Authors Note:

Hi everyone! I am SO sorry this took such an age to update, but I've been really busy with a lot of schoolwork and (ugh) tests. I've also recently joined the school paper and had to write two articles (one about Bristol where I went last week; SUCH a nice city by the way) for said paper.

Anyway, now that my excuses are finished, we can get to the actual reason I wanted to make an author's note. And that is….. (drum roll please)…..REVIEW REPLIES! I never thought I'd actually get any feedback until this was up for at least two years, so I was pleasantly surprised (if by pleasantly you mean running round the house yelling "Oh my God I got some!") So here they are:

Phantomess115- I am so glad you're enjoying it! And there is nothing wrong with being obsessed….if it's with something as awesome as Phantom. As for the other Erik…in what way does he look similar? Because I don't think masks would be part of the dress code :D

Eviejeeves- It won't stay a cliffhanger for long, but so sorry to keep you waiting! I am so happy you're liking it so far, and hopefully I won't take so long next time. Lol.

Tangune- Don't worry, I plan to finish this story. And I'm glad you like it! Sorry, but help isn't needed at the moment. Thanks for the offer though.

THANK YOU AND HAPPY READING!

The Phantom of the High School

Chapter Two

Previously:

"Well Year 10, this is very short notice I know, but I have with me a new student who is going to be joining you for the rest of this year."

"Are they invisible?" yelled Leo from the back, earning a stern look from Mr Dawn.

"No, just a little shy." Miss Finch stepped to the door again, and stuck her head round to talk to the person outside. "Come on Mr Destler, they sound like it but they don't bite."

At the mention of her new classmate's surname, Tia looked up sharply. No. That was way too much of a coincidence. It couldn't be-

Then the boy came in.

She didn't know how, but Tia managed not to faint. Her fists clenched and unclenched, then fell limply on her lap. She could feel her mouth hanging slightly ajar but couldn't find the willpower to close it. She was too busy staring at the person who'd just come through the door. And she wasn't the only one.

He was tall, taller than Mr Dawn, and very thin. He was clad in the boy's uniform of a blue shirt and trousers, but the black blazer stamped with the school logo seemed to swamp him so it looked as if he was hiding in it. His shoes were plain with two strips of Velcro on each one, and judging from the mud stains and tears they'd been bought second hand. The only thing he carried was a brown thatched bag, the kind you get from supermarkets that lasts longer than an average plastic one. He had smooth black hair that was cut haphazardly to about halfway up his neck and searching blue eyes. All this in itself would set alarm bells off in her mind, but none of these similarities were what caused her shock. After all, none of them were that unusual. No. On the right side of the boy's face, its white surface shining in the sunlight that was coming in through the windows, was a mask.

"Are you going to eat that?" asked Amy from across the table.

The three friends were sitting in the school's bustling cafeteria, eating Styrofoam containers of pasta and tomato sauce. The raven-haired girl had been gesturing towards Tia's portion, of which more than half was left. Tia herself shrugged and pushed the food to her friend, who tucked in appreciatively.

"Honestly Amy, do you ever stop eating?" asked Megan. "I'm full."

Amy swallowed." I didn't have any breakfast this morning. I was running late."

"I hadn't noticed" replied the blonde sarcastically, dodging a swipe from the other girl.

The two laughed for a minute, before turning to Tia. "Are you okay?" Megan asked. "You've barely said anything today."

"It's because of the new boy isn't it?" chipped in Amy.

Erik Destler, as they had unsurprisingly found out he was called, had spent the entire History class and the two classes after that sitting at his desk and not saying a word. His face (or what could be seen of it) was expressionless, and he answered to the register at the start of each lesson in monotone. No-one could help noticing though that his voice was surprisingly melodic; deep, but at the same time harmonized. Note perfect.

He didn't respond to the stares from his classmates or the whispered remarks from other students in the hallways between classes. He just kept his head down and got from one place to the next as quickly as possible. All Tia had seen of him at lunch was a tall black shape retreating towards the library. No-one had told him where it was; he just seemed to gravitate towards it. All the better. The tough guys, the sort to give him trouble, would never go in there unless absolutely necessary.

Tia turned towards her friends as these thoughts ran through her mind. "I'm OK" she said finally. "I just-I just don't get it. Why is he here?"

Amy finished the last of her pasta and pushed the empty container away before answering. "Come on T, it's not actually him. He's not real, "she said, trying to be gentle.

"He's here. And if it isn't him, why does look the same? And have the same name?"

"Maybe he's into it, like you are. Or his parents thought it would be funny," suggested her friend.

"What about the mask?" said Tia, arguing now.

"Well…..okay, maybe it is him. Then I have absolutely no idea why he's here. Maybe it's one of your fanfics come to life."

"No M-ratings please!" squealed Megan, pretending to shield her eyes.

