Acting Out: Chapter 3
Sonny found herself declining Chad's offer to travel back to LA with him on his private jet. She assured him she was perfectly fine to go back with Tawni.
"Bring Tawni with you, as if she wouldn't prefer to be on a private jet." Chad tried to persuade her.
"It really doesn't matter." She protested.
"Come on, Sonny. We both know there will be paparazzi everywhere at LAX, at least you can avoid them easier if you fly in on a private jet."
Sonny considered what Chad had said and he was right. She didn't want to be surrounded by numerous older men, shouting at her on what her current relationship with Chad was.
"Fine," She caved, "When do we leave?"
"In like an hour or two, it doesn't matter. Is that enough time for Tawni to pack? I know what she's like."
"Yeah, I'll go let her know."
...
It was a little over three hours later that they arrived back in LA. Chad had already arranged a limousine to pick each Tawni and Sonny up and drop them off at their respective homes.
Sonny told Chad that Tawni said they should go see Mr Condor about what had happened between them so they arranged an appointment to see him the following day.
As soon as Sonny got back to her apartment she went straight to her room and collapsed on her bed. She still lived in the same place as her mum and knew she would be at work for another hour or two.
She looked at the ring that was still on her finger and pulled it off, shoving it into her handbag before dropping it on the ground.
"I am so stupid." She groaned.
After a while of absentmindedly laying there, Sonny decided to get up and got her laptop, switching it on as she sat back on her bed.
She found herself looking through old photos of her and Chad, back when they were deemed a power-couple. They were the couple of Hollywood at the time and Sonny reflected back on what it was like back then.
Both of their shows were doing tremendously well in ratings, they were dominating the television networks. She studied a picture of the two of them at an end of season cast party from all those years ago. She was in Chad's arms and they were both smiling widely at the camera, back then she imagined one day being married to Chad, now however it was a reality.
When her mum returned home not to long later she knew something was up with her daughter.
"What's wrong, Sonny?" She asked concerned.
"Promise me you won't go ballistic?" Sonny questioned her in response.
"Sonny, tell me." She said sternly.
"You better sit down, mum." Sonny advised her, "So I kind of got a little drunk last night."
"You're twenty-one, as long as you didn't do anything that would affect your career it's fine. I know how important your career is to you."
She was right; Sonny loved her career more than anything. She had a few minor roles in movies over the years but 'So Random' was practically her life.
"Well, I kind of maybe, sort of got married." Sonny mumbled, but her mum clearly heard what she said.
"Alison Monroe, please tell me this is a joke!" Her mum demanded her.
"No mum, I was drunk and got married to Chad."
"As in Chad Dylan Cooper?" The older woman asked in disbelief.
"Who else do you know whose name is Chad?" Sonny asked her mother.
"How the hell did this happen?"
"We drank a lot and I don't really remember; the rest is a blur. The media thinks Chad and I are back together now because we were seen together, they don't know we got married."
Her mum sighed and stood up, "You are an adult Sonny but I hope you know that, that was very irresponsible for you to do, regardless of you being in the spotlight or not."
"I know, but it's not like I married a homeless person." Sonny said, trying to make light of the situation.
"Well what are you going to do?" Her mum asked, not cracking even the slightest smile.
"We are going to talk to Mr Condor tomorrow and admit to what happened, and then we are going to get the marriage annulled."
Connie was less than thrilled with what her daughter had done but all she could do was support her. Her daughter was an adult and she couldn't live her life for her, she'd never hold her back.
...
The following morning Sonny woke up earlier than she had to, so she spent a little extra time getting ready, taking pride in her appearance.
She left early for the studio; arriving before anyone else at the 'So Random' studio asides from a security guard who let her drive her car right on through. Parking her car in its normal spot, Sonny got out of it and made a mad dash into the studio, wanting nothing more to get to Chad's dressing room so she could wait for him to arrive.
As soon as she got there, she set her handbag down on her dresser and went and laid down on the couch, closing her eyes in the process. She didn't want to imagine the worst thing that could happen when Mr Condor found out what happened.
...
Chad arrived at the studio that morning late as always.
Everyone was used to him being late but he claimed that everyone was simply early and that he was actually on time.
Making his way through the hallways he came to his own dressing room and was surprised to find a sleeping Sonny on his couch. Confused as to why he was there he went over and shook her awake, "Sonny."
The brunette that lay in front of him awoke slightly startled, "Chad." She gasped, "You frightened me."
"What are you doing here, Sonny?" He questioned the beauty, slightly harsher than he had intended to.
She flinched slightly at his words but shrugged it off, "We need to go see Mr Condor as soon as possible...I'm worried."
"Why?"
"Ratings are down for both our shows, he may just cancel them."
"Sonny, Sonny, Sonny; I'm Chad Dylan Cooper, he won't do that."
She rolled her eyes at the cockiness of his words; he knew they were cocky too, it was him.
"Come on," He said, motioning for her to get up, "Let's go then."
She got up and quickly smoothed out her hair before grabbing her handbag. The two young actors made their way to the owner of the studio's office in silence.
