Okay, I know it's been a few weeks, I've just been busy with school and such. So I'm going to update as best as I can on a regular basis, but don't worry if I "disappear" for a few weeks (like I just did). But I would like to have this done before the end of the year (it really shouldn't take me that long, but hey, things happen). Anyway, this was my favorite chapter to write so far, so I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 3:

Sonny looked through the racks with Chastity while Tawni and Portlyn were in the fitting rooms. Neither girl was really interested in any of the clothing at that particular store – it was all much too pricey. Not that they couldn't afford the clothes, but it was just ridiculous to them to pay so much for a dress they'd probably wear once.

"How much longer do you think they'll try on dresses for?" Chastity asked.

Sonny shrugged. "Who knows? With Tawni and Portlyn it could be two more minutes or two hours."

"Yeah." Chastity looked at a dress and picked it up for Sonny to see. Sonny's eyes widened at the horrible pattern of the dress. "This is $700, can you believe it?"

"I wouldn't pay seven cents for it," Sonny said with a laugh.

"Ugh, Chastity! Please tell me you're not thinking of buying that!" Portlyn said as she and Tawni walked over to them.

Rolling her eyes, the other Mackenzie Falls star put the dress back. "No, I was just showing Sonny how ugly it was."

Portlyn sighed in relief. "Good."

Tawni nudged her best friend. "Did you find anything yet?"

"No. Tawni, I told you that I'm not going to buy a dress for these prices," Sonny said. "Do you really not know me after all these years?"

"I do," Tawni said. "I just thought maybe I'd finally influenced you to spoil yourself once in a while."

"I do, just not a crazy amount," Sonny said as the girls walked toward the front of the store. Chastity nodded in agreement, as Portlyn was wondering the same about her friend. "So I guess you two didn't find anything?"

"Ugh, no," Portlyn answered. "This store just isn't the same."

"Yeah, they really need to get some new styles in," Tawni said. "I guess we'll try the store at the other end of the mall."

Sonny shared a look with Chastity and groaned at the thought of more hours of shopping for overpriced dresses. They definitely envied the youngest of the two casts at this point, whom was not able to join the girls for this shopping trip.

"Hey, how about I stop and grab us some milkshakes?" Sonny asked with a smile.

"Ew, no. Carbs, Sonny," Tawni said.

"Though I could eat something," Portlyn said. "We've been shopping for a while."

"Yes, please!" Chastity nearly shouted. "I needed food two hours ago!"

"Okay, so no one wants a milkshake?" Sonny asked.

"Again, carbs."

"No."

"No thanks," Chastity said. With an apologetic smile she added, "Only because I went out for ice cream with Skylar last night, and I don't like to overdo dairy."

Sonny nodded. "No problem. I'll catch up with you," she said turning toward the ice cream shop. "I'm just really craving one."

The girls parted ways and Sonny sighed in relief of having a moment to herself. She loved Tawni, but her best friend had a tendency to get intense when it came to shopping, and pairing her up with Portlyn made it worse. Though she was thankful to have Chastity with her so she didn't have to bear the two shopaholics alone.

Once she had her milkshake in hand, Sonny took advantage of her time alone to sit down for a few minutes and enjoy her treat. Something she didn't get to do too often anymore was people-watch; it used to inspire her for sketch ideas even before she joined So Random. She enjoyed watching the mothers with young children leading them to the toy store, the teenagers in groups going to all the 'cool' stores with Starbucks drinks in hand, the couple sitting in the back corner of the ice cream shop sitting close away from the crowds.

Sonny did a double take at the couple and choked on her drink. She picked up her cup and made her way over, unnoticed by the two, still wondering if she was seeing things.

"Well, isn't this cozy?"

"Sonny!"

Grady and Zora darted apart from each other, and Grady nearly spilled the large sundae they had been sharing. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Heh, what brings you here, Sonny?"

"I wanted a milkshake," she said, placing her drink down on the table and crossing her arms. "I thought you were with the guys for a video game tournament or something."

"Uh, well –"

"And I thought you had a big test today," Sonny continued looking at Zora.

"I did," the teen said holding her hands up. "It didn't take that long."

