Hey there! So, I was just writing the A/N and stuff, when my broadband decided to FAIL. I'd written this awesome A/N for you guys and everything... sigh.

Disclaimer: Yeah, I have to repeat this too. It wad bad enough I had to say it once...

Chapter 33-Half Cousins and A Bet

Previously…

I then meet one girl and I'm surprised as the familiar person shakes my hand.

"Hey Chad," She beams, "Surprised to see me here?"

Chad's POV

Sara, my half-cousin… what the heck is she doing here?

"I know what you're thinking." She smiles. "'What's she doing here?'"

Wow. She's good. I nod.

"Simple explanation," She says, "I'm here to audition, duh."

I then remember the party the other night, when she said she was auditioning for a reoccurring role in a new show… Mackenzie Falls isn't new.

"Mackenzie Falls isn't new." I point out, and she blinks.

"Huh?"

"The other day you said you were auditioning for a new show." I say.

"Oh, yeah, I did," She says, "I didn't get the part."

I frown, "Oh, Sara, I'm sorry."

"Don't be," She smiles, "It was a music show, and I'm not, uh, musically talented."

"You could be," I say, comparing my musical talent a year ago to now, "I used to sing like a donkey."

Sara laughs, "Funny. Yeah, well, until the day I do lose my mule-like singing abilities, they said that Mackenzie Falls would be so much better for me because they liked my dramatic approach."

Dramatic approach… yep, she sure is a Cooper now.

"So, what part are you auditioning for?" I ask.

"Mackenzie's half cousin."

I blink, "You're joking."

"Nope." She smiles, showing me her script, "Maria, a girl who has a huge crush on Mackenzie. Mackenzie kind of likes her but still loves Chloe. They realise they're cousins, drama, drama, drama, you get the idea."

"I do." I say. My show revolves around drama. It's getting kinda boring. That's coming from me. I'm surprised our reviewers haven't got bored of the same old plotlines. I know I have – Mackenzie falls for another girl and has to choose between her and Chloe, causing him and Chloe to fight. He finds out this new girl is yet another long-lost relative and him and Chloe make up, yada-yada-yada… Oh well. As long as it keeps money flooding into my family's bank account I'll keep doing it.

"So, do you think you have what it takes to be a Falls kid?" I ask, and she smiles.

"Do I ever?" She then gives me one of Maria's long dialogues to Mackenzie about something sad, and even I'm shocked. Whoa. Good looks, dramatic, excellent at Mackenzie Falls speeches… yep, she's a Cooper. And she's my half cousin… she was born for this role.

I know what you're all thinking – Chad Dylan Cooper… thinks someone else is good? What has this doppelganger done with our beloved Chaddy? Fear not – I haven't gone crazy, and I haven't been kidnapped and replaced with some nice guy. Sara is possibly the best actress I've ever seen around this joint (bar Sonny). She needs to get that part, and it's up to me, Chad Dylan Cooper, her big half-cousin and soon-to-be co-star, to help her.

"Chad?" A voice calls for me, and I turn to see the producer, Kate, holding a clipboard and waving me over. I head towards the door she's stood by to be lead into the main office. I've been here a ton. This is the room where my dream came true and I got the part of Mackenzie. This is also the room where three years ago, about 7 months before I met Sonny, the old producer Brian called me here to tell me to stop being a jerk and I told him words I'd rather not repeat. Yes, I've had some times in this room… good and not-so-good. I'm just glad I wasn't fired that day… and I think that was the reason Brian quit. Oops…

"So…" Kate says, sitting into her desk chair, leaning back. I notice the collection of other people sat around the room, and I take a spare seat in the corner. "…What do we all think of the auditionees?"

Murmurs occur all over the room, and I can hear a few.

"Not good enough."

"Not enough talent."

"Terrible standards."

Hello? Had they not seen Sara yet? I can't believe my ears. Sara is awesome (which is a heck of a compliment coming from me), and I haven't heard her name once. I haven't heard anyone's names… Wow. Tough room.

"I saw someone."

The words uncontrollably come out of my mouth and I wince as everyone looks my way. I try to pass the blame onto someone else, but of course, everyone knows that was me talking. It's all on me.

"Did you, Chad?" Kate asks me, and I nod, feeling a little nervous. I can't just say "That Sara girl, coz she's my half-cousin and it would be cool to work with her, especially since the part of Maria is Mackenzie's half-cousin". If I said that it would count for nothing.

