Here is my first attempt at a fic! Feedback is GREATLY appreciated. I love writing, but I am working hard to try and improve my writing, as am trying to figure out if I want to be a writer. So any feedback, whether negative or positive, is beyond appreciated.
This fic is going to be a fluffy, romantic and (hopefully!) different fic. It's modern day, E/C, and the rating is going to start off at a T with a possible move to an M later on.
Disclaimer: None of the songs used in his story, unless noted at the end of the chapter, are mine. I will also specify who sang the song at the end of the chapter. Also, the main POTO characters that I use in this story (Christine, Erik, Raoul, Meg, Nadir etc..) are not mine. I don't take credit for any of these.
And, without further ado, here is the first chapter of Chance of Fate
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Forgetting
"Yes, Mrs. Davis…No, Mrs. Davis I'm very sorry this happened. Yes, I'll make sure Bobby keeps his hands to himself from now on…It was just a mistake. It won't happen again…Thank you for understanding. Have a good day." Christine sighed as she hung up the phone, and turned to Meg, fresh tears starting to run down her face.
"That is the third time in the last two weeks that mother has called to complain about something or someone! I swear, all she wants to do is make my life a living hell!" Christine exclaimed as she walked over to her desk and fell into her chair. She let out a long sigh of exhaustion and buried her head in her hands.
"This year has been so tough Meg! How many weeks until we finish again? I just need a break. I wish I didn't have to say that, because I love teaching, but I can't handle this stress anymore!" Christine sobbed.
Meg looked at her friend and sighed. She sat down next to Chris and put a hand on her back, trying to calm her. Christine's father had died around Christmas, and Chris had taken it very, very hard. He had been her only parent while she was growing up, her mother having died in childbirth, and they had been very close. When he was alive, she was constantly calling him, and would visit him at least twice a month. When her father died, she took the maximum possible amount of time off to mourn, but it wasn't enough. She hadn't fully finished grieving when she had to return to school, and the pain had started to creep into her work life. More often than not, Christine's days would end in tears, and it was all Meg could do to not let her quit.
"Chris, let's go out tonight! We'll go downtown, party it up, and help you relax a little," said Meg helpfully, hoping that this would help cheer Christine up.
Christine looked up at her friend and weakly smiled. "No, Meg. I'm too tired. But, thank you." She started to pack some papers in her bag, hoping to just drop the subject.
"Chris, you're coming. This is exactly what you need! We'll go to a club, get a few drinks and just relax. Come on, I promise you'll feel even a little better after tonight," Meg urged, a look of excitement on her face. Christine hadn't been out in months, and Meg really missed the crazy Friday nights they used to have.
Christine studied her best friend's face. She had known Meg since they were in kindergarten, and she knew that look. Meg was not going to back down on this one. She sighed. "Ok, I guess I'll come," she said, a little defeated, but with just the tiniest bit of excitement in her voice. As sad and as stressed out as she was, she had always loved going out with Meg. Maybe tonight would really help with some of her stress.
Meg giggled and gave Christine a big hug. "Yaay! I promise you won't regret it! Ooohhh! This is going to be so much fun!"
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Christine sat at a table in the far corner of the crowded club, watching Meg dance with two different guys on the dance floor, while every other set of male eyes in the room watched her. Meg had always liked being the center of attention, and dancing had always come easy to her. She was moving provocatively against the two men, and she looked like she was having the time of her life. A few months ago, Christine would have been right there next to her, drunk and having the time of her life.
All of a sudden the music stopped, and an older, but enthusiastic announcer stepped on the stage in the front of the dance floor. A tired, but animated Meg plopped down in the seat next to Christine, and wiped some sweat off of her forehead.
Christine handed her a drink, and Meg swallowed it in almost one breath. She put the glass down and smiled across the room at one of the men she had been dancing with. The announcer tapped the mic to check that it was on, and a small amount of feedback echoed through the speakers.
