Disclaimer: I OWN EVERYTHING! Lol, just kidding, everyone!

Hallp, my peoples!

lol, inside joke...

This just came to me one day, and look how it's turned out? Pretty spiffy, huh? I know it's short in the beginning, but I promise, they get even longer as the story goes on! Seriously!

Well, as soon as you're done reading this bit, please please please review!

Thanks a bunch!

-Alianne (Fedora Girl, Laura, whatever...BobMcBobBob says I've got an identity crisis...which is true. HOW WOULD YOU pick? lol NOW, ON WITH THE STORY!)

Chapter One
A man sat by the fireplace in a giant armchair, the flames flickering shadows across his face, making him look harsher than usual as he read the newspaper. A young girl in a little white sundress was curled up by the grate, sending questioning glances to her father, debating if she should finally mention the thing that was plaguing her every thought for the past few days.

"Dad?"

"Yes, Christine? What is it?"

"Well, I was wondering… Annalee invited me to see a play this Friday night. Would I…be able to go? I promise I'll be back right after it ends!" she twirled her copper curls, uncertain of what her father would say. She was pretty sure he would say no, but there was always a chance he wouldn't. Most likely because there was music. John Chagny disliked music with a passion, as did all the males of the de Chagny line, going back to his great-great-great-great grandfather Raoul. Christine couldn't even fathom why they hated it. To her, music was everything, it was like her soul! But something had happened in her family that was kept a secret. Something that made her father and grandfathers before her despise music so suddenly.

It must be pretty good, if they've been able to keep a secret that long, she thought to herself. But why haven't they told me yet?

"What is the name of this play?" he asked, looking at his daughter intently.

"The Phantom of the Opera, Dad. It's supposed to be fantastic! It's better than the movie I saw at Cait's sleepover before we left! I loved the movie, but—uh-oh," she realized her mistake too late, and her father jumped up abruptly from his chair.

"No!"

"But Daddy…" Christine jumped up angrily, the flames from the fire illuminating the two figures.

"No Christine. I forbid you to see that musical!"

"DAD! Please! It's just a play! Why can't I go? What, is the 'Phantom of the Opera' too mature for me or something? I'm 15! I think I'm mature enough to handle it!" the redhead cried.

"No," was all he said.

"But Dad! It's not fair! Annalee's going, and I want to go, too! It's just one play, one night! Daddy, I promise I'll be good! I'll do anything, just please let me go see it! Just because you hate music doesn't mean I have to! I'm sick and tired of you refusing to see my abilities in it! Please! I've worked hard in school, got perfect grades, for YOU! I've always done well in sports, for YOU! You always ignore my music, and I'm fed up with you not acknowledging it! And now, we've had to move from California to here, and I do love it here in New Orleans, but I've left all my friends behind! Annalee was my first friend here, and I want to have FUN for once! Lord knows you would ever let me go ANYwhere!" Christine was out of breath from her tirade, and looked to her father pleadingly.

"Christine…I…" Randall Chagny trailed off, and his wife bustled into the room.

"Christine! I thought I heard your yelling again! What has your father done this time? Not letting you go out with your friend again?" Reneé Hunter-Chagny asked, hurrying over to her daughter, giving her husband a stern glare.

"Mom, Dad won't let me go see a musical with Annalee this Friday," Christine looked up at her tall mother.

"And what is the name of this musical that you want to go to, Christine?" Reneé Chagny inquired, eyes twinkling, but still glaring at her husband.

"The Phantom of the Opera, Mom," her daughter replied, turning her pleading eyes on her mother now.

"The Phantom of the Opera?" Reneé's face fell as she heard her daughter say it.

Christine rolled her eyes exasperatedly. More secrets. Ugh!

"Yeah, it's supposed to be awesome, and I would reeeeeealy like to go! Pleeeeeease, Mom? I promise I'll some home right after it ends, or I could sleep over at Annalee's house, whichever one you want!"

One look at her daughter and Reneé lost.

"Of course, dear. I'll let you go see the…'Phantom of the Opera'. And I think it's safe to say that you can sleep over at Annalee's house that night, too. Do you want us to pick you up Saturday morning, or will you be able to walk home?" she asked.

"Yes! I'll walk home! Oh thank you, thank you, thank you Mom!" Christine jumped up and down gleefully. She glared at her father before hugging her mom and running out the door of the large Victorian city house.

"I'm, going over to Annalee's house, Mom! Don't worry, I'll be back later!" she cried, already halfway down the street as the sun slowly began to descend.

Well? How do you guys like it?

I had to rewrite these first few chapters, because it was just plain confizzling, and I just didn't like them. Nothing much was changed, though, just dates and little things!

Erik will show up soon, don't worry! OK, Christine and her family live in New Orleans near the French Quarter, and Annalee and her mom live IN the French Quarter. Not a very long walk for Christine, so, yeah. All these old houses and stuff got renovated, and the Chagny's moved because of her dad's job in the military. I hope this clears stuff up—keyword HOPE! Lol. More will be cleared up in later chappies!

Well, I guess all you have to do is REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!

-Alianne