"W-what I meant was…" I stutter. Wow. I haven't been this nervous since my original audition. "…Uh… there are some girls in there that could be cool… they all look pretty cool but I don't think we can judge them on looks and random talking in the room next door alone…" Which is all you jerks seem to be testing them on… "…Maybe we should give them all a call-back, see how they do."

Kate blinks, "Uh… alright then Cooper, we'll listen to your little idea. We'll give them each a proper audition with Maria's large speech. Thanks again for helping us out, Chad."

"Oh no," I smile, getting up, "Thank you."

I then leave the room with a spring in my step, and I have a plan. I'm gonna help Sara get the part…

Sonny's POV

I can't keep my eyes off Zora the whole of rehearsal. If it really is Zora…

First of all, she's missing lines! Zora never misses lines! That's a sure-fire proof that she's not focusing. Or she's Zora's evil twin…

Plus, when we're not rehearsing, in between takes or sketches, instead of giving someone a death-glare or setting up a prank or feeding her snake, she's either staring at her phone screen or just randomly into the sky, day-dreaming.

I knew it – she's in love. And I'm gonna help love along a little…

I know what you're all thinking – Sonny! You promised Chad, the love of your life, that you wouldn't meddle! What if he finds out? Well, to answer that question, my friends, I'm not meddling. And I'm not Sonnying It Up either. I'm just simply helping love along a little… is that a crime? No, exactly. So there you go – I'm helping. Nothing else…

I arrive back home, riding Sonshine (A/N: The horse… remember? :P) to help get my ideas of how to sprinkle love dust on the happy couple this time, when I see Chad's car drive up the driveway and I smile, riding Sonshine back up to the barn where her little boyfriend Capriccio is (Or maybe not. Me and Chad just like to say that coz it's cute).

"Hey, Chad!" I smile, still on the horse, Capriccio next to us, "What brings you to my wonderful abode?"

Chad laughs at my use of the word 'abode', before grinning at me. "Nothing, really, just came to hang with m'lady before I do a little job for a friend."

I smile stupidly, "Who's this friend?"

"Oh, it doesn't matter." He says, "What do you wanna do?"

"Well, I'm riding right now, as you can see," I say, "Wanna join me?"

He grins, grabbing the saddle off the rail, "Sure."

It isn't long before Chad and I are racing each other on our respective horses. This is the life – hanging out with your boyfriend, riding on a beautiful animal on a warm spring day, the wind in your hair and a plan developing in your brain. I know – when will I learn? I scold myself for not learning, but hey, I never was a fast learner. Someday…

After a little while of random racing, Chad agrees that amongst being the best snowball fighter, the best pillow-fighter, I am now the greatest horse-racer too. And all Chad has is the greatest actor and best boyfriend. And best eyes. He wins that by a mile. Then we head back to the house, collapsing onto the mountain of pillows. I'm tempted to hit him with one to start another pillow fight, but to be honest right now I'd rather just talk.

"So…" I say, my voice barely a whisper because I'm so comfy leaning against his chest, "Tell me more about this job you've gotta do."

"Well… it's nothing much." He says, stroking the back of my head, "I'm just helping Sara get a part in Mackenzie Falls."

I blink, "Sara's auditioning for Mackenzie Falls?"

He nods. "I couldn't believe it either – but she is really good. Like… really good. And that's coming from me."

I smile. The perfect opportunity to joke about.

"Wow… the CDC finds someone else over acceptable? Who are you and what have you done to my boyfriend?"

He laughs, "Your boyfriend left a long time ago. I'm boyfriend version two point zero."

I giggle, "Funny. Seriously Chad, if she's that good, does she really need any help?"

Chad shrugs, "She can think of me as her… guardian angel."

"More like her meddler." I whisper. Just loud enough for Mister Bat-Ears to hear though.

He laughs a little, "Uh, excuse me?"

"In a way, you're meddling in her business." I point out, "I'm sure she can figure it all herself."

Chad's laugh gets more sarcastic. "This coming from Miss Sonny-It-Up."

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing," He smiles, shaking his head, before adding, "How's the matching going between Zora and Josh?"

"Pretty good." I smile, before I realise what I've said.

"Ah-ha!" Chad proclaims victoriously, "I knew it! You lied to me, Sonny. You promised you wouldn't meddle."

