Chapter Eight

--

After that conversation was over, there really wasn't much to do. At one point, a spider sped across the wall behind me and I screamed, scurrying over to Chad's side. He squished it with his sneaker, but I stayed clung to his side. We stayed that way for the rest of the twenty minutes. Chad looked asleep, and I daydreamed. This felt like how we were arranged on our fake date, my head resting against his shoulder, but this time, it wasn't fake.

Finally, the door knob twisted and I saw Tawni's smirk. I nudged Chad's shoulder and he shook his head and we leapt up.

I glared at her as I stomped out of the closet. Niko, Grady, and Zora were behind her. But Grady and Niko were glowering at Chad, arms crossed firmly.

Chad adjusted his jacket and looked warily at all of us, arranged in a squirmy circle. "Sonny," He nodded at me. He grinned meanly at Niko and Grady. "Rainy, Cloudy."

"You already used that, Chip Drama Pants!" Niko hooted as Chad strode confidently down the hall.

Grady guiltily punched Niko in his shoulder. "We already used Chip," He said under his breath.

Niko looked stumped. "Guess we have to make new insult note cards." He said in defeat. The pair quickly ran off to make new insults for Chad, I guess. At least now they wouldn't get upset with me.

"Well, thanks guys. Being locked in spider filled closets was a great way to spend my night!" I said perkily, giving once-overs to Tawni and Zora.

"She made me do it!" Zora exclaimed, her eyes bugging out of her head.

"Threaten or guilt?" I asked casually. We were all used to Tawni's schemes to get what she wanted- she either guilted you with her puppy dog face, or threatened you with rolls.

I usually got the rolls.

"She used my meat catapult, it was cold…." Zora shivered, having a flashback.

Tawni watched our conversation with her hands implanted on her hips.

"Be quiet, Zora, and run along," Tawni pursed her lips.

"If you're going to 'care' like you did after the James thing-" I backed away slowly. That had been weird.

Tawni groaned. "NO! But you guys made up right?"

I scoffed, trying to keep face. "In theory."

"Then once again, Tawni Hart saves the day!" Tawni squealed, flipping her hair.

"Tawni?" I called after her as she strutted back to the cafeteria.

Tawni twirled around and jutted a hip. "Yes?"

"Thanks," A grin played across my lips.

Tawni looked like she didn't know whether to act grateful or save face. In the end, she gave me a half smile and walked inside.

--

I wasn't really sure what to do about David. He had been very upset when he had asked me out. I had been reading the week's script with Grady and Niko when he called.

"Hello?" I had asked happily. I adore getting phone calls.

"Sonny, it's David," He had breezed. "I know you wanna see a movie with me tonight."

Uhm, no. He didn't know squat.

"Well, I know I don't," I had said shortly. What gets on my nerves is when people act like they know what I think or what I'm feeling.

David was silent, so I had just said thanks anyway and hung up. Grady and Niko gave me high fives, I guess because they don't appreciate me favoring other guys over them.

--

But now we had to go to the dance together. If we still were, I wasn't sure. I sure didn't want to.

So that night at rehearsal, I said brightly: "Hey guys! Let's do the group thing, okay? All of So Random! going together!"

"Sweet!" Grady cheered. Apparently he didn't care about losing his date with Tawni. (Tawni seemed joyful,)

"Great!" Zora cackled, while Tawni shrugged gracefully. "I guess," She sighed. But she didn't look upset.

"What about David?" Niko spat his name.

"We're not a good match," I said carefully.

"Like me and Chad are?" Cara's snarky voice snapped from behind us.

"Aren't you banned?" Tawni sounded exasperated.

"We don't have a banned wall," I murmured.

"Well, let's ban her!" Tawni said strictly, standing up, her necklaces jingling together.

Cara gave her a Look. Her red curls cascaded over her shoulders, and her blue eyes were absolutely beautiful. She wore a lacey blue tank top over form fitting jeans, and she looked slender and curvy. A perfect Hollywood Barbie to cling on Chad's arm at the dance.

"You can't ban me, people love me," Cara retorted. She smiled angelically at Grady.

"Not anymore," Grady huffed.

"Whatever, what are you doing here?" I asked in obvious annoyance.

"Just wanted to let you know, Chad and I went shopping after dinner. I picked out the perfect silver tie for him. I'm wearing a gorgeous silver dress!" Cara squealed.

"If we pour water on her, will she melt?" I asked my cast loudly.

"We can always find out!" Zora grinned wickedly, standing up and gripping her water bottle.

Cara glared at us. "Fine, I can take a hint."

"Chad has given you a million hints that he hates you, pick any one to take," Tawni smirked at her.

Cara took a deep breath, looking a bit more vulnerable. "I've seen those hints," She admitted. "But eventually, Chad can-"

"Go with you because his boss is making him, while ruining Sonny's night?" Tawni shot back.

Cara looked slightly stricken. "Get out," I ordered her.

She flounced out quickly, and we erupted into cheers and woops.

"So Random! sticks together like peanut butter and leather!" Grady hollered.

"Idiot," Zora wacked him on the head.

I leaned back in my chair, laughing easily. My friends were there for me, even Tawni when pretty famous people threatened her image.

And who knows, maybe Cara could really melt away, and in return, my troubles could melt away as well.