Ok, so I've worked something out in my head. I can pretty much publish a new chapter every weekend. Hope I satisfied at least one person out there. Please review! I love hearing from you all. I'm really happy with how this chapter turned out. I'm eager to start the next. Special shout out to liveisveryshortsoami for all those ideas and for just being great.

Disclaimer: Yes, of course I own SWAC. I also own a talking unicorn named Jeff.

Chapter One

The first thing I saw the next morning in the cafeteria was Marshall, his bald head hanging mournfully. I saw tear stains splattered upon his suit.

"Marshall?" I asked gently, "Are you alright? Did Nico and Grady break another one of your birthday presents?" Laying a hand on his shoulder, I felt sympathy for the man. Nico and Grady destroyed everything they could touch.

But Marshall just shook his head glumly.

Then, as if noticing me for the first time, he wiped away the wetness from his eyes and sniffled, trying to look as normal as possible. "Sorry," he whispered, his voice shaking, implying more behind the simple phrase. I watched him leave, my hand still resting mid-air where his shoulders had been under them not moments before. Curiosity getting the best of me, I deserted the caf and my yogurt-yearning stomach, racing down the halls to get to the Prop House.

It wasn't until I felt the sharp pain of carpeted wood under my side that I realized I'd bumped into someone. But my automatic apology stopped short when I saw the blob of blonde hair slowly getting up and dusting himself off dismissively.

"Sonny." Chad tried to grimace, but wound up smirking at my name, the way he always does. He was as transparent as a window.

Ever since the day I met him, Chad Dylan Cooper was public enemy #1, and it was no surprise he should have felt the same. And he did—for a while. But ever since I'd pretended to twist my ankle at our fierce game of Musical Chairs, his hard demeanor had dimmed, showing softer, kinder sides of Chad I couldn't have ever even guessed existed in a person like him. He and I had slipped up a few times about our feelings, but covered them as quickly as we'd said them. Everyone else saw a major crush forming—I only saw a cruel heartbreaker with no respect for others. But even though I was impenetrable, it didn't mean Chad was. He'd done several things that made his true feelings for me clear. He'd been my special dance at prom, the arm that caressed me on a date (even if it was fake), the one who implied he loved me because of a backstage slip-up, the supportive hand that held me up during injury (even if it wasn't real), and so much more. And because of this, my heart ran rapidly every time I saw those familiar blue eyes.

As quickly as it had appeared, that smirk of his was gone. Then it was my turn to grimace.

"What are you doing here, Chad?" I said, each word slithering through my teeth, coated with distaste. Convincing him I loathed him was easier than buying a gift for Tawni. Cocoa-Mochoa-Cocoa or a mirror, every time.

Suddenly a smile as sly as a villain's was creeping across his lips, an echo of it dancing gleefully in his eyes. It made my stomach flop uneasily.

"First, why don't you watch where you're going?"

I stuck my tongue out childishly at him.

"Second, a sincere apology would at least be helpful in cheering me up. You did ruin the CDC hair, after all."

I rolled my eyes. "I am SO, deeply, utterly, unbearably sorry. How will I EVER forgive myself?" I laid a hand over my forehead dramatically as he watched with a cross between annoyance and amusement painted on his face.

"How was that?" The corners of my mouth turned up playfully as I watched him scoff and avert his eyes. "Believable. For now."

"And your last reason? I'm waiting." I made a point to tap my foot and cross my arms, but then I saw the twisted expression return. My stomach flipped once again, my tauntingly playful face hardening.

"Oh? You don't know?" His eyes danced like flames in a fire, licking away at the blue. "Well, I'm just here to watch the show. I'd gladly escort you." He stuck out a warm, inviting hand.

It took almost everything I had to turn away from it, rolling my eyes and pffting his gesture. Because, to my great misfortune, somewhere inside of me wanted to take it and never let go. But most of me was wondering the truth behind his dark words. What 'show'?

I could hear his heavy footsteps behind me, feeling them beat the ground, as I tried my best not to break into a sprint toward the Prop House.

I entered the usually happy room to see all of my castmates, including Marshall, sitting solemnly on the couches. I could hear soft crying coming from the vent as I realized Zora wasn't as clearly seated in the room as the others.

Tawni's normally perfect makeup was smeared with tears, mascara running down her face like zebra stripes; Nico and Grady sat leaning against each other, flicking loose threads of a pillow resting on their lap. Marshall looked the same as earlier this morning, only somehow worse. None of them even noticed Chad and I walking into the room.

I wasn't sure what to do, who to hug first. My heart hammered against my chest like an oversized drum. My head spun. I started feeling lightheaded and dizzy, but made sure not to go show any further expression than worry and fear to the outside world.

"Wha-who-are-do…huh?" I stuttered, pointing to every face in the room, not sure what to say first. "Marshall?" I finally managed.

"Sonny, sit down," he said, leading me toward the couch everyone else was leaking tears on. I sat in between Tawni and Marshall. Out of character, Tawni rested her head against mine sadly. I patted her hair comfortingly, though inside I was screaming.

"Sonny," he began, "you have been incredible since you joined the cast. You're the kindest, most wonderful person to work with, and I couldn't have asked for a better addition to this team." He smiled down at me, and I did my best to return it, but it felt wrong even on my own face.

"Our ratings have increased dramatically, and anyone near or around you has a hard time not liking you. Unfortunately, we still haven't been able to top 'Mackenzie Falls' ratings, but we've all been amazing, nonetheless." He looked pointedly at Chad for a moment, who was stretched out comfortably on the gaming chair I bought Nico and Grady for their birthday, watching the ordeal unfold before him. I supposed since he guest starred on our show once, he feels right at home, allowed to be here.

"I want to say thank you for everything you've done for 'So Random!', me, and your castmates. You really have been a ball of sunshine, just like your name implies. Thank you again, Sonny." He patted the top of my head as gently as I was stroking Tawni's.

My brown eyes were confused, upset, angry, and scared, all at the same time. I didn't even know what my face must be showing. I glanced at Chad, who was no longer smirking twistedly, but analyzing me anxiously as if I were a terminally ill hospital patient.

Then, as Marshall took a deep breath and stared into my eyes, he said the words I'd never thought I'd hear announced in my entire life.

"Sonny, 'So Random!' has been canceled."