Full Summary:
Eleven-year-old Christine Daae was born to sing, or so she's been told. Her chorus teacher, Mrs. Giry, also believes she has a wonderful voice. So, on Christine's twelfth birthday, Mrs. Giry decides to have her set up a voice lesson with a very peculiar teacher.
Private music instructor Erik Destler has been shunned by society countless times. At the age of 16, however, his life takes a turn for the better, thanks to Marie Giry. His extraordinary musical talents lead him to take on the job of giving private music lessons to various students. When young Christine Daae enters his home to receive her first voice lesson, his life is changed forever.
Christine becomes Erik's only pupil, and as years pass, they become much more to one another.
Chapter 1
Christine's POV
I grew up in a family of musicians. My mother was a fairly famous soprano singer, my father a violinist. So, it was only natural that I should take up some field in music, as well.
When I was eleven years old about to enter the sixth grade, my parents insisted that I join the middle school chorus.
"Christine, you were born to sing. You have such a lovely voice."
And, I guess I did have some natural talent thanks to Mom. The problem was, I didn't have the heart to use my voice to the best of its ability. Something inside was always holding me back.
But I was in the middle school chorus, anyway. It was made up of me and many others, but none of them cared to sing well. They just took the class for an easy A.
That's all chorus was really treated as in my middle school- the easy A. It didn't receive much recognition. None of the fine arts did, actually. The most popular kids either became football players or cheerleaders.
Most certainly, I was not popular. I was shy and rather introverted around the kids in my school. Most middle schoolers were snobby, mean boys and girls who judged a person by the way they dressed or what they looked like. They never took the chance to look inside the person. That infuriated me to no end, so I never went out of my way to associate with them.
I guess it was my lack of association that caused me to develop a bad reputation by the second day of the sixth grade. A popular cheerleader named Carlotta had chosen me as her new worst enemy and made sure that I and all of her popular friends knew it. She was in plenty of my classes, including chorus, so I had to put up with her every day.
At least I had one friend, though. Her name was Meg Giry, the daughter of the chorus teacher. She was a cheerleader, but only to help with her flexibility when it came to ballet, her true passion. Being that she cheered, though, she was automatically in the 'in crowd', although she really had no interest in it. And, thank goodness for that since she was my only real friend.
I was so shy that Meg probably wouldn't have noticed me that first day had it not been for my voice.
"Wow!" she exclaimed, causing the entire chorus to stop.
"What was that, Meghan?" her mother asked angrily.
"Oh.. um.. nothing.. Sorry."
When we began singing again, Meg grinned and whispered in my ear, "You have such a good voice!"
Her mother must have known, as well, because, on my twelfth birthday when I was in the seventh grade, Mrs. Giry pulled me to the side to speak in private.
"Christine, do you take voice lessons?"
"No," I replied shyly. "Well, I mean, my parents used to give me some, but there's never really much time for that anymore.."
"Would you like to be given voice lessons?" she asked seriously.
My brow furrowed in confusion. "By you?"
She smiled. "Well, no. You see, I know of a boy who is taking on pupils in his spare time. I'm sure he would be pleased to teach you."
This caused my curiosity to peak. "How do you know him?"
"I have known him for a very long time. He is a remarkable musician."
That didn't really answer my question, but I decided not to linger on it. "What's his name?"
"His name is Erik." She turned and picked up a pad of sticky notes. "Here, let me give you his phone number. You can tell your parents to call him." She scribbled a number on a sticky note and put it in my small hand. "Happy birthday," she said sincerely before walking towards Meg. "Come, Meghan. You have a dentist appointment."
"Wait!" Meg exclaimed and rushed over to me. Something was behind her back, and, when she was standing in front of me, she handed it to me. It was a box wrapped in pink paper. Inside, there was a very cute pink shirt. "Thank you!" I exclaimed brightly. I moved forward and hugged her, and we both laughed. Her mother cleared her throat, which gained our attention, and Meg knew it was time to go. "Good luck at the dentist," I whispered while sticking my tongue out to show how much I hated it.
"Happy birthday, Chrissy!"
They left, and I stared at the number in my hand before leaving to find my parents' car.
I was surprised to find that both my dad and mom had come to pick me up. Mom usually had rehearsals or auditions.
"Happy birthday, Sweetie!" they both exclaimed when I got in.
"We're taking you to get ice cream. Would you like that?" my mother asked.
"Yeah!" I exclaimed excitedly. "I can't believe both of you are here to pick me up!"
"It's your twelfth birthday. We both wanted to share it with you," Dad said while driving to our destination.
While eating our ice cream in the park and enjoying the weather and colorful October leaves, my parents asked how my day went.
"It was pretty good. The kids in chorus sang to me. Well, except for Carlotta and her group of friends. Carlotta said she hoped I had a horrible birthday. But, I didn't let her get me down."
"Good," Mom said. "I really do not know why she is the way she is. Her parents are such nice people. Don't you think so, Gary?"
