-1So Cold

Chapter 7: No More Room

Previously:

"Mr. Cooper, you have the potential to be one of the greatest actors of the decade, and you are aware of that. That is why I cannot see why, in the last few months, you have made such poor decisions." he picked up the piece of paper, "One count of exceeding the speed limit, going seventy in a fifty. One count of reckless driving. One trip to driver improvement class. One count of assault. The LAPD said you punched a photographer outside of The X Club in downtown Hollywood."

"He was asking if I was having a gay affair with Joe Jonas!" Chad exclaimed defensively, "I didn't even give any reason for him to ask that! If my fans thought I was gay…"

"Things like this are why we have made the decision that we have." Mr. Condor said, "Chad, we are releasing you from your roll on 'Mackenzie Falls'."

"WHAT!?!" Chad yelled.

"Your previous actions were trying enough. We warned you that you were on thin ice. We covered up your mistakes before, but this is one you can't cover up." Mr. Condor said.

"Why does she get to keep her job." he wailed, the word "she" coming out with enough venom to make Sonny flinch at the sound.

"Well, it seems as if you aren't going to take any responsibility for this baby, so Sonny needs her job." Marshall said.

"Oh, I see how it is. It's a double standard now, huh? The meanie bad boy has to lose his job for getting a girl pregnant, but said girl, who might not be as innocent as you think gets to keep her job because she's now gonna be a mom? Really, you guys? Really?" Chad spat.

"Well…"

"You know what?" Chad began, "Save it. I don't need this company! I could be in movies if I wanted to now! You're right, I'm not gonna be a father to this kid. This is my prime and my life. I don't need Sonny. I don't need that kid, and mostly, I don't need you. I'm out. Peace out mother…"

"I will call the police if you do not get off the premises now!" Mr. Condor boomed.

"Fine." he snapped, walking out the door, slamming it behind.

As soon as the door slammed, it hit Sonny like a brick.

"I'm alone. I'm all alone." she whimpered.

"No you're not, baby." Ms. Monroe said, rubbing her daughter's shoulder.

"Yeah we are." she replied, putting a hand on her stomach. A silent tear fell down Sonny's cheek as the scene with Chad replayed over and over in her head like a broken record.

"There was actually more that we had to tell Chad before he burst out." Marshall said, "Well, I did, at least."

Sonny looked over at him, "What are you talking about Marshall?"

"We were going to offer him up as the sixth member of our 'So Random' crew. It would be more than handy. He could have a job, stay on TV, explain himself with you in a tactful manner, and stay with you in case of emergency." Marshall said.

"That would be great if he were actually going to help out. He's not going to want to do that. I can tell you that now." Sonny said, rolling her eyes.

"Well, could you do me a solid and at least ask?" he asked.

"He probably won't answer my phone calls or texts now, so I guess I've got to go over to his house or something."

"He's probably over at "The Falls" right now. They cancelled rehearsals as well, and he's probably cleaning out his dressing room."

"Okay."

"Let Nico go with you, just incase things get ugly." Marshall said.

"You really think Nico could beat Chad in a fight?"

"No, but it might make him think twice before starting a fight."

"I suppose."

Sonny went back to her dressing room where the "So Random" cast was patiently waiting for her arrival. She walked in the door and was flooded with questions.

"Did you get fired?"

"Are you still on the show?"

"Are they making you hold a press conference?"

"Are they making you and Chad go off to Vegas and get married?"

Everyone turned and looked at Zora, obviously annoyed.

"What? It's a possibility." she said

"You guys, I'm staying on the show…" Sonny began.

Everyone cheered loudly and high fived.

"I've gotta go talk to Chad about something, it's official business. I'll tell you later, but I've gotta have Nico to go with me." she said.

"Why?" Nico asked.

"It's a long story. I'll tell you on the walk over."

"Why does he get to know first?" Grady said.

Sonny glared over at Grady, "Do you really want to mess with me again?"

"Wow, Sonny's not looking very sunny anymore." he replied.

Sonny rolled her eyes and grabbed Nico by the upper arm, dragging him out the door.

When they got over to "The Falls" set the security guard glared at them.

"Look, I was sent on official duty by Marshall Pike. I've got to get in there." Sonny said.

The large man grunted, then pointed to the wall to Sonny's right.

She turned and looked. The "Banned" Wall. Fabulous. Sonny had forgotten all about that being there.

"Oh, forreal?" Nico said, "You're gonna let Chad's stupid wall affect how you feel about us?"

The man nodded.

"Do you watch "So Random"?" Nico asked with a charming smile.

The man shook his head, then pointed to the "Mackenzie Falls" poster a few feet behind him.

