Disclaimer: Don't own SWAC.

Hello, people! I don't have very much to say…okay then, on with the story.

Sonny.

xXx

They were all leaving tomorrow. The thought made me feel heartbroken. It was like losing a part of me, like watching family walk away. Sighing, I moved my legs around to get more comfortable. My jammies suddenly felt too hot on my skin. Most of all, I didn't want to lose Jayden. Well, not lose her, but I didn't want to not see her every day. It seemed so normal now, over the span of two days, waking up to nine people in my room jumping on my bed, laughing our heads off at something stupid Alex did, or hugging each and everyone goodnight as they whined that they didn't want the night to be over. I wondered if I was like that with my mother, perfect, a little angel.

I wondered if that's what it felt like to be a mother. Looking at that little baby and thinking that you were the luckiest person in the world as it shifted in your arms. I wondered what it would be like watching them blow out the candles on their fifth birthday. I pondered the aching feeling that a mother would feel on their first day of school- the first step to losing that little baby. I wondered about their first crush, and how that mother would respond to such an obsession that was toward something other her own self. I thought about Jayden, and how she didn't get to spend those beautiful child years with a mother of her own. Tears didn't come to me. It seems over the last month and a half I'd let all my tears run free- I was tearless now. I shook my head to rid the thoughts. Thinking about motherhood made me think about how it would be if I married Chad.

I played with my thumbs. Everyone had been put down two hours ago, and yet I couldn't fall asleep. Abby had ditched me so she could sleep with Jayden. I remember walking into the room to get a stuffed animal for Abby and seeing Jayden and Alex in the same bed, their hands intertwined as they slept right next to each other. I was so speechless and choked up that it took me five minutes to get back to Abby and tear my eyes away from the loving pair.

I closed my eyes and tried to stop thinking if Chad was thinking about me right now, and if he was questioning my actions before we had gone to bed. I recalled touching his hand with my own, the feeling of his warm skin on my lips. I blushed, feeling embarrassed about the whole thing. I hadn't felt such a thrill in a long time, and I loved the way Chad made me feel. And there I go, getting carried away again.

I thought about Chad's father, and what Danielle had told me about him. Not much, just about the divorce because of his cheating. Chad had never mentioned him to me. I wanted to know more about Chad and his past, his life. I wanted it so badly I almost got out of bed to go ask him even at this late hour. I grabbed the sheets to keep myself restrained. I needed to sleep. Tomorrow I had to be back at Condor studios and face Tawni. And for that, I needed to sleep so I wouldn't be so cranky. I took a deep breath and tried to focus on my deep breathing. The only thing I could hear was the soft inhales and exhales of my lungs. I tried to get the rhythmic sound to lull me to sleep, and I was halfway there before I heard the click.

It was a soft sound, almost muted, but the time and the stillness of the house made it sound like a gunshot reverberating throughout the dark room. Realizing sleep was a thousand miles away, I swung my legs over the side of the bed. I was curious to the sound of a door opening- and then another clicking sound being heard. Soft footsteps of maybe two people were echoing softly in my ears as they sound became more distant. I hesitantly opened my door, keeping the knob turned so that no sound would come from the movement. I saw a quick foot round the corner of the hall, and I followed silently in my long sleeved navy blue shirt and polka dotted pants.

I followed silently throughout the house, the familiar path and sounds of feet thumping quietly lead me to the end of the hall. The footsteps stopped for one second, and then another click was heard as a door opened and closed again. I peered around the corner again to see a fleeting image of Alex with his hands stretched out and in someone else's.

Jayden and Alex. A small smile on face, I walked toward the door and looked through the transparent glass. They walked next to each other slowly, responding to one another silently as they sat down on a comfy love seat. The stars were half hidden behind the clouds that now roamed aimlessly through the black sky. Jayden put her head on Alex's shoulder, and I watched as his thumb played around with hers in their hands. When she looked up, they stared at one another for maybe twenty seconds before they both leaned in. I gasped, and watched as the barely teenagers kissed each other sweetly for a second before they pulled away. Jayden smiled at him as they both stared with a face of such admiration, and I couldn't help-

"Busted." The word traveled to my ear, and I gasped, whipping around and staring down at the hand on my arm that brought so my tingles to my arm. I looked up to see Chad Dylan Cooper staring at me. "Are you spying, Monroe?" His face exposed his amusement.

I shook my head, blushing barely.

