Chad Dylan Cooper had always been one for keeping secrets. He loved to have something to hide from the world considering who he was and how people like him never had anything to keep from the press and the paparazzi. He looked over at his biggest secret as Portlyn clutched his arm tightly and kept chattering about how they were 'dating' mostly for better press for MacKenzie Falls. Chad didn't really like Portlyn, not like that. She was fine as a person, in his opinion, but not her.

"Chad, why don't you tell them about our date last night?" Portlyn tried a failed attempt at flirting as she rested her head on his shoulder and grabbed his arm, wrapping it around her shoulder.

Chad couldn't care less about the date. "No, why don't you tell them? I know you have a lot more fun telling stories."

Portlyn smiled up at him and shrugged his arm away, leaning forward on the table in what Chad liked to call her Gossip Position.

Chad ignored her as she blabbered on about last night and stared over at the So Random table oh, so indiscreetly. He loved to look at her and ached to know if she still felt that way for him. The way her blonde hair glistened in the fluorescents and the way her legs looked in those extreme skinny jeans even though she was supposed to be rid of them.

"I have to go talk to her. I have to," he thought determinedly, shoving his chair back.

"Chad," Portlyn whined, temporarily interrupted by the scraping of his chair, "Where are you going?"

"Good God, get off my back," the voice in his head snapped. "Just to make fun of the Randoms." He smirked and set off towards the So Random table.

"H-hey Sonny, Tawni, Randoms," He stuttered, kicking himself inwardly. He didn't stutter.

"Hi, Chad," Sonny greeted. Tawni merely glanced in his direction.

"What do you want, Chad?" Nico ask, glaring up at him with eyes that conveyed his irritation just from having Chad around.

"Just...making sure you guys are watching The Falls, you know the number one show in America, tonight," he lied, wimping out. What was wrong with him? None of this was like him.

"We never watch your show, you know that." Sonny rolled her eyes and raised her eyebrows at Chad.

"Do I Sonny, do I really? Chad smirked.

Tawni sighed. "Bye, Chad." She made the little shooing motion with her hand.

Chad's eyes met Tawni's, searching for his answer. She stared back harshly, her eyes blazing with a "no". Chad sighed with understanding but depression and went back to his table where they were watching and giggling at the Randoms. Chad sat down, watching her out of the corner of his eye. Maybe he should've stuck to admiring from afar. Even though he couldn't have her, he would still watch over her, protect her, and keep her his secret.