Disclaimer: Don't own SWAC

Sonny

xXx

I could feel myself ever so slowly regaining consciousness. Very cautiously I began to twitch my fingers, then my toes. I began to move my legs and my arms. Okay, so my limbs were still in tact.

I could feel something brushing up against my left arm or, in better words, something caressing my left arm. For some strange reason I pictured this scene: Chad there, sitting next to me, running the tips of his fingers over my skin comfortably. I smiled softly.

But this thing caressing me was definitely not Chad. It was soft, fluffy, even. I felt it press against me more fully now, and after a second something thinner ran across my arm. I pictured a cat rubbing up against me. As I went back over the feeling it seemed to fit the picture.

I was very aware of the loud and painful throbbing in my head. Whenever I moved something the pain would increase. But knowing me, as I do know myself, I'd felt worse. I'd had worse.

I carefully moved my arm as not to nudge the animal next to me so I could lay my hand on my head. But there was already a wet rag draped over it. I pressed my hand on it more fully and tried to sit up.

"Oh, no you don't." Someone said, pushing my shoulders back down.

Chad.

A flood of memories came back to me, causing my head to throb menacingly. I gasped, feeling like a baby. Why did my head hurt so bad?

I came up with a conclusion.

"What the heck did you do," I sounded like I had just finished a horrible coughing fit. "Poison me?"

He laughed quietly; a soft chuckle that echoed through my head, and I swear to you the pain in my head decreased. "You would think that, wouldn't you?"

"Hmm," was all I said as I sat there.

For a minute we stayed silent.

"First of all," I began when my head hurt much less, clearing my throat as quietly as I could. "Is that a cat sniffing at me?"

I got another laugh. "Yeah. That's Fluffy."

I smiled weakly. "Creative. Two: why do I have a major headache?"

The possibilities had me scared. Did this dude get me drunk? I gasped, my eyes shooting open?

"Chad, what did you do to me?" I said, scared. "Did you get me drunk?"

"Jesus, Sonny." Chad shook his head. "You passed out because you were so overwhelmed by the house."

I felt completely stupid. "Oh," was my brilliant response.

By now the throbbing and pain was barely there. My head just seemed a little bit heavy. I sat up normally, noting the fact that Chad stood up to make sure I didn't fall again. Despite who he was and the basis we were on, I had to thank him.

"Thanks but no thanks," I smiled sheepishly. "I'm good."

"You don't look so good."

"Oh, why thank you, Chad." I glared.

"Sorry."

"What did I pass out about again?" I asked, confused.

"The movie theater."

My eyes widened as I remembered it. "That was pretty big."

"Well, not really." He argued, shaking his head and smirking. "I guess you just haven't been in a lot of mansions before."

"Oh, yeah," I agreed sarcastically. "But this situation is a little different: I'm going to be living in this one."

He looked a little disgruntled when I brought it up. "Oh. Right."

"Let me guess." I laughed, my head throbbed in protest. "You forgot?"

"Let's just not talk about it."

"Oh, right. We'll live it, duh!" I say sarcastically.

He sighed. "You know I didn't mean it like that."

"Then how did you mean it, Chad?"

"This is exactly why I don't want to talk about it." He gave me an i told you so look.

"Oh, yeah. Sure."

I shook my head angrily and huffed.

"Look," Chad said softly. I tried to block out his kind tone. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Don't," I said sternly. "Act like you care."

He looked at me a little exasperated. "Why not?"

"Because they were right about you! You're just an arrogant jerk, huh? They were right! And to think I thought I could prove them wrong."

Wait, what? I never thought that!

A flood of emotions raced through me. Was I having an epiphany or something?

I was most definitely a girl who looked for the best in someone. Even arrogant jerks. But why would I feel disappointed if I couldn't have him be a part of my life? Oh, right. Because I killed my own Mom. Because I had to disobey her to get what I wanted. Because I couldn't even listen when she tried to tell me about the consequences.

And here I am with Chad.

Chad: The Consequence.

Well, then, if I get to hate him, I might as well make him hate me, too.

"You're trying to comfort me when I killed my own mother." I breathed.

I shook my head and lifted my hands, not wanting Chad to see me like this. I was strong. I was the duaghter of Connie Dawn Monroe. I was Allison Sonny Monroe. I was Sonny.

He hadn't heard; just watched when my head fell into my hands. Through my fingers I noted the fact he lifted his hand. It hovered in the air above me for a second before it pathetically dropped into his lap.

That hand- a soft, caring, easy hand- that could have brushed against my skin and made me feel much better then I was. But it fell. It fell miserably and confused.

I that what we would be like for the rest of my time here?

"Well, what now?"

