Hope you enjoy! I own no lyrics or characters!

Someone Like You

Erik sat in a darkened booth in the bar. He did this fairly often, for as part owner of the Hotel Populaire he felt it his duty to watch over matters here. Plus, since none of the employees knew who he was (He being a silent but very wealthy partner) it was easy to see how things were run on a typical night. He saw how the employees treated customers, if they took too many breaks, how they handled the occasional rowdy customer. And he did enjoy watching the poor fools who took advantage of the "Karaoke Night" they had several times through the week.

At first, Erik's partners in the hotel thought he was crazy for suggesting that a 5 star hotel like theirs should host a karaoke night. But he pointed out that the bar received business from travelers as well as locals coming on dates, or just to have fun. The hotel manager, Nadir Khan, and the concierge, Antoinette Giry agreed with him, so the other partners relented finally. And the de Chagnys eventually agreed reluctantly that it was a good idea, seeming to triple the bar's business on typically slow nights.

He looked up, and smiled at the young woman who brought over his drink. He had noticed her immediately, with her long dark curls and smile that seemed sadder tonight. Usually she was very cheerful, even engaging him in small talk occasionally. But tonight she didn't seem to feel like talking. He wondered what happened to make her sad.

Erik had tried to ignore the fact that she was the main reason he came in now. He told himself it was still to check on business and his employees. But he couldn't avoid the fact that when this girl, Christine, was not working, that his "drop ins" were very short, but that he definitely stayed all night when she was there. He couldn't ignore that he made sure he sat where she would be serving him, or that he would spend time each day rehearsing ways to engage her in conversation, or to perhaps make her smile. He had often thought of asking her if she'd like to have dinner with him, but he usually squashed that idea pretty quickly. First, she was still his employee, and no matter how you looked at it that could be somewhat inappropriate. Second, well, there was his face. No matter how nice she was to him as a "Customer", he doubted she would agree to go out with a man with most of his face covered in a mask.

He looked up as a blonde girl tapped the microphone. Ah yes, that was Antoinette's girl, Meg. Pretty little thing, he thought, although nothing compared to Christine.

"Good Evening, and welcome to Karaoke Night!" Meg said cheerfully. "Well, since everyone is being a little shy tonight," she pointed around the room at the small group and laughed "We have a special treat for you. Our girl Christine has graciously agreed to start things off for us, warm up the room for you guys. Come on up Christine!"

Erik chuckled to himself as it was fairly obvious to him by Christine's expression that she was doing this under slight duress. It was standard procedure for employees to sing a bit if customers seemed a bit shy, but he had never seen Christine up there. "I wonder if Meg put her up to this" he thought to himself. He hoped she was a decent singer. He would hate to have his admittedly silly infatuation ruined by the girl being tone-deaf.

Christine stepped up to the mic. She had been having a bad day due to the news she had heard earlier. And when Meg pushed her to sing, she knew exactly what to sing. She heard the familiar piano notes start, and then she began:

"I heard that you're settled down
That you found a girl and you're married now.
I heard that your dreams came true.
Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you.

Old friend, why are you so shy?
Ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light.

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.
I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded
That for me it isn't over.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don't forget me, I begged
I remember you said,
"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead, "

Erik was amazed at the purity in her voice. True she was obviously untrained, but what she lack in training she more than made up for with the pure emotion showing in every note. He had never heard anything like this. No emperor ever received so fair a gift. The angels were weeping tonight.

She got to the final chorus, and Erik could tell that she knew exactly how to perform when he heard how she would put power behind some words, and then soften her voice at the last refrain:

"Never mind, I'll find someone like you

I wish nothing but the best for you

Don't forget me, I begged

I remember you said,

"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead."

Never mind, I'll find someone like you

I wish nothing but the best for you too

Don't forget me, I begged

I remember you said,

"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,

Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead."

He knew he should leave now, before he did something foolish. But he saw her run off the stage, and he could tell she was crying. What he didn't know was why, but he decided then and there that he would find out.

So I'm not calling this a song fic, but a karaoke fic. Yes, a lot of the action will be taking place karaoke style. But bear with me, it will be fun, I promise!

For those who haven't read my other Phanfic, I do a gentle blending of Leroux and Webber. I kind of ignore the movie, because it just wasn't done right IMO.

Reviews get love! And even though I have a lot of the songs in mind for this, make a request in your review and I'll see if I can work it in!