Hello everyone :-)

Ok, this phic is POTO retold, through another love triangle. This triangle deals with Christine, Raoul, and Meg. It may not have so much Erik in it, but most likely will have E/C references. Based on 2004 ALW/JS film. This phic will go through scenes in the movie, scenes not in the movie, and after the movie ends.

Obviously I don't own any of the characters, but I'm working on it...lol.

No big warnings, probably no cursing or anything inappropriate.

Reviews are nice, but once again...I'm doing this for fun. If you like it, that's awesome. If you don't like it...oh well. Hope it's ok though. :-)

Secret Crush

It was the last practice before the night's performance of Chalumeau's Hannibal, and the two ballet girls talked backstage, totally oblivious to the time. Marguerite Giry, the ballet mistress' daughter, laughed with her best friend Christine Daaé about everyday life at the Opera Populaire. Christine was the one to notice that they were late for practice. Quickly they ran to catch up with the other ballet and chorus girls. Once they made it to the stairway they slowed down and continued talking.

"As I was saying before, Christine you should really start dating soon." Meg said.

Christine let out a small laugh and commented, "I don't think I'm ready for a relationship yet."

"Yeah but don't you remember that one handsome nobleman who had his eye on you?"

"What about him?" Christine asked.

"You should have let him court you!" Meg exclaimed with a laugh. "Come on Christine, we should be out looking for our future husbands!"

"Meg just to let you know, men who come here looking for girls are NOT looking for a wife…"

"That's true…they're looking for someone like La Sorelli." Meg whispered.

"Meg!" Christine playfully pushed her friend's shoulder. "I can't believe how rude you are!"

"Girls!" Madame Giry yelled. "Practice is starting."

Meg and Christine rushed and joined the rest of the girls in line. They practiced their dance for the opening of the opera.

Madame Giry watched for the mistakes the girls made so she could correct them. Madame Giry is the ballet mistress of the Opera Populaire, and her two daughters are in the ballet and chorus. Meg is Madame Giry's biological daughter and Christine was adopted at the age of seven. She considers Christine a daughter just as much as she considers Meg her daughter.

Madame Giry honestly disliked this opera because of what it required the ballet to wear. The slave girl costumes, included with chains, are not something she wants her two girls dancing in. But it wasn't her place to complain about the opera. She just continued to instruct the girls on what to do and how to improve their dancing skills.

Their dance ended which cued for the leading soprano, La Carlotta, to start.

"This trophy
From our saviors
From our saviors
From the enslaving force
…Of Rome!"

Christine and Meg glanced at each other and laughed. Carlotta Giudicelli could be described in three words: Over the top.

"You could do a lot better Christine." Meg commented. Christine blushed and thanked her friend.

"Hear the drums!
Hannibal comes!"

And in comes Ubaldo Piangi, the leading Tenor who is currently married to Carlotta. Christine noted that Piangi was a very good opera singer and wasn't like Carlotta when he sang. His volume and tone was at a good level. But unfortunately for him when performing with Carlotta she completely drowns out his voice.

"Sad to return
To find the land we love
Threatened once more
By Roma's far-reaching grasp…"

Rehearsals were interrupted when the current manager, Monsieur Lefevre walked onto the stage. He was accompanied by two other gentlemen neither Christine nor Meg could recognize.

Monsieur Reyer, the conductor, was annoyed by Monsieur Lefevre interrupting this very important final rehearsal.

"Monsieur Reyer, Madame Giry…" Lefevre began apologetically.

"… Ladies and gentlemen, please, if I could have your attention, thank you. As you know, for some weeks there have been rumors of my imminent retirement. I can now tell you that these are all true…"

"ah-Ha!" Carlotta interrupted. She then mouthed to Piangi, "I told you so."

Lefevre continued, "And it is my pleasure to introduce you to the two gentlemen who now own the Opera Populaire: Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gilles Andre."

"I'm sure you have read of their recent fortune in the Junk business." Lefevre said.

"SCRAP METAL, actually." Andre corrected him.

Meg and Christine continued to talk amongst themselves until a name rang in Christine's ears…

"The Vicomte de Chagny."

'Could it be?' Christine thought.

Meg noticed Christine looking over towards the new patron. He caught Meg's attention as well. She noticed his boyish looks and handsome features at first. Then she noticed other things about him like his confident walk, his noble style, and beautiful eyes…

"It's Raoul!" Christine exclaimed which caused Meg to wake up from her trance.

Christine continued, "Before my father died at the house by the sea…"

Meg knew she was referring to the boy who retrieved her scarf from the ocean. He must be a really nice and generous person…

"…I guess you could say we were childhood sweethearts."

Meg's heart sunk. 'Of course Christine's interested in him. Well, if that's the case I won't get involved with him, I don't want to cause trouble between Christine and myself.'

"He called me Little Lotte." Christine finished.

"Christine, he's so handsome!" Meg proclaimed.

"My parents and I are honored to support all the arts, especially the world-renowned Opera Populaire." Raoul said.

Carlotta, being the center of attention, pushed her way to the front so the new patron could kiss her hand. Piangi rolled his eyes and coughed. Raoul laughed and acknowledged him.

Carlotta looked over to her husband and laughed. "Don't worry my love, I'm just being friendly."

"You're being a little too friendly…" Piangi commented.

"…He love me! He love me… Love me, love me, love me." Carlotta teased and at the same time bragged in front of everyone else.

