Author's Note: Hey everybody! I updated a little quicker this time, because it's summer and I'm bored. *sigh*

Random Advice of the Day: If you're going to a bonfire, please wear bug spray, or be prepared to itch for the next week and a half.

Disclaimer: I own N.O.T.H.I.N.G.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Sonny Munroe?" A deep voice on the other end said.

Sonny's eyebrows furrowed together and she said, "Yes, it is. Who is this?"

"This is Mr. Condor."

Sonny straightened her posture, even though no one was around, and said calmly, "Mr. Condor. Hello, how are you?"

"Please do not waste my time with silly questions. I called to speak to you about your audition tape for Mackenzie Falls," he said.

"Um, okay--"

"Now," Mr. Condor interrupted. "I'll make this quick, because I have things to do, but welcome to the cast of Mackenzie Falls, Miss Munroe."

Sonny's eyes widened and she felt light-headed. "Ex-excuse me, sir?"

"You start tomorrow. Congratulations."

"But wait!--"

But it was too late. Mr. Condor hung up, and Sonny froze. How could this happen?

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

Chad Dylan Cooper leaned back in his chair comfortably as he told the young, slightly attractive waitress for his Diet Coke. The cast of So Random! discussed their next sketch as they waited for Sonny, and Chad couldn't help but laugh at some of their ideas.

Chad glanced around casually, thinking about what to order when the waitress came back.

The shrimp platter or the grilled lobster tail?

Suddenly, something caught his attention. Sonny was waving her arms frantically as a panicked expression painted her face. Chad's heart skipped a beat and he kicked into gear.

"Um…I'll be right back…" Chad said. The gang didn't even look at him, and he stood up and made his way to the bathrooms.

"What, Sonny? What is it?" Chad asked anxiously. Sonny's face was pale white and her eyes were as wide as saucers.

"He…I…oh my God," Sonny said emotionlessly.

"What? Sonny, spit it out already! You're killing me here!"

Sonny held up her phone and pointed. "Mr. Condor called," she said.

Chad relaxed a bit and shrugged. "And?"

"And….our plan. It didn't work," she finished.

Chad froze. He thought the plan would be full-proof! Sonny had decided to stay with So Random!, and she was to botch the audition tapes. She did, he was there and saw everything. Even after Gerard lectured her about acting, she still kept with the plan, and Chad thought they executed it flawlessly. There was no way Mr. Condor would have approved of it. No way.

"That's not possible," he finally said. "You were so bad in those auditions."

"Gee, thanks," Sonny said with a small smile. "Obviously, I was exactly what they wanted. That doesn't make any sense. I was terrible. How could they still want me?"

"I don't know," Chad said softly. "But how are you going to break it to the others?"

Sonny almost broke down there. She asked her friends out to dinner to tell them she was staying with So Random!. Now what?

"I don't know," Sonny replied. She put her head in her hands and Chad held her close.

"It's okay," he whispered. "Leave it to me. I'll figure it out. Don't worry."

"What's going on?" A sharp, high-pitched Tawni-like voice asked. Chad and Sonny pulled apart and Tawni approached them.

Sonny hesitated, then began to tell Tawni what happened. Tawni's face was a mixture of sadness, betrayal, curiosity, and wonder. She wasn't sure how to take the news. Sonny was switching shows…but it wasn't her fault. Tawni didn't know who to blame, and she hated that.

"So, that's what happened," Sonny finished.

Chad checked his watch and said, "Sonny, it's not even eight o'clock. If we hurry, we can make it back to the studios and talk to Gerard, maybe even Mr. Condor. If we hurry."

Sonny nodded. "Tawni, will you tell the others? Tell them what happened and tell them I'm so sorry for leaving, but I'll make it up to them. I promise."

Chad grabbed Sonny's hand and the walked quickly to the door. Suddenly, Sonny whipped around and shouted, "Thanks Tawni! And I'm sorry."

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

Gerard shuffled busily about his office, placing loose papers into his briefcase to take home with him that night. He had many papers to file regarding Sonny Munroe's placement onto his show.

He smiled to himself. Finally, Mackenzie Falls would be bigger than ever, and So Random will go down the drain. It was about time.

He silently thanked Sonny Munroe. He figured out their plan long before they played it out. He knew she'd botch the audition purposely, and stay with her little friends on that stupid comedy show. It was a good thing he put together a fake audition tape and switched them before he handed it in the Mr. Condor.

He laughed quietly. It was all too easy. He hired a girl who looked almost identical to Sonny and paid her to read lines into a camera. All he had to do after was switch the tapes, and that was simple.

Gerard Henderson was a genius.

All of a sudden, his office door swung open violently, and there stood Chad Dylan Cooper and, well, speak of the devil, Sonny Munroe.

"Well, well, well," Gerard said. "It's a little late to be wandering the sets, don't you think?"

"What did you do, Gerard?" Chad said sternly.

Gerard held the bridge of his nose in between his thumb and index finger. "Why do you always accuse me of things, Chad? Usually, I at least know what you're talking about."

Gerard always knew that taking acting classes back in high school was a good idea.

"So what? Sonny didn't want to join Mackenzie Falls. Couldn't you just respect that and try to make your show better some other way? You did something. I'm not sure what you did, but you did it." Chad's blue eyes flashed with anger.

"Chad, I think you're taking this a bit too far. Think about it: did you ever consider that maybe, just maybe, Mr. Condor actually liked Sonny in the audition tape?"

"That's impossible. I know Mr. Condor's standards, and he definitely would have scraped Sonny's tape if he watched one second of it," Chad said. He crossed his arms, and felt Sonny gently brush his lower back in a comforting gesture, probably to calm him down. It didn't work.

Gerard rolled his eyes. "If you don't stop this now, you'll lose your job, Mr. Cooper."

"Are you kidding?" Chad exploded. "I'm the best thing that's ever happened to this show. This show revolves around me! You can't threaten me like that."

"Oh, yes I can." Gerard grinned slyly. "I own you. Now, if you excuse me, I have a wife and children to get home to. Go home, get some sleep." He turned to Sonny and added, "I look forward to seeing you on my set tomorrow, Miss Munroe."

As Gerard Henderson shoved past the couple, he winked evilly.

Yes, Gerard Henderson was a genius.

Author's Note: Oh my. You know what would be the cherry on top of this chapter? A review.

I like cherries.

Peace, Love, and Muffiny Cupcakes,

-Emily.