I Don't Need You

I sat down in the cafeteria, away from my friends. They would occasionally glance over at me while I sipped my fresh hot cup of joe. I wasn't really craving anything new, so I just checked my phone and scrolled through all my social media feed. I got excited when I saw a text and smiled even wider when I realized it was from my mother.

She had sent the words I had been thinking since the past two days she had left me- I miss you.

My thumbs hovered over the keys, about to type a reply when I thought better of it and canceled out of the Messenger app. I set my phone face-down on the table, and I leaned my head on my fist. The chair across from me scooted away, and I heard the clang of metal.

"You look a little upset, for someone whose named Sonny."

I didn't need to look up, but I did anyway. Chad smiled at me, which for once actually seemed genuine. I rolled my eyes and looked back down at my untouched plate.

"Come on, just tell me what's wrong. What did I do?" He asked, frowning.

I ducked my head and avoided his gaze, "What are you sitting with me for?" I asked, "Wouldn't you rather show off eating lobster with your over-dramatic friends at the big table?"

"Nah." He responded, brushing the comment off, "Besides, they don't have lobster today. Just plain ol' rack of lamb."

He pretended to gag, and I just shook my head at his ridiculous reaction.

"Was that supposed to make me feel better?"

"Well, that, and you are eating lunch with the greatest actor of our generation."

"Really? Where is he?" I asked, making a show of looking around the room.

He cracked a smile with that ridiculous, colossal mouth of his, "Funny." He said.

This warm, happy conversation pulled me back into reality. I grabbed my cellphone and exited the cafeteria, headed home for now.

He was calling my name, but I ignored him. How could someone I despised so much want to be around me? And why did I want to be around him?

I took my spot in my bedroom and tucked myself under the covers. Even though my room was already very cold, I liked to keep the fan on because I got very warm very fast. My eyes felt heavy and drooped closed, but a vicious pounding on the door woke me up just as fast.

I growled and walked to the door. I was both mad and happy to see Chad standing at my doorway.

"What do you want, Chad?" I asked, still confused why a boy who was supposed to hate me was so determined to be at my side. He stepped in without an invitation and placed himself down on my couch. The television was still on, and he laughed at the selection. It was a random drama series that was on, since there was nothing good on right then.

"Never thought you'd be into cliché dramas, Monroe."

"If I was into cliché, I'd watch your show, Chad." I countered, not even bothering to hide the smile on my face.

I expected him to argue something back, but instead he grinned.

"You're smiling again." He said, "I missed your smile."

His sparkly blue eyes viewed into my own brown ones with a look of relief. My smile slowly slipped away, "There's something I still don't understand. Why do you care so much to make me feel better?"

He seemed taken aback by the question. And he didn't seem prepared for it either, "Well, um…I…"

I crossed my arms and awaited an answer, but he just stood there with a contemplating look on his face.

"I should have known." I said sadly, "I should have known this was too good to be true." Tears were already welling up in my eyes, "You're just using me to make yourself look better."

"Sonny, you don't understand."

"Oh, I think I understand perfectly." I wiped away the tears that were falling down my face, "I can't believe I actually thought we were friends."

By the look on his face I could tell he was very upset. I opened the door for him and motioned with my head for him to leave. He hesitated for a moment, his mouth quivering with uncertainty. I raised an eyebrow and nodded toward the exit once more, and this time he obliged. He backed out of the room, his eyes never leaving mine until he turned around the corner.

The next day at work, I sat alone. And I oddly found out that Chad was too. He wasn't sitting at his regular table and he certainly was not eating his regular lobster or steak. He was looking upset, still. And at the sight of him a part of me broke as well. I got out of my chair and walked over to his table.

He didn't say anything to me when I sat down across from him, and I felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

"Chad." I said.

"Sonny."

"Chad…" I reached across and touched his hand, "Chad, I'm sorry."

He looked up at me and managed a small smile, "I'm sorry too."

I cocked my head to the side, "What are you sorry about?"

"Everything. How hard and mean I've been to you since we met."

I smiled at him and gripped his hand tighter. He smiled back, "Look, the reason behind it is- "

"Sonny!"

A short twelve-year-old girl grabbed me and dragged me up off my seat. The tactic was quite unsuccessful, because I fell off my seat and bonked my head against the hard leg of the cafeteria table. I rubbed the bump on my head and stared into the devilish eyes of Zora Landcaster.

"Ow!" I yelped as she yanked me to back to my feet, "What do you want Zora?"

"You have to come see this. Its hilarious!" She said in that creepy-yet-excited tone of hers. And if I had learned anything from being Wisconsin's 'Freak Girl' was that the words 'Its hilarious' was never a good sign.