"I wonder what this is about?" Meg wondered, still slightly out of breath.
"How is everyone doing tonight?" asked the announcer. "Well, as you all know, every Friday night, just after 10, we start karaoke night!" His enthusiasm was greeted by silence. A nervous look quickly flashed across his face, but was replaced by the same fake enthusiasm as quickly as it appeared.
"Well, without further ado, lets start! First up is Michelle. Michelle will be singing 'My Heart Will Go On'. Take it away Michelle!"
The response from the club was quiet. A few people left, hoping to find more dancing somewhere else, while most of the others went to the bar to relax before the music came back on.
Michelle, a petite and nervous looking girl who was wearing all white and had a veil over her hair, slowly ascended the stairs next to the stage. Her friends let out encouraging cheers, and she smiled weakly back at them. She stepped up to the mic, took and deep breath and timidly nodded her head. The music started and she squeaked out the first few words.
Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you
That is how I know you go on
Christine put her hands over her ears in horror. This girl was one of the worst singers she had ever heard. Chris felt bad doing so, but Michelle was nowhere near the right key, making it hard to even understand what song she was singing.
Far across the distance
And space between us
You have come to show you go on
As she sang the second phrase of the song, Michelle started to look a little green. The nerves were getting to her, and they showed in her voice. She was getting quieter and quieter, now barely audible above the music, while her voice was starting to sound like a shriek.
Near, far, wherever you are
I believe the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on
Christine let out a groan. "God, this is awful!" she exclaimed to Meg, who was still making faces across the room at her dancing partner.
Meg just shrugged, her attention not wavering from her new boy. "It's karaoke. What did you expect?" she asked.
"I can't stand it! I'm going to the bathroom…I can't listen to this anymore," Christine complained. She quickly moved through the crowd, trying to get away from the atrocious noise and burst into the bathroom. The line for a stall was long, and the room was packed. Girls around the room were talking about whom they had hooked up with earlier, fixing their hair, and checking their makeup. Christine walked up to a free mirror towards the back of the bathroom, and splashed some cold water on her face.
Christine glanced up at her reflection and realized how different she looked. Instead of the fairly pretty face she remembered, Christine's normally healthy skin was breaking out, and her brown eyes were slightly bloodshot with small purple bags sitting under them. Her curly brown hair was limp, and she desperately needed to get it cut. Christine knew she wasn't the prettiest girl, but she knew she was at least a little bit above average. Looking at her reflection, she realized she had turned into a weary, unattractive version of herself. Christine sighed for what seemed like the thousandth time that night, and turned from the mirror. She held back the fresh tears that were forming from her newfound insecurities, and slowly made her way back to her table.
When Christine sat back down, Meg had a huge smile plastered across her face. Christine looked across the room and saw that Meg's boy toy for the night was gone.
"What are you smiling about?" Christine asked, confused.
"Uh, nothing," giggled Meg, looking mischievous. Christine hoped that Meg wouldn't abandon her for some guy, and force her to go home alone tonight. She had done so a few times before, and normally Christine didn't mind; but tonight, it would be too depressing. She studied Meg's face, trying to understand what her big secret was.
The announcer stepped back onstage, smiling with the same enthusiasm as he had before.
"Everyone give Michelle a round of applause!" he said, but all that he was met with was a few boos and groans. Christine looked over at table that Michelle had sat down at, and the poor bride-to-be looked genuinely mortified.
"Thank you Michelle! Next up, we have…" the announcer checked the card in his hand. "Christine! Christine will be singing 'Makeup Smeared Eyes'"
Christine's jaw dropped open when she heard her name being called. She looked over to Meg, who was positively beaming at Christine. Chris immediately realized what Meg's secret was.
"Meg! What…what the hell?!' Christine cried, both angry and confused. Now she'd have to embarrass herself in front of the whole club by telling the announcer she wouldn't be singing.
