Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama/Humor
Summary: A young girl teaches Erik the ways to win Christine's heart. In return, he helps her find the strength to win the guy she likes. NOT an ErikOC!
Disclaimer: I do not own Erik. All the pleasures belong to ALW, Leroux, and Kay.
A/N: I'm not sure if I'm going to keep continuing this for I have a lot of ideas that had been floating in my head. If I get a few responses then I might. For now, here's chapter 1.
Lessons on Love
By: Erik'sTrueAngel
Chapter 1- Erik
Sixteen-year-old Stephanie Larson lived an unusual way of life. As hard as she tried, it was hard for her to be normal.
As an only child from a rich background a lot of people would think she was spoiled, but she was far from it. Her parents were hardly around, always attending some fancy party that she wanted no part in. She hated the lifestyle that she lived in. It wasn't her.
But she took great pride in her hobbies. One of which was The Phantom of the Opera. Erik was her all-time favorite character and she knew that Christine and he were meant to be. She saw the musical a dozen times despite her parents' protests. Her mother frowned down at this little "obsession" of hers.
But Stephanie didn't see it that way. She saw her love of the book and musical as a passionate fling, sort of speak. She was a great fan in all love stories and has seen all the classics.
Stephanie hardly had any friends at her school. She was considered the outcast and in a way, perhaps, she was. No one paid any attention to her unless they wanted to. That she couldn't handle. It wasn't because of her money by no means. She was different from most teens. She never mind the loneliness until Dan Shaw moved into the area a year ago. Like Stephanie, Dan came from a rich family as well. But that didn't matter. He never looked her way and she lacked the courage to go to him.
In her mind she imagined it was her beauty that kept Dan away. With her long, wavy red tresses and her light creamy flesh with a splash of freckles across her petite, but finely sculpted face, which brought out the deep sensuous hazel eyes that could only be Stephanie Larson.
Though, that is what she wished she looked like.
Instead, she had shoulder-length auburn hair that rarely stayed in any style. She had no freckles across her white skin and her eyes consisted of the right being hazel and the left green. Nothing at all attractive to see.
Ever since she was a child, Stephanie was mercilessly at the hands of her cruel classmates. She was teased uncontrollably because of her eyes. Her mismatched eyes. She was called "freak", but the worst was "monster". Her eyes weren't the perfect hazel that she desperately longed for until she was able to a contact lens to disguise the noticeable green. Her parents saw no need for it when she asked them. They told her she was beautiful in her own way, but that didn't make Stephanie feel better. She wanted to be normal and to look normal and the only way was to hide her imperfection.
Though that didn't help much. She was still alone.
In many ways Stephanie could relate herself to Erik. They both had imperfections and were shut out from the world. All Stephanie wanted was to have a friend and now at her age a boyfriend. But who would want to go out with the likes of her?
A terrible storm was brewing and Stephanie's parents were preparing for a party at their friend's, Ken Watson, house.
"Now, Steph, are you sure you will be all right?" her father asked.
"Jeez Dad, I'm sixteen for Christ's sake!" she scoffed. "I can take care of myself."
"I know that sweetie, but all fathers worry about leaving their daughters alone."
"I'm not really 'alone' Dad. I have Harper with me if I can find him."
He chuckled. "That takes a load off my chest!"
"Tom! Are you ready?" Stephanie's mother called.
"Yes honey! Now, Stephanie if there's an emergency-"
"Dad, I know! I'm not a little girl anymore. Go! Otherwise you and Mom are going to be late," she said.
Tom sighed. "Be careful."
"Bye Dad. Bye Mom!" Stephanie yelled as her mother flew past them to the front door.
"Bye Steph!" she heard her mother's answer. "Tom!"
"Coming Elaine!" he shouted.
Stephanie couldn't help but roll her eyes. She watched as they drove off before heading into her room. Free at last, she thought.
She hurried over and took out her DVD of The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney. It was one of her all-time favorite movies.
She slipped downstairs to make some popcorn and headed to the entertainment room where she found her dog, Harper, on his back asleep.
"Mutt," she mumbled.
She turned on her movie and leaned into the couch. "Time for some Erik."
Stephanie was coming to the scene where Christine had to make her decision of turning the scorpion, to be Erik's wife, or the grasshopper, which would destroy the Opera house. The storm picked up ever since she hit play and it grew worse each minute.
Harper was lying on her lap, shaking in fear. She petted the longhaired Jack Russell Terrier while keeping her eyes glued to the screen.
"Turn the scorpion!" she murmured. "You know you want him."
Just as soon Christine was about to turn it, a bolt of lighting hit and the power went out. Stephanie screamed as Harper yelped. It was dark for a few seconds and the power returned. Harper jumped off her and scurried under the sofa. Stephanie was busy trying to get her breathing back to normal when she heard it.
Stomp! Thud! Crash!
She muted the TV and listened. The noise stopped and for a second she thought she had imagined it. Then another thud and a loud curse made her realize someone was in her house. Swallowing hard, she grabbed the nearest item as a weapon- an umbrella.
The noise was definitely was coming from upstairs. She gripped the umbrella and slowly made her way up the stairs. She knew she should have called 9-1-1, but it was too late to run down for the phone. As she hit the top, she heard movement in her room and very carefully she took hold of the doorknob and slowly opened it.
Her eyes widen in shock at what she saw. There stood a man in the middle of her room, obviously perplexed from his stance. His back was facing her and Stephanie took in the sight. He had to be over six feet and he was dressed all in black. Her eyes moved up to gaze at his shiny jet-black hair that was slick back. Sensing another person, he turned his head and Stephanie gasped when she caught the sight of a pearly white mask.
He turned completely now so he faced her. She took a cautious step forward, dropping the umbrella, crying out, "Erik!"
TBC………