Sorry for the late update guys. I've been working on my other stories and, well, this one isn't exactly the favorite for my readers! :p If you like it, thx so much! I hope to see some more reviews!

Disclaimer: I don't own SWAC... :(

Here's chapter four!

xXx

Chad POV

This is just too bad.

How could I be so stupid? I should have just charmed the girl. Just flirted for two seconds, made her aware of how amazing I am, and left her feeling totally dazzled. But, no. I had to take it too far, forget the plan, and just flirt with her like any other girl I would. But, she was different.

Sonny didn't seem like the kind of girl who would be the Hollywood type. The conceited, rude, and mean kind. And that was hard to find in this place.

I had just finished shooting the last scene for Mackenzie Falls, and I was walking out of the studios into the warm and humid night. The shooting didn't go so great. I couldn't get that brunette off my mind. The way she twirled her hair around her finger, the way she bit her lip when I would say something flirtatious, just the way she was had me caught. I sigh. It was dark now, eight o'clock. The clouds covered most of the sky, and just a few of the stars were visible. I didn't bother to look up, for I walked straight to my car.

On my way down the steps, I heard a car door open. I turned automatically turned toward the sound, just a reflex reaction. I caught sight in the darkness Sonny Monroe herself. She was getting into a dark purple convertible, throwing her bag of things into the backseat. Then, the door slammed. Leaning against the wall, I decided I'd wait for her to leave before I left. I watched from the corner of my eye as she got in the driver's seat. She checked to make sure she had all her things. Then, the engine quietly purred to life and she backed out carefully, exiting the parking lot and my sight altogether.

Her face...she seemed...devastated. That's no overstatement. Sonny seemed heartbroken, hurt, and confused. Why was she acting- or looking- this way? What was the problem? Crushing the hope that I could go and talk to her about what was up, since she already left, I rubbed my neck and walked.

I sigh. Why did this girl have to show up? Just show up and disrupt the easy going rivalry between the shows? Though those questions were definitely going to have to be looked over, the real question was: Is she showing up a bad thing?

My mind immediately responded with a positive. Everything was going great. Mackenzie Falls is-and always will be- number one, the casts fight and tease each other every day, they gasp when hey say my name or the word 'drama'. It was the perfect setup to a perfect future of hate between the shows. But that positive ball of sunshine has to come in here and brighten everyone's day. In a way, the thought of hre had me...happy. Ugh.

I shake my head and make my way to my black convertible; top down, ready to be driven. I smirked at how Sonny and I had almost the exact same car. Weird...I guess.

I threw my stuff in the passenger seat and buckled up. Yep, people, Chad Dylan Cooper follows the law. After the belt clicked, I put the keys in the ignition and turned them. The engine was barely made out beneath the music that started in the car. I turned it down quickly; not because I didn't like Van Halen, but because it was very loud. Turning it down to a considerable volume, I put the car in reverse and backed out, watching to make sure no car or person was behind me. After it was clear, I zoomed down the road and to the incredible mansion I call home.

I pulled into the driveway, confused about how the garage was closed. There was another one, surprisingly, but it's full of the other cars we use. Don't ask. I parked on the side of the road, getting out of the car gracefully. Once again, heat and humidity engulfed me, and I took in a deep breath, tasting the air. I, personally, liked the morning. The way the sun would rise over the hill behind my house, and I could watch through the window the first pang of light to hit Hollywood.

Despite that, I enjoyed the air before walking into the house and locking the door behind me.

"I'm home!" I called.

No response.

Sonny POV

I saw a middle aged woman, eh, maybe early thirties, standing out on the very long driveway. I could see her face- she was crying, too. Yes, too. Tears were rolling down my cheeks at this house. It was huge, and I was sure I would enjoy it, but it wasn't like home. It wasn't home, period. But, I didn't want to make this woman's life hard. She hadn't asked for me, I hadn't asked for her. So, might as well make it best for both of us. Ugh.