"Chris! You have a beautiful voice! Just go up there and have fun! Tonight's about relaxing!" reasoned Meg. Christine had been singing as long as Meg had known her. Chris had always said that she was going to be an opera singer, and that she wanted to sing all around the world. When she reached high school, however, Christine realized that she also had a love for teaching, and decided to put singing aside as a hobby. Meg hadn't heard Christine sing once since her father had died, and Meg figured that his was probably one of the best ways to cheer her friend up.
Christine's eyes were wide with horror, and a few tears started to spill over onto her cheeks. She couldn't even begin to fathom how Meg thought that this was a good idea.
"Just get up there. Start the song, sing a few lines. If you don't feel like you can finish it, just wave me up, and I'll get up there and take it over. Believe me, I'll be so bad that no one will even care that you left the stage. Just give it a shot Chris," Meg begged.
Christine looked across the room at the mic, and sighed. Meg was probably right. Maybe this is exactly what she needed to relax.
"Fine. I'll do it," Chris said, her voice wavering a little.
"Yaay!' cheered Meg, proud of her little triumph. She stood up, and grabbed Christine's hand, and yanked her to her feet. "Get up there! And, remember, just wave at me, and I'll come save you if you don't want to do it anymore."
Christine nodded weakly, and, with shaky feet, started making her way up to the stage. All eyes were on her now, and Christine willed herself to stay steady. She didn't want her clumsiness to be the first thing the audience saw of her.
She went up the steps and listlessly walked up to the microphone, her nerves starting to get the best of her. She took a few deep breaths and shut her eyes before looking out into the crowd. Thankfully, she couldn't make out any faces, which helped ease some of her anxiety. Christine nodded and the music started.
Left your t-shirt in my room, still smells of you
And the picture you hung on the door
Lays smashed, picture perfect
Explains now, clearly, nothing left but a memory
Christine started off softly, but after a few bars, she started to calm down. Her voice grew with confidence, and her song started to fill the room.
We only made out, you never kissed me
That's how I learned to hold back all feeling
Wait, please don't go, I won't stay
Are all these words on replay?
I'm OK, it's alright, good to know that you're fine
Pretending everything is right, to make it better
I'll hide my makeup smeared eyes to show that I tried
Christine was belting out the music now, throwing the past few months of anger, frustration and sadness into the song. A few tears started to run down her face, and her voice cracked when the next phrase started.
Somehow you have managed to get under my skin more than anyone ever did
If every hole makes a scar, and every scar marks its place
Then I will never live freely without your trace
And, it'll never be fair, I wrote my songs for you and you never even cared
Christine was sobbing at this point, but her voice remained loud and clear. As she sang, the audience had grown hushed, and everyone's attention was drawn to the performer on the stage.
So, I'll forget you, I'll wash your t-shirt and
Kill the pillow and cut you out of pictures
Wait, please don't go, I won't stay
All these words on replay
I'm OK, it's alright, good to know that you're fine
Pretending everything is right to make it better
I'll hide my makeup smeared eyes
The music ended and Christine hurriedly ran offstage, both embarrassed by her emotions, and nervous as to how the audience would react to her performance. She would admit that hers wasn't the prettiest voice, but it also wasn't the worst.
Christine sat down at the table and buried her head in her hands. Ever since the music had stopped there had been silence. She started crying, letting the rest of the emotions and nerves out. Meg put a hand on her back, and tried to soothe her. Meg felt horrible for pushing Christine to do something that she obviously wasn't ready to do.
Quietly, someone in the room started clapping. A few others joined in, and then the whole room erupted in cheers. People were standing on their feet, cheering for Christine.
"See? I told you you'd be fine," Meg whispered into Christine's ear, as Chris looked around the room. A smile came across her face, and Christine felt a happy, a feeling she had not felt since her father had died.
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The first song used in this chapter was: 'My Heart Will Go On' sung by Celine Dion and the second was 'Makeup Smeared Eyes' sung by both Automatic Loveletter and Juliet Simms. (These are not mine)