The convertible top of the jeep was opened, chugging a choppy breeze into my hair and cooling my sun-baked curls.

There had been silence between Chad and I since the keys had turned in the ignition, and we'd pulled out of the studios. And I had no intension of breaking it. I still felt his tongue running across my cheek, and the painful blush that'd come whenever it happened to cross my mind. Besides that, I had time to remember everything I wrote down that I still needed to do before the party:

Number 1—Wash and blow dry my hair. It most likely had crusty chocolate pieces in it from this afternoon when I fell asleep next to the chocolate fountain.

Number 2—Change into my white, sleeveless dress, that was only knee-high, wrapped tight at the waist, and tied together behind my neck like a halter.

Number 3—Plaster on a big, Hollywood smile, and pretend there's nothing wrong with my life. Ha. Yeah, right.

Number 4—Well…actually make a list in the first place.

Black streaks of clouds reached as far as the horizon, threatening to smash together and rain on us. But the sun had not yet been hidden behind the dark sky. Maybe if it rained, there'd be a rainbow.

Sonny sighed, propped her feet up on the dash board, and crossed her arms. She didn't want a rainbow. No…she didn't even want to be at the party. In her mind she groaned, and tipped her head back, against the rain-stenched breeze. She just wanted to be anywhere…ANYWHERE, but here.

"What's wrong?"

He hadn't talked. I know it was just my imagination, 'cause Chad wouldn't say anything to me. He wouldn't care.

Just to be sure, I turned my head to look at him. His eyes were still fixed on the road ahead, as if he hadn't said anything.

Then he looked at me. Those same blue eyes that sparkled every time he teased me. The same eyes that gave me a strange sensation inside my skin, and turned my blood to fire.

"Did you hear me?" he asked, and his eyes broke their magical spell. "I asked what's wrong?"

As if it would quench my annoyance, I yanked both sides of my ponytail to pull it tighter against my scalp, and slammed my shoulders back against my seat, so I was facing straight ahead again.

"Let's see…" I tapped my chin, then counted off the list with my fingers. "I've got five hours of Mac Falls to look forward to, there's a storm coming in while we have the roof down, and I have to drive to the store, with you."

I bit my lip. That was harsh. It's not that I didn't want to be with Chad in the car. I'd just rather have someone else.

"Besides," I added. "I thought we agreed we weren't talking."

"Right. Sorry."

I'd hurt him. Of course, I have before. Lots of times. But not like this.

It began to drizzle. Beads of rainwater were scattered across my black skinny jeans, so I rolled up my window. Glancing sideways at Chad, I noticed he hadn't moved. His shoulders were stiff, his jaw was set, and his knuckles turned white from gripping the steering wheel.

"Can you roll up your window, Chad? I don't want my seats to get wet."

He didn't move anything but his lips to answer, "Make me, Monroe."

Grrrrr! He made me want to scream, but instead I reached across his lap, fumbling for the button. Damn it, I'd do it myself.

No, I wouldn't. Not before he grabbed my wrist, and encircled it with his fingers in a deathly grip. He never moved his eyes from the road, when he hissed, "Don't!"

His voice rocked in fury, like he was a shaken up soda pop, ready to explode any second.

I sat up again, straightened up, but didn't manage to keep the silence much longer. "Are we almost there?"

"Depends on what you mean by 'almost."'

"We're lost?"

"No. No. No. No. We are not lost, okay? I'm just briefly unsure of our location a-at the moment…"

I fell back against the seat, and rubbed my forehead with my fingers. "You're an idiot, Chad!"

"Oh, I'm the idiot…Miss 'Let's reach across Chad's lap while he's driving because that's not dangerous at all!"'

I punched him so hard, my knuckles were throbbing when I released the clench. The punch was because I had nothing to say back to him. Except that I was an idiot too.

But only when he was around…

"Ow!" Chad said. "What was that for?"

"Stop the car!" I ordered.

"Why—"

"Just do it! Unless you want your arm to be a pancake."

He did. The jeep screeched to a stop on the side of the Hollywood highway, the roof still down and curtains of rain drenching the interior of the car.

"Sonny—" Chad grabbed my wrist again, before I could leave the opened door.

My ponytail whipped my cheeks as I turned my head to look at him. "Let me go—"

"It you get out of this car…so help me Sonny, I will kiss you!"