The woman noticed my car and smiled sheepishly. She began to usher me into the garage, and I nodded to her while I pulled into the space next to a shiny sliver Volvo. I smirked at how she didn't have ten cars or something. It would be funny if she had, like, two garages with the other cars. I would laugh. Hard.

But now was not the time for laughing. My mother had just died. I already called Lucy. We had a very heartfelt conversation, and I was relieved Lucy hadn't spoken to her so she wouldn't feel guilty about me leaving. Too bad she does anyway.

I took the keys out of the car, and just sat for a second. The garage was surprisingly small for a house this big, it looks like it must have cost my paycheck times one million. Probably more. I felt guiltier thinking about how I would be living here for the rest of my childhood life. I had two more years till I'm a legal adult. So, I would be living the good life and not mourning over my mother. That's horrible! I would mourn and cry and sniffle every day for her for the rest of my life.

But now, it's time to meet my new 'mom'. I shivered for many different reasons. Let's put it at that.

I opened the door carefully and stepped out, slowly advancing the woman who was not advancing me. She stayed put, trying not to overdo herself and get ahead of me, probably. I made my way to her and stopped about two yards away. The only sound was the quiet sobs we both shared, but they seemed much too loud in the silence of the night. No cars came by. No bird chirped. No leaves rustled on the trees. All was still and silent, as if the world was waiting with unease for our first meeting. The feeling is mutual.

"Allison, I'm so sorry." She says, and her voice is gentle and sweet. Immediately I feel like I'm okay, like it's all going to be alright. When I look up at her, I see a little of my mom in her. My stomach tightens for a moment, but then I think, I want this. I wanted my mom with me. And now, this is her. I smile a tad to myself, but then it disappears as the woman advances me.

She develops me into a hug. I, being the hugger that I am, hug back fiercely. I was amazed at myself for taking comfort from a complete stranger, I guess I'd have to get used to this. We stayed there for a few minutes, and I felt like I was getting to know her just by being close to her. Then, the woman chuckled.

"Sorry," She sniffed, and I did, too. "I'm a hugger."

"That makes two of us." I whisper.

"What a coincidence."

We pull back and look at each other for a minute, just studying the other. This person was obviously in shape. Very lithe and fit. She had long, blonde hair that had plenty of fat curls in it and fell a few inches below her shoulders. Sort of like mine, but I had more of waves, and, then again, she was blonde. The street light allowed me to take into account her soft blue eyes that were very inviting, and the plenty of laugh lines. She seemed like an extroverted kind of person. I had a feeling we would get along well.

"Oh, excuse me, hon. Let's go inside so I can introduce myself and everything." She nods to herself, and I nod, too. After she closes the garage with a pad that's located on the wall next to it, she ushers me inside.

I walk in, and it's pretty dark. My eyes have not yet adjusted to it before she flicks the light on and closes the door. I was greeted to a very elegant looking home. It was very grand, and, to me, a little intimidating. I'll try to get used to it as easily as I can.

I'm guessing we're in the area in between the rooms. I was standing on the wood floor, a dark brown. To my left, but ahead, was a staircase that circled up to the upper floor. To my right, there was a dark blue room. It looked very relaxing. The walls were painted, and everything was blue except the usual splashes of white and brown accessories. There were pictures in there, too, but I didn't bother to look before I got used to the house. I would get used to my new home before my new family. Straight ahead was a kitchen I could tell was sophisticated looking, but I couldn't make it out because of the curl in the hallway. To my left was a large grandfather clock, a soft, tan color. All in all, a very neat and calm place.

"I can take your coat, Allison." She offers.

I take it off and hand it to her with a grateful smile. "Sonny, please."

"Sonny," She nods and smiles, too, pleased with my reaction.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, hon."

I look around, thinking of something to say as she hangs my coat in the closet that's right next to the front door.

"You have a very beautiful home." I comment.

She nods. "Thank you. YOu aven't seen the half of it, though. I'm glad you like it, but such a shame you're here."

