the breakup, but he never expected this.

"Chad, I just..." She brought her eyes back to his. "I really, really, want to sing!"

Sonny took a deep breath- There it was.

Chad was frozen in place.

"Chad?"

She waited, but nothing. Sonny took a breath and continued

"The guy that you saw in the prop house was Mic Farrgon from Music Mixers Inc. My cousin sent him a cd we made one time when we were just goofying off and he loved it. He called about 2 months ago and I didn't give it much thought.
But as I continued working it was just on my mind more and more..."

Chad felt his eyes may start watering soon. He knew more than anyone Sonny's passion for her music but somehow this time it felt like a betrayal to him.

"I kept putting off writing my sketches because I couldn't stop writing my music. It's just..." Sonny sought for the words... " in me. You know what I mean?"

When Chad saw what was in her eyes he felt a world of emotions flood in- sadness, guilt, compassion, frustration... She wanted him to understand. She wanted his blessing.
All this time that he thought maybe in the smallest increments that he had been missed, and all along she was perfectly content with her music.

He shook his head- all he could do to get past these thoughts.

Sonny continued. "I haven't made any definite decisions. When you saw me talking to Mic no one knew anything about it." She sighed. "I just told Tawni this morning."

She stopped and looked up at him. "So what do you think?"

He sat there for a few moments. "To tell you the truth, Sonny," he shrugged "I don't know what to think." He continued to stare blankly.

"Well," Sonny could see he needed alone time. "We can talk about it later ok?" She stood with her tray

Chad looked up at her and eventually nodded.

"Ok, well... see ya" She gave him a parting smile.

He forced a smile back.

He was glad to see her turn the corner out the door. He took a deep breath and looked down at his food- he had done it again, but this time it couldn't be helped.
He tossed his tray of uneaten food and headed to his dressing room to think.