The first night in a new apartment is a strange one; it doesn't feel like home yet but you know it's supposed to be. Although Christine was sort of use to the feeling. Lazily she got off her bed; the movers had managed to put it up as well as some other stuff. After her shower she remembered, there wasn't and food in her new apartment and she was hungry, very hungry.
Putting on a black track suit she stepped out of her box filled apartment and went towards the crowded streets of New York. She put on her I-pod and walked through the throngs of people. Most of the people were already in business suits rushing to get to work on time. Quickly she ducked into the corner's Starbucks. Again the small coffee shop was crowded. She wondered why they were so small in the first place.
"Is there one place in this town not crowded?" She asked herself aloud, although use to the fast pace and crowded area, she still couldn't help but feel a little annoyed,
"No, every place is crowded; this is the least crowded Starbucks in the city." A familiar voice said behind her,
"Mr. de Chagny?" She smiled and hugged him,
"Abby would not let me go over there to help with the move." The kind man smiled, "How was it?"
"Awful." Her eyes rolled, "But I really like the place…sort of."
"It takes some time getting use to," He shrugged, "Although I never understood why you had to leave in the first place."
"Because I'm twenty-one and I legally can use the money my parents left me…"
"Which you could have used some of ours…" He cut in, "The bonds that we gave you instead of giving them back and giving them to charity."
"But I have much more than enough to live one on my own." She smiled,
"Christine," the man sighed, "I still wish…"
"I'm fine" Her voice was strained a bit, "really."
"Well if you need anything just called us and we'll help." Mr. De Chagny turned to take his coffee. He kissed her cheek "See you later, Christine." He made his way through the crowd.
"Miss." The Starbucks person said, "Here's your caramel mocha."
"But I…"
"That man you were talking to ordered it for you." The girl nodded towards the door. Christine smiled and waved to the man that was practically a father to her, as he left. She turned back to the girl,
"How much?" Thinking that he didn't pay, knowing him, he probably didn't
"He paid too." The girl looked annoyed,
"Oh," She nodded taking her coffee, "ok, thank you." She turned and walked into someone. "Oh God! I'm so sorry!" She looked at his shirt praying there wasn't a stain on it.
"What the hell?" The guy yelled as he looked down at his fully stained suit.
"Sir," Christine gasped, "I'm really sorry I didn't…"
"This is a very expensive, that I really don't want to pay for AGAIN!" The man yelled,
"We really don't need to yell sir." She was trying to calm him down, but it really wasn't working at all. "I'm really sorry, and I didn't mean to run into you."
"Well you can pay for another damn suit!" He pointed to the stained top, "On top of that…."
"I think she made it clear that she was sorry sir." A deep voice cut in,
"But…"
"But what?" The silky voice challenged. The man didn't answer, "I thought so. Please remove your presence now sir." The guy glared at the man behind Christine and left. Christine just watched in amazement. Then she turned to the man that helped her out of the most expensive replacement ever. But she felt her voice leave her when she saw him. He was well over her height, slicked black hair, startling eyes, and… a white mask.
"Thank you" She said when she finally found he voice
"Think of it as nothing." He handed her a hot cup, then began to leave. She stood there for a few seconds and did something she thought she never did before,
"Wait!" Quickly she went after him. He stopped and turned to her,
"Is there something else you need?" His smooth voice asked
"You shouldn't have bought me the coffee," She looked up at him shyly, "I might spill it again."
"Then I would advise to be careful this time." He nodded his good-bye
"Wait!" She called again he stopped "I want to pay you back for this."
"As I said before," The mask gleamed at her, but she ignored it, "Think of it as nothing."
"But I mean it's only right." Her shoulders shrugged, "After all I would have ended up paying thousands for a suit that would be worn only once… and I wouldn't have my coffee."
"Consider it paid for then." He hailed a cab, "It was nice to meet you Miss…"
"Daae," She answered, "Christine Daae."
"Erik Destler." The masked man nodded and get into the cab and drove away. Christine starred after the cab. Erik Destler, where had she heard that name before? She shrugged, but even after she got back to her apartment that's all she could think… Erik Destler.
Christine opened another box. This one filled with dishes. She sighed. In two other rooms one guy worked on the cable, and the other one the telephone and internet. Taking a few dishes she made her way to the kitchen, almost bumping into the phone guy. She jumped,
"Sorry miss." The guy started,
"Its fine" She went around him to place the dishes on the counter,
"Ma'am I'm all done here." He said "I've checked every phone and they all work."
"Thanks." Christine handed the guy the check. He nodded and left. Now if only he….
"Ma'am," The cable guy came in, "I'm done too."
"Perfect!" She smiled and hand him his check. Finally she could get some work done. Then she noticed how quiet it was. Looking around, she wondered if that guy would be willing to get rid of a burglar for her. Erik...
"It's not like you'll ever see him again!" She rolled her eyes. He was very good looking, and had to be in his thirties. Of course, a thousand questions came into her head. What does he do for a living? Is he married? Is that why he was a little cold? Does he have any kids?
"I'm never going to see him again!" Hoping that saying it aloud would help, but it didn't. So she settled for just picturing him in her head, but her thoughts stopped when the cell phone rang.
"Hello?" She answered the phone.
"Hey Christine!" Meg's friendly voice answered back, it was almost too friendly
"What do you want?" Christine sighed
"What makes you think I want anything?" Her voiced questioned, she loved Meg but sometimes she was just… Meg
"Christine..." Meg brought in the cute voice, "I know you don't really like going out but…" She took a deep breath and said very quickly, "Please go with me to this benefit thing, because Raoul's sick and I don't want to go alone!" Silence for a few seconds, "Oh you get to dressed up!"
"Can I be sick?" Christine asked,
"No."
"Meg I don't think I have anything to wear." She sighed,
"We have more than enough time to pick something out!" Meg answered, "It starts at seven."
"It's five."
"Please Christine!" The girl sounded so pitiful, "Maybe you could meet a guy!"
"Oh great!" She said sarcastically and then sighed, "You didn't have to pull the 'you'll find a guy' thing, because I'll go with you anyway."
"Thank you so much!" Meg squealed, "It won't be that bad, I promise!"
Thank you to the two that reviewed! And the rest of the chapters WILL be more like this and longer, its just life is getting in the way right now, aka the musical., but it will be done this week. And I probably will have the next chapter out on friday! So review!
EV