I sigh.

"C'mon, let's go to the kitchen and bond over some coffee."

I perked up. "Ooh, coffee!"

"I guess we share the same obsession?" She laughed. It sounded like the laugh was practiced. No, not necessarily practiced, but habitual. Her laugh was perfect, like she's been doing it all her life. It surprised me- everyone said the same thing to me.

"In a way," I smile at her, and follow her to the kitchen. When we get there, I gasp. The whole thing was black and white with splotches of silver here and there. It was as if it were created for someone who loved to cook fancy things. Fancy schmancy. I liked it. "Nice!" I compliment with enthusiasm.

"Thanks." She laughs, "I couldn't resist the colors. This is just where I cook. No one ever really comes in here but me. We eat in the next room." She points.

There's another room behind a swinging door, but I don't go in yet. I just sit at a stool by the counter and watch her. Sooner than I expect, it's finished. She pours it into two mugs and I follow her into the next room.

When the door swings open, I begin to study: The main color is a bright yellow. The walls were that color. I was going to like this room a lot, I could tell. The room faces east, for there was a compass on the wall for some reason. The cabinets were painted a light tan-ish color with darker brown lines covering it. There was a circular table in the center of the room, and a countertop to the left of me. The room was small yet large enough for some reason. I was fascinated by all the windows in the room, but now it was dark, so I couldn't see anything.

The woman took a seat and I took a seat across from her, carefully putting my mug down to sit.

"Well, Sonny, I can't believe I haven't told you my name yet." She chuckles.

"Is it Danielle?" I ask. "You look like a Danielle."

"Yes!" She seems surprised. "It is Danielle!"

I laugh. "I'm kidding, I didn't know. They told me your name earlier today."

"Ah!" She accuses me, but we both continue laughing. For a reason unknown to me I think this is what I had been doing all my life. We converse so easily I have a feeling I had done this every day. This woman makes me feel like I've known her forever, and we were just getting acquainted after a few years. The funny part- that's not the case.

"I'm very sorry, Sonny. We were best friends in college." Danielle informs me. I realize she's talking of my mom.

"I can tell. You seem like the kind of person she would get along with. I guess we were alike that way." I compliment, and she blushes.

"Aw, just like your mother. Finding the best in people." I take a sip of coffee. I nod, putting the mug down after tasting the most delicious coffee.

"Yes." She looks into the distance, seeing things much too secluded for me to notice. "So, where would you like to start?"

Hmm, where should we start? My history, more tears, her history...

"Your history. Some stuff about you." I decide.

"Alright..." Danielle's eyes widen. "Geez, there's a lot of it."

I laugh.

"Well, the beginning..." And she begins her story.

She tells me of her childhood. How she was lucky and had enough money to go around with her three sisters and two brothers. I always wanted siblings. She continues with her teen years, how she finds her high school sweetheart, and where they got to. She tells me about when her parents died, and I smile in pity. She does, too, but goes on. Then, apparently she gets married to that same guy.

"You wouldn't believe how happy I was when he proposed. It was wonderful, I was thrilled! When we got married...I was incredibly happy. I had it great! But then, guess what I find out two years later?" She speaks as though we were gossiping, leaning forward with her hands on the table.

"What?" I say low, smiling in wonderment.

"He's got another woman!"

I gasp. For real.

"That's horrible!" I say incredulously, leaning back.

"I know." She sighs, shaking her head with pursed lips. I can tell she's not hurt about it though.

"What a jerk." I say, sipping some coffee.

"Exactly!" She nods in approval of my statement. "And you know what I did?"

I raise my eyebrows in expectation.

"I didn't think twice." She shakes her head. "I didn't look back. I smacked him silly and kicked his butt outta my house!"

"Good for you!" I give her a high five, and smile huge. This woman is fantastic.

"Thank you!" She bows. I laugh. "Haven't seen him since- I mean, who was I to marry a man named Harold?"

