Author note: Ok, it's a new idea I came up with in the midst of an A.P. Euro test. Tell me what you all think.

Summary: (Modern) They had always been a threesome, from high school and up through college it had always been Erik Destler, Christine Daae, and Raoul de Changy. They had always thought they were close, until Raoul decided to tell them on their college graduation day that he had a fiancee and would be leaving for Italy the week after. Now Erik and Christine feel a bit empty, but there was something stirring between them that they had never known before. But, people have their eyes on the individuals, after all, they had always been a group not lovers. Is it too late to change that before the two remaining ones of the group split to never see one another again?

TheDragonEye

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A Change in Acoustics

"Hey! Come on we are going to be late!"

"I'll make sure to call you!"

"Have fun in the world!"

"Don't drop out of touch even with your job offerings!"

"I'll miss you!"

Those were the normal callings to be expected on such a day like this. A day were students, who had put in their hopes, efforts, and dreams, would finally be released into a world to test their knowledge against life. Yes, the end of their in school education was coming to a close, but that would never stop the process of learning. Friends came and went, but sometimes they would never leave your side. Sure they remained always in your heart, and though that would make a person feel fine and dandy for the first moments their friends are out of their sight, soon enough you will begin to feel lonely and long to see them, to speak to them, to hear them. Yes. . perhaps even touch them. That could be the cases with crushes and such, knowing that you had long since missed your chance to tell them your true feelings. 'Good bye' meant good bye, but 'See you soon' was a hope, and perhaps even a promise if someone special said it to you.

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There were two people sitting side by side under a rather large oak tree. A photo album was spread out over a female's leg as she pointed out some pictures to a masked man who sat next to her. They would laugh, and then in a silence and breath-ful sigh, recalling all that had happened between them all. By them, I was talking about a group consisting of two males and a female who had been friends since the beginning of their freshman year in high school. The girl's name was Christine Daae, the one who's photograph was currently being viewed. She was the one who held much sense of reasoning between the other two. Her dark brown eyes would look over a picture and pull it out of it's protective sleeve to hold it up to the other one lying there as she pushed some of her dark brown hair out of her eyes as the wind past.

The masked man would take the picture and look at it with a certain longing in his eyes, more out of disbelief that all of these things seemed as though they had happened so long ago. Which they had, but it was just amazing how quickly time went by. Erik Destler was his name. He had always never been the most popular guy, but when he had moved to Paris at the beginning of his high school years he found himself to be all the more lost. His mask which hid a deformity was often gawked at, but that was before he met Raoul and Christine. Ever since then he seemed to have gained more respect as a person, and not one who just looked like a masquerader with green eyes and black hair. Erik would take a last look at the picture before he would hand it back to Christine with a weak smile and a 'I remember that. . .'

"Oh, Erik, look at this. . remember this?" Christine spoke with a smile and pointed to three barely distinguishable people under the confides of caked mud and such.

Erik nodded a few times, "The corn field maze. . hah. . yes I remember. You got stuck in the murk anyways. That is not easily forgotten." he smiled.

"Yes, and I had to have my two brave men to come and rescue me-"

"Which resulted in you kicking mud into Raoul's face-"

"Which made you laugh. . "

"And made him throw mud at me. ."

"And resulted in a huge fight of mud." they both finished, obviously they had told that story before, but with the smiles on their faces it appeared as if they never got tired of thinking back to those things.

The smiles seemed strained though, the memories they could keep, but after college they knew what would happen. Christine would be on a plane to America a month or so after today, leaving Erik and Raoul in Paris. Erik just knew things wouldn't be the same. I mean, who would keep him from strangling Raoul when he got annoyed? And who would keep Raoul from hiding Erik's things including his mask in retaliation? But they had a few more days to enjoy themselves, Christine wasn't leaving for another month at least which was a good thing. . right?

"Christine, you did tell Raoul that we would be here at ten, right?" Erik asked as he stretched and spread out on the grass with a loud groan. The wind picked up, resulting in an acorn to be blown free and hitting Erik straight in the forehead with a hollow 'clunk' on it's part.

Christine giggled, "I certainly hope it was the acorn which was hollow and not your head." she burst out laughing when Erik glared at her. Erik's features softened and he scooted back up next to Christine, laying his head on her shoulder as he looked over it and at the photo album. "Yes, Erik. I told him several times we would be here."

"We Raoul is not exactly the smartest one in the bunch." he spoke in reply earning him a smack in the head. "Ow. . hey! I was just saying that the right belongs to you."

Christine gave an 'Aww' and ran the back of her hand across the top of his head where she had hit him. "I am sure he will be here, Erik. We know him all too well. He wouldn't miss this for anything."

"Unless he is off screwing around."

"Erik!"

"What. . oh. . I didn't mean it like that," Erik smirked, obviously he had meant it in the way he had said it. Christine scoffed once more and tugged at his ear. "Ow! . . Raoul! Tell Christine to stop abusing me!" he spoke when he saw the familiar male walking towards them.

