A/N: Just a tiny scrap I thought up one night while trying to work on a chapter of another fic I am working on. I do not own Phantom of the Opera or any of the characters except me!
Aspiring Artists
Sitting in the Opera Populair audience was the biggest thrill ever. However, painting soon proved to be an even bigger feat.
The new owners of the Opera, Firmin and Andre had hired me, a new and aspiring young artist to paint their new star Miss Daae. I did not know much about her, but she truly was very beautiful.
My first job was to paint the entire stage with a dress rehearsal scene in the foreground, and so that is what I did.
Monsieur Firmin paced around me as I sketched a simple outline.
"And what is this?" he would continually ponder and point at the piece in progress.
"Just drapery" I sighed becoming annoyed at the constant interruption.
After a pause, "And this is supposed to be Miss Daae?" he pointed to a rough draft of one the old stage hands.
" I think I need a small break." I got up and walked toward the stage.
" I wonder if he is watching…" I thought to my self and wandered around backstage. Finding nothing interesting I returned to the painting.
After a few hours, I was alone painting as I watched from the last row of the audience and observed my subjects carefully trying to get a good pose for each.
I hummed the songs that I had learned from hearing the hours of practice, wiping excess paint onto an old rag and avoiding as much as possible from landing on my new dress.
"It is coming along nicely." said a voice from behind.
"Monsieur Andre, I would really appreciate it if I was left alone." I said, trying to be as nice as possible, believe me by this time, hearing La Carlotta sing for six hours straight turns your nerves to mush and your patience goes thin.
"I am not Monsieur Andre, but I am sorry for disturbing you, I just came to see if you needed anything." and with that he left.
I turned quickly to see who I had spoken to, but they were gone. I shivered, for some reason it felt like there was a draft for a second and it left.
The next morning, it was time to unveil the painting to everyone. It was to be in the paper to help advertise the Opera.
"Okay this is just something done really fast and on such short notice…" I said carefully before tugging away the cloth covering the painting.
Everyone seemed very happy about the picture.
"It's so pretty!"
"Look! You can see me there in the background!" said some.
"Pretty good for an amateur." said Raoul, nodding his approval.
"WAIT!" yelled Monsieur Andre, "what is that?" asked rudely pointing at my still wet
and new piece of art. Every one leaned in to see what he could be possibly be fretting about and then they saw it.
Concealed in the folds of the stages dark curtains and concealed in the shadows of the backdrops was The Phantom.
"Why did you paint him in there?!" yelled Monsieur Firmin, directly looking at me.
" Do you think this is a joke?" screamed Monsieur Andre, "You find this amusing don't you?"
I couldn't help but laugh at them, they were acting ridiculous!
"I'm sorry Messieurs! I did not notice this prior to the unveiling! This really is sabotage!"
I apologized as much as I could. And of course all of it was a lie. Seriously, who doesn't think OPERA without the word PHANTOM?