"No, no, not today!" Christine hissed as she biked through the busy city streets. She was late, yet again, for the one thing that mattered to her. Today, it seemed, would be the day that sculpted her future, but not in the way she wanted.

She parked her bike behind the theater, only securing it to the bike rack with a chain and padlock as an afterthought, and raced inside.

Almost immediately, a stage manager was on her ass. "Where have you been? We've already called in the second understudy!"

Christine's heart dropped. She was too late. She'd known she'd be taking Carlotta's role on for a week while the famed soprano was on vacation, but four of the seven performances she was supposed to have been featured in she'd missed now.

"I have half a mind to send you home right now."

"No, Andre please— I'm sorry," Christine begged. She was near tears now. Stupid, stupid girl, she thought miserably, how many times have I set that alarm clock? Stupid! "It won't happen again."

The man looked her up and down, scrutinizing her slender form and soft, blond curls. He sighed. "I can't believe I'm doing this. One last chance, miss Daae. But you're not to leave the theater between now and this evening's performance. You're too late for the matinee, I'm afraid."

"Thank you!" she squealed. The manager huffed.

"Just stay out of the way and keep quiet," he said before pushing past her and hollering for one of the children they had working on the show.

Christine sighed, relieved, as she continued on toward the dressing room, where she knew she'd be spending the majority of the next four hours. Along the way, she stopped to watch a few of the dancers warming up for the show.

She didn't know most of the cast by name, as she'd been hired on four months into the production, but she recognized one girl as Meg Giry. She was an incredible dancer, even if her form was a little sloppy. Only a few other girls could dance en pointe.

Christine looked away quickly when Meg's eyes darted up and met hers, and she could feel her skin flushing bright red as she turned and hurried on her way.

She was surprised to find the dressing room empty, but she knew that the second understudy wasn't as good with her faster costume changes, so her wardrobe had likely been moved just offstage for the show.