A/N: The next chapter will be the last. After that I think I'll take a break from writing Channy. As you can see, I've posted some of the Jogan fics I've tried. This chapter's a little sad. But I promise you'll like the ending. :P
Sonny's POV
The next morning, I awoke around 9:00 AM. Looking around, I realized I was in Chad's room. We'd fallen asleep, sitting against the wall. I glanced out the window and saw the sun shining brightly through, casting shadows over the walls.
Slowly, I stood up and brushed myself off. Then, I picked up a pillow from the bed and placed it behind the blond boy's head. Carefully, I picked up his guitar. I'd reached the case before deciding to take a little detour.
Hoping he wouldn't mind, I walked out onto the balcony with his guitar and began the song softly.
Standin' here in our final hour,
I can't believe this is the end.
Now I wish that I had the power
To start this all over again.
The past two weeks were so much fun. I'd had a lot of fun, getting to see my family and friends again. And when I was with Chad, things weren't nearly as awkward. At least, I didn't think so.
'Cause I know that I'm gonna
Miss you when you're gone
And I'd hate to leave it this way.
I didn't want to go back to the awkward stage we were in before this trip. But I didn't just want to stay stuck in the same zone forever.
So just make a move,
You've got nothing to lose, no.
I wanted something to happen between… Anything, as long as it moved us back in the right direction. We seemed to be moving farther and farther apart before the vacation. I didn't want to relapse.
Here I am,
Take a chance.
What are you waiting for?
I'm telling you,
As a friend,
We could be so much more.
As I sang, I kept thinking about the way we were before. I missed it.
I never thought anyone ever could
Make me feel this way.
So make my day.
What are you waiting for?
What are you waiting for?
But the questions were: Did I really miss him? Or did I miss having a boyfriend? I was hoping to find out the answer before the trip ended.
Don't make me feel stupid.
Don't say I was wrong.
Building this up in my mind for so long.
Did I love Chad? Did I love Matt? And if I loved them both, who would I choose?
Now our time's running out.
So you've got to be strong.
If you want to make this right,
Break the ice,
Don't think twice.
Take me away.
I wished, prayed, and hoped that one of them would do something. Anything to help me answer all of these questions.
'What are you waiting for?' I sang, asking Chad and Matt. Then, I realized I should really be asking myself. What was I waiting for?
I never thought anyone ever could
Make me feel this way.
So make my day.
My internal song dedication was still unclear, even to myself. Who was I singing to? My best friend's brother whom I've known since birth? My ex-boyfriend, whom I've known for about 3 years?
Here I am,
Take a chance.
What are you waiting for?
I needed one of the three of us to do something. Something that would help me see more clearly.
I'm telling you,
As a friend,
We could be so much more.
I could see futures for Matt and I as well as I could with Chad. I just couldn't decide.
I never thought anyone ever could
Make me feel this way.
So make my day.
What are you waiting for?
What are you waiting for?
As the song came to a close, I sighed softly. I headed back inside, and set Chad's guitar down gently in its case. Then, I tiptoed quietly out of his room and back to mine.
During brunch, Lucy reminded me of something I'd forgotten about, "Hey, are we gonna go to that ball tonight? If we are, we still need to pick out dresses!"
She was referring to something we'd seen on a flyer at the outlet mall when we went to buy Claire's birthday presents. There was going to be an 'Independence Day Masquerade Ball' at the community center. Since most people would be away or busy on the real Independence Day, the community decided to have it earlier.
"Oh, yeah! Let's go shopping after everyone's done eating! If there's one thing I've learned from Tawni, it's how to last minute shop," I grinned.
"Are we allowed to come?" Carrie and Cassie asked simultaneously.
"Yup!" Lucy chirped, "High school students only!"
"Aw, man. Guess I'm out then," Brian mock frowned.
"Haha, sorry bro. But, we on the other hand…" Matt smirked, gesturing to Shane, Chad, and himself.
"Does that mean we have to rent tuxes?" Shane asked.
Lucy and I looked at each other, then the boys, "DUH!"
4 hours, 11 stores, and 26 picture messages to Tawni later, everyone finally had their outfits for the ball.
"Why do girls take so long to shop?" Chad whined.
"Do you want some cheese to go with that wine?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
The twins laughed and high fived me.
"Yes, actually. I'm starving!" Matt replied, rolling his eyes.
"Well then, let's head back to the house and eat. We have about 5 hours until the ball," Lucy said, smacking her brother on the arm and checking her phone for the time.
