I just want to thank you all for the reviews. It made my day reading how much you liked this story. And believe me, I've been having bad days. I've been home sick the entire time I was writing these, so I'm glad to have satisfied you. =) You guys are the best!

Disclaimer: Breaking News!!! I now own SWAC!!! Naw, I'm kidding, as you're all well aware. Read. :P

Chapter Three

Previously on WOC:

It took him a moment, but he finally decided to sit down next to me, not exactly sure what to do. It wasn't hard for me to stump the great Chad Dylan Cooper—I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who can.

Then slowly, very slowly and carefully, he wrapped his arms around me comfortingly, protectively. I didn't fight back, didn't resist him; instead I sank into his warm embrace, longing to stay there forever, all the fight in me gone.

*****

We stayed like that for what felt like eternity. My eyes were finally dry—anything feeding the tears was all used up by now, and all I could do was sigh against Chad's shoulder. He felt more comfortable with me in his arms after a while; gradually he moved one arm around me to two, leaned his head against mine, and was rubbing his right hand comfortingly up and down my arm.

Could it really have only been an hour ago that I was screaming in his face and sobbing over 'So Random!'s end?

Unwillingly, I shifted under his embrace, getting stiff from sitting so long. He took that as a sign to let me go, and his arms dropped as he scooted his body around to face me. He was looking at me strangely—not like I was a hospital patient, not like I'd hurt his feelings, not even like he'd won the game—he was looking at me with something I couldn't place, something unnamable. But, with everything that's happened, oddly enough, I liked it.

I was scared to look back up at him, scared of what I might have looked like. My face felt like it was a wet towel, so soaked from the tears I'd shed. My eyes felt as though they were on fire, my lungs the same. So I hid my messy face behind a curtain of dark brown, mangled locks.

Seeing my discomfort, he reached out a hand again, but this time I declined. I could almost taste the awkwardness, it was so strong. I stood up briskly, pretending to dust myself off, as I turned my back to him and muttered a quick "thanks". Then I ran for it.

I sprinted down the halls like a gazelle being chased by a hungry cheetah—there was nothing more I wanted to do than get away from Chad, the Prop House, and Condor Studios. I couldn't look back, couldn't cry over memories that once were and never will be again. I had to pull myself together for once. I had to be strong.

"Sonny!" I could hear my name emanating from the jerkthrob's lips as I ran. "Sonny! Sonny, come back!"

I choked back a sob as I heard it, his voice all too familiar, filled with memories as well. I ran to my car, jerked it into drive, and sped off.

*****

I woke up the next morning to my iPhone mooing away the morning. Still too tired, I tugged the sheets and my pillow over my head and ears, trying to drown out the noise so I could go back to sleep.

What a nightmare I'd had last night. I couldn't even begin to imagine where I'd been so creative as to think it up. 'So Random!' ending? Chad being nice? Agreeing to become a 'Mackenzie Falls' robot? Unthinkable! I shook it off as I dragged myself out from under the covers, preparing for another great day of rehearsing before the show tomorrow.

I smiled as I picked out my ragged pair of trusty blue jeans and a cute yellow t-shirt. After noticing my mom had already left for work, I chugged down a glass of milk and a granola bar and went back to my room for my phone.

Then my world came crashing down when I saw what the text was.

From: Chad D. C.

To: Sonny M.

Don't 4get. 8 am sharp. C ya then.

Eight a.m. sharp. That was when the shooting schedule for 'Mackenzie Falls' started. I stared blankly at the phone resting in my paralyzed hand. So, it was true then. All the words Chad had said yesterday in the Prop House came drifting back.

I couldn't believe it. My worst nightmare had actually come true. I glanced at the clock in my room. 8:02. I knew Chad would be angry if I was even thirty seconds late—I couldn't even begin to imagine his fury at two minutes.

My hands flew to my closet, digging through rough sweaters and soft robes, until I found the old, dusty 'Mackenzie Falls' uniform in the way back of it, only worn once, then deserted. I blew on it gently, but all I got back was a mouth full of dust and grime. My lungs coughed it out desperately.

Snatching up keys, I raced for the door and out to my trusty beat-up truck. I jammed the key into the ignition, only for it to groan and fizzle out.