Sonny nodded once, knowing that tests weren't a big deal for the young genius. "And you couldn't meet up with us after because…?" She looked at the two expectantly. The two looked at one another having what seemed like a silent conversation. Zora let out a sigh and looked at Sonny again.

"I didn't meet up with you after my test because," she paused, glancing at Grady. He took her hand and gave a small smile. "Because Grady and I had a date planned while you all were busy with other things."

Though Sonny expected that answer due to seeing them together, her jaw still dropped slightly as she grabbed a chair and joined them. They watched her as she struggled to form words, her mind not entirely wrapping around what she heard and witnessed.

"So… you two are…?" Grady and Zora nodded. Sonny let out a whistle of air. "Wow."

"Bet you didn't see that coming, huh?" Grady asked.

"No," Sonny said with a laugh. "Though, I mean, technically I did see you from across the shop. But no, I never would've thought…" She looked at Zora. "Really?"

"I can say the same about Chad."

"It's been four years."

"Don't care," Zora said taking a bite from the nearly forgotten sundae. She smirked when Sonny rolled her eyes. "Come on Sonny, he still does that 'peace out suckah' thing when he leaves a room."

Sonny grimaced. "Good point." She took a drink of her milkshake while Grady insisted that Zora take the last cherry before the younger girl took it, sticking it on the blonde's nose. Sonny smiled at their antics and propped her elbows on the table.

"So, how long has this been going on?"

Grady popped the cherry in his mouth. "Just a little over a month. That's why we bailed on going to that movie premiere last weekend. I made some arrangements for us to celebrate our one month, as lame as it might sound."

"It was amazing," Zora said with a smile.

"Aww. That's not lame Grady," Sonny said. "Chad celebrated nearly every week of our relationship the first year." She took a sip of her milkshake. "And every day of the first week."

Grady chuckled. "Okay, that makes me feel a little better."

"But why haven't you told anyone about this?" Sonny asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Zora replied. When Sonny shook her head, she continued. "Well, first of all, we weren't sure how this would play out, so we wanted to keep it between us. That way no one would've been affected if it didn't work."

"Okay, that makes sense."

"And then there's the whole paparazzi thing."

"Yeah, we see how you and Chad get hounded because of your relationship," Grady said. "I mean, talk about no privacy, right?"

Sonny sighed. "Tell me about it."

Zora played with her spoon. "And if the paparazzi found out, you can bet they'd have a field day with the whole age difference factor. And I know you were thinking about it, don't deny it."

"I didn't want to say anything…"

"It's fine," Grady said. "We know it seems weird, but it's not. It's only because we've known each other for so long. I mean, my brother has dated girls at least three or four years younger." His eyebrows furrowed in thought. "Now that I'm saying it, I think his new girlfriend is about my age… maybe a year older."

"And yes, Sonny, my parents know and are okay with it," Zora said. "They like Grady."

"I have a way with parents."

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that."

"Okay, I get why you didn't say anything," Sonny said. "But why not just me, Nico, and Tawni?"

"Well, uh, we didn't know how you'd react," Grady said.

"But you're taking it pretty well," Zora said with a smile. "Then again, we knew you'd take it the best out of the three of you."

Grady nodded. "Yeah. And we were going to tell you guys. We just wanted to wait until we felt ready."

"Okay, I get that," Sonny said. "I didn't exactly tell you guys about me and Chad right away."

"Yeah"

"So do you think –" Sonny's phone started mooing and she got it out from her jeans pocket. "Oh, it's Tawni. I nearly forgot that I'm meeting them in the food court!" She looked at her friends. "I'm sorry, I should get going."

"It's cool," Zora said.

"Yeah, I mean, you technically interrupted us, so…" Grady said with a sly smile.

"Right," Sonny laughed. She stood up and put the chair back at the empty table beside them. "I'll see you tomorrow."

As she was leaving, she heard the two call her name once more. She turned around to face them once more. "Yeah?"

"Just, uh," Grady exchanged a look with Zora. "If you could not say anything yet… I mean, we're not sure if we're ready for anyone else to know."

Sonny smiled. "Of course. You're secret is safe with me."

So, Sonny now knows the secret! Do you think she can keep her mouth shut, especially around Chad or Tawni?

Only time will tell.