Disclaimer: I do not own Erik, or Christine, but the other characters are mine, so hands off lol!

Chapter one: new friends

Erik sat on the train looking out the window dejected. The weather seemed to mask his true feelings. Mask. Why did he have to constantly remind himself of the fact of his deformed face?

He did have his foster parents, but they even seemed to hate his face and where he came from. He had been bounced from orphanage to foster home to foster home. His new foster parents had sent him to a boarding school, but not just a boy's boarding school, it was a co-ed boarding school.

As the train rolled on little drops of rain hit the window he was staring out. They had just left the platform about ten minutes ago and he was feeling more rejected then ever. Erik sat alone in the small compartment. He looked around and saw that the train needed someone to redecorate it. The walls were painted in a shallow grey color and the seats a dull white color. Who knows how many people sat on these dingy cushions Erik thought to himself, at least one more.

He looked back out of the window and heard the door slide open. He could see someone's reflection in the window. Erik could tell it was a girl, he smelled her perfume. It did smell good, Erik thought to himself.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" A girl's voice rang out softly.

Erik turned towards her. She was a very pretty girl with shoulder length brown hair, that looked almost red it hung as straight as the strings on his violin. Her skin was very light and had striking green eyes.

Erik nodded his head towards the empty seat and she almost floated over to the seat. He could tell she had grace, maybe not as much as him, but very graceful.

She sat in the seat across from him. "Hi, I'm Phoebe, Phoebe Hudson." Phoebe said in a cheery voice. How could someone be so cheery on a day like this? Erik though.

"Erik" he said simply.

He didn't want to be rude to this girl, but he wasn't in the mood to talk. She smiled at him. He noticed she didn't look at his white mask once. How particular, that was not something he was used to. She was a strange girl. Maybe he could find friendship in a girl like that.

"So what do you know about the school?" Phoebe asked.

Erik was shocked that she would ask such a knowledgeable question. She didn't ask silly questions like how comfy will the beds be, or will the food be any good, she asked what the school's history was.

"Oh, I'm not sure, but I know its one of the most prestigious schools."

"I plan on studying art." Phoebe said.

"Really I do too. I find art relaxing, and intriguing at the same time. There is so many different styles though, it can be rather complex. I'm also studying music, and architecture." Erik said proudly.

"Oh, I love music, what do you play?" Phoebe asked.

Erik puffed out his chest proudly. "Piano and violin"

"I play the piano too!" Phoebe gushed. "We have a lot in common."

Erik smiled at Phoebe. "Yes, we do seem to have a lot in common."

"I can tell were going to be good friends" She said as she got up and sat next to Erik. He didn't mind her presence besides him. It felt nice to be liked by another person. He had gone so long without having compassion and friendship.

They talked for hours until the train slowed.

"Well I had better go get my uniform on." Phoebe said as she stood up. Erik looked out the window again and noticed the stars shining. She left and he stood up and pulled out his uniform.

It was a dark jacket with a pale blue button up shirt. The slacks were black also. He had on white tennis shoes. His favorite pair. The white mask stood out against his face. The girls uniform was a black jacket with a soft pink button up shirt. The black skirt went below the knees.

Phoebe walked back into the compartment just as the train stopped. "Are you ready to go to school?" Phoebe asked. She seemed to have a glow radiating from her that Erik could tell was from excitement. They started to leave the train and Erik looked back one last time before stepping off the train. No more normal life, it is now time for a year of boarding school with his new friend.

I know, no Christine, but she does appear in the next chapter. Please review, its what keeps me going!