I looked around the room- relaxation room.

"You're going to sleep some more. You didn't even get up, therefore I can't say you got up on the wrong side of the massage table."

I rolled my eyes. "Clever."

"Duh."

"Conceited."

"Sunny."

"Jerk."

"Brunette."

"That doesn't even make sense!"

"I'm not insulting you, Sonny."

"Yes, you are."

He looked at me, confused. "No, I'm not."

"Well, it's making me upset." I tested slowly. "Apologize."

"No."

That's when I realized it: He was really acting. I shook my head in disbelief. He doesn't apologize because he's a conceited jerk who doesn't care for anyone but his mother. Ten bucks he doesn't even feed Fluffy.

"Why not?" I said louder now.

"Why are you acting so strange?"

"Because you poisoned me!"

"No I didn't!"

"Because you made me drunk!"

"Jesus, you passed out!"

"Oh, please!" I tried to sound convincing.

"Why would I want you drunk anyway?" He asked slowly. "Why would you assume that?"

A smirk was forming on his lips.

"You did not just go there."

His smirk became more pronounced. "What were you thinking, Sonny?"

"I'm not even talking about this, Chad. You're insane."

"You don't have a cover story."

"Oh, please."

"You know what I think?"

"Nope." I smiled mockingly. "And I don't think I want to."

"You do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"Don't."

"Do."

Was it bad to feel like I seriously wanted to know what was so important to him?

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Good."

"Good!"

Silence.

"Well," I urged. "Tell me!"

"I wasn't really thinking anything."

"You're kidding right?" I sighed; disbelieving.

"Yes." I wanted to smack that smirk off his face. "I was kidding. I was really thinking that you've got the hots for me."

My eyes widened. My jaw went slack. "Excuse me?"

"Don't deny it, Monroe."

"Well, Cooper," I mocked. "I am not denying anything-"

"Aha!"

"I don't like you, dude."

He glared. "Who doesn't like their own brother?"

"WHOA!" I pretty much screamed. "Absolutely NO relation!"

"Yeah, you're right. I don't think I would want you as a sister."

The sentence was innocent, yet so easily turned around be super-smart me.

"Oh, Chad." I giggled, flipping my hair dramatically and pronouncing my figure by moving the sheet off of me. "What do you want me as?"

His eyes widened, and I didn't miss the way his eyes drifted over my body in a flash. "You did not just go there." He seemed shocked I was able to backfire his words so quickly.

"It makes sense, doesn't it?" I lost the fake and flirty voice. "Five minutes ago you were just watching me sleep."

He gasped, "I was making sure you were going to live!"

"Oh," I say; oh so innocently. "So you care for me, then?"

Chad just stared at me, stunned into silence. When he spoke again: "Yes, I care, Sonny."

I stared at him darkly for a moment, knowing I couldn't get the information out of him that quickly.

"But it doesn't mean I necessarily care for you."

"Ouch." I said seriously.

He shrugged. "That's what you get."

"When I let my heart win?" I guess with a smile.

He stands up and walks toward me. I turn so my legs were hanging over the side of the massage table, ignoring the cool draft in my legs now. He came close and put his arms next to my hips on the table and leaned forward, keeping about a foot between us though. I pursed my lips to force pout away. Isn't this moment supposed to be the sappy one where he comes really close and then...he looks away? Despite the looking away part, I was smug with my knowledge of romantic comedy.

Chad's hair was slightly disheveled. I remembered that I liked it best like this.

Wait. I'm supposed to be repulsed by him!

"So you admit it then?" He breathed.

It took me a second to remember what we were talking about- arguing about.

"Admit what?" I teased, making him say it again.

He smirked knowingly. "That you let your heart win."

"No, sir." I smiled. "I don't wasn't to be the blame anymore; it's you turn."

I prayed he was oblivious to the lyrics.

But the way he smirked had me thinking not.

"To take a seat...or something like that?" He guessed.

"We're settling..."I leaned forward an inch. I watched Chad follow the movement. "The final score."

"Sonny." He said warningly, but with a big smile. "Why do we like to hurt so much?"

"You mean, setting ourselves up for hurt?"

"Is that what you're doing?" Chad asked seriously. "Is that what you think you're doing?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." I leaned- regrettably- farther away.

Chad didn't move. I noticed that our eyes had been locked the hole time. WHen I closed my eyes for a second and reopned them, Chad was still watching me.

"Fine." He sighed. "I'll get answeres out of you when you're in a more flirty mood."

I was shocked. "You did not just go there."

"That's what you get."

With a wink, Chad strutted from the room.

I remembered his breath on my skin, his hands skimming me.

"I think I'm ogng to faint again."