Hello there, This is Phantasma98 and I would like to apologize for not posting anything for such a long time, but there were the complications-
"NOBODY CARES! Get to the story already!"
Shut up inner audiance! Fine, fine, anyways thank you to those that keep checking for anything new. I will try to post once a week, and next week I promise that there will be an apology chapter!
Erik is bold, Heather is Italics, Both are well, both! (Erik will always be bolded!)
Now if you will direct your attention...
CHAPTER 2
Erik knew he was different in stature from most men. Certainly being 6'6" would not be normal and neither was how thin he appeared. He tried to eat and sleep normally, he really did, but no matter how hard he tried they were not essential to his being. If only she would stare at his mask, he could handle that. The half-mask that covered the right-side of his face is usually what drew and held people's attention, but not Heather's, no it's like she didn't see it. His heart jumped 'She must not be able to see it' he thought stepping closer. Christine took a step back, but Heather mirrored his action.
"You aren't afraid?"
"Why should I be? Because you're taller?" She asked the annoyance in her voice apparent "Well, let me tell you this mister-"
"Whoa, please forgive me, Mademoiselle, I did not mean to offend. It is just most people..." he trailed off gesturing awkwardly with one of his hands. 'I'll have to watch my words with her.'
"Oh." Heather blushed "I guess I should control my temper, it's just, well, I'm smaller than most as you can, and people tend to try and take advantage of that." She wasn't sure how she should feel. 'He's absolutely gorgeous, but how dare he make fun of my size!' "Why should I be afraid?"
"Well it's not that I want you to be, it's like I said earlier, my err, mask." 'Am I stuttering?'
She blushed. "Oh. I uhh- I didn't see it there."
'How do you not see it?' "That's fine, though I must say it surprised me, that's all."
Christine, feeling left out, decided to rejoin the conversation and inform them she was leaving. "No, Christine, you must stay we need to practice for auditions."
"Speaking of auditions" Erik spoke up "Do either of you know what production we will be auditioning for?"
"Why of course" Heather replied "What kind of diva, who's not a diva, would I be if I didn't?" They all laughed. Heathers a small quiet laugh; Christine's loud yet still delicate; Erik's chuckle a full, velvety rich sound. The girls stopped immediately at the sound of his laugh, causing the velvet sound to stop. Heather cleared her throat "Well, um, it's, uh" 'Really Heather? You know what it is spit it out!' "It's Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway version of the Phantom of the Opera."
'Of course it is, what else would it be?' Ever since his mother deemed it appropriate to name him after Gaston LeRoux's original Phantom, on account of his face, the accursed character followed him everywhere. Granted it also supplied him with a unique style, as if his mask weren't enough. His style stated his position clearly. Hoping to learn more of his little discovery he asked "Who do you intend to audition for Ms. Rose?"
"Meg, call me Heather, if you please."
"Err. Yes. Well, you certainly could be … much more, why aren't you trying for Christine's role? No offense meant Ms. Daaé."
"Oh none taken. I have been telling her that myself for a while now, Monsieur."
"Ahh. Parlez-vous à française?"
"Oui, Monsieur"
"Je aussi parlz à française, and I'm the one who taught her. So don't go talking about me, got it?"
"Of course, Heather, I would never do such a thing, at least not insultingly."
"Thank you, Erik. It seems you and Christine have something in common."
"And that would be what exactly, Mademoiselle?"
"Your names are already I the production" she giggled.
He looked about anxiously, he'd noticed as well. "Oh, I am sorry, I was just pointing out that Christine is named after the Christine Daaé. I am not making any assum-"
"Actually, I was named after Erik…" he cut in seeing her become flushed "Back to my earlier statement, why don't you try for Christine?"
"Yeah it's not like people will begrudge you for it, I mean no one trying out can dis your music."
"Really, Christine, I'm fine with Meg."
"Nope. Too late. I'm trying for Meg. And you."
"No."
"Will be."
"No, Christine."
"Christine."
"Fuck you to, my dearest whore." Christine giggled knowing that she had won. "Pardon my English, Erik."
"What?"
"My English, is the correct ending to the phrase, because only rich people of the actual French spoke French, and only the English speaking peasants cursed, or so it was believed around the time the phrase was started."
"Oh, by the way, Heather is a nerd, with photographic memory, and a genius IQ" Christine chirped.
Heather felt her blush rise to her cheeks and quickly replied "Shut up, Christine!" turning to Erik "I'm no genius, I only have semi-photographic memory, I have to read it to remember it, and I just pick up random facts."
Erik snapped out of the haze he felt come over him, licked his lips, and replied "No, it's fine, I agree that is an interesting fact." 'She is beautiful, has an angelic voice, and she is smart! Where have you been all my life?'
"I quess it's decided then. Christine will be Meg. I will be Christine. And Erik will be – Erik?"
"Yes, Heather?"
"I think I know who you could play. You are auditioning, right?"
"I well, yes, I fully intend on being a part of this production."
"Okay. Great. Now which part?"
"Well, I guess that I – umm…" 'How the hell is she making me nervous? Oh yea, she's talking to me like I am a normal human being, stop! No! Don't stop! Gah!' "I will be trying for Erik then."
"Yay!" the girls screamed together.
"It would be a shame to leave you girls with an inadequate Phantom" he stated with a false confidence.
"More like super-hot Angel of Music" Christine giggled to Heather in an almost-whisper.
Pretending he hadn't heard them, Erik suddenly needed to sit down so he asked the girls, "Do you mind if I sit with you?" By this time the girls had sat down on the edge of the stage.
