Stand By Me
Chapter One: Always and Forever
A/N: hey, guys! This isn't my first story, but I've decided to start fresh! Be honest and tell me what you really think! Thanks, Melissa.
Ok, I know that people probably couldn't a lot of the stuff that I make them do, because of lack of technology, but just use your imagination a little bit. Thanks!
Oh, and also… in my story Christine is about 16 years old, and Erik is about 26 years old, I know I made the age difference A LOT smaller than it really is, but I want to make any possible relationship between them practical.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything about The Phantom of The Opera in this chapter or any of the following ones.
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Silence fell upon them. The only faint sound was of there breathing, there chests heaving in perfect harmony. She opened her eyes, looking up to the enormous ceiling. She sighed and sat up, and looked over at him. She smiled, stroking his face with her long, delicate fingers. He opened his eyes as well, perhaps a smile forming across his lips. Yes…
She leaned onto his chest, and pulled the blanket upon them. He just wanted to hold her forever… As they lay there in each others embrace, sleep fell upon both of them…
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"… Christine?" she whispered.
Nothing.
"Christine?" she said a bit louder. Her eyes fluttered open as she gained focus open her friend.
"…Meg? What are you doing here?" she asked, shooting up from her bed, and realized the enormous room was no longer where she was. Puzzled, she looked around, and then at her friend.
"Maman told me to check on you, that she thought you might be sick." Meg Giry replied softly.
Christine yawned and stretched her legs out.
"Oh, well, thanks, but I feel fine. I feel great actually." Christine Daae said standing up slowly.
"Oh," Meg said, a little confused. "I don't know why she took you for ill," Meg said walking over to Christine.
"Yes, it is a bit strange, but never mind it." Christine said walking toward the door. She was in her nightgown and it was already 10:00. She needed to get dressed and downstairs for ballet.
"I must get dressed, I will meet you downstairs shortly, tell Maman I'm alright and that I'm sorry for sleeping in" Christine said to Meg, her voice trailing off as she went into the bathroom.
"Alright!" Meg shouted, running back down the stairs to deliver the message.
Christine sighed when she heard Meg leave the room. She thought for sure she had known. She turned on the water faucet, and splashed the cool liquid on her face. She opened the door and to her closet, taking out her cloths, and proceeded to get dressed. She pinned up her long, brown, curly hair up as best she could and looked in the mirror to make sure she looked acceptable.
After fussing over her hair a few more times, she quickly ran down the spiral staircase hoping Maman would not be too upset with her.
Christine's mother and father have long been deceased. Her best friend Meg and her mother, Marie Giry, had practically become her family. Now, 16-year old Christine was a regular cast member of the ballet which Madame Giry taught to the girls.
"Madame…" Christine said, running to Marie Giry, breathless.
"Please forgive me, Madame, I didn't know of the time" Christine said, her eyes pleading.
Madame Giry looked her over, her lips tight with frustration. She sighed.
"It will not be tolerated once again," Madame Giry said, motioning for her to join the other dancers in their positions.
"I expect you all to have perfected Act II, Scene 4 by the time I return," Madame Giry said, giving them a stern look telling them not to fool around in her absence.
The girls all nodded and began practicing as a group. Madame Giry turned around and began walking quickly to the dressing room of La Carlotta. She was not in the room, and only resided in it before and after the shows. Closing the door slowly and quietly behind her, she turned her attention to the mirror.
She walked to it, and fingered to the spot of which the mirror slid away, revealing a long, dark passageway. Marie sighed, and entered the passageway, walking swiftly to his underground lair.
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The melodic music rang throughout the hallow space, echoing off the walls and bouncing back at him. His eyes were closed, for he and the piano were one. His body swayed to the sweet music as his long, thin fingers glided across the ivory and ebony in perfect arrangement. He stopped suddenly, his keen ears picking up the faint footsteps. His heart began to race as he stood from the bench and quickly grabbed his noose. He listened carefully, and detected which passageway the footsteps were coming from. He darted over to arched exit and waited, barely breathing.
As the person approached, he could tell it was a woman, and lowered his guard. Her footsteps were very light, and quick… perhaps a dancer?
His stomach completely somersaulted when he thought of last night. His face became hot and red and he actually smiled. The dancer was very close now, his eyes became narrower as he saw her silhouette on the wall. His tension was released when he realized it was Marie.
"Marie, I thought you had a class?" Erik said as she emerged from the dark passageway.
"I do," she said harshly.
Erik furrowed his brow. He was used to everyone being angry with him, not Marie though…
"What's wrong?" he said, putting his noose on a small table as he walked toward her.