The three friends laughed, but Tia was thinking about Amy had said. If it was one of her stories transferred to the real world, what would happen? And how the heck did it happen in the first place?

This is going to be an interesting year.

After lunch was over, the three girls started heading to the English building for their next class. They had seen a guy outside the cafeteria who Megan had previously been going out with and they'd all cracked up about it. As Tia tried to slow her breathing so as not to cause more pain to her now aching sides, all thoughts of Erik Destler were gone from her mind. As they rounded the corner however, the scene before them changed that.

He was surrounded by three boys, all of whom were his height but a lot wider. Tia recognized them immediately as Tom Crawley and his goons. They were in the year above her and, since they had realised some time ago that they'd never pass their exams, they decided to channel all their energy into beating people up-particularly new kids.

Tom himself stood right in front of Erik with his arms out, as if to use his bulk to stop the other boy from running. His pig-like features were turned up in a smirk, an expression mirrored by the two others who stood in seemingly designated spots behind their victim. A few others stood around; some laughing, some rolling their eyes, and a few Year 7's who looked like they were wondering if running to get a teacher would be a good idea. Erik himself stood still in the centre, not looking at anything but the floor.

The leader suddenly lunged at Erik's bag, spilling its contents over the paved ground and provoking laughter from some of the crowd. The boy himself didn't protest or even react; staying in the same position he'd been in since the start. This aggravated Tom and he came forward again, shoving Erik back. His victim swayed a little but kept his balance, that is until the other two thugs came from behind him and used their combined strength to push down on his shoulders, causing him to sit abruptly on the floor.

Then it started.

Tia heard Megan gasp from behind her as all three of the older boys began punching their victim, yanking him right and left by his collar so their blows would find their mark. She couldn't see well with a line of people who'd seemed to come out of nowhere to watch in her way, but she winced every time she heard an impact. God, Erik. I never liked you being a murderer and all that but please do something! she screamed in her mind as the onslaught continued. She wanted to run forward and yell at them to stop, but her shaking legs wouldn't take a step. Tom and his friends had been known to pick on girls too, and though she cursed her cowardice she couldn't bring herself to be put under fire. All she could do was close her eyes and beg for it to end soon.

A few minutes of torture later (though she was sure it was so much worse for Erik) Tom called his goons off, yelled "See ya masky!" and ran away, sniggering, to the basketball courts where he and the other no-hopers hung out while everyone else was in class. The rest of the students who had been spectating followed their example and soon the pathway where this had all taken place was empty save for Tia, her friends and the boy still lying on the ground.

Forcing her legs to move, Tia ran to him, ignoring the calls from her friends sounding behind her. She didn't care if he was a fictional character; he was a hurt fictional character and it was clear no-one else was going to help him. Besides, he was Erik.

He looked up as she neared him, his eyes shining with surprise and suppressed fear. Tia swallowed the lump in her throat and spoke in what she hoped was a reassuring tone.

"It's alright. I'm not-I'm not going to hurt you."

He definitely looked as though he'd had enough of that. The left side of his face was dotted with cuts and small bruises, and Tia wondered how his mask hadn't been torn off in the fight. What would have been their reaction to that? On top of his injuries, his clothes were dusty and one side of his shirt collar was sticking out in a way that would have been comical had it not been for the situation.

At her words he pulled himself to a standing position and began gathering his belongs that had been scattered across the ground. Tia watched in confusion as he picked up the books and pencils and deposited them in his bag. Then he turned and began walking, shoulders hunched, to the English building, leaving an extremely puzzled girl in his wake.

She didn't get it. In every incarnation he'd been antisocial, but never mute. He should have talked to her, especially when she'd offered help. She didn't shout after him though, just started dumbfounded at his retreating figure as it went through a door and out of sight.

"So rude!" Tia turned to see her friends standing close behind her. This comment had come from Megan, who was folding her arms- a gesture she only did when she was annoyed.

"You were only trying to help him!"

Tia turned away, looking across the empty playground at the door Erik had gone through. She sighed in something between sadness and acceptance.

"It's fine, really. Let's just go to English," she said quietly. Then, without waiting for a reply, she set off across the concrete, wanting to be alone with her thoughts. They swirled around her head like incessant birds, refusing to stop chirping her concerns about what just happened.

The birds were chased away when finally, as she was ascending the steps leading up to her classroom, she reached a conclusion. He just needed to warm up to her, that was all. If he'd just come from another world like Amy said, then he would definitely need some time to get used to modern people. Give him a few days. Besides, if he was anything like the Erik she knew, they were going to be friends.

Authors Note:

I bit longer this time, but Erik hasn't had a line yet! Don't worry, we'll find out why he's so closed off soon. It may have a little something to do with who he lives with…..

R&R plz! ;)