A/N: Okay. Okay. Okay. You guys can all slap me now. As hard as you want. I haven't updated in nearly TWO MONTHS. That is bad, and I'm reeeeaaaally sorry. Forgive me?
Cos you know? I love y'all! We did it - we hit 700!
k.98'PeaceOutSuckas - You... you beautiful, sweet, kind, perfect little girl. It's been far too long, because I haven't been able to thank you for attacking me with like, 50+ reviews last chapter. I cried tears of joy... I miss you so much. When you come back, Argie, you shall be suffocated with a crazy hug! Hehehehh... Yeah. I miss you loooads and your lovely reviews... please come back soon! I wuve you.
Okay. So, honestly, the rest of this story is planned. This chapter will be a bunch of flashbacks, because I love Channy, past and present :P They'll all be from Sonny's POV. Next chap will be a bunch of flashbacks, mostly from Chad's POV, and then I will add on an epilogue, because I can't let go of this story! *cries* But I have so many new story ideas that I wanna get on with, so I best get this one over with... *cries again*
I really hope you enjoy this, especially with how long it took. *slaps self*
Chapter 59 - Flashbacks, Part 1
Sonny's POV
"Goodnight, beautiful!"
Ah. We maybe be in our mid-twenties, but that doesn't stop me from blushing and giggling like a little school girl whenever my husband calls me 'beautiful'. Today is actually the ninth anniversary of us meeting for the first time, all those years ago in Condor Studios, the place that changed my life forever.
Condor Studios is, for me, the best place on Earth, and it always will be. For one, it was my first taste of Hollywood. It was great – three years, five friends, over a hundred episodes…
One show.
So Random.
I am forever grateful for those people at So Random, because they changed my life. They made my dreams come true.
And, I am also grateful for Condor Studios, because it was in that miracle place where I met Chad Dylan Cooper.
Collapsing into bed, rubbing my baby bump (two months in, just about. I'm going for a baby scan - the first for this baby), checking the time on the clock beside me. It reads 9:30pm. I've come to bed kind of early, but since I'm pregnant I guess I have an excuse. Lying in my bed, staring at the ceiling, I close my eyes, breathing.
After what feels like ten minutes later, I open my eyes, irritated a little.
I can't sleep. I'm an impatient person when I'm tired. And right now I just. Can't. Sleep.
Sighing, and looking for something to stop the irritation, I reach under the bed for something, struggling a little because of the baby bump. My hand rests on something, and I pick it up with a smile, opening it.
My 'Chad' scrapbook. Back when I was younger, I used to love making scrapbooks. I'd just make them to remind me of anything and everything, well, everything. When mine and Chad's relationship started, I made one and put everything in there that I could. When we first broke up I tried to throw it out, but it was just not possible. I just wanted to hold on to the memories, and the scrapbook was where they all were.
I open the scrapbook to see that very first signed picture Chad gave me, when we first met. Giggling, I gaze at the picture. He looks so much younger in the picture – well, obviously. It was nine years ago. His figure is so much lankier, and his dimples, though they are still there, are not so pronounced anymore. And yet, whenever he smiles, you can still make them out. Rebecca, our daughter, has the exact same dimples. Once again. I am so grateful that Rebecca got most of Chad's genes, and not mine. We're looking at an attractive little girl, right there.
I remember the first time I met him. I was so star struck, and I never thought that I'd get this far with him. I 'hated' him. How stupid I was back then, to just hide all my feelings for him because my friends said I was supposed to be his enemy. He could be such a jerk, and I hated that, but what I hated more was the fact that he could actually be sweet. Those sweet moments, well, they were the ones that stopped me from completely disliking Chad. I remember the first time I really saw a sweet side to Chad…
It was almost ten years ago, a few hours after the whole musical chairs thing. The Randoms and I were hanging out in the Prop House, eating fro yo, writing sketch ideas. Tawni announced that she needed a make-up break, and so everyone broke off to do their own little thing as if Tawni's make-up breaks were a habit (which, I soon found, they were). Nico and Grady started playing on their GameStation (You know? Like, Xbox/Ybox, PlayStation/GameStation :P) and Zora started fiddling with her cold-cut catapult, seeing how far she could shoot a slice of baloney. Deciding I might as well go do something, I got up out of my chair and decided I'd best get started on writing the letter that I'd promised I'd send to Lucy about my first few days in Hollywood.
