CHADS BIRTHDAY

Today was Chad's Birthday, Chad had been gloating to his co-workers and the So-Random crew about his Birthday for the past two months. So obviously no one could forget.

"Hey everyone!" Chad greeted the Mackenzie falls actors. They looked at him, then returned reading their scripts. Chad's confidence was unscratched, "Do you know what day it is?"

"Tuesday?" Marta frowned, looking through a magazine.

"And? What is so important about today?" Chad sad slowly, holding back his excited giggles.

"The release of Justin Beiber's new album?"

"The resurrection of Jesus?"

"New series of Supernatural?"

"Gay rights day?"

"Two month anniversary of your and Sonny's break up?"

Chad felt his happiness deflate.

"You don't remember a particular person's Birthday today, someone you all owe your lives to?" Chad said slowly.

They all gasped, "No… is it today?" They scrambled from their lazy positions and ran to check the calendar.

"Yes." Chad sighed in relief, "I've been reminding you for the last two months."

"It's Zac Efron's Birthday!" they cried joyously.

Chad chuckled nervously, "No… no, it's mine…" However, the Mackenzie cast had already ran out the room. Chad felt his eyes sting , "No one remembers my Birthday…" he sniffed, as he made his way to the mirror to look at his reflection. A thought occurred to him.

"Oh." Chad smiled, "They're pretending to have forgotten my Birthday, then they're going to throw a surprise party!" Chad giggled and danced on the spot. Like one of those wound- up clapping monkey toys...

Chad spent the rest of the day, giggling at the fact that everyone 'forgotten' his Birthday. He finally entered the Cafeteria for lunch, to see the lights off. He chuckled. Practicing his shocked expression.

He walked in and everyone jumped out, yelling, "Surprise!"

"What?" Chad cried out dramatically, "For me?"

Everyone stared at him blankly. There was a long silence.

Grady finally spoke, "Chad! We thought you were Zac!" Everyone grumbled, and returned to their hiding positions.

"There's no need to keep on pretending," Chad shook his head, smiling, "I'm here now. So where's my cake? I hope it has my face on again."

"Chad, hide, you'll ruin everything!" Tawni hissed.

Chad could hear Sonny's happy chatter, come from behind along with a low smooth voice.

Chad remained where he was, he felt his eyes begin to sting.

"Chad what are you-" Sonny said, her arm was laced around Zac Efron's tanned muscles.

"SURPRISE!" Everyone yelled, the lights were switched on and pictures of Zac printed the walls.

"Wow!" Zac smiled, "How did you guys known it was my Birthday?"

Chad felt his heart turn to ice as Sonny kissed his enemy.

"Chad told us." Skyler pointed to Chad, who was close to crying.

"Chad!" Efron patted him on the back, "You're a good man."

Chad shuffled over to his cast members, "It's my Birthday too." He said in a small voice.

"Oh yeah, we know." Skyler said lightly.

"What?" Chad frowned, "Why didn't you say 'Happy Birthay' to me?"

"Oh, we couldn't be bothered and we don't like you." The group wondered off to do the limbo with Zac.

"Sonny?" Chad dragged himself towards her, "Did you know it's my Birthday?"

"Yeah, of course I did." she smiled. Chad felt a drip of happiness.

"But considering Zac is my new boyfriend, he's far more important. Plus I hate you now."

Chad looked away from her, as a tear ran down his face. Then he saw his parents across the cafeteria eating cake. "Mum? Dad? How could you?" he ran up to them.

The blondes looked at him, "Hey."

"It's my Birthday!" He sobbed.

They shrugged. And backed away, muttering "Who was that kid… don't look at him… maybe he'll go away."

So Chad spent his Birthday in his dark dressing room, sobbing while holding a cupcake with a lit candle on. Singing 'Happy Birthday' to himself.