"No!" I wailed. "Come on, come on, come on!"

Finally, after 6 minutes of pounding the dashboard to rubbing it soothingly, willing it to come to life, it did. My foot found the gas pedal and I flew down the highway to Condor Studios.

I parked in a rush, somewhat over the line, and sprinted out of the car. I checked my watch doubtfully, wishing the whole time the wasted minutes I spent could somehow turn back. 8:13 a.m., now. My footsteps' rhythmic beating picked up as I burst through the entrance door.

I heard a muted thud hit the floor as I looked down in horror. A blonde blob of hair was stretching upward, obviously dazed from the encounter.

"Oh my gosh, Chad, I'm so sorry!" I held out a hand for him to grasp, but he just shook his head and batted it away. I looked at him, pouting, and put it back in place at my side.

"Way to be 16 minutes late, Sonny. And on your first day, too!" He scoffed and turned away from me, clutching a thick white script in his hand.

I stuck a tongue out at his back, when suddenly a tall brunette came up to me with a winning smile. She held out a delicate hand.

"Hello, Sonny! I'm Portlyn. Now, I know we haven't really gotten along in the past, but I'd just like to make a fresh start. I really think that…" Her voice trailed off as much as her eyes did, following Chad's back. Her neck strained as she made sure he was out of sight.

"Alright, you little miss ray of sunshine," she said as soon as he was out of hearing range, her voice thick with disgust, "if you dare go near my boyfriend again, you'll pay!"

I looked at her dubiously. Boyfriend? "Um, Chad's your boyfriend?"

"Yes," she stated with a toss of her hair. "It's not official yet, but he's mine. Got it?"

I wasn't sure whether to defend myself or just nod. Defending myself would make me sound like I'm in denial, when I'm not. Nodding might make her think I'm afraid of her. With the seconds of an impatient Portlyn ticking away, I went with three quick nods.

"Good." She walked away, her heels hitting softly against the carpet as she stomped away.

Slightly dazed, I watched after her. Then I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I turned around, expecting to see Chad glaring at me, but I was met with straight brown hair and chocolate brown eyes, almost matching my own.

"Hey, Sonny," she said, smiling warmly. "I'm Chloe. I just wanted to welcome you to 'Mackenzie Falls', since nobody else has really seemed to."

Glad to have found a 'Mackenzie Falls' member who had a personality and wasn't full of themselves, I took the hand she stuck out gratefully. She had a warm smile. It reminded me of my friend Lucy's from back home. I liked this girl already.

"I'm pretty new to 'Mackenzie Falls' myself. We have something in common!" She laughed lightly, an easy sound. "Want me to show you around?"

Although I already knew most of the 'Mackenzie Falls' studio from the last time I was here, I accepted her offer, eager to get away from two castmembers who already hated me.

Chloe was easy to talk with, since she shared some common interests with me. We both liked country music, we both liked to play guitar, and we both didn't care much for 'Mackenzie Falls'.

"My mom made me audition. She was an actress, and her mother and father before her, and back and back and back." She sighed. "I landed the part as Chloe, coincidentally a character sharing my own name, and she couldn't be happier. I could have been, I suppose. None of the castmembers really liked me, especially Portlyn. I think it was because Chad warmed up to me quickest. She's been crushing on him for years."

I snickered, laughing at her insane obsession, remembering her threat to me. Chad was no prize. Why go after the unattainable for over three years?

"Hey! Guess what?" Chloe exclaimed, flipping through the script in her hands. "You're going to play my long-lost sister Amanda!" Her face lit up as she pulled me into a side hug. Startled by someone hugging me first—I was usually the hugger of the group!—I hugged her tightly back. It was good to have a friend in unknown territory. A real friend. Not a phony that pretended to be nice to get someone else's attention. Not a four-lettered jerkthrob who was more a frenemy than true friend. Tawni and I were close, but not as close as I saw Chloe and I were going to be. For the first time in what felt like centuries—I still couldn't believe it was only yesterday afternoon that I was bawling my eyes out—I was truly happy with what had happened so far.

I was ecstatic, actually, until a small cow-print covered phone ruined everything.