Disclaimer: See last chapter

~ Chapter Sixteen ~

Sonny looked away from Chad for a moment as they both woke up, tears running down her cheeks as she thought about everything he had done for her last night. She had never loved him so much, she had never loved anyone else that much.

"What's wrong?" Chad whispered, turning her head to look at him so he could wipe away her tears. She shook her head and then a light shade of pink turned up on her cheeks as she looked down at her hands,

"You're the only one who doesn't hate me for what happened." She shrugged, Chad sighed – he knew that feeling.

"Everyone thought I was weird, that's why I didn't tell anyone after that. I got bullied because of it, I didn't want it to be happen again. But you... you understand." He jumped a little, did she know?

She smiled and then lifted a hand to his cheek and sighed,

"Thank you." She muttered, Chad shook his head and then grinned, leaning towards her and kissing her on the lips, slipping his tongue through when she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"No, thank you." He winked at her when they pulled away, making her laugh. He bit down on his lip when he saw the tears running down her face again, wrapping his arms around her thin and beaten body,

"Just listen to me, I won't let him come near you again. I know you don't want me to tell, but I have to Sonny. I have to do this for your sake, please." She nodded a little, muttering a fine into his shirt,

"Fine." He whispered back, laughing loudly when she pulled back and slapped him across the arm a little.

"Good."

"Good." He smiled and kissed her again on the lips, pulling her into him and sighing. He pulled them both back so they were laying on the bed in each other's arms.

"I understand what you are going through." He whispered after a few moments of awkward silence.

"You do?" Sonny looked up at him for a moment, her big eyes filled with confusion as she she shook her head.

"My dad would hit my mum and when I would get in the way he would do the same to me." He looked away from her before she pulled her face towards him,

"Thank you for telling me." She stoked his cheek affectionately and then kissed him lightly on the lips, resting her head on his chest and looking around his room.

"What happened? Where is your dad now?"

"In prison still I guess." He ran his fingers through her long hair absently as he thought about all those slaps across the face, the punches, the kicks, the slamming against walls... he gasped loudly, not meaning to.

"What's wrong?"

"I was just thinking about my perfect face being bruised and cut." He admitted, Sonny threw her head back as she laughed, slapping him lightly on the arm,

"You're so vain."

"Oh you're thinking the same about your face right now." Sonny giggled when she realized he was right, but she already knew she looked terrible, she didn't need no mirror to tell her that.

"Does it look that bad?"

"Not when you smile." He smiled, lightly tracing the bruises on her face with his fingers, she was still beautiful even then.

"Thank you for everything Chad, you have no idea how much it all means to me. I wish I hadn't pushed you away before, I guess I am just so used to people making fun of me because of it, people blaming me for it, I-I was too scared to see anyone else – especially you – look at me, or think of me that way." He nodded in complete understanding,

"Children can be so cruel sometimes." She nodded,

"I was diagnosed with depression when I was twelve. I think I would have been back on my medication right now if it wasn't for you." She whispered,

"It's okay princess, I am going to keep you safe from all of that from now on." He pulled her towards him so her head was on his shoulder, her arm wrapped around his waist as she closed her eyes again.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Well of course you love me, everyone loves Chad Dylan Cooper." Sonny giggled, glad that Chad wasn't acting too different around her, it made her believe that things could go back to normal, and soon.