He smiled slightly. "Come on, you need to get some sleep." I didn't make a move to leave the spot I was in. I just stared at him in he dark. It didn't seem like he had fallen asleep either, and I couldn't help but feel weak as I recalled the sign of affection I showed him not too long ago. He continued to smile at me in that certain way that had me wondering what in the world he was thinking as he stared at me. His hand traveled down my arm, his fingertips brushing my skin slowly, and finally he grabbed my hand fully. He turned, and I had no choice but to be pulled slowly through the house again. After a minute of walking I walked next to him, and instead of leading me somewhere, he was just holding my hand. It was something we hadn't really done before, but I liked the feeling of his fingers in mine, his skin on mine. He smiled to himself, and I realized that the whole time we were walking I had just stared at him, reading his expression. I hadn't said a word, just watched him hold my hand and smile at me through the soft moonlight that poured through the glass door and landed on his eyes, causing them to sparkle. And now I watched him as he looked forward, and until we were in front of my bedroom door.

Realizing I wasn't going anywhere on my own, he opened the door for me and led me to my bed. Pulling the sheets down and out from under my pillows with one hand, he motioned for me to get into the bed. I did so, and let our fingers brush one another's as I repositioned myself. As he started to pull away, I held on, refusing to let go. For a minute he stared at me. I wasn't sure what I looked like right now, and I really didn't care. I stared back at him, and rolled back the sheets again to give him a hint. His face softened in a way and he exhaled loudly before climbing in to bed next to me. I smiled as he got settled next to me, pulling a pillow away from my headboard to place under his cheek. He stared at me in the darkness and I realized our hands were still clasped together. I pulled my left hand from his grasp and brought it up to the cheek I'd kissed earlier. My thumb brushed across his skin and I felt…alive. Very, completely alive. He stared at me with a gaze that captured me. When I stared back into those blue pools, I got lost, and my thumb stopped. He put his hand over mine and moved toward me. For a second I thought he was going to kiss me, and I caught my breath, but then he leaned up and pressed his soft lips to my forehead. They lingered there for a few seconds, and I let my eyes close. When he pulled away he immediately wrapped his arm around my waist and leaned his forehead against mine. Despite the anticipation I felt, I closed my eyes and put my hand on his neck, yearning to feel his skin. And with his arms wrapped around me, I thought about two things. One, the way Chad had looked at me with the same look Alex had gave Jayden after he kissed her. That same look of adoration as he held my hand and stared at me with that smile. And, two, the fact that I hadn't fallen asleep because Chad's arms weren't around like they were now. And that's probably why sleep overtook me almost immediately.

xXx

As I watched the van drive away with Chad's arms around me, I smiled and waved back at the hands that shook crazily through the window. Kids stuck their head out and tried to get my attention and get me to wave specifically to them. I laughed and waved back as pleasingly as I could, even with Jayden's words in my mind. Sighing as the van turned the corner, I continued to look out when Chad looked at me.

"I gotta go," He said, a smile still on his face. "When do you have to be at the studio?" He asked, motioning to my pajamas.

I rolled my eyes, still not looking at him. "Nine."

"Lucky," He chuckled. "See you." He smiled at me and brushed my bangs from my eyes before letting me go. I smiled back at him and nodded. He walked over to the garage over the terrific grass lawn. I stood in the center, and the chilled wind from the November season blew my hair behind me. I walked back into the house and ran up the stairs to my room. I needed something different to wear….something that would keep all eyes on me. Something that would make me feel even more beautiful that Tawni. The sexiest thing I own. I looked through my closet and landed on a dress that Danielle had bought when we went shopping.

I took it out slowly, staring at it as if it were Cinderella's gown. I wanted everyone looking at me- especially Chad. Oh, the joy of embarrassing Chad Dylan Cooper at work would be hilarious. I bit my lip, staring at the dress and then threw it down on my bed. I raked my drawers for everything else I needed to make the perfect outfit. Laying it all out on the bed, I smiled, actually slapping my knee as I began to laugh. And then I caught a glimpse of my greasy looking hair and practically ran to the shower.

All the while, Jayden's words echoed in my mind.

You better jump on this hot guy before someone else does, Sonny. Good luck.

xXx

Chad

xXx

Cut!

I groaned as pulled away from Portlyn's close proximity. It was getting really annoying lately how she couldn't catch a hint very easily. I watched as she frowned characteristically and leaned away from me grumpily. Rolling my eyes I walked off the set to my chair and picked up the half-full water. Everyone began to leave for the lunch break. I unscrewed the cap and took a couple big gulps.

"Hey, man," I heard from behind me. I removed the bottle from my lips and smirked at the guy across from me.

"Hey, dude." I greeted him, and I put my hand out for him to shake as I leaned over to pat his back once. "What are you doing here?

James smiled as if that's exactly what he wanted to hear. "I'm making another appearance- apparently Portlyn's step cousin is coming back to try and win her love again or something."

"Hot," I nodded, and we both chuckled at the lameness of this. "So what are you doing here now?"

