SPOV

When I got to my room, I plopped down on the bed emotionless as the tears poured from my eyes. I continued to hug myself, just like I always did when I felt sad and alone and there was no one else there. But, as always, all it did was make me feel more lonely. Chad's angry words haunted me, causing me to cry even harder.

I heard voices. And no, I don't mean that in the sense that I'm going crazy. Even though, I wouldn't be surprised if I was. But actual voices came from outside of my room. I brushed my tears away and peeked outside to see who it was. I squinted and opened my door all the way. "Tawni? Portlyn? Chloe? What are you guys doing here?" I asked.

"Oh, you're home!" the three of them rushed over to me. "So how was it?" Portlyn asked. Suddenly, I was being bombarded with a million questions of how our date went. "Wait. Why do you look so…un-pretty?" Tawni asked me, obviously referring to the mascara streaks going down my cheeks.

I took a deep breath. "It was nice, I guess." I answered when their questions stopped. "Until I messed it up." I smacked myself with a pillow, then sighed sadly when I remembered the pillow fight from two nights ago. Everything was just so good then. Perfect. I hate myself.

"Long story short, I got mad at him earlier and went through his phone. I saw pictures of his sister, Lillian. I didn't know it was his sister though. I thought it was someone he liked, or who liked him, so I sent the pictures to everyone on his phonebook. And…well, you guys know what happened from there." I looked down, feeling even more awful about myself now that I said it out loud.

Chloe gasped. "You did that?"

I nodded sadly. "I know. I can't believe I'd do something so low, either."

"Wow…" was all Portlyn said.

Tawni stood up, always one to take charge. "Alright, here's what we're gonna do. Portlyn, go over to Chad's house and make him forgive Sonny. Chloe, you go out and buy Sonny the hottest dress ever, that'll make Chad go crazy. I'll stay here giving Sonny yet another makeover. Which will be easy to do. I'm so good at being pretty and showing others to be." she flipped her hair.

"Tawni, it's not always that easy. I'm sorry. But I don't think any makeovers or breaking into Chad's house will fix it. I messed up. And nothing can help it." I was surprised at what hurt and guilt could do to myself. I was always such an optimistic person. I could always make anything work out for the better. But not this time.

"Pause." Portlyn held up her hand. "Text from Chad." my heart jumped at his name. She read it to herself, then told us what it said. She put her phone down sadly and looked at me. "Lillian didn't get the part."

"What? Why not?" I asked.

"The pictures."

"Oh."

Words could not describe how awful I felt. Not only had I ruined my chances with Chad, but I also basically wrecked his little sister's career with one mass text.

"Alright, everyone get moving." Tawni said. "While they're gone, Sonny and I are gonna get Lillian on the show." she said.

"Wait. Why do I need a dress?"

"Hannah Montana's seventeenth birthday party is tonight! Duh!" Chloe said.

"The guys are picking us up at eight, so let's go." Tawni said. Portlyn and Tawni sprinted out the door.

"Guys! Hold up." I stopped them. "I don't really feel in a party mood right now." I cuddled up to my pillow, taking comfort in its softness and releasing a few more tears to fall onto it. Portlyn rolled her eyes. "You will when we're through with you."

"Now chop chop! It's already five!" Tawni clapped, and the two girls disappeared from my bedroom.

"Oh, Sonny." she hugged me. "I'm so sorry."

"I told him he could be my boyfriend, Tawni." I whispered. "Is that like completely out the door now?"

Instead of answering my question, Tawni instinctively grabbed my phone from off my bed. "Call Mr. Condor." she ordered.

"What? Why?"

"Lillian."

My eyes brightened when I realized what she meant, and I was actually smiling again. Because now, I had hope.

I quickly dialed his phone number and waited for the ring. I might get fired for this, but to help an innocent girl that I had single handedly ran into the ground, it was worth it.

"Mr. Condor's office. May I ask who is speaking?" a female's voice asked.

"Sonny Monroe. It's urgent."

"Just a moment, ma'am."

The thirty seconds of waiting to talk to Mr. Condor tortured me, until finally I heard his voice.

"Sonny?"

"Hello, Mr. Condor."

"What do you want?" his harsh voice reminded me of how Chad talked to me earlier today. Why did everything come back to him? Couldn't I just forget? Just this once?

I took another deep breath. "Alright. Well, you know Lillian Cooper? And that new show in the studios that she wanted to get a part in? Well, um, the pictures were actually photo shopped." I lied smoothly. "And…she really wants the part. And I know that doesn't change the fact that her rep is still bad. But…maybe if she hung out with me a lot it could change that? You know, since I'm known as like the Hollywood good girl or whatever." I laughed nervously.

My eyes grew wide when I realized how quiet it was on the other end.

"Hold on a second."

"Yes, sir."

I heard muffled talking. Both with his voice, and a little girl's voice. Little girl…Dakota! I held my hand over the speaker of my phone and whispered to Tawni. "He's talking to Dakota!"

"Ew! Why?!" she whisper-screamed back.

"I don't know!"

"Sonny, you still there?" he said.

"Yes, I'm here. So…what do you say? Are you gonna let Lillian on?"

"Yes, I am." Yes! The warmth in my body that had left after the fight with Chad earlier, had come rushing back to me. "On one condition." he said, putting a stop to my happy fest. "Dakota wants to spend some time with you. She seems to have had a lot of fun before." My heart stopped. No no no no NO way. I didn't even want to start to think about the things she'd do to me. But I couldn't bear to think what my life would be like if Chad stayed mad at me either, or if I had the guilt of Lillian on my shoulders.

I gulped. "Alright, sir, I can do that. I'm sure Dakota and I will have tons of fun. And thank you."

"I'm sure you will." he hung up.

I had just made a deal with the devil.