Chad truthfully was a little worried about the outcome of the situation but he wouldn't admit to it out loud.
They got to the receptionist who told the newly-weds to take a seat and wait for Mr Condor to be ready for them.
"You don't seem nervous." Sonny observed.
Chad wanted to admit he was but he never showed vulnerability, "I'm not," He lied, "Whatever happens, happens. We are both talented actors and it's not like our careers would be over even if he did drop our shows."
"I hope you're right." Sonny breathed out.
"Mr Condor will see you two now." The receptionist told the pair not too long later.
Chad placed a hand on the small of Sonny's back as they stood up and led her into the office, opening and closing the door behind her.
Mr Condor was sitting at his desk, his wireless headphone sat on his ear as he was finishing up with a phone call. He indicated for the two to sit down in the seats in front of his desk as he said goodbye to the person on the other line of the phone.
Chad noticed Sonny sneak a glance at him from the corner of his eye and looked back at her as she looked away.
"Now, what brings the two of you here?" Mr Condor asked, "I suppose this as something to do with the rumours that you two are back together."
"We are definitely not back together." Sonny laughed meekly.
"Although, we kind of are." Chad added.
"I'm confused, what do you mean?"
"Well when we were seen together the other night in Vegas after the award show, Sonny and I kind of...sort of got..." Chad trailed off.
"We got married." Sonny said in a rush, closing her eyes afterwards, clearly to prepare herself for the rage that they knew that Mr Condor would bestow on them.
"So you two got married drunkenly, I'll assume?" Mr Condor asked, not expressing any emotion.
Chad nodded, "Yes, but we are going to get an annulment and hope that this doesn't come out."
The room was silent for a moment and Chad watched as Sonny opened her eyes, obviously wondering why Mr Condor hadn't gone ballistic already.
He seemed lost in thought for a moment but soon enough a smile etched across his face, "This is good, this is good."
Chad was confused by this; he definitely did not expect this sort of reaction and knew that Sonny didn't either.
"I hope this does get out, if not we will release a statement. Forget the annulment; I want you two to stay married for a while."
"What?" Sonny gasped in disbelief, "I'm sorry Mr Condor but I cannot stay married to him!"
Chad felt a little bit hurt by her words but couldn't agree more, "With all due respect sir, she is right. We can't stay married."
"No, I think you can stay married. Can you imagine what the news of your marriage will do to the ratings of both of your shows?" He asked rhetorically, "The ratings will skyrocket! Look, I'll be honest with you two; I was considering cancelling both of your shows after their current seasons due to the lack of ratings. So, if you can stay married for say the next six months or so I will re-new both your shows for another season. I'll even guarantee who ever tries the hardest, in the marriage, an extra season as a bonus."
Chad was stunned, two extra seasons of 'Mackenzie Falls' would bring it to a total of ten seasons which would be amazing to have under his belt.
"We'll do it." Chad said eagerly.
"I agree." Sonny said almost instantly. It was no secret that Sonny loved 'So Random' more than anything.
"Good, I'll have my assistant draft up a statement and have it released tomorrow. In the mean time, I want you two to organise where you will be living."
Sonny laughed, "Well I know I'll be living at my apartment."
"Okay, Chad can move in with you then."
"And leave my parent-free penthouse apartment?" Chad asked as if it would be the worst thing in the world. His penthouse was amazing, anyone would kill for it.
"Sonny, move in with Chad." Mr Condor ordered her.
Chad smirked at this; he almost always got his way.
Sonny mumbled something under her breath making Chad let out a small laugh.
"Prepare yourself you two; we will release the statement tomorrow morning once you get to the studio. In the meanwhile I will come up with a story as to why you kept your relationship a secret and why you spontaneously got married in Vegas. I'll see you later."
The two young stars quickly got out of their seats and got out of the office after saying a 'thank you'.
"So Mrs Cooper, when will you be shifting into my amazing apartment?" Chad ridiculed her.
She rolled her eyes as they began to make their way back down the hallway in the direction of their studios.
"I guess soon, I can't believe he came up with this arrangement and so quickly."
"Come on, we are each guaranteed at least one season of our shows if we make this work." He assured her.
She brushed her side-fringe out of her face, "And an extra season to whoever tries the hardest with the marriage. I'm so going to win that season."
Chad found this amusing, "We all know who the better actor is; I'm going to win that season hands down."
"You know what, we will find out in six months time." Sonny told him, flipping some hair over her shoulder and crossing her arms.
"Okay honey, how about we get some lunch together today?" Chad asked her with a sickening sweetness.
"You are such a jerk." Sonny huffed, storming ahead in a mad dash to her set.
"Okay Sonny-cakes, I'll see you later!" Chad yelled out after her.
He was so going to win.
...
As Sonny stormed back to the 'So Random' set she realised that the worst thing that she could have prepared herself for when seeing Mr Condor was not 'So Random' being cancelled.
She clearly did not anticipate being told she had to stay married to Chad Dylan Cooper.
Now however she was guaranteed another season of the show if she tried to make the marriage work, they were both talented actors and could surely pull it off.
She wanted that extra season that Mr Condor offered so badly though.
She was so going to win.