Raoul de Changy, was one from a long blood line tied to France soil. But that didn't matter much anymore. He completed the circle with being one to be more of the sense of humor and one to understand more then Erik, who would take action rather than think. The blonde sat down on the opposite side of Christine with a cheesy smile. "Pull harder, Christine!" he laughed as he saw Erik wince.

Christine released the hold on Erik's ear after giving it a flick once more on the bottom earlobe. "You're late, Raoul." Christine remarked as she poked him in the shoulder before turning the page of the photo album to more recent pictures. There were pictures of the three of them off campus, some really wacky ones on campus, and a few with more along the lines of inside jokes which caused them all to start laughing at the sight.

Raoul ran his hand through his hair. "I needed to take care of a few things before four o'clock rolls around. . . I just, can't believe today is it."

"What can't you believe? That you actually managed to pass?" Erik asked, grumbling as he rubbed at his ear. He reached over and smacked Raoul across the back of the head. "For betraying me." he mumbled as Raoul shot him a dark look.

"Play nice, boys." Christine smiled as she looked up at the two of them whom she had come to love as close as family, possibly even closer throughout these years.

"No, I am talking about that we are going to graduate today. . and that . . .well. . " Raoul trailed off as he lowered a hand from the back of his head. All three of them fell into a silence. Of course they had all been thinking about it, but none of them had wanted to day it. It was just too much to think of. Christine would be half way across the world from them.

"Look." Erik spoke and pointed to another picture. "Remember when Christine slipped and her ice cream went flying and it hit Carlotta and Piangi while they were close to kissing? She never truly forgave you for that did she?" Erik asked as he looked at Christine who shook her head. "No, Carlotta didn't forgive me, but Piangi got down on bent knee and thanked the gods for me and my clumsy habits." she tried to keep her voice straight through the entire sentence but it gave way to laughter and they all went into another fit of happiness, pushing away the thought that would come later on.

"Perhaps we should go get some ice cream now?" Erik asked as he stretched once more, looking at his two friends who nodded their agreement. "Alright. . . Raoul's treat!" The look on Raoul's face was priceless causing both Erik and Christine to wish that they had a camera on them. "Awww. . it's alright Raoul, I'll pay for mine and Christine's then." Erik spoke and stood up, "Hell, my treat, alright?" he asked.

"Good, I'm kind of shot for cash at the moment." Raoul spoke as he rose to his feet as well.

"Oh god Raoul, you're not still dating that Romaila girl are you?" Christine asked and breathed a sigh of relief when her friend shook his head no.

"Of course not, I am just kind of stripped." Raoul replied.

Erik burst out laughing after that and got looks from Christine and Raoul. "Hah! Any hidden meaning in that sentence, stripped for cash Raoul-y. Control your hormones." Erik's laughter died and he bolted across the campus grounds, a very red faced Raoul in pursuit who was pelting acorns after the masked man.

"IT WAS A JOKE!"

Christine shook her head, smiling as she took off after them, the photo album under her arm. Sometimes the both of them were so immature, but they could always make her laugh. She didn't know what she would do without them to make her happy when she was sad, or to comfort her when she was completely distraught. She hoped they would be able to stay strong themselves when the time came to say good bye.

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"Raoul, your ice cream is melting." Erik spoke as he looked over at his friend, bearing a faint red scratch on the visible side of his face where a broken acorn had got him.

"Oh. ."

"Something's bothering you, me and Erik have sensed it all day, Raoul." Christine spoke.

Raoul looked up to see both of his friends looking down at him from where he sat, Erik on top of the table with his feet on the bench while Christine was on the bench. He himself on the ground.

Raoul sighed a bit and shook his head, "Today is going by too fast my friends." They both nodded their heads in agreement. There was a lapse of silence before Christine stood up and looked at them.

"Let's promise one another now. That we will meet again once all of this is over, and we won't change." the brunette smiled and the two males offered small ones in reply.

"A promise."

"A promise."

"Forever."

"Uh. . Raoul? Your ice cream is still melting." Erik spoke as he watched it leak through the bottom of the cone and on to the man's pants.

Raoul gave a groan of aggravation and then smiled. He did his best to finish up his ice cream resulting in a sticky mess. When all three of them were done they started away from the parlor and back towards the main buildings of campus.

"Well, seeing how we all have to get ready, let's meet back at the tree when we are done, alright?" Christine asked and walked off as she watched the others nod.

"She's changed from when we first met her." Erik spoke softly. "We all have."

"Come on, Erik. Let's just go get ready alright?" Raoul asked as he looked at his masked friend who started to grow another smirk. And Raoul could only guess what his reply would be now.

"Sticky in your pants?" Erik asked and started towards the dorm.

"Erik! Enough of the sex references. You are intolerable!" Raoul hollered after him and caught up where the both of them walked back to their dorm, preparing for the night of graduation which was to come.

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Ending note:

Please tell me what you all think. Should I continue with this idea?

TheDragonEye