"I call shotgun!" Shane yelled, running ahead of us as we chased after him.
The ball was in full swing when we arrived. It was more like a dance than a ball. Think of the school dance from the movie Selena Gomez was in, 'Another Cinderella Story' or something.
It was held in the community center gymnasium. Tables of refreshments lined the shorter walls. Along the longer back wall was a small stage for bands to play. In addition to live music, there was a DJ's booth on the left of the stage. Throughout the night, bands would play their sets. Every other hour, there was open mic.
Looking around, I observed all the different masks people were wearing. Some were fairly plain, while others were completely bizarre. From what I saw, the mask fit their personalities quite well.
Lucy's mask was sky blue with little stars and white glitter sprinkled across the front, to match her ocean blue dress. A small bunch of cream colored feathers framed the top corners of her mask. The mask only covered her cheekbones and around her eyes.
Shane's was a half mask as well, but his was plain white. It was a great contrast to his dark tuxedo.
Matt's was a bright red half mask with orange and yellow flames. Being the weirdo he is, his mask didn't even remotely match his tux.
Chad wore a dark blue eye mask. The design was simply delicate golden vines intertwining across the front.
I had a golden colored half-mask. It was covered in black and pink vines. On the corner of the eyes, there were two small red roses.
Anyways, enough about the masks.
Lucy, Shane, Matt, and I danced for the first two hours. Chad said he wasn't really much of a dancer, so he hung around the back and talked to a group of dateless girls. Even when they don't know he's CDC, he has girls all over him. Go figure.
The twins had disappeared into the crowd as soon as we'd reached the gym. I caught glimpses of them a few times. It looked like they were having a good time talking to some sophomore boys near the refreshment tables.
When the hour for open mic started Chad rejoined us. He, Matt, Lucy, and Shane tried to talk me into singing. Fortunately for me, I won the argument, so we just continued dancing like the dorks we are.
Chad's POV
Towards the end of the night, they started the slow songs. The five of us sat out for the first few songs.
I watched as the couples waltzed around the gymnasium. Oh, how I envied them. I'm not much for dancing, but I would definitely dance with the girl of my dreams. Too bad she'd barely spoken to me all night.
Breaking my train of thought, a girl in a flowing periwinkle dress and dark blue mask approached me. I recognized her as the shy girl from the group I talked with earlier in the night.
"Excuse me? I, uh… I was one of the girls you talked to earlier? I was wondering… Would you like to dance?" she asked, smiling.
Glancing quickly at the group I was with, I noticed Lucy was deep in conversation with Shane while Sonny was laughing at something Matt said. Surprise, surprise.
Looking back at the girl, I flashed my signature "CDC" smile and said, "Sure, why not?"
As I led her to the dance floor, a new song began. I didn't recognize it, but it didn't really matter. We talked to each other for the most part.
"You're not from around here, are you?" she said.
I shook my head, "Nah, just visiting. How'd you know?"
"You're not tan enough to be a resident," she smiled knowingly.
"Ahh, yes. I can't get too tan. It wouldn't be good for when I get back home and go to work."
"Oh, why's that?" she asked, tilting her head ever so slightly, reminding me of a certain brunette.
"It's kind of complicated," I replied, not wanting to reveal myself just yet.
She smiled and nodded, not pressing the topic any further.
"Alright, folks! It's time for open mic! Only this time, we'd prefer the performers choose slow songs. Is that alright with everyone?" the DJ said through the speakers.
"Yeah!" chorused the crowd.
A few moments later, a boy with dark hair stepped up to the stage, followed by three other boys.
Using the mic attached to the piano, he sat on the bench and said, "How's everyone doing tonight? My name's Ben. The lead guitarist is Jesse, Mike is our bassist, and that's Aaron on drums. We are Dimensions Collide and we'll be performing Secondhand Serenade's song, Fall For You."
The best thing about tonight's that we're not fighting.
Could it be that we have been this way before?
Immediately, my mind became immersed in the song. All I could think about was Sonny.
I know you don't think that I am trying.
I know you're wearing thin down to the core.
I felt a little guilty. Was I really trying to win Sonny back over? I thought I was. Why hadn't things changed between us? Everything about us was still so awkward.
"Is everything alright?" the girl whom I'd forgotten I'd been dancing with said.
"Hmm… Oh, yeah. I'm fine," I lied, lowering my eyes to look at her.
"Are you sure? You seem quiet all of a sudden."
