QUICK THING: If you want to read stories in which the characters' underhanded plans to get someone back are foiled by something stupid and completely unrealistic, you won't find it in my writing. I try to avoid cliches, something Disney needs to work harder at.

So sorry I didn't update yesterday! I had youth group and homework and stuff...but I posted 2 chapters on Tuesday so DON'T complain.

Chad

"Sonny, please just open the door." I leaned with my back against it now, like I had the day before, knocking weakly with the back of my fist. "You have to come out some time to get to your show."

"You'll be at the Falls by then! I know you start rehearsal an hour earlier!" a muffled voice called.

I sighed in frustration and stamped a foot. I also stopped an hour later, which would give her enough time to lock herself back in. And her mom would be back, too. "Come on, Sonny! You can't stay mad at me forever!"

"Exactly! Just until you die!" she screamed up against the door, right where my head was. I winced at the volume, equivalent to her shouting in my ear, but muffled.

"Sonny please open the door!"

I heard stomping feet fade, and decided she had gone clear across the apartment room. "You are unbelievably stubborn, you know that?" I shouted as loud as I could, pretty sure she could hear me though she refused to acknowledge it. "WELL I CAN BE JUST AS STUBBORN AS YOU!"

"GO AHEAD AND TRY! You need to LEAVE in five minutes anyway!" she called, voice lively with a mixture of anger and conquest in knowing I couldn't stay there all day.

"I'll stay every minute I can, Munroe, until you open that door and let me back in your life." And I stayed there every second for that last five minutes to no avail, before heading off to rehears the show I was beginning to enjoy less and less.

---

"…and Mackenzie, if it means I have to spend the rest of my life without you, I don't think I could do it!"

"Oh…" I said as I realized that was my cue. "uh…oh, Penelope! That's great! It's always been your dream! I hope you have the time of your life."

Marta scowled at me and crossed her arms over her chest. "Chad, that's the wrong line."

"Oh, sorry…Penelope, take this chance. I'll be waiting. Right here. When you get back—"

"No, Chad. You're missing the point. I said my line ten times before you even started paying attention! I can't work like this, you're being completely improfessional!"

"Unprofessional," I corrected her absently. Her face went scarlet and her fists flew to her sides.

"As if it matters! You're being an idiot! I'm not going to risk my career on working with you." I didn't even notice she had slapped me until I felt a stinging pain. Fast girl… "Pull it together and start taking this thing seriously!"

The sentence "get some more guy friends" flashed into my head.

"Alright! Stop nagging. You sound like we're married." My eyes dropped from her face and something glinted in the spotlight. "Marta?"

"Yeah?" she asked, annoyed.

"Where'd you get that necklace?"

She shrugged. "I found it somewhere. I don't remember where. But it looked pretty and really expensive so I picked it up."

I would have to be subtle about this. "Really, Marta? Really? Orange is a horrifying color for you. That necklace does nothing for your eyes. And I bet it's even fake," I lied. That fire opal was a hundred percent real and I have the hole in my wallet to prove so.

She rolled her eyes and unclasped the necklace, letting it drop to the floor. I winced, picking it up quickly as she turned around and flipped her hair. I smiled at it. Had I bate now?

---

"Tawni! Open up!" I shouted, about out of breath. I had run all the way from my set to her dressing room, after stopping by the prop house to be sure Sonny was there and not here.

The door swung open and Tawni glared at me darkly. Did all girls hate me? "Don't bother. I saw what you did with that girl. And Sonny told me you've been pestering her all morning. So whatever you want to say better be pretty darn important or you're walking."

I tried my best to smile pleasantly and she replied with a sneer. Untying the bracelet around my wrist, I handed it to her and she held as if it was a rat she had found in her closet.

"What do you want me to do with this?" Tawni asked.

"I need you to put it somewhere Sonny will find it. Like, a really obvious place. And tell her I texted you and said she left something at my place and needs to come get it."

She gave me a "you're an idiot" look. "What makes you think I'll help you with whatever stupid plan you're cooking up? I bet Sonny'll shred this."

I hoped she was wrong. "You'll help me because I helped Sonny make 'Tawni Town' for you. And because I know Jackson Tyler's number."

"That last one's a lie," she said knowingly, not missing a beat.

"Okay, so maybe it is. Please help me out here?"

She thought a moment, finger on lip. Then she pointed at the ground. "Grovel."

"You can't be serious."

"Then you're not getting any help from Tawni Hart."

I tensed my fingers in frustration, wanting so much to strangle her. After a moment of hesitation, with her staring at me cunningly the whole time, I took a deep breath, rolled my eyes and kneeled. "Oh, Tawni. You are the prettiest girl in the whole studio…"

She shook her head. "Not good enough."

"Whole world?"

"That and I need more feeling."

There was a reason I hated this girl. "Oh, Tawni!" I emphasized, so glad no one was here to see this. "You're the prettiest girl in the whole world. Nay; the whole cosmos. Aphrodite herself is jealous of your splendor…" I paused at her bewilderment. "The Grecian goddess of beauty herself cannot compare to your loveliness. I am not worthy to look into your eyes, which sparkle like gems. I am a lowly worm and do not deserve your assistance, though I would greatly appreciate it."

She stepped out of the dressing room and paced around me slowly, while I was still in my humble position. Her hand was on her lip in fake consideration, which pissed me off. After making a full circle around me she smiled and clapped her hands together. "Well done! Chad Dylan Cooper groveling at my feet…the internet will hear about this."

I glared at her, still not rising. "Are you gonna help me?"

"Yeah. Now go away. I need to paint my piggies."