Hey guys! It's me Jesspikapal, but you probably already knew that, eh? ;)

Anyways, first off, I'd like tos ay that I'm SO SO SO Sorry for leaving this un-updated for ages and ages and ages! I've been ever so busy, but I'm back now! Sorry if it's not so good, but I haven't written Channy in a while, so I may be a little rusty and such... ^^;

So, reviews. Please! :D

Thanks for any and all support! :) It really means alot to me!

~Jess~

Autumn - "So much can be said about Fall. The different colours, the loss of sun and warmth and shorter days, but all of these factors have something in common: Change..."

X x

Like rain the leaves fell, capturing the light and keeping it to them selfishly. But she didn't mind about that; she just liked to watch the world pass her on the same old park bench in the middle of the park. It felt like home, she'd go so far to say and she'd always loved Autumn so. The way that everything was just so carefree and innocent was simply breath-taking in the dull light of the seasons sunlight. It was times like these she was truly thankful for as the stress of everything was taken away form her; her family, her cast and So Random!. Even stars needed a break!

Her head craned as she watched something fall into the park pond and she spotted a particular leaf that caught her eye above the rest. A bright red expanse of growth with delicate orange tips and vibrant yellow speckles, like discreet freckles on a ten year old's face.

"Wow..." She breathed with a fond smile, moving towards the beautiful creation with care, treading as if she was on only the thinest ice. She was willing to go slow for she had time. "It's beautiful." She finished, arriving beside it. It was only out of the corner of her eye that she noticed some familiar walking boots.

"I know." An arrogant voice chided and she looked up to see the bane of her very existense. Or so she said to keep their petty rivalry alive and fizzling healthily.

"I was talking about the leaf." She sneered, but before she could pick it up, he stood on it, crinkling it toughly from underneath of his hard boot. "Chad!" She exclaimed, upset.

"My mistake." He smirked, rubbing it childishly into the floor and Sonny scowled. She wasn't prepared to fight over a leaf. No matter how majestically captivating it had been at one point... "I thought you were talking about moi. Though it is an easy mistake to make, isn't it? A person so talented as me is used to getting positive publicity." He continued and Sonny rolled her eyes at his usual ignorance. However, it was especially strong today and she wasn't sure if she liked it. Sure, his nasty attitude was an exhilarating ride, but wasn't he taking it a bit far today?

"You're so delusional, Chad." She retorted boredly, sighing outwardly. Why she expected even the slightest bit more from him was beyond her. "So what are you doing out here anyway? I thought I was safe from you and your arrogance over here." She growled, tossing her brown curls at him dismissively. He only cocked that same egotistical smirk.

"Even the greatest of people need a break Sonny. And this is a public park, just in case you haven't noticed, meaning I'm allowed here too." Chad countered. Clicking his tongue at her, she raised a single thin brow.

"I never said you weren't allowed here Cooper."

"Whatever Munroe. So what are you doing here?" Asked Chad with a now curious smile as he shovelled his hands into his thick coat pockets nonchalently. She shrugged, smiling the lightest of smiles.

"I'm not sure. It's nice out here, y'know?" She tried her best to explain.

"Ah, true. So uh... No, nevermind." He suddenly frowned, turning away from her. Trust curiosity to get the best of the perky brunette as she circled him jokingly, trying to catch his eye deviously.

Grinning, she said: "What were you gonna ask me? Go on. I thought you weren't scared of anything."

"I'm not!" He defended quickly, turning to face her slowly, hesitating as he settled in front of her. "I just thought you wouldn't wanna come with me but... I guess I'll ask anyways," He shrugged. "Sonny, I'm going for a round around the lake. Do you wanna...Maybe... Come with me?" He offered, stretching his hand out slightly. She grinned wider, then cautiously accepted his hand (a grimace being sent between the pair of them) and allowed him to begin to leading her around the lake.

The tranquility of the silence and the glistening ripples of the lake was astounding as the pair of them were enveloped in a comfortable quiet. Chad had to say, even through his wollen gloves, he could feel the warmth of her hand as their palms clung tightly to each others. This wasn't so bad, hanging around with his supposed enemy, though they were from sworn-enemy shows and he was in no state of mind to change anything. Despite the way he boasted, he wasn't quite brave enough to change anything.

"So, why the sudden change of heart?" Was what he heard next. Questionable, he glanced at her from the side and smirked.

"Change of heart?"

