The pale green bowl of half-eaten casserole rest on the center of the wooden table in the dimly lit kitchen. It was a little after one o' clock in the morning now, and there was still no sign of Chad. I attempted to distract myself countless times with TV and books, but I couldn't pay attention to either. It was foolish of me to be worried about him. He was a big boy. He could take care of himself. But he did promise me that he would be back by dinner, and it is obviously way past dinner. I stifled a yawn, trying to will myself to stay awake. I wanted to be wide awake when Chad got back, so I could have some peace of mind before drifting off to sleep. Unfortunately, I had no idea when that would happen. I had half a mind to dig through Chad's phonebook and call Tawni to see if she knew anything, but I supposed Chad would be angry with me if I did that. I had no choice but to wait on the couch, struggling to reason with myself. Why should I care where he is? I shouldn't be waiting up. I should be sleeping. I should be putting myself first, not him. He never did the same for me. But I guess, in a way, I felt like I owed him for all of the times he worried about me while we were dating. Or…pretended too. Either way, it made me feel cared for, and even jerks deserved to feel that, too. Right?

I picked up the dark colored remote and began flipping channels. Nothing was catching my attention, since my mind was completely somewhere else. That is, until, I landed on one of those utterly idiotic Hollywood gossip shows. The brunette lady with the microphone was surrounded by screaming adolescent girls. The camera only revealed half of whatever celebrity was to her right. "I am currently standing here, next to a very missed Hollywood heart throb." the fan-girls screamed louder. "So, Hayden Spencer, tell us about your new movie!" the camera panned to the right, showing none other than my Hayden.

He looked so incredibly different. I had to focus just to verify that he was the same person. His brown eyes were now green, obviously due to color contacts. We used to have our dark hair in common, but now it was a light brown, which was a shocking contrast to his dark, tanned skin.

"Well, basically, it's about this girl, Jessica, who loses her family in a tragic accident that pretty much scars her. I play the best friend, Ryan, who she eventually falls in love with. It sounds boring and cliché, but there are all sorts of twists in between that I'm not allowed to mention. You guys will just have to see the movie to find out." he explained smoothly and confidently.

"Did you find your character easy to portray?" she asked, holding the microphone back to his mouth.

He smiled. "Actually, it was. I found that Ryan and I had a lot in common. We both have enough patience to stand by and wait for the girl we love to love us back. And…I could relate to the pain he went through while the girl he loved was suffering." he said, blushing. The girls behind him sighed, and one curvy red-headed girl even held up her "I Love Hayden" sign as high as she possibly could reach. Hayden noticed it, and turned his body around to face her. "I love you too." he said, winked at her, blew a silly kiss, and laughed, The interview lady was grinning ear to ear, while the girl looked like she was about to faint. I couldn't help but compare Hayden to Chad. I know that it would have just gone straight to Chad's ego, blowing it up even more until his head eventually exploded. It was nice to know that Hayden still had his amazing sense of humor.

"So how were the living conditions during filming?"

"Well, the whole movie takes place in a secluded area. They live in a very small town, and their houses are actually right outside of it. There were no hotels nearby, so we had to sleep in the woods. Everyone else had a problem with it, but I've been used to camping. I used to do it all the time before I moved here. It brought back a lot of memories." he smiled his gorgeous, sincere smile.

That's what I always admired about Hayden. He wasn't born into fame. He had a genuine fun life before he became "Hollywood's hottest heartthrob". He went to carnivals, skated, made crafts, everything that was innocent and amusing. "Oh, you're just so down to earth!" the lady gushed, obviously reading my mind. Hayden blushed a bit, and then the camera focused on the interviewer again. "This has been Juliana Hoffman with Hayden Spencer! Now back to you, Santiago." she nodded, and then the screen jumped to an aged and bald Santiago Heraldo.

I turned off the television after hearing Santiago go on and on about a drug addicted Portlyn on her new reality series, before I started getting majorly bummed out about my lack of career and amazing life.

I suddenly heard a burst of giggling along with the squeak of the door. "Oh, Chaddy, you're so funny." a girl's voice cooed.

I raised up from the couch and marched over to the source of the noise with a purpose.