I snort, almost spitting my coffee out of my nose. "You're kidding! Harold?"

"Yep." She nods, but then shakes her head. "Best part of the story is- I think the part where we got divorced was when I was happiest! Didn't even cry, girl. No tears form this woman."

"Yeah! Girl Power!"

She puts her hands in the air as though she were thanking the Girl Power Gods. I laugh hysterically and she does, too. After a fit of full blown out laughing, we hear something. Someone.

"I'm home!" A voice calls. It sounds familiar...I can't place my finger on it. I glance at the clock: 8:30. I freeze, I didn't want to meet anyone yet.

I look at Danielle. She's frozen, too.

"Who is that?" I whisper.

"I didn't tell him about you yet! He was at work!" She whisper/screams.

"What do we do?"

"Hide!" She commands.

And I do so.

Chad's POV

"Hello? Mom?" I call again.

I hear someone scrambling.

"Oh, honey, you're home!"

"Hey, mom."

I develop her in a hug, having already gotten settled and taken my shoes off.

"Well, let's go get a snack and you can tell me how your day went." She tells me quickly.

I study her in confusion of her current state. She seems a little flushed as though she were busy with something. She's been laughing- I can hear it in her voice and see it on her face.

"What have you been up to?" I ask slowly.

"Oh," She says with a dismissal wave of her hand. "Not much."

"What are you so flushed about?"

She looks at me with a look of innocence. "What? Nothing!" Se laughs at my suspicion- her laugh is off. She slaps my arm playfully.

"Mom?" I say slowly.

"Oh, well...I was laughing at my daily calendar joke- it was funny." She says too fast.

"Oh really?"

She nods. "Yeah!"

"What did it say?" I ask with fake curiosity.

"Oh! Um..." She looks away. "Uh- Knock knock!"

I roll my eyes. "Who's there?"

A pause. "...COW!!"

My yes widen at her sudden outburst and then the fit of laughter comes on. I look at her like she's crazy.

"What? It's funny! Because...cow has...nothing to do with it..."

I stare at her with real concern. "Let's just eat something then."

"Okay," She says quickly, and turns on her heel to enter the kitchen. I give her some time before I go, too.

I watch her put a dish in the sink with a clatter and run to the fridge and relax like she's been there for while. I snort quietly.

"So..." She says. "Want some coffee?"

"I feel like you already had coffee."

"Oh...good one, Chad!"

I hear a gasp. I turn to my mother in confusion.

"Why did you just do that?" I ask.

"Do what?" She says innocently with a shrug of her shoulders. She already has coffee ready and pours it in a mug for me and sits down.

"Gasp?" I say.

"Oh! Because I love coffee! Duh!"

And when I walk over to the table, I catch sight of what I'm not supposed to know. I smirk at this, hiding my surprise as I sit down and she passes me the cup. She sips eagerly, like she hasn't drank anything in forever.

"So, hon. How was your day?" She asks me.

"Good, good." I decide to mess with what I'm not supposed to know. "There's a new girl at the studios."

"You don't say?" Mom asks.

"Yeah..."

"She pretty?"

"Very," I laugh. "but she already knows that."

Mom looks amused and confused for a sec, but I shake my head and continue.

"She's on the rival show."

"So Random?" Mom knows a lot about the rivalry. But, it looks as if she didn't know this fact.

"Yep," I say. "She is."

"What's her name?"

"Allison Monroe." And she chokes on her coffee for a sec. I smirk.

"For a second I thought I liked her." I told the two with pride. "But, then, I remembered she's on the rival show and blah, blah, blah...I would get fired if anyone saw me with her outside of work."

"You don't say?" She says again.

"Yep."

"Well, you know I wouldn't bring her to the house or anything."

"Oh?" I smile knowingly.

"Yes." She nods, thinking I'm clueless.

"Then why is she under the table?"

So...whadya think? Pretty long, I hope it wasn't confusing. Please please please review!!! :)