"Yeah, I'm just a little distracted, I guess," I replied, glancing over her shoulder.
From where we were dancing, I had a clear view of Sonny… Dancing with Matt on the other side of the gym. In that moment, my stomach hit the floor.
This is not what I intended.
I always swore to you I'd never fall apart.
Adrenaline shot through my veins. The only thing I could feel was jealousy.
You always thought that I was stronger.
I may have failed, but I have loved you from the start.
Normally, I never show emotion of any kind. I always keep the mask up. This time was different. I tensed up and the girl could feel it.
"You don't have to lie to me," she said. "I know you'd rather be over there with her," she said, glancing over her shoulder.
"I—"
"Just go," she smiled warmly. "I don't want to stand in the way. It looks like that guy she's dancing with is enough a problem for you."
I smiled genuinely at her and said, "Thank you, so much."
Kissing her cheek I said, "You're such an amazing girl… I don't even know your name."
"My name's Marina. Now go!" she said shoving me gently in Sonny's direction, then turning to leave.
"Wait a sec!" I said, lifting my mask for a moment. She turned around and gasped quietly.
"You're—" she began softly.
I nodded, "Thank you, again."
So breathe in so deep.
Breathe me in.
Taking a deep breath, I began making my way across the gym.
I'm yours to keep.
And hold onto your words
'Cause talk is cheap.
Every few steps, I looked around trying to spot them. They seemed to have vanished into thin air.
And remember me tonight
When you're asleep.
Suddenly, I spotted them. They were still fairly far away.
"Excuse me, sorry," I said quickly, weaving through the crowd.
Because tonight will be the night that I will fall for you
Over again.
So many thoughts ran through my mind. What was I going to say?
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day,
I swear it's true.
Was she going to feel the same way?
Because a girl like you is impossible to find.
I stopped about two cafeteria tables' lengths away. What I saw shattered all the hope in my body.
All I could see was Sonny and Matt. Right as I had looked back up, he'd kissed her.
Tonight will be the night that I will fall for you
Over again.
What hurt the most about it was, she didn't stop him. She just stood there and let him. I froze and just stared. Not knowing what to do, I ran.
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day,
I just walked away as quickly as humanly possible, without drawing attention to myself.
I swear it's true.
Because a girl like you is impossible to find.
You're impossible to find.
Right as the song came to an end, I pushed the door open and looked back.
They were still standing there, smiling at each other. It was like another stab of pain. I walked out of the building and sat outside on the back entrance steps. I took off my mask and rubbed my eyes, getting rid of potential tears.
After a few moments I heard the door open behind me.
"What do you want, Lucy?" I said bitterly, breaking the silence.
"Lucy? Is that her name?" a familiar voice said.
Looking up, I saw Marina standing there. In her hands were her mask and a blue cellphone.
"Sorry, I thought you were someone else…" I said as she sat down next to me, setting the phone and mask down. "No, her name is Sonny."
"Oh, so the rumors are true? You still like her? Is that why you came here with her?" she asked softly.
I sighed and thought for a few moments. I knew I could trust Marina. She was genuinely concerned. I knew she wouldn't turn against me. So I said, "Yes, I still like her. That's pretty much the reason I'm here… Besides the fact that her mother invited me."
She simply smiled, "I think that's sweet. Judging by where we are, I guess she doesn't know you still have feelings for her."
I shook my head and turned my attention back to the ground.
"If you don't mind my asking, what exactly happened?"
"He kissed her. The guy she was dancing with. His name is Matt. He's been her best friend since before she came to Hollywood. I don't stand a chance against him."
She put a hand on my shoulder, "I wouldn't be so sure about that… But I'm really sorry you didn't get there in time…"
"It's not your fault," I said looking at her again.
Suddenly, the door opened again.
"There you are, Cooper—Oh, sorry. I'm not interrupting, am I?" said Lucy.
I rolled my eyes at her and said, "No. We were just talking."
"Well, we've been looking everywhere for you. We've gotta get back before the adults freak."
After I stood up, I held my hand out to help Marina up.
"It was nice meeting you, Marina." I picked up her phone and quickly added my number to it.
"Let me know if you ever need anything," I smiled.
Smiling back, she said, "Thanks, Chad," and walked back inside.
"What was that about?" Lucy said, raising an eyebrow.
"None of your business, Johnson," I smirked, putting my emotional mask up again, and rejoining the rest of the group.
A/N: Review please? :)