And there he was. A mischievous, yet happy smile spread across his face, stumbling over some stick-thin bleach blonde. I felt a wave of nausea swim through me as I looked the girl up and down. Unfortunately, I couldn't find one blemish on her. She met my judging eyes and glared at me, then faced Chad again. "Who's the loser with the bad makeup job staring at me?" she whispered, even though she knew I could hear her.

"Oh, that's just the maid." he brushed her comment off.

No way was I going to let her insult me. If Chad wasn't going to defend me, then I'd defend myself. "Excuse me, I have a bad makeup job? You're the one who looks like a clown." I pointed out. She resembled Barbie, with her painted face and clothes that were obviously chosen by a six year old. She had on bright, neon green eyeshadow along with over-applied mascara. Her lips were a ruby red, and she had on way too much blush on. It reminded me of the time Tawni went without mirrors, therefore had no idea what she was doing to her face. Hooker Barbie also had on a tight bright yellow tank top, a green skirt that should be illegal, and light blue heels. Sadly enough, this was the common attire for Hollywood parties.

"Shut up, Sonny." Chad said sternly, his eyes intimidating me for a split seccond. Instead of getting sad like I normally do, I stood my ground. I originally thought that staying with Chad would bring down my self-esteem, but so far, it's been quite the opposite. Sure I faltered at first, but now for some reason...fighting back feels right.

"You have no right to tell me to shut up, Chad. I can say what ever the hell I want to!" I yelled, throwing my hands up.

"Wait…Sonny?" the girl said. Barbie's face scrunched up as if she was thinking of something.

"That's my name."

"Sonny…Sonny…" she tapped her chin.

"You sure picked a keeper, Chad." I commented sarcastically.

"Sonny, I said shut it."

"Sonny! That's it! I've got it!" Barbie exclaimed, a smile spreading across her artificial face.

"Got what?" Chad and I asked in unison, only to glare at each other seconds later.

"You're Sonny Munroe! From So Random! You're the one-show-wonder who was so bad at acting that you couldn't get another job after that lame kiddy comedy!" she giggled, slapping her knee at her recognition.

I stepped up closer to her. "Oh, you did not just-"

"Chantal, I'll meet you upstairs, 'kay?" Chad said, interrupting me. I folded my arms across my chest angrily as 'Chantal' turned her nose up at me and uttered a humph sound, then strutted up the stairs. Her hips swayed sharply with every step, which had Chad staring at her backside until she was out of sight.

"What is your problem?!" he shouted at me.

"What is my problem, what is your problem?!" I screamed back.

"What do you mean what is my problem, what is your problem?"

I saw we were getting nowhere, took a deep breath, and put myself back together. I thought over my wording carefully. "So I slave over a hot stove for you, you, who says you'll be back by dinner! And by the looks of it," I said, glancing over to the bizarre cat clock hanging on the wall. "It's way past dinner!"

"Slave over a hot stove? What are you, my wife? And so you take it out on Chantal?"

"Everything I said to her had nothing to do with you. She had no right to talk to me like that."

"You were way out of line." he said disapprovingly, and walked to the kitchen, away from me.

"Oh, I was out of line? How do you think I felt, worrying that you fell into a ditch or something, and then you come back with her!"

He opened the refrigerator, completely bypassing the casserole I made. "Jealous?" he smirked nonchalantly, glancing at a piece of cake inside.

"Jealous?"

"What?!" I exclaimed. "No! I'm pissed!"

"Because you're so jealous." he said, pointing at me accusingly.

"No, because you're such an ass!"

"But you want me to be your ass."

"That doesn't even make sense!"

"Does it not, Sonny, does it not really?"

"Stop confusing me!"

"Whatever, Sonny." he waved me off.

"Whatever? Whatever? You had me worried sick!"

"Sounds like you need a reality adjustment, then."

"What do you mean, Chad?" I asked dryly.

"I mean, you're not my mom. You're not my girlfriend. So mind your own business and let me live. Ever think I have better things to do than staying at home every freaking night? Do you think I'm some hermit?"

"No, I don't expect you to stay home all the time. I just thought you would have the courtesy to let me know you'll be late."