I skipped towards my dressing room where I knew some paper was, and a pen, and my camera. My plan was to take a picture of my room, all my cast mates with me, and send them to Lucy as well as a note explaining how my first few weeks had been. After I'd written the letter, I asked Tawni if I could take a picture of her, to which she replied a furious 'no' as she hadn't finished her make-up yet. So I decided to go find Nico, Grady and Zora and take pictures of them. After I'd got one of each of them, and one of Marshall too, I made my way back to mine and Tawni's dressing room.
And you'd never guess who I bumped into.
Okay, maybe you would.
"Chad?"
"Sonny." Chad brushed an imaginary speck of dust off of his Mack Falls blazer, before looking up at me, raising his eyebrows. "What are you doing here?"
"Um…" I looked around at my surroundings, making sure I hadn't accidentally wandered into the Mack Falls set. "I'm kinda here cos I… work here, Chad." I told him. I blinked, realising something.
We weren't in Mackenzie Falls.
"Why are you here, Cooper?" I asked him, placing a hand on my hip, "Didn't we kinda make it obvious that we didn't want to see you round here? And I thought you hated being around anything…" I pulled a face and did my drama-snob impression, "'Funny'?"
Chad rolled his eyes at me, "Can't a guy walk to work in peace?" He asked me, "I'm just makin' my way to Mackenzie Falls, where, unlike you people at Chuckle City, we do some actual work. Is that a problem?"
"It is when you're makin' your way to work through our studio."
Chad smirked, "Gee, Munroe, I didn't realised you could be so cruel. So possessive. Almost diva-ish."
I pursed my lips together in frustration, "Just go away."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Good."
"Good!"
Chad waggled his eyebrows a little, before sauntering past me. I watched him go, thinking. Lucy liked Chad, didn't she? I could send her a picture of Chad, along with the pictures of my friends - she'd like that…
"Chad!" I called after him.
"What?" He asked, turning around to face me, slightly agitated. Oddly, I suddenly became very shy. It's weird, considering for the last few days I'd shot nothing but rude remarks at Chad – now it was almost as if I was meeting him for the first time again.
"Um… do you think… maybe…"
"Spit it out, Munroe." He said boredly, rolling his eyes and waving his arm around to say 'hurry up'. I swallowed, shocked at my sudden inability to get straight to the point. I smiled, but it came off shy, and held up the camera. Chad's face seemed to soften at the arrival of the camera (of course).
"I'm taking pictures of people I've met in Hollywood to send to my best friend, Lucy." I explained. "I've got pictures of all the other So Random members, my producer… I was wondering if I could get a picture with the snobbiest guy I've met so far?" I smirked, and he chuckled, looking actually happy for the first time. Not in a snobbish, I'm-better-than-you way.
He seemed genuinely happy.
"I'd love to say no," He grinned, "But you're giving me an opportunity to be in a picture… and you must know by now I can't say no to the camera."
"So is that a yes?" I smiled almost hopefully. Chad nodded after a few seconds of reluctant thought, and I must've jumped about three feet in the air in celebration.
"Oh, goody!" I cheered. Chad rolled his eyes in my direction.
"Don't do that again." He groaned, "I might just realise how stupid this 'helping you' thing is if you do…"
"Eh, you love my craziness. C'mon, you know you do!" I giggled.
"Never gonna happen, Munroe." He said, though his tone was rather playful. Of course, we all know that it did happen, in the end. If I'd have known back then… gosh, I dread to think what I would've thought if someone told sixteen year-old me that she'd soon fall for her biggest enemy. I think it would've involved a lot of denial, squeaky "I don't like Chad"s, pouty faces and falling over stuff. Yup. Sixteen year-old me was a lot of things. That long list does include clumsy.
We posed together, our faces strangely close together for two rivals who hated each other (ha, yeah right…), and I thanked Chad with a smile.
