Chapter 17

Sonny's fingers were fidgeting with the hem of her skirt, pulling threads out of the lining. She kept eye contact with the floor, almost afraid of Chad's eyes. This was one of the hardest things she has ever had to do, even worse than telling her mother that she was moving to Cali with Jayk.

But Chad was patient, willing her to carry on. He was about to reach out for Sonny's arm but retreated. He was in the presence of her older brother so that meant best behaviour.

"He used to throw beer bottles on the lawn and shout out for mom, the whole street could hear him" she paused and took a breath but carried on. "Jayk would turn to me and drag me into the closet and lock us in there for what seemed like hours, mom couldn't help us. She was just as vulnerable as us" another pause, jayk's hands were gripped on to edge of the coffee table they were both sat on. His knuckles were pure white from the power in his fingertips.

Sonny entwined her fingers through his, all the blood came rushing back to his hand. He gave her a reassuring smile. She turned to Chad and carried on. "Mom's screams through the door, t-there... it was just" her voice cracked from the memories rushing through her mind. She buried her head into Jayk's shoulder as she cried into his shirt. He cradled her through her pain. Chad felt awful for what he did to sonny. She didn't deserve anything he did to her. She had been through everything he had, if he gave her the chance she could have helped him through all that pain he had locked up inside of him for all these years.

She was right; she could imagine what he had been through. They were actually very similar. As Chad's mind was going through an emotional breakdown, he looked up to see Jayk and Sonny. She was sobbing into his shirt, her eyes glistening with tears. Jayk's hand was rubbing her back, comforting her. He had his own tears sliding down his cheeks. Sonny was so lucky to have him; Chad didn't have anyone to hug when he was hiding in the closet.

Chad felt lots of emotions when he saw the two siblings in front of him. Guilt, Sorrow, Anger, Jealousy but one that he hadn't felt in years. Love. That was when he realised that he was in love with Sonny. Chad Dylan Cooper was in love with Alison Marie Munroe. His heart was beating madly in his chest, his palms were sweating, and his breathing became uneven. Sonny turned to Chad, a worried look came upon her face. She leaned forward towards Chad and rested her hand on his arm, just as she did on the day of the argument.

Once again Chad received an electric shock, but not of pain, but of love. He stared at Sonny, who was becoming increasingly distressed by the second.

"Chad what's wrong! Jayk what's wrong with him?" sonny rested her hand on Chad's forehead to check his temperature, even more electric shocks were sent through his body. His temperature was increasing rapidly. But then things started to become more blurry and dark. He was blacking out, he lay unconscious in Sonny's arms as one tear managed to slide down his pale skin, as she sobbed in pain.