I shrug, suddenly feeling guilty and stupid. "Well… yeah, but you didn't say I couldn't help them along a little…"

Chad gives me a glare, a disappointed glare, and I feel bad.

"I can't believe you, Sonny." He says.

I frown, "You… hypocrite!"

"What?"

I get up from my seat, pacing, "You're telling me not to meddle in people's business and then you go and meddle in other people's business!"

He frowns, "It's not the same thing."

"It kind of is."

He rolls his head back, before eying me. "Fine." He says, "Well, whatever you say, I'm not gonna stop."

"Same here." I say, changing my position to make me look like I'm standing tall, strong. I don't care if Chad is my boyfriend and future husband – I'm not backing down.

"Fine," Chad says, "Wanna bet on that?"

Bet? In the whole time I've known Chad he's never been so strongly attached to something to go into a bet. But then… a bet? I can do this easily – I've learnt from my mistakes and know how to meddle correctly this time. Believe me – this will be an easy win.

"Alright then." I say, "Whoever's plan fails first loses. I win – you quit Mackenzie Falls and come over to So Random." I know – harsh. But I couldn't help it – I was mad at the second I said it. And once it was out, I couldn't get it back in.

Chad frowns – he agrees that it's harsh. I mean, he loves Mackenzie Falls. I hate myself for making that bet. Too late now…

"Fine." He says, "And if I win, you come over to Mackenzie Falls."

"Fine!" I yell. I feel so awful right now…

"Good!"

"Good!"

Chad scowls at me, before heading for the door and slamming it behind him. I gulp… what was that?

Chad's POV

I storm out of Sonny's house with a scowl, leaving her with who knows what emotions.

I can't believe her… she lied to me? She promised me she wouldn't meddle between Zora and Josh, and yet she had a plan. She was gonna go through with it… I couldn't believe that. And then she had the nerve to say I was meddling too? Ha!

Well… now I think about it, she had a point. I was meddling… I guess. I just kinda love Sara as a cousin and want her to get this part really bad. Just like Sonny really wants Josh and Zora together, I guess. And who am I to blame her? Young love… it's a beautiful thing (I know… deep). Even if I don't fully like Zora, Josh does. I'm sure of it, and so is Sonny. And if she thinks she can get those two together, I'll let her.

Now to apologize for yelling at my hopefully-still future wife…

I knock on the door of Sonny's house, hoping she won't slam the door in my face. It's getting dark – about nine o'clock, I'd guess. I don't have a watch so I'm not sure.

The door is answered by Ms Munroe, who smiles at me. Huh, maybe Sonny hasn't told her Mom. If she had, Ms Munroe would've been the one to slam the door in my face. That's happened before – it hurts.

"Hello, Chad!" She smiles, before turning back, "Sonny! Chad's here!"

I then hear a moan, followed by footsteps and then Sonny pokes her head around the door.

"Hello." She says softly. I gulp.

"I'm sorry, Sonny," I say, "I really didn't mean to get down your throat about that."

She smiles, "Same here. I was just mad, I guess."

"Yeah…" I say, "Forgive me?" I pout and she laughs.

"Of course." She then hugs me and I suddenly swoon. Ah, I really can't describe what this girl does to me. It's magical.

"So… now what?" I ask, and Sonny shrugs.

"Do we take back the bet?"

I sigh. I don't want to take her away from her friends. "How about we change the stakes to you guest star on the other person's show."

"And say that show is your favourite?" She adds.

I groan, "You never make it easy, do you Munroe?"

She shakes her head, grinning, "Deal?"

I take her hand in mine and shake it, before kissing it lightly, "Deal."

She smiles, "Goodnight, Chad."

"Goodnight, Sonshine."

She then shuts the door on me and I grin. That worked out well…

I turn back to the road, heading back to my house whilst humming a happy tune, feeling content with life.

Aw... content-with-lifeage! ...

LOLLAGE! Yeah, that's right readers of nangelgirl923's story Don't I Know You?, I'm the LOLLAGE person. And if you don't read that story, do. It's quite fabulous. (How about that, Hannah? Free advertisment ;))

So, who's gonna win the bet? What's gonna happen? Why am I asking you these questions? You don;t know... but you will, if I update, and I will only update if you review! (See that, kiddos? That's called minor blackmail... lollage ;))

Seriously though, please do review. (Now I sound like I'm begging...)

Uh... see ya! :D