"No prob, Munroe." He replied with a grin, before sauntering down the hallway. I watched him go, whistling a tune to himself, and sighed stupidly. But only a few seconds later, I shock my head, snapped out of my Chad-trance, and made my way back to the dressing room.
…
A few pages on, and a few months on, I find a picture of Chad and I, posing in front of another camera, at a much more formal gathering.
The studio's prom. And no, not the secret prom that I had to organise and that went crazily wrong (well, for me, anyway). Ohhh no.
I'm talkin' 'bout the real prom.
A week after the secret prom, Marshall had the So Random stage set up from another prom. The rest of my cast joked that it was like déjà vu for them. For me? Nope. It wasn't even close to déjà vu. Well, for starters, I was actually there this time.
And difference two? I had a date.
Well… sort of.
It all started about two miles away from Condor Studios, when my car generously decided to run outta gas. I got out of the car, kicking it in frustration.
"Not this time… I won't miss another prom…" I grumbled to myself. I was wearing a frilly, purple dress that came to my knees this time, and a necklace with a little heart pendant that had a key lock and a matching key. You know – like a play on the whole 'key to my heart' thing. (I have a necklace like that. I love it.) I thought I looked pretty good, but I probably didn't look amazing, stood at the side of the road, next to my stupid, broken-down car, kicking it angrily.
So then what happened? Well, as if he was my knight in shining armour, Mr Chad Dylan Cooper showed up in his fancy car, rolling down the window and smirking at me.
"Car trouble, madam?" He asked in a formal tone, winking. I growled at me.
"Get lost, Cooper."
"Ouch!" He said mockingly, "I'm offended, Munroe! I was only coming to check you were okay…"
"I'm fine." I said through gritted teeth. "I just don't wanna miss another prom! This is my third opportunity for a prom, and if I miss this one, I will seriously destroy this car!" I pounded my car with my fist this time, but obviously the metal was so much harder than my little hand and I squealed out in pain, blowing at my hand as if that would blow the pain away. Chad parked his car behind mine and got out, strolling up to me. I pretended he wasn't there.
"I'm being blanked?" He spoke, feigning hurt, "That's cruel, Sonny. That's real cruel. You're blanking Chad Dylan Cooper. The poor guy… what did he do to-"
"You done?"
Chad seemed to really be enjoying my annoyance, "Someone's in a very un-sunny mood today. Hey… un-Sonny! Get it!" Chad laughed at his not-funny joke, and I rolled my eyes.
"I get it. It's just not funny. You're probably the fifth person to do that joke in the last two years."
Chad pouted. I remember thinking that he was cute, before mentally pummelling both myself and him for it. "Darn." He moaned, kicking a random pebble, "Guess I don't get points for originality."
"But you get a couple for trying, Cooper."
Chad grinned, "Sweet. What's my prize?"
"You get to spend a joyous evening standing here with me until my car begins to work again." I smirked. Chad scoffed.
"Yeah, like I'm gonna do that."
"It's your prize."
"I'd rather be prize-less."
"Ouch."
"So…" Chad looked down at his feet. I had to admit – he looked pretty good, for a three-named jerk-throb. He was wearing something similar to the first prom – only his shirt was a pale blue this time. I smiled – he looked kind of good in blue.
Kind of.
Chad began to whistle, his eyes wandering around, before he huffed. "I'm bored." He told me in an explanatory tone as I raised an eyebrow at him. I sighed.
"Well, I got nowhere to go, and I don't wanna be stood on my own until I can get my Mom to come to my rescue."
Chad chuckled, "You know, I have a car." He gestured his hands towards his fancy convertible (which had the roof up at the moment), clicking his tongue. "I could take you to the prom. I think I make a much better saviour than your mom – no offence."
"My hero." I muttered, rolling my eyes. Chad laughed.
"This moody version of you is hilarious."
"Shut up." I hissed, but I knew that there was no point arguing over something so silly like not wanting to go to a prom in Chad's car even though mine had broken down.
"Soo… is it a date?" Chad asked with a small smile. I ducked my head. The word 'date' sounded kind of odd coming from his mouth. Especially since it was aimed at me.