"Well sure. Any other time and you wouldn't have wanted to hold my hand. Ever. So why now?"

"Are you complaining? 'Cause I can let go." He replied, catching her eye sharply and she gulped to herself. His gaze was strong and powerful, relentless and merciless. The brilliant blue that was always swimming with emotions - his one key give-away - was becoming her guilty pleasure. She loved them so, as wrong as it was to do so.

"No no! Not at all. I was just wondering." Sonny replied earnestly, turning her head to spectate the distinctive sparkle of the lake; it faintly reminded her of Chad's eyes and she shook her head violently, trying to rid herself of the thought. She could feel his curious stare on the back of her head, but she paid him no heed, her comprehension far from her wandering companion.

"...Good..." He grinned, nudging her slightly as they walked slowly around the perimiter of the rather pond. The trees whistled quietly in the gentle breeze of the Fall afternoon, the brisk air catching in their throats and making them think twice about inhaling so bravely.

"Good." The brunnete responded, her voice delicate like broken fragments of glass, as she watched her surroundings keenly. She was always one for the stunning transformation from Summer to Autumn and she couldn't stop herself from enjoying it so. Even as a little child, she had enjoyed the chilly mornings as she was able to wear her warm scarf and gloves, a petite little hat sitting patiently amongst the novelty crew. She loved the warm nights in which her and her mother and father sat in front of the fire and drank hot chocolate and played cards. Sometimes they watched a movie and then she would be tucked safely in bed by her mother and kissed on her fore-head as she bid her goodnight for the last time. Leaf collecting was also a favourite of hers, even now.

As if by some compelling force, she found herself stopping her steady footsteps, making Chad slow to a stop too shortly after.

"Huh? Are you alright Son?" He asked, giving her hand a quick squeeze.

Son? That's a more personal nick-name...

"Yeah, of course. Chad? Do you maybe wanna go... Leaf collecting? Just the two of us." She enquired shyly, looking down at the leaf littered floor, already spotting possible collectables as she scanned the floor with intelligent eyes.

"Leaf collecting?" Chad asked, raising a brow. "Sonny, we're fifteen and I have some prid- Of course I wanna go leaf-collecting." He contradicted himself, smiling a fond smile whilst shaking his head lightly. "Though we need a jazzy name for it. I'm not saying 'leaf collecting' every time." He ran his free hand, the one that was lost for warmth as his other gripped her pale hand tightly, through his long blonde hair, raising both of his eyebrows as he grumbled briefly.

"Jazzy name? Couldn't it just be a shortened name? 'Cause I'm not in a jazzy sort of mood." She smirked, fiddling with a brown curl. He couldn't help but watch as the material threaded smoothly between her fingers like the worlds finest silk.

"Fine." He agreed after little thought. He didn't want to waste time; he wanted to play for a while. Though he was an actor with only the finest TV program, he wanted some time to relax and kick back and pretend he was only five again.

"Good. We'll just call it leaf picking. Let's go." Sonny stated quickly, not waiting for him to protest as she yanked him in the direction of a huge pile of leaves. Shoving him into it, he let out a suprised, strangely girlish yelp and Sonny pointed and laughed, until he grabbed her wrist and gave it a sharp yank, pulling her onto the floor beside him. Together they laughed as their backs lay flat against the cold cement.

"That'll teach you to laugh at CDC." He frowned, suddenly regaining his posture as he glared at her.

"Oh lighten up Mr. Grumpy. It's Autumn!" Giggled Sonny as she got to her knee's and began sorting through the vast pile of colour, 'oohing' and 'ahhing' at certain leaves. Chad simply watched with a blank expression though his eyes danced with both curiosity and admiration. He wished he was able to just let go and be as child-like as her sometimes. It would give him so release, some disappeared effort and some loss of work, though sometimes he wouldn't mind it. Casually, he sat up and picked up a lone leaf, not understanding the true beauty of it as he stared at it with a concentrated gaze.

"Sonny, I don't understand why you're so interested in them." Stated Chad as he glanced at her. She had separated certain leaves into two piles: Ones that were bright and colourful and ones that were riddled with jagged edges and curvy corners. Either way, she was intrigued.

"They're pretty Chad. Look at this one." She explained with bright, playful eyes.

"It's a leaf." He said.

"Yes, of course it is. But look at the colours! Aren't they amazing?" He simply smirked.

"Not as amazing as me."