Christine quickly forgetting the awkward situation earlier patted the spot between her and Heather, "Yeah, sure."
He started forwards and he nearly got there he decided to sit in the front row of the house.
Heather thinking of what he said earlier became curious. Knowing just by his normal voice and his chuckle that his singing would be magnificent, she wanted to know just how magnificent. "So Erik, to get a part you have to audition. Seeing as how you've heard me sing I was wandering if perhaps, maybe, we could hear you sing?" she finished quietly.
"An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind, dear girl" he said trying to distract her 'Not my best attempt but, hey, I can't even think straight.'
""Yes, sir, but a heart to a heart is never torn apart."
"Never heard that part before."
"That's because I just made it up. Please sing, Erik." She practically begged.
"But what would I sing?"
"A song from the show of course!"
"Music of the Night" Christine chirped. The girls looked at each other, then at Erik, back to each other and nodded.
"Hmm. Tempting." He had an idea "How about you join me Heather since you are trying for Christine. This would be a wonderful warmup."
"Alright, what then, is your choice, Maestro?"
"Phantom of the Opera" he declared, liking the name 'Maestro' on her lips.
"Alright. Christine, I don't suppose you would mind being chorus, would you?"
"No, not at all."
"Okay, ready everyone?" The others shook their heads "I guess I should start then…" 'Why am I nervous? I've done this before, lots of ti- no. I haven't. Just in front of Christine. I hope it's not like this at auditions.'
"Heather are you okay?" Erik had stood up and was leaning towards her, one hand starting towards her in concern.
"Yeah. I just, uh, I'm just nervous."
"Whenever you are ready" his voice calming silk.
"Yeah, okay, here goes nothing." She took a breath and began;
"In sleep he sang to me
In dreams he came"
She closed her eyes and melted into the music.
"That voice which calls to me
And speaks my name
And do I dream again
For now I find
The Phantom of the Opera is here
Inside my mind.
Christine hit her cue.
"He's there the Phantom of the Opera"
"Sing once again with me
Our strange duet"
Heather's eyes snapped open to find Erik looking at her through dull yellow eyes, they locked gazes as his strong melodious voice continued;
"My power over you
Grows stronger yet
And though you turn from me
To glance behind
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your mind"
Erik had started towards her during his lines. Heather had almost missed her cue. His eyes seemed to be glowing brighter with each word.
"Those who have seen your face
Draw back in fear
I am the mask you wear"
Erik was standing on the stage looking all the part of the Phantom pulling Christine to her feet.
"It's me they hear
Your/myspirit and my/yourvoice
In one combined
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your/my mind"
They were standing face to face of center stage still unknowingly holding hands, staring deeply into each other's eyes, neither daring to break the contact should the dream fade.
"In all your fantasies
You always knew
That man and mystery
Are both in you
And in this labyrinth
Where night is blind
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your/my mind
He's there the Phantom of the Opera
My Angel of Music
Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah
Sing
Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah
Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah
Sing my Angel of Music
Ahhhhh
Ahhhhh
Sing for Me
Ahhhhhhhhhh"
Somewhere during the last part Erik had turned Heather's body forward but their eyes still locked as he walked a little to the side. They stopped and just stared at each other for a long while before Erik suddenly looked away self-consciously straightening his cuff links. Heather only remembered Christine when she felt the girls eyes burning into her back. Christine still looking dumbfounded attempted to restart conversation "So, umm, yeah, that just happened." Silence. "Erik, where did you learn to sing like that?"
He looked up appearing to think of his answer before he spoke, "I taught myself. I grew up around music, of course it would make sense that I took an affection towards it."
He hated not telling the whole truth, music was his whole life, sure he had other hobbies, but music saved his miserable life as he grew up on the streets of Paris until the age of 13. After that he was found by a curious Persian who was there on business. The Persian spoke English and taught it to an eager to learn Erik. He pick up the language quickly, much to Nadir's relief. Soon Nadir asked Erik to become his son and move to America with him, to which Erik happily agreed.
Nadir's wife and daughter had both died by the flu, a few years ago, which left him with a heart full of love and compassion but an empty home. Soon after they got to Nadir's home in the states, he put Erik in school. It was obvious that school was going to be difficult because his adopted son wore a mask, but also because he was much smarter than a child of his age with no previous education should be. Nadir quickly found a solution putting Erik in homeschooling so he would be able to learn at his own pace, "Unfortunately though I will be requiring you to stay at the appropriate grade level." Erik readily agreed knowing the extra time he had he would be spending with music. Originally he had planned to become part of the city Orchestra, which changed when he realized that unfortunately no matter how much talent he displayed in music, he was still not welcomed because of his face. He went home after that first night and cried himself to sleep. This did not escape the Persians notice and the next day Erik awoke to a beautiful piano waiting downstairs. Since then, Nadir has always been supporting for his need of music.
"Erik?" Heather's voice snapped him out of his reverie.
"Oh, yes, sorry. What do you need?" 'Did I just apologize?'
"Shit!" They both turned to stare at Christine, who was texting desperately on her phone.
"Sorry, I uh… Heather I'll be back before auditions I swear. I just… I gotta go. Christine looked at her phone once more and started out, only to stop at the door and call back to Heather "And if you don't get his number before I get back, I'll tie you to your bed and do unspeakable things to you." She winked and left them both blushing. Erik at the image in his head and Heather are Christine's wanton words. 'What do you expect from her Heather? She is into Theatre, she has little to no shame.'