"No, I don't think I can make it. I have…erm…" Not being able to think of an excuse, I ran away. But from behind me, someone grabbed my hand. It felt both warm and cool at the same time. I turned my head to see Chad.

"Go with your friend." He said.

"Geez, when did you two start gettin' all friendly?" She grabbed my hand and unwillingly dragged me away. I looked over my shoulder at Chad and gave him a pleading look.

He chuckled and left the cafeteria, probably thinking I was just being dramatic.

Oh, the irony.

Zora led me to the back of Stage Three and pointed to the wall. Someone had spray-painted a deep purple outline of me as a ghost, above it was the words Freak Girl. I cupped my hands over my mouth to hide the blubbering wails that were itching to come out. Tears ran down my face and I ran away, the laughs and snickers of the So Random! Cast ringing in my eardrums.

By instinct I suppose, I ran onto the set of Mackenzie Falls and fast-walked over to Chad. He was getting his hair and makeup done for the next scene, but he motioned for the cosmetologist to leave as soon as he saw me.

"Sonny?"

I wrapped him into a tight hug, rubbing my mascara-smeared cheeks against his outfit. He seemed uncomfortable at first, but eventually relaxed and wrapped his arms around my waist. I tightened my grip on him and he started stroking my hair.

"I'm sorry." I blubbered, "I'm so sorry."

"What could you possibly be sorry about?"

"I-I got some makeup on your costume…"

"Its alright." He said, pulling me closer, "Its just a costume. We always have more."

He was cheering me up second by second, but still I couldn't seem to manage a smile.

"I've never seen you cry this hard about anything. Tell me what happened." He looked at me with this fiery protective look in his eye. He looked around the room, as if searching for someone to blame. There were continuous cackles echoing around the corner, and I could clearly hear Tawni and Zora making joyous comments about my reaction to their little masterpiece.

I whimpered and ducked behind Chad.

"It was them?" He asked angrily, gently pushing me off and going after the Randoms. I followed him and peered around the corner and was surprised at how enraged his voice sounded as he yelled at the two teenagers.

"I don't know what you did, and I don't give two craps about your dumb ol' excuses. All I know and care about is that Sonny is crying her eyes out. And she came to me for help. About you. How often does that happen, huh? Sonny doesn't deserve friends like you, in fact she deserves better."

"And that's supposed to be you?" Tawni asked.

"Maybe." He answered.

"Look, you can just sit there and be all happy about being Sonny's emotional pillow, but you won't want to be there for her much longer."

"Why?" He asked, stepping one step closer.

"The girl's crazy in that head of hers." She lifted a finger and twirled it around next to her head.

"Crazy? How is she craz-"

I ran up from behind the corner to stop the conversation from going any further. I ran to his side, ducking my head to avoid the gaze of my former friends. I reached out and grabbed Chad's hand, entwining my fingers with his.

"Chad, let's go." I commanded, dragging him along behind me.

"Ha! What is this? Are you guys dating now or something?" Tawni asked, followed by a giggle.

"N-" I began.

"Yes!" Chad said, draping an arm around my shoulder, "Yes we are."

I turned my head to the side and stared at him open-mouthed. He winked at me, and my face reddened.

'What are you doing?' I mouthed to him.

He just smirked and pulled me closer to his side, then placed a loving kiss on my forehead. Butterflies filled my stomach. I still had no idea what was going on.

"Seriously?" Zora asked, crossing her arms, "I don't believe it."

Out of the blue Chad grabbed me by my waist and kissed me on the mouth. My eyes bugged out of my head in complete shock. I did, however, kiss him back. There were screams of disgust from Tawni and Zora as they watched us kiss.

When we finally parted, I was in a complete daze. The shock had driven me into such a state that I couldn't comprehend what had just happened.

So, I walked away.

What in the pure freaking hell just happened?

"Whatever. Date Sonny, I don't care. But know this; your relationship won't last more than two days. She's a freak, Chad. And you'll find out why soon enough." She flipped her golden locks then left with Zora.

Chad crossed his arms and pondered the words. Finally, he shrugged and left the building. He had noticed my disappearance, and somehow knew exactly where to find me. I had hidden myself in the Air Vent, but not my usual route by my dressing room. No, the one by the cafeteria.

"Sonny." Chad called, a giant smirk on his face, "I know you're in here."

Reluctantly, I slid the door open. He smiled at me. A smile that I hated.

"Sonny, come down from there."

"No." I stated, then slid the door shut.

I heard him sigh, "You know what? This isn't girlfriend material."

"Yeah, about that, why did you say we were dating?" I asked, sliding the door open once more.

"Well, its just that…I really…real-okay, I like you Sonny?"

"Is that so?" I asked, staring at him.