About a month into the semester, it was almost time for the gala. When rehearsals first started everyone was rusty from not performing the material for five months, but they easily picked everything back up. It was now the night before the performance and dress rehearsal was underway. During the rehearsal, Mr. Lefevre, the dean of the school, came in with two men to watch.
He gathered everyone around him when they finished the song they were working on. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please. As you know for some weeks there have been rumors of my imminent retirement. I can tell you these were all true, and it is my pleasure to introduce you to your new deans, Mr. Richard Firmin and Mr. Gilles André."
He then went on to introduce the two of them to Carlotta, who was the biggest diva in the school. There were rumors that claimed that the reason she was given the lead in everything is because her family basically paid the school to spoil her. Almost everyone was relieved when they found out that the previous semester would be her last, until she returned as a grad student.
Mr. André, wanting to get on Carlotta's good side, asked for her to sing her aria. "Think of me, think of me fondly when we've said goodbye," she sang. "Remember me every so often, promise me you'll try. On that day, that not so distant day, when you are far away and free…" All of a sudden one of the set pieces plummeted down and attacked Carlotta while all the ballet girls screamed and shook in fear.
Everyone caused a commotion as they gathered around her, inspecting what had happened and asking if she was okay. It turned out that the set piece wasn't sealed in all the way and had broken loose. "Damn it, she's really hurt," Mr. Lefevre called. "Someone call 911!"
Within minutes an ambulance came to take her away. Thankfully her situation wasn't too critical, but it meant that she wouldn't be able to sing for at least a few days. Mr. Lefevre also left, leaving the two new deans alone to deal with the problem. "Well now, who is the understudy for the role?" Mr. André asked.
"There is no understudy," Mr. Reyer, the musical director, replied.
"Christine Daaé could sing it sir," Meg said. Christine's eyes widened as she turned to look at Meg. What the hell are you doing? She screamed in her head.
"The ballet girl?" Mr. Firmin asked.
"She's been taking lessons from a great teacher."
"From whom?"
Christine panicked. "I don't know sir."
"Let her sing for you sirs," Mrs. Giry, Meg's mother and head of the dance program, interjected. "She has been well taught."
The notes began to play as she sheepishly made her way to center stage. "Think of me," she sang trembling, "think of me fondly when we've said goodbye. Remember me, every so often, promise me you'll try." She could feel her confidence slowly building as she continued to sing as everyone gathered around her in shock, not knowing that she could sing so well. "On that day, that not so distant day, when you are far away and free, if you ever find a moment, spare a thought for me."
"Oh my god, I can't believe it!" Meg exclaimed excitedly as she grabbed Christine's arm. The two of them were leaving rehearsal and heading back to the dorms. After Christine had sung, she was officially given the lead despite not being a voice major, which was the first time that had ever happened.
"I know, I can't believe it either!" Christine shouted in response.
"You know what you should do? You should call your 'friend' and tell him the great news!"
"Oh my god, you're right!"
"When we get back I'll leave you alone so you can talk to him. I'll just hang out in the study room until you're done."
When they parted ways Christine rushed over to her laptop to make the call. "Hello Christine."
"Hey Angel, guess what just happened?" she asked, barely able to contain her excitement.
"What?"
"I'm going to play Elisa for the gala tomorrow night!"
There was an uncomfortably long pause. "That's wonderful! I'm so happy for you!" Whenever he spoke, he always maintained a sense of composure, but here it was obvious that he was just as excited as she was. "What happened to Carlotta?"
"A set piece fell on her during rehearsal today and she had to be taken to the hospital."
"But I thought you said that non-voice majors can't be given parts."
"They can't, but Meg volunteered me to the new deans, and since I was the only one to volunteer and they were desperate, they gave me the role." Christine sighed, trying to calm herself down from the excitement. "This may sound crazy, but sometimes I really feel like you really are my angel of music. I know it's not possible and that it's just your username, but how else would this have happened? Stuff like this never happens to me."
"Oh Christine, nothing you say sounds crazy to me. And trust me, if I could I would give you the fame that you so deserve. Hell I'd probably start my own opera company just so I could make you the star that I know you are. But it looks like your luck is turning around, and in more ways than one."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, with the good news you've given me, I feel as if this is the best time to tell you my news."
"Really? What?" she asked excitedly.
"How would you like it if I came to the gala to watch you perform live?"
"Are you kidding? I would love that! But how would you get here? And how would I know who to look for after the show?"
"I live fairly close to your school."
"You do?" she asked in shock. "Then how come we've never met up before?"
"Because Christine, the time was not right for me to step out of the shadows to you. But what better night for us to finally meet face-to-face than the night of your big debut?"
"I'll finally get to meet you in person?"
"Yes."
Christine felt her heart beat rapidly against her chest. "Oh my god, I can't believe it. After all these years we're finally going to meet! I can't wait!"
"Neither can I Christine," he replied, chuckling at her excitement, "neither can I."
"But how will I find you? I don't know what you look like."
"Things are going to get crazy after the performance with everyone crowding and shoving each other. Once everyone is gone, I'll text you to come meet me somewhere and we'll figure it out from there."
"Wait, if you live in the area, does this mean you've been to all of my performances?"
"Yes Christine, yes I have."
"And you once never bothered to at least let me know or say hi to me?"
"Everything will make sense tomorrow when we meet."
"Okay. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. Damn, it feels weird to say that."
He chuckled again. "Until then my dear."
"Until then," she replied, unable to hide the giant smile on her face.
When they hung up, Christine texted Meg saying that it was safe to come back in. Meg walked in, immediately noticing the dumb grin on Christine's face. "So, what did he say?" she asked almost teasingly.
"He's coming to the gala tomorrow!" she burst. "After all these years I'm finally going to meet my Angel of Music!"
"Oh my god, are you serious?" Christine nodded, squealing. "I can't believe it! You have to tell me everything that happens!"
"Well, yeah, definitely!"
Later that night Christine couldn't sleep. All she kept thinking about was how the following night would be the best night of her life. She kept imagining what her encounter with her angel would be like. It drove her crazy, not knowing what to expect. What is he like when not hiding behind a screen? What does he look like? Is our meet-up going to be romantic or completely platonic? She didn't deny having some sort of feelings for her friend, but she didn't know whether they were real or if it were just some silly teenage crush that hadn't gone away. Finally she was so worked up that it stressed her out so much and put her to sleep.
