Disclaimer: Well, since this is fanfiction, it is obviously based off of already published and therefore copyrighted work. All characters and such that seem familiar are property of Leroux, Kay, ALW, et.all. If any parts of the storyline seem familiar yet not from the afore mentioned people, you are probably either from Caz or are weird (I apologize if I accidentally use a major part of someone's already-posted story, please let me know!) Any song lyrics used are property of the stated groups/persons and their associates. I wish I could profit from this story (and thus, their use) but I cannot and will not.

With that said, enjoy the adventure!

Chapter 1 Fresh Start

Christine gazed out the taxi window as the driver wove his way around the campus to her assigned dorm building. This was move-in day at Crawford College and Christine was about to begin her sophomore year. She transferred from another school so the campus was totally unfamiliar to her.

"Majestic Hall?" came a rough voice from the driver's seat. Christine snapped out of her daze and read the sign on the building.

"Yes, please," she replied quietly, and turned her attention outside once more as the driver searched for a parking spot. The campus was teeming with people. Some were students unloading crammed cars full of dorm room accessories—microwaves, televisions, computers, etc—and others were greeting friends from the previous year. There were also numerous parents helping their children unload and settle into the new school year. The taxi cab finally came to a halt and Christine stepped out. She wiped a solitary tear from her blue-gray eyes. No one was there to greet her. Her parents were not there to help her settle in. Even the taxi driver, after unloading her belongs from the trunk and receiving his money, had driven away. Christine was all alone. She straightened her lavender blouse, smoothed her black dress pants, and pushed her long dark brunette hair over he shoulder. With a sigh, she picked up her belongings and entered Majestic Hall, her home for the coming months.

Senior year, Raoul thought to himself as he stepped out of his silver BMW convertible and heard a beep from his remote door locks. I just have to make it through this final year. He had just finished hauling the last load up the 3 flights of stairs to his dorm room in Majestic Hall, and was looking forward to relaxing with a few of his buddies before starting the long process of unpacking. He was looking for a familiar blonde girl when someone else caught his eye. Raoul froze in place watching a lovely brunette dressed in a lavender blouse step out of a taxi across the street from him. After the taxi pulled away, the girl awkwardly grabbed her bags and a large box and began waking toward Majestic Hall. Raoul rushed over to her.

"Hi, can I help you with your things?" he asked the girl. She continued walking and then glanced at him as if she failed to realize he was talking to her. Her pale features turned a shade of pink as she blushed and looked at the ground.

"Um, no thank you," she stuttered. She began to walk away but had to rebalance as some of her bags were removed.

"Please, let me take some of your load," Raoul insisted, blue eyes sparkling and flashing his blinding smile. Christine gave a small appreciative smile and informed him that her room was on the third floor. "Hey, mine to. Isn't that convenient?"

"I guess so. I'm Christine, Christine Daaé"

"Raoul Chagney, please to make your acquaintance."

After checking in and depositing her bags on the bed, Raoul stood in the doorway to Christine's corner room, which was only 3 doors down from his, and glanced around at the empty white walls, blue carpet, and bare furniture. Dorm rooms always looked so barren and sterile on the first day. There was a twin-sized bed, a desk, a bureau, a built-in closet, and a large full-length mirror. His own room was identical except for the mirror. He watched her sort through some of her things. She looked tired and downtrodden. Raoul couldn't imagine what would make such a beautiful girl so sad. She looks lonely, he thought.

"Hey, Christine. I'm still waiting for a friend of mine to arrive. Want to join me?" Christine looked at him in surprise. He barely knew her 10 minutes and was already asking her to hang out with him. She opened her mouth to decline, but at the hopeful, caring look in his eyes she agreed. They headed down the stairs and waited for Raoul's friend to arrive.

Christine and Raoul made small talk while sitting on the decorative stone wall outside of the dorm building. She could feel the warm summer sun heat her skin through the thin material of her blouse. Raoul was chatting about the latest college gossip, but Christine paid little attention to what he was saying. His dark blonde spiky hair had golden highlight from the sun and his brilliant blue eyes were friendly and welcoming. She only now noticed his stylish khaki pants, and green polo shirt. He looks like an Abercrombie & Fitch model, Christine thought to herself. Raoul had the classic preppy boy good looks and fashion. He seemed like the kind of guy that everybody couldn't help but like.

"...so I was President of my senior class in high school, and graduated in the top 10 percent of my class. I would have liked to be higher, but at least it kept my parents happy. I think I'm probably my own toughest critic." Christine snapped back to reality and looked him in the eye.

"So you are a senior here?"

"Yeah," he replied. "I know it doesn't seem to make sense me being a business management major at Crawford since this is definitely more of an arts school, but my father went here and it's far enough away from home that my parents can't pester me. I like being in the country too. I get sick of city life. So, how about you? What's your story?"

"I'm a sophomore vocal major," Christine replied. "This is the best voice school I could find that would give me enough of a scholarship so I could come." Christine grew quiet and Raoul could see the clouds of sadness roll into her eyes. It was like her mind was off somewhere else. He was about to ask what was wrong when a familiar voice began shouting his name.

"Raoul! Hey, Raoul Chagney!" Christine fought the mist growing in her eyes and looked up to see a petite blonde girl wearing a pink halter top sundress standing next to a lime green Beetle, shouting and waving like a maniac.

"HEY!" Raoul shouted back and jumped off of the stone wall. He turned to help Christine down and together they hurried over. The blonde girl threw down her bags and launched herself into Raoul's arms, giving him a huge hug.

"OH MY GOD! It's been like forever since I've seen you!" she said, stepping back and pushing a light blonde section of hair out of her face. Raoul turned to Christine, who was standing there in bewilderment.

"Christine, this is Megan Giry. Meg, this is Christine Daaé." The girls smiled and shook hands. Before she even had a chance to prepare herself, Christine found herself in Meg's embrace. Meg was very high-strung and energetic.

"Yo guys, are we gonna just like leave me stuff here all day, or are you gonna help me move in?" she asked with a chuckle. All three smiled and picked up bags and boxes. Meg had so much stuff crammed into her Beetle that they had to make two trips up to the third floor. Once everything was scattered in Meg's room across the hall from Raoul's, they all gathered in Christine's room since it was the most organized one at the moment. Meg made Christine's bed up with linens that were neatly folded inside a pillowcase and then sat down to watch Christine unload one of her suitcases. Christine opened the closet door and hung up several garments.

"Hey! You have a huge mirror. That's not fair!" Meg protested from the bed. Raoul was sitting at the desk hooking up cables to Christine's laptop. Within a few minutes, the room was fairly organized and almost everything was unpacked. Christine dug a box of chocolates out of one suitcase that was still packed and passed it to her new friends. Last year, she had been severely depressed and shut herself in her room, going out only for classes. This year was already looking better and brighter than her freshman year. Already she had two very nice acquaintances and, more importantly, a smile upon her delicate face.

Erik looked out his small window at the crowds below. He hated the first day back to college. The peace and quiet of summer turned into ruckus and irritating banter as people moved in. Erik spent his summers taking a class or two, but mostly just worked in his room at the end of the third floor hallway of Majestic Hall. He was about to turn away in disgust when the most beautiful girl he had ever seen stepped out a taxi cab. He felt a catch in his throat and gazed wide-eyed as the sun glistened off her dark brunette ringlets. She looked around and finally picked up her bags and headed toward the dorm hall entrance. I may have to keep an eye on that girl, Erik thought. He raced from the window, grabbed a sketchpad from his desk and began to pencil a started to draw an incredible likeness of his mystery girl.