"Really? You guys are ALL like that?" he said.

Sonny took a deep breath. This was getting really annoying, really fast. She walked forward and pushed Nico out of the way.

"Look, I'm gonna tell you straight up. Have you heard the news about why they shut down rehearsal?"

The guy shook his head.

"Chad Dylan Cooper got a girl pregnant, now he's fired. That's why he came back here in such a fix."

"Really?" the guard finally spoke up, "Oh man, who did he knock up?"

"Me." she took a step towards the guard, giving him a deadly glare.

"Really?"

"Yes. I can show you the text I got when he got the hotel room if you want, but really, I need in that set." she hissed.

"Be my guest." the man said, astonished.

Nico began to walk forward with Sonny, but the security guard held his hand out, stopping him in his tracks.

"You're not pregnant with Chad Dylan Cooper's baby either are you?"

"No, I'm a dude!" Nico exclaimed.

"You're not only just a dude, you're a banned dude." he pointed over to the wall, "Now get back to Chuckle City, kid!"

"Right away." Nico squeaked before running off towards the direction of the other studio.

Sonny walked into the studio, having numerous flashbacks of the last time she was here. The Loganberries, the massages, the pedicures, and all the kids dressed in their uniforms. Now, the entire lot was empty, dull lights turned on. Sonny walked as quietly as possible until she found a dark lit hallway with a room at the very end with the light shining through to the wall. She walked up towards the door and read the name on the door. There was a large gold star with the words "CHAD DYLAN COOPER" written on it. She curiously peeked in. Instead of seeing Chad cursing like a sailor, throwing all of his stuff into a cardboard box, she saw him sitting in his director's style chair with his head in his hands, muttering something under his breath.

She pursed her lips before knocking on the door.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm almost done. Give me a…" he looked up, "oh, it's you."

"I'm so sorry Chad."

"No," he spat, "you're not. You didn't lose your job. You didn't lose all that you've ever known. You're not going to fade into an oblivion. No, your star's gonna keep on shining forever just like I thought mine would. You're gonna come out, in the long run, looking like some sort of god, a hero. You'll be the teenage mother slash actress that's making ends meet and that's taking good care of her kid. Your kid will end up acting too. It's part Cooper and part Monroe. It will act, mark my words. Anyway, then when it's about, I don't know, thirteen-ish, you'll make a movie together and you'll become famous again. Where will I be, you ask? I'll be in my crappy apartment in Orlando, Florida with the rest of the washed up teen actors watching you two on TV saying I told you so."

"It doesn't have to end like that, Chad." she said.

Chad scoffed, "How will it not?"

"You could be a part of our baby's life. By the way you talk, deep down, you want to be involved, you want to be there. You're just putting up this wall because you're angry, you're upset." she said.

"I can't be involved, Sonny, I can't." he said, almost desperately.

"Why not?" she exclaimed, "You have the perfect opportunity to start!"

"No I don't. I can't tell my parents! I'm pretty sure Mr. Condor has already told them. They're gonna kick me out, Sonny!" he cried.

"You're scared." she nearly whispered.

"What?"

"Chad, you're scared. I'm scared too, trust me. We've got to work through this together." she said, walking over to him. She put a hand on his shoulder blade and rubbed gently.

"No Sonny! There can't be an us. My parents are already gonna be mad 'cause I lost this job. They've been on my case because of how I've been acting. I can't do this! I can't tell them I got you pregnant!" he said.

"Chad…"

"Don't 'Chad…' me." he said.

"Marshall said, if you wanted, you could join the cast of 'So Random'. He said it would be good for you." she said.

"Yeah, that's great." he laughed in a tone that nearly sounded maniacal, "Chuckle city, me, Chad Dylan Cooper. That's a great idea, Sonny! Why don't I just start working at McDonald's part time. After all, your song says you still eat there even though you're a big star. I'll see you and the kid."

"Chad!" she yelled, "This is a great opportunity! You should be glad Marshall's even considering you! You should be really glad Mr. Condor even let him consider that!"

"Look," he said, his tone softening, "Let me get through this shit with my parents first, then…I don't know. I'm going to have to seriously think about this."

Sonny half-smiled at him. Chad glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Really, Sonny, Really?" he said, shaking his head slowly, "Don't get all excited though. Just because I'm considering this doesn't mean I want to be involved with you and the kid or that I want to get married, or that it's about anything other than me. My world, is me, and that's all. There's no room for anyone else."

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The next chapter's going to be a long one too. It's going to heat up again too. Oh, and the song Chad was referring to was definitely "LaLa Land" by Demi Lovato.