Crossing Paths
Chapter 2- A Night at the Opera
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters
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Clarice walked to a hotel where she had already reserved a room. She put her few belongings in the drawers. She hadn't packed very much because she planned to do most of her shopping here. She knew Dr. Lector wouldn't pass up a night at the opera so she would have to do some shopping for the right clothes to wear to the opera tonight and the nights to follow. No matter how badly she wanted to she couldn't wear her khakis and tank tops to the opera. So she grabbed her purse and decided to go ahead and get most of her shopping over with, and besides this would give her a chance to observe the city, or more importantly the people in it. She rode the elevator down to the lobby and walked outside. She advanced down the street looking for some of the designer clothing stores. She had decided to go with the more expensive designer clothes because she new that he would like them.
Hannibal Lector was looking through a rack of the designer suits when he caught a glimpse of familiar fiery red hair across the street from the shop he was standing in. "It surely could not be, could it?" He thought to himself. But she had ceased to surprise him. He walked over to another rack of suits closer to the window being careful not to let her, or what he thought was her, see him. Then the familiar head of fiery red hair turned letting him see her face and that verified it for him. It was her…Clarice Starling. He had seen her face but she had not seen his. "What was she doing here? He had read that she had quit her job, but could she possibly be here looking for him? She had just refused to run away with him a no less than a month ago." These thought ran through Dr. Lector's head while he carefully watched her continue to walk down the streets and into one of the little clothing shops. He walked back to the rack of suits he was looking at before and picked on out. He quickly paid for it and left. Once outside he slightly shook his head trying to rid it of his thoughts.
Clarice had picked out three divine dresses and two day outfits. That should get her by for a couple of days. Then she would have to go shopping again. She walked up to the counter and paid for her things. She constantly was searching the busy London streets on the way to and from her hotel room for any sign of him. There had been no sign of him yet, but Clarice was almost positive if he was here in London she would most certainly catch a glimpse of him at the opera tonight. Back at her hotel room the hour's drug on and on. Clarice was so anxious for tonight that she was on the edge of insanity. When it was finally time for her to start getting ready she let out a sigh of relief. She put on her designer, strapless, dark midnight blue dress. The dress really was elegant. She pulled her hair back into a nice looking bun put a little make up on and left her hotel room, and walked out of the lobby into the cool night air, and made her way down the street to the opera.
Dr. Lector walked into the opera house. He heard the soft mull of music that was always played before the opera actually started. He was about to walk through the lobby and take a seat when he caught a glimpse of HER. Clarice was walking through the lobby doors into the seating area, but he had caught a good glimpse of her. She had her hair pulled back into a neat, pretty little bun, and she was wearing an elegant dark midnight blue dress. He was almost sure it was a designer brand. He progressed to the opposite doors entering the seating area and watched her take her seat. He decided to sit a few rows back from hers. When the opera was over he quickly got up and walked outside before she could see him. He decided to skip the opera's after party for tonight. He wanted to hold off a little longer before crossing Clarice's path once again.
Clarice scanned her surroundings at the opera's after party. She had expected to see him here tonight, but she hadn't. "Was he not in London? Had he been here and seen her, but she hadn't seen him?" These thoughts raced through her mind. She finished the wine she was drinking and decided to leave. He obviously wasn't here if he was in London at all. She went back to her hotel room discouraged, but she wouldn't give up. She would go out and scan the streets again tomorrow and most certainly go to the opera again tomorrow night. Today was only Monday. She would look for him until the end of the week and if she hadn't found him she would go on and look for him else where, but she wasn't giving up looking for him here in London until then.