"Whatever. I've got a hotel heiress waiting for me upstairs, so…g'night." he said, beginning to walk up the stairs.

"You disgust me." I muttered.

Once there was no more Chad in sight, I sighed and walked back to the couch. No way was I sleeping in a room right next to Chad's while they did...who knows what. I tugged on a blanket from the arm of the sofa, and spread it softly across my body, covering every inch except for my head. I cushioned my angry, pounding thoughts with the comfort of knowing Hayden was still the nice, fun, sensitive guy as before. It was nice to know that this town wasn't totally full of fakes. And not just this town. Seeing Hayden gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, there are still good people in the world.

For some absurd, bizarre reason, Chantal being here with me felt wrong. And we haven't even done anything.

First, we were kissing. That was nice.

Then, we were making out. Even nicer.

Finally, the clothes started to disappear.

And that's when it went downhill.

For some reason, I didn't want a one night's stand. Yeah, at first I wanted to sleep with her just to spite Sonny.

Call me crazy, but deep down, I wanted something more.

Something more with someone more. Not a shallow rich girl.

And for some even stranger reason, I couldn't keep my mind off of the girl downstairs.

Not so much her, actually, but I couldn't help wonder, was she jealous?

And horribly enough, I was hoping she was. It wasn't because I liked her and wanted her to like me or anything. I just wanted her to be jealous so that she should regret passing me up for that Hayden loser.

Chantal snuggled up to me, attempting to be cute. "Hey, baby…" I felt myself cringe at the name she called me. Sonny used to call me that when we dated. Not seriously, but as a joke to mock the losers who used corny nicknames for their boyfriend/girlfriend like hunny or sweetie pie. And ever since we broke up, I never allowed any of my other girlfriends to call me that. Not that I'd let anyone know, but I was extremely superstitious. In fact, if one of my girlfriend's forgot that they weren't supposed to call me that, I'd immediately dump them. It was like breaking a mirror to me. Pure bad luck in the relationship. Now, I've learned to ignore it; that is unless I want to be single for the rest of my life.

"Hmm?" I asked absentmindedly, staring straight ahead.

"Wanna…" she kissed my cheek and gazed at me seductively. I didn't need words to figure out what she was implying.

"No."

"What? No?" she asked incomprehensibly.

"That's right, no."

She sat up straight, glaring at me. "Are you saying you don't wanna sleep with me?"

"Exactly."

"You can't be serious."

"Sorry, I just don't…feel like it tonight.

"What the hell? You're a guy! You're supposed to always feel like it!" God, she was so desperate. "Just…buy a vibrator or something," I suggested. "I'm tired." I said, turning on my side to face the wall. "Whatever, Chad. Just...call me or something."

"Sure."

She stared at me cautiously, expecting me to change my mind. When she realized I wasn't budging, she angrily snatched her tank top from off of my bed and walked out of the room; leaving me to drown in my own loneliness.

What the hell did I do that for? I was such an idiot. I was doing so well all day. Sonny snapping at me was a blessing in disguise. It gave me the inspiration to go and have a life.

Rule #9.

Unfortunately, I wasn't finding anything. Sure I came across some pretty girls, along with some decently decent resturaunts, but nothing satisfied me. As a last resort, I went to Boost, the newest, hottest night club that opened. After five minutes inside, I realized that it was definitely not worth the hype. I'm Chad Dylan Cooper, after all, and I've been to my fair share of clubs. Especially now that I've reached the legal drinking age. After a long day, I decided to just humor the first girl who threw herself at me. I sound like a whore, I know, but it felt justifying to me. And now I threw her out? I'm not bipolar, but I definitely have a hard time making up my mind.

I personally think this chapter could have been better. I've just been so overwhelmed lately. Not in terms of school work, but friends...and boys. I've sort of got a reputation for being a stalker now haha. That's what I get for telling my friends about the hot guys I kinda sorta stalk on facebook. And now said guys know and they tease me about it. It's quite rude. But it's fun, too.

Anyway, what did you guys think of this chapter? Could've been better, or did you actually like it? What did you guys want to happen in this chapter instead of what did?

I'd just like feedback on it, good or bad. Then I can get an idea of how I should shape the next chapter. Thanks.