Despite this, I nodded with a grin. "It's a date. Hypothetically." I added, just so he didn't get the wrong idea. I didn't want Chad kissin' me and stuff. You know. At that time.
"Hypothetically." Chad agreed with a nod, before opening the passenger door, "Your ride awaits, Cinderella."
I giggled, "Thanks, my loyal footman."
Chad scoffed, "No way. I'm Prince Charming, baby."
"You wish."
"No, Sonshine," He winked, "You wish."
~L~W~M~S~
Chad and I arrived at the studio, and the prom was pretty much perfect, yet again. We'd gone for a slightly different theme since we didn't want everyone to feel like it was déjà vu (everyone but me, that is…). It was sort of like a 'red carpet' theme, with flashing lights and fancy velvet rope and old used film draped around to replace streamers. It was a less romantic theme, but more appropriate for a TV studio. I had to admit, it looked pretty cool.
My cast came running up, Tawni with her 'prom queen' tiara in hand, ready for the announcement, because she was certain that she would win it again. Wow. Prom Queen twice in two weeks? That's gotta be some kind of record. I was sure Tawni would be proud of herself.
Everyone looked pretty confused when they saw Chad and I walk in, standing close. I silently hoped that my friends wouldn't get mad at Chad and attack him. Not during prom… my first actual prom.
Finally.
"Sonny?" Nico asked as he approached, pointing between me and Chad, "What are you doin' with Pooper?"
"He drove me in." I explained, pulling my hand to my side quickly as I realised it was wrapped around Chad's. I felt my cheeks burn and hoped that it didn't show.
"What was wrong with your car?" Tawni asked.
"Broke down." I shrugged, before punching Chad's shoulder lightly, "Chad was just drivin' past, and he gave me a drive in."
"What's the catch?" Zora asked, raising her eyebrows suspiciously at Chad. He smiled at her.
"No catch. However, Chad's Taxi Service does charge return fee."
I rolled my eyes, "Jerk."
"Eh, you love me."
Because of my cast's presence, I didn't reply. I knew it would end in some stupid word vomit/denial thing, and so I just stayed hushed.
Suddenly, a Jason Derulo song echoed around the hall, and Tawni squealed, dragging me away from Chad and jumping around, dancing like crazy. Zora joined us, giggling. It was nice to see her acting like a girl for once – and she was wearing a little purple dress too! She looked adorable, I decided with a grin.
Nico and Grady meandered off to talk to some girls from the other shows, and Chad, left alone, came to dance with us. Well, not really. He sort of stood around, shuffling beside me.
"What are you doing?" Tawni asked him, forehead creasing.
Chad shrugged, "This thing. It's called dancing."
"Nuh-uh." Tawni laughed, "That isn't dancing. You look like someone poured ants down your pants."
Chad scowled at her, "Well, I don't want anyone seeing me dancing with you guys… Chad Dylan Cooper, dancing with the Random girls?" He pulled a face, shuddering, "There goes my rep."
"Oh, c'mon! I protested, giggling, excited because of the party mood in the air. I grabbed Chad's hands in mine and jumped up and down ecstatically.
"You're saying I can't dance?" Chad smirked, "Sonny, you look like someone just shoved a taser up your backside."
"Shut up!" I giggled, "Let's dance!"
"Okay, who spiked Sonny's drink?" Tawni asked in a loud voice, giggling and skipping over to the drinks table, with Zora at her side.
"I haven't drank yet!" I protested, yelling after her.
"So, you're just mental, then." Chad said, rolling his eyes. Before I could yell at him, the fast song stopped, the pace slowed, and a sweet, romantic song came on. I bit my lip, looking into Chad's eyes with a grin.
"Well, we've had practice with this kind of dance." Chad pointed out bashfully. I smiled.
"We sure have."
"You wanna…?"
"I thought being seen dancing with a Random would ruin your reputation?" I said with a blink. Chad shrugged.
"I'll make an exception."
"Okay, then." I said with a smile.