"Just thought I'd watch a little, nothing else to do at this lame studio."

I stared at him. "Go to the cafeteria and pick up a chic." I shrugged and took another sip of my water bottle.

"Can't." His smirk became more pronounced. "I'm in an exclusive relationship."

And that's all it took for me to burst out laughing, the water in my mouth spurting onto a nearby camera. It took me a while to calm down as my sides began to ache. When I caught a glimpse of his expression, I stopped.

"Oh, you're serious?" He rolled his eyes. James was like the second-best player in Hollywood next to me. Of course, now I wasn't with anyone because Sonny was driving me crazy, so they thought I was trying to make a drastic change in my lifestyle and find someone to really love. It was all so corny how they worded it, but when I really thought about it, I realized that I actually was doing that. But it wasn't too drastic. The last time I'd seen James Conroy was a month ago when we were shooting an episode where I had to meet Port's parents and family and ran into her evil step-cousin- James- and we fenced or something like that for Portlyn's love. I won, of course. I always do. With that in my mind, I stared at James pleadingly. "Please tell me it's Portlyn."

"Ha!" He exclaimed. "She may have been HTA twice in a row, but she's not very bright." HTA was Hottest Teenage Actress, and, no, Portlyn might be pretty or whatever, but the way she acts kind of takes away from that. "And even I need a little brains in a relationship."

"Since when do you have exclusive relationships?"

If he heard me, he didn't acknowledge it. "Why? She all on you or something?"

I nodded, my eyebrows raised. "You could say that."

"Well," He put his hands in his pockets. "Let's go to the cafeteria anyway. There's nothing wrong with getting a steak and a little eye candy."

I rolled my eyes at this, but laughed all the same as we walked out of the Mack Falls set. "So, what have you been doing since last I saw you?"

"Not much. Actually, nothing. Just been hanging around with my family and chillin'." He said.

"Oh," I nodded seriously, pretending to understand. "So, you mean you didn't get any offers for the last month?"

He pursed his lips to hide an embarrassed smile. "Nope. But let's not say that."

"Okay," I laughed and he punched my shoulder a little harder than necessary. We neared the commissary doors.

"So," He said, and his voice took on a more mischievous tone. "Any new, hot girls?"

"Uhh…." I didn't know how to respond to that, so I just pushed the doors open myself and tried to come up with a retort.

And then I missed a step.

No, it wasn't because my whole, fancy Mackenzie Falls table was filled already and Portlyn was already smiling flirtatiously. No, it wasn't because the Meal or No Meal girls were watching me walk in while twirling their hair in a desperate attempt to get my attention. No, it wasn't because the Tween Gladiators nodded at me, trying to act smooth as they wanted to earn my friendship. And, NO, it wasn't because all the Randoms turned to glare at me with disgust- minus one.

It was because there was some kind of goddess buying an apple at the cashier table.

"Holy—," James cut himself off.

Standing there was an extremely attractive brunette, her back to us, and I would bet anyone my next paycheck James was checking out her backside. There she stood, her weight shifted on the counter as she rolled that apple in her hands, throwing it up into the air and catching it again effortlessly. Her dress was long sleeved, and it stopped three inches just above her knees. The solid black shirt clung to her body, and the zebra skirt shifted smoothly as she absentmindedly drew patterns on the floor with her feet, which were hidden along with her legs behind long magenta leggings and high, high heeled, black boots. Each feature of the dress flaunted each and every one of her curves, which were extremely alluring. The girl's long, dark brown hair was perfectly messy, curly and shiny as it bounced playfully around her shoulder.

I'd seen that shiny hair this morning, sprawled out against the same pillow I used. I had held that gorgeous body in my arms all night.

James was quiet next to me as we both stopped and stared. Everyone went back to what they were doing, as if every single person who walked in had done the same thing. I cleared my throat, and James hit me again. Hard.

"Dude," He said in a distant voice. "You're right. No new, hot girls."

I gaped at him in disbelief.

"But you didn't tell me there were new, super-gorgeous sexy girls around."

I rolled my eyes. "Um…I guess not. Because there isn't." I had to play this right. I couldn't get too caught up in Sonny's appearance. She didn't always dress so…well, super- gorgeous- sexy, as James had put it. I wanted to get territorial, tell him to back off. Flaunt the fact that I had slept with her last night- in the literal way, jeez. I realized I couldn't tell James anything, because the guy couldn't shut his mouth sometimes. But, despite everything that I disapproved about him, he was a buddy ,so I had to give him half of the truth.

"What are you talking about? Are we not staring at the same super- gorgeous-sexy chick?" He exclaimed quietly to me, as if he didn't want someone to overhear.