At that moment the Vicomte walked in the direction of Meg and Christine. Christine smiled hoping he would notice her but unfortunately he didn't. He walked right past the two of them. Meg saw how sad Christine looked and was about to comfort her but Christine spoke first.

"He wouldn't recognize me."

"He didn't see you." Meg assured her.

They were interrupted by Madame Giry, "Girls…back to practice!"

The two girls took their places and began dancing with the rest of the ballet as Madame Giry talked to the two new managers.

During the dance Meg glanced over to see if Christine was alright. From what Meg could see it didn't look like Christine would stress over Raoul not seeing her. She seemed to be completely focused on her dancing.

The chorus sang again as the giant elephant rolled in. Carlotta noticed Andre and Firmin were paying a lot of attention to the ballet girls. She seemed to be singing the end of the song a lot louder than everyone else to try and get their attention. Meanwhile, Piangi fell off the elephant. Christine and Meg both started laughing, along with other cast and crew. And that's where Carlotta started complaining.

"All day! All they want is the dancing!"

Monsieur Lefevre returned to the stage and walked over to the two new managers. "Well, the Vicomte is very excited about tonight's gala."

Carlotta interrupted, "I hope he is as excited about dancing girls as your new managers,

Because I will not be singing!"

As she began to walk out the two managers looked to the retiring one. "What do we do?" Andre asked.

"Grovel…grovel, grovel." Lefevre answered.

"Andiamo. Tutti. No, es finito. Is finished. Get my doggy, bring my doggy. Bye-bye. Bye-bye, dancing girls. Bye-bye. See you later, because I'm going now. It is finished. See you later." Carlotta rambled.

"Principessa Bella Diva!"

Carlotta began to slow down once she heard Andre. She replied back, "Si! Si! Si!"

Meg rolled her eyes as Andre and Firmin begged her to stay. Carlotta was, as always, the center of attention. Everyone continued to listen in on the conversation which eventually led to Carlotta singing. Many groaned in protest, and some got out their cotton to stuff their ears closed.

"Think of me
Think of me fondly when we said goodbye
Remember me once in a while, please promise me you'll try
When you find that once again you long to take your heart back and be free..."

Carlotta was interrupted by a falling piece of scenery. The ballet girls screamed and Meg pulled Christine, who was dangerously close to Carlotta, out of the way.

"It's the Phantom!" Meg gasped.

Andre and Firmin both gave Meg an odd look when they heard her. Obviously Lefevre never told them about the ghost.

"Signora, are you alright?" Lefevre cried.

Lefevre complained to Joseph Buquet, the stagehand. Buquet claimed that he was not at his post…and that there's no one there. "… Or if there is, well then... it must be a ghost."

Again, Andre and Firmin gave weird looks. Meg noticed Firmin asking Andre, "What ghost?"

Madame Giry answered him by saying, "This Opera house is haunted."

Firmin laughed but then noted Madame Giry did not find it amusing. "Are you serious?" He finally asked.

"Yes." She replied.

"Signora, these things do happen." Andre turned his attention to Carlotta.

"For the past three years, 'these things do happen.' And did you stop them from happening? No!"

She then pointed to Andre and Firmin, "And you two! You are as bad as him! 'These things do happen.' UGH! Until you stop these things from happening, this thing does not happen! Ubaldo! Andiamo! Bring my doggy and my boxy!"

And with that, she left for good. Soon after, Lefevre left for Australia and wished Andre and Firmin luck. The new managers panicked when they found out that the chances of her coming back were very slim.

Madame Giry walked up to them and announced that there was a note from the opera ghost.

Firmin laughed again and proclaimed, "Oh, God in heaven, you're all obsessed!"

"He welcomes you to his opera house…" Madame Giry said.

"'His' opera house?" Firmin interrupted.

"And commands that you continue to leave box five empty for his use and reminds you that his salary is due."

"His Salary?"

"Well, Monsieur Lefevre used to give him 20,000 francs a month." Madame Giry replied.

Firmin's jaw nearly hit the floor, "20,000 francs?"

"Perhaps you can afford more with the Vicomte as your patron…"

"Madame, I had hoped to make that announcement public tonight when the Vicomte was to join us for the gala. But obviously we shall now have to cancel as it appears we have lost our star!"

"Surely there must be an...understudy!" Andre asked.

Monsieur Reyer turned to them, "Understudy? There is no understudy for La Carlotta!"

"A full house, Andre! We shall have to refund a full house!" Firmin exclaimed.

"Christine Daae could sing it, Sir." Madame Giry spoke up.

Meg turned to her mother and Christine. 'Of course she can, she's a great singer!' Meg thought and smiled.

Andre didn't look convinced, "What, a chorus girl? Don't be silly!"

"She has been taking lessons from a great teacher." Madame Giry said.

'She has?' Meg questioned to herself. She never remembered Christine mentioning a teacher, she never mentioned going to any lessons. 'When did this all happen?'

"Who?" Andre asked.

Christine froze for a second to think of an answer and eventually replied, "I don't know his name monsieur."

Madame Giry decided to say something before Andre or Firmin disapproved any further, "Let her sing for you, monsieur. She has been well taught."

It seemed both Meg and Christine held their breaths. Andre agreed to it and asked her to sing the beginning of the aria. She looked to Madame Giry and Meg for support. Madame Giry gave her a nod and Christine walked forward. She sang with all her heart and soul, and Meg smiled to herself as she listened in the wings.

A/N: Ok everyone. In the next chapter Meg will meet up with Raoul. Hope the story is ok so far.