A/N: Ok last chapter :) Sorry it took so long to get this published; I hope you all love it! It's a little corny I know ;)
Yesterday evening Chad had tried to find Sonny at the studio, but her cast mates had confirmed that they hadn't seen her since the show. Her car was nowhere to be seen in the parking lot. He knew where her home was, but he didn't think he could convince her of the truth anyways. Better to wait til the next morning where her mother wouldn't witness his pathetic attempts to sway her.
Sonny arrived at the studio nearly half an hour late -the latest she'd ever been. Luckily, the day after their live show was usually slack.
"Sonny, what happened yesterday?" Tawni demanded in concern. All she knew was that Sonny had bolted right after seeing Chad, and hadn't answered any of Tawni's phone calls that evening.
Sonny hung up her jacket and purse slowly, then plopped into a chair. Tawni couldn't remember ever seeing Sonny looking so upset first thing in the morning.
"It is all just a joke," Sonny said. "All he cares about is himself. And having some scum like Chloe to adorn him in public."
"Whoa, Sonny, why would you think that?" Tawni asked.
"Because I saw him giving a gift to Chloe. And she was all over him and Chad didn't seem to mind!" Sonny explained.
That stumped Tawni. How could Sonny have completely misunderstood the situation?
"Are you sure that's what happened?" Tawni asked.
"Of course I'm sure, I'm not deaf and blind!" Sonny snapped. She realized how harshly she'd spoken to Tawni, and apologized. "I'm sorry, this isn't your fault."
"That's okay," Tawni replied. "But before you give up on Chad and we switch into total breakdown mode, I think you should talk to him."
"Chad?" Sonny clarified, confused. "Tawni you know he'd only lie."
Before Tawni could answer, a sound came from the vent above -from where Zora usually resided. The girls went silent to hear better.
For a minute there was only loud crackling, and Tawni opened her mouth. Sonny clamped a hand on it, and received a glare, and more silence, from Tawni. They both stood close to the vent, listening.
Soon the crackling cleared out, and the sound of a TV playing quietly could be heard. There was a thudding noise, like knocks on a door.
"Oh hey Chloe." It was Chad's voice, heard through the recording. Stormclouds rolled over Sonny's expression, and it was Tawni's turn to clap her hand of Sonny's mouth.
"Hey Chad," Chloe replied, and the sound of the TV cut off. "I bumped into Sonny this morning, and she got her gift!" Sonny and Tawni exchanged wide-eyed glances.
"Did she love it? What did she say?" Chad asked, sounding excited.
"She hated it." Chloe said harshly. Sonny sucked in a deep breath.
"What?" Chad replied.
"She said she hated it. I believe her exact words were, 'It's the lamest gift I've ever received. How can he give me diamonds one day, and a stuffed animal the next?'"
"I can't believe it," Chad said morosely, "I thought she'd find it sweet. Heartwarming. I never thought Sonny could be so superficial."
It continued until Chad demanded Chloe to leave. There was a click at the end, and then the vent door abruptly slid open, revealing Zora beside a tape recorder, her finger on a push button.
"What was that?" Sonny demanded, looking more animated than when she'd arrived. Zora looked smug.
"What do you think it is? My reconnaissance work." Zora replied cheerfully. She pressed the button again, and the rest of the scene played out. The three stayed silent for minutes before Sonny found something to say.
"Is this you way of telling me that there was a misunderstanding?" Sonny asked slowly.
"Maybe," Zora replied.
"He said…" Sonny trailed off, unable to finish her thought aloud.
"I told you," Tawni said smugly. "He loves you!"
"He said so. Aloud. To Chloe!" Sonny whispered to herself, not sure what to believe, but wanting to believe Tawni; to believe Chad. Slowly, she smiled. "I think I'm having an epiphany here!"
Tawni rolled her eyes. "It's about time."
"What is it?" Zora asked eagerly. "What's your epiphany about?" Sonny and Tawni looked up at Zora incredulously. "What?"
"Chad. He loves me!" Sonny explained, her smile huge. "Thanks Zora. You are officially my favorite freak." Zora beamed in gratification.
"Well then. Go see Chad and find out what last evening's scene was really about!" Tawni urged, not that Sonny needed any urging.
Sonny darted over to Tawni's mirror, scrutinized herself critically, then straightened and took a deep breath. She took the few steps to the door, ready to charge over to Mackenzie Falls studio. She swung it open with purpose.
"Oh! Sonny." Chad stood right there in the doorway, a foot away from Sonny. His eyes were tight with uncertainty, and he seemed to have stopped breathing. He'd never expected Sonny to come face to face with him first thing in the morning, not after she'd fled yesterday without pausing to give Chad a chance to explain anything.
