Back in his room Gustave climbed onto his bed and stared out of the window at The Masquerade thinking of Louise and her beauty. He began to hum to himself as he thought of her until he realised he was slowly creating a new piece of music. He grabbed a piece of paper and started to scribble down some notes which made him smile.
"It is her" he beamed as he read the short verse of music. He then lay down on his bed hugging the music close to him still humming the same melody.
"I must get to know her" he whispered as he slowly drifted off to sleep still hugging the music.
That next morning Gustave visited the early morning rush and decided to redeem himself by helping out for once. Gustave helped to rig the lights for the morning's performance and he was greeted by Amelia who swung down from the lights.
"Guess who is coming to the morning show" she laughed doing a hand stand then a cartwheel. Gustave tied some rope in a knot to secure the light.
"Surprise me" he said folding his arms and leaning against the light. Amelia smiled and did another cartwheel.
"Louise" she laughed. Gustave smiled to himself at the thought of Louise.
"She is?" he said dreamily.
"Ha! I knew you were sweet on her! Amelia jeered climbing up onto a rig. Gustave rolled his eyes.
"So she isn't coming to the show then?" he asked. Amelia swung upside down.
"Nope but then again we do five shows a day" she laughed climbing even further up the rig. Gustave nodded slowly at this thinking about what she could be doing at this very moment. After a while Gustave ran into Christine who was warming up for the morning show.
"So we have decided to work today? My, I must be dreaming" she laughed ruffling Gustave's hair like she used to when he was a child. Gustave laughed.
"I've done the lighting, is there anything else?" he asked. Christine checked her hair in a mirror and turned back to Gustave.
"In a rush are we?" she smiled. Gustave smiled too.
"I wanted to go to the beach, it is a nice day" he said. Christine smiled and looked around.
"Well okay, since you got up earlier than usual and we're not rushed off our feet I can't see the harm. But I want you back here to help with the evening show, your father appears to have got a new juggling act from Germany and they need some extra assistance" Christine said touching up her make up in the mirror. Gustave nodded.
"I promise" he said and turned to leave. Christine cleared her throat and Gustave turned back.
"Are we forgetting something?" she asked. Gustave rolled his eyes and leant forward as Christine kissed him on the forehead.
"I love you, be safe" she whispered. Gustave looked to his side and caught a glimpse of Amelia laughing at him. Gustave smiled wickedly and as he passed Amelia he grabbed a juggling ball and threw it at her laughing as he did so.
The air was cool and salty like usual and Gustave wandered past the docks and made his way to the beach. The sun beamed down gracefully and the sky was a clear crystal blue the sound of squabbling seagulls filled the air and Gustave smiled. As he neared the beach he could hear the waves crashing gently against the rocks. Gustave climbed onto some nearby rocks and made his way to the abandoned pier which was his secret space that no one else came to, it had been his since he was a child the only people who knew about it were Christine, Erik and Amelia. Gustave climbed onto the pier dodging the broken panel and sat on the edge of it. He took his shoes off and began to soak his feet in the water. Gustave sat staring out at the horizon dreaming of the wonders of the world he hadn't seen until he was distracted by the sound of a panel breaking. Gustave turned and saw Louise trying to sneak across the pier.
" I wouldn't" he began suddenly the panel broke and Louise fell through the pier. Gustave jumped up and ran to her aid. He looked down and saw her still holding on.
"Give me your hand" he said. Louise nervously held out her hand and Gustave pulled her up to safety. Gustave laughed as Louise was soaked from the seawater.
"My hero" she laughed pushing her wet hair back. Gustave smiled.
"Why are you out here anyway?" he asked taking off his jacket and putting it round her. Louise smiled.
"I'm an explorer" she laughed. "I like the dangerous, mysterious places" she mused. Gustave nodded.
"Well danger certainly has a habit of finding you" Gustave said with a smile. Louise nodded.
"Well my father owns Phantasma so if you like maybe you could come and explore the backstage with me?" Gustave blurted. Louise tilted her head to one side.
"Are you asking me out on a date?" she asked. Gustave's face went red.
"Um no, um well I just wondered because you like exploring" he coughed trying to change the subject nervously. Louise laughed at this.
"Wow your father own this place? And besides I guess I owe a date to my hero" she said running her fingers through her hair. Gustave gulped.
"Well I can meet you at The Masquerade at 7pm?" he said gingerly. Louise nodded and stood up to leave.
"It's a date, I must go, my mother and father will wonder where I've gotten to" she replied. Gustave nodded and watched as she turned to leave. Gracefully Louise stepped over the broken pier panel and laughed as he did so, she then turned to catch a glimpse of Gustave and then disappeared back to the public beach. Gustave smiled and jumped up. He did a little dance to himself and backed flipped off the side of the pier into the sea in celebration. After drying himself off Gustave ran back to the living quarters as fast as his legs could carry him. When he arrived backstage he was again greeted by an inquisitive Amelia who stared at his wet clothes.
"What happened to you?" she asked amused.
"Date...Louise...Tonight" Gustave gasped trying to catch his breath. Amelia nodded with a grin on her face.
"well you can't go like that" she said pointing at his wet clothes.