"You're so conceited. Just look at the leaf!" She ordered, shoving it into his face. He spluttered and thenr aised his hands to his face, batting it away. Suprisingly, it stayed it tact.

"Fine! Give it here!" Responded Chad, snatching the leaf from her and she grinned a wide grin. He took it in slowly, drinking the image like a hot cup of tea; satisfying to the bone. It was bright orange with streaks of red, like some sort of exotice zebra, though the stripes weren't as organised and they definitely weren't distinctive.

"I told you, didn't I?" She boasted proudly, standing on her feet with a bunch of leaves tucked neatly between her fingers.

"I suppose so. It is nice." Placing the leaf down, he stood up beside her, but she pointed to it and frowned.

"Take it with you. Keep it." She told him lightly with a gentle smile. However, he only glared and crossed his arms.

"Don't want to." He commented snootily.

"Jerk-face..." She mumbled dejectedly, picking it up herself and then stalking off. He'd done it now: Gone and made her mad for real. Though slightly satisfying, he couldn't deny the emptiness of his hands. He should go after her, but he was too proud to do so. But as he slowly pondered the situation, he placed his pride aside and walked quickly after her.

"Sonny!" He called, cupping his mouth as he did so. She stopped walking, but she didn't turn to face him. Her actions were sort of contradictory and Chad didn't know if she was going to allow him to speak or if she was simply getting over the shock of the one and only Chad Dylan Cooper going after her, something he strongly swore he would never do for a girl. If anything, they would do that for him and be lucky to gain a reaction! But not Sonny...

"What?" She snapped icily. Her tone, harsh and cold, like real ice made Chad flinch briefly. She sounded as if she were honestly upset with him, but then again, when wasn't she? He always had ways to wind her up and sometimes he wasn't so proud of it.

"I-I'm sorry alright." Chad muttered, coming to stand at her back, the tips of his shoes brushing the back of hers lazily. She peered at him from over her shoulder and smiled slightly. Exhaling, she shook her head slowly and turned around, meeting his eyes in one swift movement.

She sighed once more. "...Alright. We're good." She stated. "For now." She added with a mock warning point and he smiled a genuine smile.

"Shall we?" He grinned offering her a devilishly chamring arm and she raised her eyebrows in mock-suprise.

"Chad being a gentleman? Now I've seen everything! I think I'm going to faint..." She teased, letting her eyes roll to the back of her head as she fell back slightly, feeling Chad keep her up with his free arm. Joking aside, she hooked arms with him and wandered around the pond once more.

"Y'know," Began Sonny. "I remember, back at home when me and my mom used to walk around the block and cycle down the fields. It was real nice. It's a shame up here there aren't any hills or country-side." Sonny sighed wistfully.

"Ah, that's where you're wrong Son. I know a place where there're all the fields you could ever ask for. I have my own country house there. Maybe one day I'll take you." Chad smirked as he watched her eyes light up.

"You'd do that for me?" She asked in disbelief, her brown eyes bright with hope and her strained smile filled with glee.

"Sure. You could say it's a tribute to you being my favourite member of So Random!."

"I-I'm your favourite?" She stuttered, her cheeks falling a dark hue of pink as she felt both the flattery and embarrassment get to her skin, even in the crisp winter-like air.

"Of the Randoms, sure." He answered passively, though his face was going slightly pink too.

"Wow... That's so nice of you Chad. So, about this country house..." She smirked, clasping her hand tighter around his and he gave her a reassuring smile, nodding briefly. She returned it slowly, getting accustmed to the beautiful warmth that was coursing through her fingertips. She was sur ehe felt the same way, with the sparks and what not, even though she wasn't a girl for that nonsensical garbage.

"Yes Sonny," He grinned, kissing her cheek lightly by some compelling instinct deep inside of him. As his lips touched her skin, he felt his heart jump considerabely and speed up, his face staying flightly flushed though he later insisted it was because of the bitter air. He pulled away and smiled, unable to stop himself. Then, he finished his previous sentence:

"It's big enough for two..."

X x

Done! Sorry it was a little short, but I hope you enjoyed anyways! I told you I'd be a little rusty, but I thought it was a good , cute, simple idea. :) Updates I'm afraid will remain slow because I have a BOOK (Yes, a real book!) to work on. :) Wish me luck! :D

Any reviews is appreciated, much like all of your patience and suuport! Thank ever so much! :)

~Jess~