Hello Readers! Thank you all so much for having enough faith in my first ever published story to click on it. This is the first chapter but I have it almost finished on my computer. Reviews are seriously apriciated. *Cherilynn E. L'Ombre
Friend or Phantom?
Chapter One
Music seemed to be trying to pull me out of the hazy, sinister darkness that enveloped me. Follow the music I told myself music will never hurt you. I finally managed to haul my eyes open, embracing the morning light that fought its way through my dirty window. My alarm clock was playing the song I had been practicing with, that was its way of waking me up. Nothing like Italian arias to drag you from a nightmare. I groaned and hauled myself up, then reality hit me in the face. Today was the day I entered the Grant Lare Theater Company. My old headmistress had made a few calls and I landed a part that had been vacated by a soprano who needed a serious throat surgery. She wouldn't be singing for at least a year and so, I, Elise Charlotte Dayson, would be playing Christine Daae in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.
I got dressed in a dazed rush. I sprinted down the stairs of my apartment building and collided violently with the occupant of apartment 1a. He was a shy guy who always wore a hood and to the best of my knowledge he was the only person in my building who hadn't complained about me singing too loudly at odd hours. My building super had threatened me several times that I had to tone it down or move out. "I am so sorry, it's my first day of work and I don't want to be late. Of course, that's no excuse the theater is around the corner, I'm just too nervous to sit still." I fell silent when he didn't reply; I was embarrassed that I had babbled like that. I wasn't normally the nervous type but I hadn't been able to hold a job and acting and music were my passion. I didn't want to lose this. Blushing madly I turned to go and walked quickly toward the door.
"I'm glad to hear you got a job at the theater, from what I've heard when you practice, you're very good. You deserve this chance. May I ask what play; I'm fairly familiar with many of the shows around here." He said this just as I was leaving the building, but I turned to answer him anyway.
"I'm playing Christine in The Phantom of the Opera." I smiled a bit dreamily; this was a part I'd been imagining myself in since I was a junior in high school.
"It is a spectacular part for a soprano. I am sure you will do it justice. Good luck, Miss Dayson." He unlocked his door and vanished inside his apartment. Leaving me to smile at the unexpected compliment.
The producer of the show greeted me and then proceeded to talk endlessly while I kept trying to prove that this was real. I was truly living out one of my fondest dreams. The director walked quickly up the aisle, halting when he reached us. "So, this is the girl Mrs. Phillips sent over. She made it very clear that you were very familiar with the role. I hope she was correct." His words formed both a question and a challenge. I answered and accepted both.
"I've been fascinated by the part since I was in high school. I've practiced with the songs hundreds of times and used them in projects for both musical theory and vocal classes." I said, hoping that I could muster some acting skills and be confident.
The director, Mr. Reginald, nodded, relieved. I smiled, then decided to jump right in. "When can I start?" Mr. Reginald rolled his eyes but ordered me to take the stage and begin singing "Think of Me" from the top. I was thrilled. "Think of me" was a sweet aria that I practiced frequently and felt comfortable singing. I felt like I was floating through the first verses. I made it to the instrumental and the rehearsal pianist looked more than pleased. Next came the part when Raoul broke into the song, realizing that the lovely girl singing on the stage was in fact his old childhood friend. "Can it be?" I heard the lines sung in an oddly familiar tenor. "Can it be Elise?" The pianist ground to a halt and the young man who had been singing looked confused for a moment at his mistake then he ran towards me and lifted me off my feet. He swung me through the air in a wide circle. I was struck by the fact that even two years out of high school and our relationship, Richard Octavius Morris's smile still made me melt.
"Lissie!" He cried after setting me back on my feet. He seemed completely thrilled to see me, and I found that the feeling was mutual. But still, I hated when he called me by that stupid pet name. Little Lissie, he started calling me that when we were assigned as partners in acting a scene from this same show. "All I Ask of You" was the song we were assigned and I made him watch the movie which he said he would only do if I watched with him. That was our first date. We were together for two years, until just before graduation. And now, he was back in my life and the same show had pulled us together again.
Fate was honestly trying to drive me insane, or my old headmistress was. It would be just like Mrs. Phillips to try and get us back together and I had no doubt that she knew who was playing Raoul. "Rom," I said, using my nickname for him, "It's good to see you. I had no idea you would be in this." I blushed suddenly, realizing how that must sound considering the last conversation we had was me telling him that he didn't take his talent seriously enough. But Rom smiled, not noticing my embarrassment.
"I was kind of surprised to see you too, obviously." He was beaming. And I thought guys didn't like running into their old girlfriends.
"I thought it was funny, but I might be the only one." I said nodding to Mr. Reginald who had pressed his mouth shut so firmly that he appeared to no longer have lips.
"What is the meaning of this?" he sputtered angrily
"It would appear they've met before" The producer said winking at me to see if I recognized his allusion. I laughed, smiling up at Rom who was rolling his eyes a little but laughing.
Mr. Reginald- who we usually just called Reginald- clapped his hands together to assemble the cast. "People, we have little over a month and a half to opening night. From here on out it is work, work, work. Our new soprano starts today, everyone this is Elise Dayson; she will be playing the part of Christine. Before I continue I expect an explanation as to how the two of you know each other. Mr. Morris, explain if you will."
Rom looked at me and I nodded encouragement. "Lissie and I met at school when I was a junior. We were assigned to create and choreograph a scene from a musical for a joint project in Vocal and Acting. It was a huge project and she helped me limp through it. After it the teachers put us together for other showcases because they said that I was better when I worked with her." I heard a few snickers when Rom called me "Lissie" and I glared at him, but by the end of his narrative Rom had everyone's attention.
Reginald had two more questions. "What was the scene you had to do for the project and how bad was the breakup?" He said bluntly. I shifted awkwardly, they breakup was my worst memory from high school. Rom and I shouted at each other for nearly an hour before I told him to get lost and that we were done. Rom came to the rescue with an answer.
"The scene was 'all I ask of you' and the breakup was two years ago, there are no hard feelings." He stated. I was very pleased to hear that he could shrug off the blowout fight, so I put it behind me and moved on right then. Reginald dismissed us and asked that we take a quick break before beginning the 'Notes' scene leading up to 'Prima Donna'. I was about to walk over to Rom when a ridiculously handsome black-haired man waved to me. He closed the distance between us in a few strides and introduced himself as Eric Devarrow, to play the Phantom.
"How convenient," I said with a smile, holy crap, this man was attractive.
"Why?" Eric asked, puzzled
I sighed and hoped that he was talented enough to make up not having read the book or even looked into the background of the show enough to know that "the Phantom" was named Erik. "The Phantom character in the book is called Erik. You should read it, it gives a much better look at the character that what you get from just the music." I said patiently waiting for his excuse not to read it.
"Wow, the book," he said, "Damn, I should have thought of that. You have no idea the problems I've had identifying with the character enough to do the part justice." I laughed, a guy like Eric would have a problem identifying with a deformed guy who lived in the basement of an opera house.
"I'm really glad I could help, I think you and I are going to work well together." I smiled, and wondered how old he was in the back of my mind. Was he out of my league? Maybe, but innocent flirting never hurt anyone and he was the type of guy you just flirted with out of reflex.
"I think so too, I just hope I can compare, you sounded spectacular out there. The rest of the cast will be falling over their feet to keep up." His praise was a little much, but I ignored the excess and smiled. I was glad that the person I would be spending most of my stage time with was nice. Reginald called out that he had changed his mind, he wanted to work on the 'Little Lotte/ The Mirror' scene. I was on.