She turned around suddenly and put her hands on her hips. She stopped dead in his tracks, almost falling flat on his face.
"How late did she stay?" Marie asked. Erik's face turned beet red.
"Wh-what are you talking about?" he said making an odd face and sticking his hands in his pants pockets.
Marie raised her eyebrows. "Don't you play games with me, I know she was here…what time did she leave?" Marie asked again, this time giving him a look that went right through him.
He sighed. "Well… I brought her up around… 2 o'clock," he said looking up at her, as if for forgiveness.
Marie sighed. "Erik! You cannot keep her up that late, she must be at practice everyday! We have a premier in 2 weeks! May I ask what you were doing for 7 hours?" she asked, her eyes dancing with fire.
He had to turn around to him his face which became a darker color than any he had seen before. He turned around a moment later, and gave a little grin.
"We were rehearsing, of course." He said as if it were obvious. Marie closed her eyes, her face turning a little red.
"Erik, she is 16-years old for G-ds sake!" she screamed at Erik. Erik normally didn't let any one yell at him without facing the noose, but this was 10 times different. Marie was… almost the mother he never had.
"Yes, I know, we just uh- lost track of time… she's improving so much." He lied.
Marie knew this, and sighed shaking her head back and forth.
"Watch yourself" was all she said. She quickly walked down the passageway, realizing how long she had left her class alone. Erik sighed and ran his hands through his slick, black hair.
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(Taking place at the same time Madame Giry leaves)
When Madame Giry left the room, all the girls began talking amongst one another. They all already knew the dance, so they weren't worried.
"OK, Christine… tell me what really happened last night. I know that's why my mother wanted me checking on you this morning… something must have gone on…" Meg whispered to Christine.
Christine, who was bending over, stretching her legs out, shot straight up, completely shocked.
Meg raised her eyebrows, waiting for an answer.
"I- uh," Christine started. She sighed and tucked her no longer neat bun behind her ears.
"I'd rather not talk about it… at least not in front of everyone," she said, looking around, noticing some girls giving her a weird look.
Meg sighed.
"Tell me later then," Meg said in an anxious tone.
Christine smiled, that faded when she turned away.
Christine sighed as she stepped into the hot bubble bath. She emerged herself completely in the water, and rested her head against the edge of the tub.
She closed her eyes and before she knew it, she fell into a light sleep.
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"I'm sorry, I don't know why I can't do this…" she said, sighing.
"It is alright angel, before your next lesson, drink some tea…" he said, almost smiling.
She giggled. "Alright…" she said.
He took her hand in his and rubbed her delicate, porcelain skin.
She smiled and sat down next to him on the piano bench. He took his free hand and moved a stray curl from her face. She smiled and looked down.
She stood back up. "I really should get going, she said, grabbing her music and her jacket. His glow disappeared.
"No, please don't, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…" he said as if he did something absolutely terrible.
Christine looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion. She really wanted to stay, knowing that he shouldn't have apologized, but she knew she shouldn't. She bit her lip. His blue-green eyes pleaded with her chocolate brown ones. She sighed and smiled, putting her stuff down. She walked back over to him with a sly smirk on her face.
He stood up and there bodies were so close… yet so far apart. He wrapped his arms around her small figure and the just held each other, rocking back and forth, feeling, knowing each others most inner thoughts.
She looked up at him, her eyes saying everything. He leaned back, and took his right hand and stroked the side of her perfectly angelic face.
She laughed and wrapped her arms around his muscular abdomen. For a man trapped in one place, he kept in amazing shape. He sighed, taking in the smell of lavender from her perfect curls.
The next thing either of them knew, it had been 2 hours, and the embrace they shared evolved into a greater expression of love, that was completely indescribable.
Christine opened her eyes, smiling. She realized she'd been sitting in the tub for over an hour. She washed off quickly and got out and dried herself off.
Wrapping the towel around her fragile body, she stepped outside into her and Meg's bedroom. She opened her dresser and took out a nightgown. She looked over to her and Meg's twin beds. She was already sleeping. Christine furrowed her brow and looked over at the clock. It was already midnight. She dropped her towel and tossed on her nightgown. She tied up her think, curly hair into a messy bun and sat on her bed, as if uncertain she really wanted to go to sleep. She rubbed her neck, releasing some of her tension, and kept lightly brushing against the torn skin on the front of her neck. She bit her lip, perhaps containing her urge to cry out to him… her angel.
She lied down and covered herself, wishing he was there beside her…
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A/N: Ok, I know this chapter is pretty short, but the next one will be longer. Thanks for reading! NOW REVIEW!!!
-Melissa