Sonny looked and felt just as shocked. Her newfound confidence had dissolved as soon as she set eyes on him. She finally tore her eyes away from his face to see the red box Chloe had been holding yesterday clutched in both his hands.
Sonny finally found her voice. "Wasn't…that…for Chloe?" she asked quietly.
"No!" Chad nearly shouted. "No, of course not." he said, controlling his voice. "Sonny, what you saw yesterday, the gift was for you. Chloe jumped on me. She did it to pretend we're together, just to spite you. It wasn't me at all." Chad listened to his own words, his heart sinking as he realized how stupid he sounded. He began to babble. "See, she tricked me into letting her hold the gift when I got back from lunch. She knew it was for you, she knows…how…I feel about…you."
Sonny stepped closer to him as he spoke, a beatific smile on her lips. She put her hands gently on his shoulders, and reached up to kiss him lightly, effectively bringing an end to his explanation.
It was a sweet, short kiss, and conveyed the understanding and forgiveness Sonny felt for him completely. Chad blinked in surprise. "But, how…why do you believe me so quickly?" He asked in bewilderment, his mind reeling from the short, chaste kiss.
"Because I know everything Chloe told you," Sonny replied quietly, looking up into Chad's glittering sky blue eyes. "Don't ask me how, but I know she said I hated the bear, said I thought it was cheap." Chad's eyes widened, but he didn't interrupt her. "Obviously I didn't say that. And…I believe that what I saw yesterday isn't what it seemed. I believe that Chloe is capable of what you've told me. I believe…you."
Chad stepped forward again, eyes burning with intensity. "You should believe me Sonny." He grabbed one of her hands and pressed the gift into it, curling her fingers around it. Sonny looked down at their hands, and squeezed tightly, pressing herself closer to him, and looking up at him in expectation.
"You should know by now," Sonny whispered, "That I don't care about what's in the box as much as I care about you." Her words blew softly into Chad's face. He exhaled shakily.
"I'm not going to dispute that." Chad replied, and met her mouth halfway.
It was long and lingering; Sonny nearly lost hold of the gift box. Chad's arms wrapped around her waist, and Sonny moved her hands to his chest. He was wearing normal, loose clothes instead of his Mackenzie Falls uniform. He looked so much hotter in disarray. Besides, it would harder to take his shirt off...
"Oh please just open the present." Zora said in exasperation. She'd already sided with Sonny, she didn't have to endure this.
Sonny broke away abruptly, blushing furiously. Chad was still himself enough to smirk at how good he was. "You heard her. Open it. Just one thing…" Sonny looked up at him from the box. "It's…not cheap." Chad warned her. To his chagrin, he blushed.
Sonny unwrapped and opened the box carefully. She stared at the small, simple Cartier LOVE watch snugly set inside. It had a dark blue, silvery fabric bracelet, and embedded around the clock was quartz, diamond, and 18 karat pink gold. It probably cost twice as much as the earrings.
"It's…expensive," Sonny breathed in agreement. She thought about what Chloe had told him. Chad obviously was in his league when it came to buying impressive gifts for girls.
"Yeah," Chad replied, at a loss for words. What would Sonny think of it? "I mean, I didn't only buy it because of its price," Chad tried to explain, "When I was in the store, looking for something pretty, and expensive," he smiled sheepishly, "this stood out, because I knew it could only look perfect on you. It matches you. Simple, but made perfectly, finer than things appearing much flashier than it. With no hidden meaning or complications. Just love, pure and simple."
Sonny listened to his words, a small glow growing inside her. She already knew Chad loved her, but to hear such words, to know that even when he was trying to be superficial, he was still thinking with his heart, it made her love him even more. And it was true; the watch's colors matched everything she wore to the studio. It's simple shape and bracelet also made it look ordinary from a distance, but if one peered closely at it, he would see how fine and perfect it actually was.
"Oh Chad," Sonny said as Chad took the watch out of its box and slipped it on her wrist. "I love it. I love you!" Sonny said., hugging Chad tight. Chad's eyes widened, and Sonny buried her face in his chest in embarrassment.
"You know I love you too," Chad whispered into her hair. Sonny brought her face up to his to kiss him again.
-THE END-
A/N: OMG I just watched "Sonny with a Secret", the Channy is sooooo cute :) Chad acts a little…weird, but it is a comedy so I can't really complain! I know all they do is hug, but it's like they're so together and just so cute 3
Anyways back to the point: This is the end of my fanfic. Hope you all enjoyed the ride! School starts for my end of August, so I probably won't have time for another one before next summer. I will still be reading fanfics though :) Sorry I'm not a professional author ;)
BYYEEEEE, love you all! XOXOXOXO 3
-SherriLee