I shrugged it off, walking to the wall and leaning against it so we could talk comfortably. The chatter in the room picked up again and the noise level with it, which caused James' voice to go up, too.

"Dude," I rolled my eyes. "Sonny Monroe. That's a Random. A So Random cast member. You just got caught staring at one of those." I shook my head.

"Um, you were staring, too…" He looked over again. "Maybe I should start watching that show."

There was already a chair for James at the table, so that was one less excuse for ditching this conversation.

"I'm gonna go talk to her," He was already leaving.

"Wait!" I exclaimed. He barely looked over his shoulder. "What about your exclusive relationship?"

He just rolled his eyes and continued walking toward her. Sonny turned around, throwing the red apple into the air once again, twirling it in her hand absentmindedly. She began to walk back to the So Random table, until she caught James staring and walking toward her. She smirked in a manner that made me almost scream at her of betrayal, but I clamped my mouth shut and kept glued to the wall. She smiled at him, the same way she smiled at me the first day we met in the same spot. My mouth went slightly ajar. I strained to hear the words, and I could feel the cafeteria mood shift to curious as everyone looked at the two from the corner of their eyes.

"Hi," Sonny said with a smile. Her makeup was done perfectly, and I couldn't help but stare. I tried to be still so I wouldn't get caught spying. The smile she gave him now wasn't the meaningful ones she gave me at home, and I kept that in mind as my mood shifted from curious to furious.

"Hey," James responded with a flirty tone. Hello? Exclusive relationship! "I'm James. James Conroy." He stuck his hand out.

Okay, every guy knows that you don't use that dumb James Bond thingy on girls when you're flirting. So, this made me ponder of James was just trying too hard or if he was actually nervous. Nervous. I shook my head.

"And I am Allison. Allison Monroe." She said, and her smile became sympathetic, as if she couldn't believe James had just said that to her. Her hand reached out to grasp his, and watched as he bent down to kiss her hand instead of shake it. Didn't Nico do that, too? Despite that, a fury like I'd never known ripped through me and my breathing faltered. As James bent down, Sonny rolled her eyes and looked around the room, realizing no one was watching anymore. Her eyes flickered onto me, and her expression changed from flirtatious to desperate. Help me, she mouthed.

And that's all I needed to stop staring and start moving.

"James," I said hardly. He immediately took his hand out of Sonny's and turned so he could see both of us at the same time. "Sonny," I rolled my eyes.

"Chad," she sneered, and out her hand over her mouth as if she couldn't believe she'd said it. She cleared her throat awkwardly.

"Chad," James said. "I was just talking to my girl, Sonny, over here."

"Sonny?" Sonny questioned him. "I thought I told you my name was Allison."

"Oh, yeah…I- yeah." James rubbed his neck.

"Your girl, Sonny?" I asked him. "Sorry, James, but no."

"No what, Cooper?" Sonny laughed. "Jealous?"

James eyes flickered to me. I laughed without humor. "I don't think I would be jealous- more like….hmm, sympathetic? We should get back to the set, James—"

"Oh, so you're on Mackenzie Falls this week?" Sonny said as she turned her attention toward him.

"Yeah, you like the show?" He asked.

Sonny was about to respond, but then something caught her eye. Me being behind James, I saw it, too, but he did not. I watched as Tawni waved her hands crazily to get Sonny's attention, and shake her head, sliding her finger across her throat repeatedly to help Sonny get the hint. No, is what Tawni was implying, duh. So Sonny turned back to James after looking away for only one second.

"Actually," She rolled her eyes. "No. Hate that show."

"Oh." James said dumbly. I watched the scene with wide eyes.

"Yeah, and next time you try to flirt with me- or should I say try to flirt with me- make sure you're not in an exclusive relationship, alright?" She rolled her eyes. "Mackenzie Falls. I can't believe I almost felt bad for you." And then she walked back to her table.

James sat down and I sat down too. Sonny snuck a glance at me and I couldn't help the smile that overtook my face.

"Thank goodness you saved James, Chad," Portlyn giggled, touching my arm. I shook her off with a roll of my eyes and raised my glass full of water as I stood.

"To me," I began in my toast voice. "For saving James from a Random and getting spectacular food like this." I sneered with disgust at Random.

"To me," Sonny stood with her can of coke across the room. "For being hot enough to be flirted with by a drama snob," She rolled her eyes. "And for ordering a pizza." She said as if it were an afterthought, pulling out her cell phone and taking a swig of coke.

I stood there and stared at her in disbelief as her cast cheered- even Tawni- as she ordered, wondering how in the world Sonny had blown off the second hottest Hollywood bad boy.

And I yearned for the answer to be me- she had blown off James Conroy because he wasn't me.

XXX

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