Hello everyone. I hope you enjoy this story because we are now getting into the depth of the plot, but not quite there yet. You'll see, just wait. ;]

Disclaimer: I don't own the show, but I would sell my soul to be on it!

Also, this chapter is deciated to IGottaFindYou, like a promised, because she is amazing in her reviews, and always makes my day! Thank-you!! :]

"What is this?!" Chad asked, slamming down a magazine in front of a confused Portlyn. Portlyn grabbed the magazine and stared at the headline, feeling her hands get sweaty. Tears filled her eyes. She knew this would happen. She'd hoped it wouldn't.

"How could you do this?!" he exclaimed. "We had to pretend to date, fine. I could do that. I could hold your hand, and smile like I was having the time of my life. Sure, I could. 'Just until the season ends, Chad, JUST UNTIL THE SEASON ENDS!'" he mocked his agent. "But no, two more months until the season finale, and you get yourself pregnant?! Do you realize what this could do to me?!" Chad took in some air and clenched his fists.

Portlyn's face was streaked with tears. "It's not all about you, Chad…" she said quietly.

"It is when my career is on the line, Portlyn!" His heart was racing and he was pissed. "Whose is it, Portlyn?! Because it definitely is not mine!"

Portlyn stared down at the page, never daring to look at Chad. She knew he was upset. No matter how he treated her, he didn't deserve this, and she knew it. But she didn't answer.

"Whose is it, Portlyn?!" Chad demanded. He was fuming. "Who knocked you up?!"

"He was…" she could hardly see past her tears, and she quickly wiped them away, trying to regain her composure. "Just some guy…from home. He came to visit me…and we…"she couldn't finish.

"Does he know?" he asked, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"No…no, he doesn't."

Chad practically growled. At first, Portlyn was surprised that Chad cared, but then she realized: he only cared about himself. He always would. Chad could never love anything more than himself.

"Portlyn…do you know what this could do? To us? To me?" He calmed down a bit, but was still extremely angry.

That was when Portlyn broke down. The tears poured from her eyes, and she choked on each sob.

"I'm so scared, Chad," she whispered.

Chad bit his lip, then sat down next to her, wrapping his arms around her and stroking her hair.

"It's okay, Portlyn. You'll be okay. Everything will be fine. Shh," he said. "We'll work this out."

Portlyn choked out a "How?"

"I'll stay with you," he whispered.

"What? No, Chad, you can't. This could ruin you," she said, sitting up and wiping her tears on her sleeve. She didn't want him to sacrifice everything he had worked for to help her.

"Portlyn…I'll stay with you until we can get him down here. You can tell him here, and we'll explain everything to the press. Until then, they won't believe us. Trust me," he said. Chad didn't want to do this. But he convinced himself that Portlyn was his friend, and he had to try to help her. She couldn't go through this alone, what with the tabloids constantly ripping on her, and the paparazzi following her around like lost puppies. Until her little "friend" arrived, he would have to take care of it.

Portlyn smiled in relief. "Thanks, Chad. Thank you so much." She leaned into his chest, and he rubbed her back.

This could get messy.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Sonny couldn't comprehend anything. She was incapable of thinking whole thoughts and her ability to relax diminished as she read the article once, twice, three times over.

"Inside sources believe the baby is her teen co-star boyfriend, Chad Dylan Cooper, 16. The two were seen together downtown last weekend at Hollywood's hottest new club, 'The Basement.' The two have been inseparable ever since."

Sonny screamed into a pillow. Was that why he chose Portlyn over her? Was that the only reason? Or was he really that self-centered, only caring about himself and his career? Surely that wasn't why. He had to have had a good reason to choose Portlyn besides the publicity, right?

Still, knowing that Chad even did that to Portlyn…how could he be so stupid? On one hand, Sonny felt badly for Portlyn, whose career might have been flushed down the drain because of Chad's little slip-up. But on the other hand, Sonny hated Chad for even doing stuff like that in the first place.

If he had just told her the reasons behind his decision, maybe she would have understood. She spent all that time dwelling on the possibility that maybe she just wasn't good enough, that she didn't reach Chad Dylan Cooper's standards. She hated herself for thinking that.

And she hated him…and loved him. She loved to hate him and hated to love him. It was going nowhere, and she needed to figure a way out.

As Sonny thought, Tawni burst through the door, grinning.

"We're doing another rehearsal for the Check It Out Girls, Sonny. Come on!" she said.

Sonny looked up and Tawni stopped. "Sonny…" she said. "Were you crying?"

Sonny nodded shyly and held up the magazine, showing the headline on the front page. Tawni dropped her smile and snatched the magazines from Sonny's hand. She read it in awe.

"She's pregnant?" Tawni asked, bewildered. Sonny nodded sadly. Sonny knew that Tawni wouldn't be of very much help, but it was worth a shot. She needed some comfort, and Tawni was better than nothing.

"Wow…I always knew this would happen to someone like her. I just didn't know it would be her," Tawni said. "Chad must be freaking out."

Sonny sniffed and nodded a third time.

"What does this have to do with you crying?" asked Tawni. She looked concerned as she read over the article in front of her.

Sonny nodded again, in fear that if she said anything, she would say too much.

"How? What happened, Sonny?"

Sonny caved in and told Tawni everything. "Chad was dating Portlyn but he told me he liked me and I told him I liked him back, and then I told him to choose between me and Portlyn, which I probably shouldn't have done because he chose Portlyn, and for the longest time I thought it was because I wasn't good enough or something, but then I found out that Portlyn was pregnant with his baby, and now I don't know what to do! Should I confront him, or—"

"Whoa! Sonny! Slow down, you'll hurt yourself," Tawni laughed. "I didn't know you like Chad."

"I don't…" Sonny replied quietly.

"You just said you do," Tawni said.

"I don't just like him," Sonny said. "I think I'm in love with him."

How is everyone? Good? Good enough to review? I think so. It's very much appreciated! :]

-Emily.