"Yes," Dad agreed. "How on earth could she be so mean to our little angel?"
"Well, she didn't ruin my day. I wouldn't let her. Meg made up for it. She gave me a great present- a pink shirt."
"Aww, wasn't that nice of her! You're going to have to bring her to the house sometime, Christine."
"I will, Mom. Sometime.. Anyway, also, Mrs. Giry talked to me."
"Your chorus teacher?" Dad asked.
"Yeah. She wants me to take voice lessons."
"Really?" Mom asked eagerly. "From who?"
"Somebody named Erik. She says he's a really good musician."
"Is that so?" she asked a bit skeptically. "Well, did you get a phone number?"
"Yeah, here you go." I reached into my pocket and gave my mom the sticky note.
"I've never heard of him. Maybe he's new to giving lessons."
It didn't sound like she was very happy about lessons from a complete stranger, so I quickly added, "Well, Mrs. Giry thinks he's really good."
"We'll see," Dad assured me with a smile.
When we got home, I insisted Mom call the man, since she was the expert in voice. She picked up the phone and dialed while I listened on another line.
"Yes?" came one of the most beautiful male voices I had ever heard, although it was tainted with irritation.
"Um," my mom began. She seemed intimidated. "Is this Erik?" she asked tentatively.
"Yes, but address me as Mr. Destler."
"Alright." She looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Mr. Destler, my name is Beth Daae-"
"The soprano?" he interrupted, his voice less irritated but still demanding.
She was taken aback by the question. "Yes, actually."
"You did well in Madama Butterfly," he complimented, although there didn't seem to be much happiness in his tone.
"Well, thank you. You're a fan of opera?" Mom was becoming a bit more comfortable.
"Mrs. Daae, I am a fan of music. Yes, that includes opera."
The comfort was gone, and she sat up a bit straighter. "I'm calling because I am interested in my daughter taking voice lessons from you."
"Who recommended me to you?"
"Christine's chorus-"
Yet again, he interrupted. "Christine?" It was the first time in my whole life that I actually began to like my name. He just said it so beautifully.
"Yes, my daughter. Her chorus teacher, Marie Giry, recommended you."
"Ah, yes, she would." He didn't sound very pleased by that. After a moment, though, he commanded, "Let me speak to your daughter."
Mom looked at me worriedly but nodded encouragingly.
I gulped and said the only thing I could think of into the phone. "Hi."
He hesitated before speaking, and I noticed that his tone took on a dramatic change. It was gentle. "Hello, Christine. Let me see… You are twelve years old?"
I gasped and heard him chuckle. "How did you know?" I sat up a little straighter.
"I could tell by your speaking voice," he replied patiently.
"Oh.. ok," I said in confusion.
"And, you sing soprano?"
"Yes, I do."
"Excellent. May I speak to your mother again?"
"Yes," I replied entranced by his voice and how smart he was.
"It was nice speaking to you, Christine."
"Yeah.." Without thought, I handed my phone to my Mom, although she already had her own. Unfortunately, I made it so that I couldn't hear his side of the conversation any longer. This is what was said without my knowledge..
"Mr. Destler, will you accept her into your studio?" my mom asked hopefully. It seemed she had heard and liked how he'd spoken to me on the phone. She seemed to trust him.
"Yes, Mrs. Daae. Marie would only recommend her most talented students to me."
Suddenly, my mom's brow furrowed. "This may sound odd, but I can't help but notice that you sound a bit… young. How old are you?"
"Mrs. Daae, believe me, I seem much older than I am. I am nineteen."
"Oh! I- I," she stuttered. She obviously wasn't expecting that answer.
"Is that going to be a problem, Mrs. Daae?"
"Well, um, no. You seem to be very knowledgeable. When would you like to meet her?"
"As soon as possible. Tomorrow at 4?"
Mom looked at me and asked, "Tomorrow at 4?"
I nodded immediately. Any other plans I probably didn't have could be postponed.
"Yes, Mr. Destler, that will be fine."
"You may drop her off at the apartment complex, Whittaker Place, on Whittaker Street."
"Yes, I know where that is."
"Good. The lesson will last for at least one hour. I wish to meet with her alone. Do not accompany her."
The look of alarm on my mother's face was unmistakable. But, nevertheless, she said, "Alright.."
"Tomorrow, then. It is apartment 7." He hung up without another word.
My mom then turned to me. "Well, that was.. interesting.."
"So, I've really got a voice lesson with him?" There was a lot of excitement in my voice.
"Yes, yes, tomorrow at 4. I will drop you off and wait in the car." Her voice was very uneasy. She wasn't comfortable with this.
"You won't come in with me?" That made me a bit nervous.
"He wishes to see you alone." She seemed to sense my nerves and reassured, "Don't worry, Darling. It will be a wonderful experience."
"I- I hope so.." I said. I wondered what this 'Erik Destler' was really like.