Despite my confirmation to dance, Chad and I just stood around, smiling at each other awkwardly. This wasn't like the first time we danced together. We were alone then. If anyone saw us together like this… I shuddered at the thought of people thinking we were dating.
Ha. If only I'd known.
We stood there, awkwardly swaying for a few seconds, when Chad opened his mouth to speak.
"This isn't working…"
"Nope."
"People…"
"Yeah."
"Might see." Chad finished his sentence as if I'd never interrupted him, before he looked up at me from under his eyelids. He rubbed the back of his neck, shyly, "Um… what if we…?"
"Yeah?"
He stuck his tongue out in thought for a second. "What if we… closed our eyes?" The shy look faded from his face and he smirked, "If we can't see them, they can't see us."
I giggled, sounding almost hysterical. I blushed, embarrassed that I'd laughed like a nut-job in front of Chad. He didn't seem to notice or care though, which made me feel slightly better.
"Okay. Deal."
Chad grinned, clutching onto my hands. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and tried to dance. I wasn't really that successful – I kept stepping on Chad toes and tripping over my own feet, and when I gave in with the whole closed eyes thing and opened them, I noticed Chad looking down at me with a smirk, and I realised that he'd had his bright, blue eyes open the whole time. My mouth gaped open.
"You cheat!" I scolded him. He grinned cheekily, clicking his tongue.
"CDC does not cheat." He says smugly, "He… disobeys the rules."
"You bad boy." I giggled. He just shrugged.
"You love it." He said. I realised how often he'd been saying this. Why was he saying that? Was he trying to convince me or something…? I shook my head. No way…
Somehow, though we were squabbling, we were still dancing – quite skilfully, actually. Chad had surprised me after the secret prom – he was a good dancer. He continued to prove it now – he twirled me round and round, making me giggle slightly hysterically. I noticed the eyes on us, especially the eyes of our casts, but I didn't really care. I was having too much fun. Besides, I'd explain that it wasn't what they were thinking in a minute, no problem.
I was just having too much fun with Chad.
He gave me one last twirl, before holding me close and looking into my eyes. It felt… weird. But special. Really special.
And then he pulled away from the dancing, yanking me back into the real world. But that didn't mean he hadn't left a small imprint on my mind…
…
Everything was normal after that. And then that interview with Gilroy Smith came along and everything got turned on its head. It was the time I first found that Chad actually liked me.
And after that, months went on – years, even. After a long, long wait, Chad and I dated. Chad and I fell in love. Chad and I broke up. Six months on, and my house burnt down and I had no option but to move in with Chad, which led to the most hectic chain of events of my entire life. And, in the end, it finally led to the marriage. Marriage led to Rebecca, and then another pregnancy which, sadly, didn't give us the blessing of another child… but I'm still grateful, sure. Chad and I came out so much stronger after that experience.
And now, I'm pregnant again. Maybe it'll be a boy, this time, but still with Chad's eyes and hair. That would just be adorable, to have a mini Chad toddling around! Heh.
My husband shuffles into the bedroom, and I place the scrapbook back under the bed, smiling at him sweetly. He chuckles slightly at my smile.
"Hey, beautiful." He says, and I giggle.
"Hey, sexy."
"Sexy?" He blinks, a twisted smile on his lips, "That's a lovely compliment, honey. I'm your husband, remember? Not your celebrity crush no more."
"Hey," I raise my hands in the air in mock surrender, "When you smile like that, you can't blame me for acting like a creepy fan-girl."
"Oh, I think I can." I smirk, and he laughs, taking his shirt off and getting into the bed next to me. He gives me a friendly smile and I giggle, like I'm a little sixteen year-old again. Haha, I know. What a cliché.
Chad pats my abdomen, where the new baby is growing. I've kind of missed this, in a weird way. Who cares if pregnancy leads to moodiness, sickness, and getting big in the tummy? The kid will be totally worth it.
My eyes begin to droop closed, and I let out a small yawn as I fade into sleep.
A/N: Well, that was that! I hope you guys enjoyed it, cos I did. It was sweet to write :D
Please review! I wanna see how many we can get now the story's coming to an end.
Byeee!
~Amy x