*A/N* Stuff is finally starting to happen! You know the drills, I don't own anything from the movie. "Paradise (Not for Me)" is by Madonna. (Thanks to EVERYONE who reviewed "Karma", including my mom who sent me a whole email about it! I love my readers because you're all wonderful people!) Special thanks to Nick, for getting me into Madonna; and to Kate, for being my closest friend at FU!)

Until Our Souls Get it Right

By Musashihazmat84

Part 2: Autour de moi; je ne vois pas.

Christian was shutting the door of the washing machine when a nearby door slammed and someone shrieked, "UGH! I cannot friggen STAND Madonna anymore!"

And he would have laughed, if the lid of the washing machine hadn't just landed on his hand. Jerking it out and rubbing it to try to soothe it, he started the machine and walked into the hall where three blonde girls passed him; one of whom was still complaining.

"It's not like she plays DIFFERENT Madonna CDs; she plays the same fucking one all friggen day and doesn't bat an eyelash! She's driving me nuts!"

Christian grinned and looked in the direction they had come and could faintly hear music emanating from a room whose door was slightly ajar. Curious as to who the girl had been bashing, he walked to the door and read the names marked on three separate markerboards. One of them was the student hall president for Julie Hall and named Lauren Leonard, and another was Patti Price.

Lastly; Roxanne de la Cour.

As Christian stood there, he could hear someone singing along with the eerie and ambient music.

"Autour de moi

Je ne vois pas

Qui sont des anges

Surement pas moi

Encore une fois

Je suis casseé

Encore une fois

Je n'y crois pas…"

Encore une fois… "Christian…"

Shivering, a chill went up his spine; the girl from his dreams and the one the other side of the door had the same voice… he had to know. With the door already partially open, he nudged it slightly.

The same voice; same hair…

Roxanne.

Almost as if on cue, Roxanne jumped and stopped singing. "You scared me!"

"W—what?"

"I didn't see you there."

"I—uh," he wracked his brain for an excuse, "I—I wanted to see the room."

She shrugged. "I guess word's gotten around about the biggest room on campus; isn't it great?"

He mentally patted himself on the back. Good cover.

"Do you want to come in?"

"No…uh, maybe some other time."

"You sure?"

He nodded, grinning, "I have laundry to do." He turned back toward the laundry room, but thought better of it. "Hey Roxanne…"

"Yeah?"

"Got anything you want me to wash while I'm at it?" He winked.

"Why you ...!" she started, grabbing a textbook to throw it at him. As he ducked she put the book down and started laughing. "You didn't think I was really gonna throw this stupid calc book at you, did you?"

He smiled, "No…"

"I'm not that mean!" she said, also smiling warmly, "well, see you around, Christian."

Smiling to himself, he turned toward the laundry room; so Roxanne was the songbird of Julie Hall…

Same voice…same hair…

She even said his name the same way…

The cool breeze tossed her hair about as Roxanne walked down the road, only thinking of her vivid dream from the night before.

She had been crying, begging him to leave. He persisted; tears in his eyes…

A bright light enveloped them as the dream faded…

She shook her head. There was more to it than that; she'd been trying to drag the memory out of her subconscious all morning and drew nothing but a blank. To top it all off, she couldn't get Christian Rourke out of her mind- he had been in that dream somewhere- but where?

Julie Hall came into view; thankfully her walk wouldn't take much longer. She was never one to take the bus- always too impatient to stand around and wait. Hopefully neither of her two roommates would be there; the last thing she wanted was another disapproving stare. Simply put, she was too outlandish for their tastes and always rubbed them the wrong way, and the feelings were mutual.

It had already been two months since she moved in, and quite honestly she couldn't deal with the thought of living in that room for the remainder of the year with those two spoiled brats- much less the remainder of the semester.

She sighed, glancing at the change-of-housing request form in her hand.

It was for the best.

The bus slowed as it approached Julie Hall. Christian prepared to get up, but froze when he saw who was walking up to the entrance.

"Earth to Christian!" said the dark haired girl beside him. Her name was Kate; she lived on the fourth floor and didn't seem to go out a lot, much like himself and Roxanne.

"Do you know her?" he asked, still staring after her.

"Roxanne?"

He nodded, and she continued in an over-exaggerated French accent, "Roxanne de la Cour? Ah oui monsieur, I know ze girl!"

Christian laughed. "I barely know what to make of her."

"Eh," Kate shrugged, "I don't think she's as strange as everyone thinks she is." They both rose as the bus came to a full stop, after Roxanne had already entered the building. "I've talked to her a couple of times. Why do you ask?"

He shrugged. "I dunno."

Kate nudged him. "Come on, Christian! You can't get out of that question so easily! You like her- admit it." She smiled has he felt the heat rise in his cheeks. "I thought I was right," she said, "now whatever happened to the Christian who said, 'I'm not looking for love, I'm just waiting for a wife who understands my inherent need to constantly work until I drop dead?'"

"Love would only get in the way!" he protested, "Just because I like her- a little- doesn't mean I'm going to act on it.

Kate frowned. "Why are you so bitter against love if you've never BEEN in love?"

Christian shrugged. "Name one happy couple!"

"Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky!" Kate shot back sarcastically, "Answer my question!"

Christian stiffened under the scrutiny. "Well…I've seen what so-called love has done to my friends and I don't want a part of it! My work is my passion, not some love-starved twit!"

Kate suddenly turned solemn. "I think there's more to it than that."

"So what if there is!" he spat. Kate backed up, slightly taken aback. His expression turned soft. "I—I'm sorry. I don't know what got into me."

Kate put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You sure you're okay? Do you want to go up to my room and have some coffee?"

He shook his head. "I have a lot of reading to do."

"You're impossible!" Kate sighed, shaking her head.

As Roxanne opened the door of her room, her blood boiled when she saw Lauren and Patti huddled by Roxy's computer. "What are you doing!?"

Patti stood and faced her. Advancing, she said, "You have a problem with Lauren?"

"Answer my question first."

"We were just reading your wonderfully informative online diary, you miserable piece of shit!"

Roxanne steeled herself. "Glad to know that at least someone reads my writing," she hissed.

Lauren joined Patti. "You think I'm fake? How am I FAKE?"

Roxanne incredulously glared at her. "Don't think I don't hear you," she said, "when you talk about me behind my back the second you THINK it's turned!"

Lauren opened her mouth to say something, but Roxanne cut her off. "God, you'd hate to know what everyone in this hall really thinks of you!"

Lauren's eyes narrowed as Roxanne continued. "You chose to read the journal- you crave it. You crave to be center of attention, whether it be the slut at the parties or the center of vicious gossip, because everything's all about you, isn't it?"

"Maybe if you weren't such a fucking miserable bitch you would have realized that maybe you're the slut and shouldn't be talkin' shit!"

"The mirror's that way, dear," Roxanne said, pointing, "why don't you face who you're talking to."

With a furious shriek, Lauren slapped her, snapping her face to the side. She thanked her with a bitter smile. "Had enough to satisfy your ego?"

Lauren balled her fists in rage and went to hit her again, but Patti stopped her. "Don't let this Tramp get to you; last thing you need is another fine from Judicial on account of this whore."

Despite Patti's plea, Lauren broke free of her grasp, all to eager to forcefully punch Roxanne in her pretty face. With a swish of her blonde hair, she left the room with Patti in tow.

She numbly shut the door after them, knowing she had no choice by to move out now. She put a hand to her severely stinging cheek, trying to soothe it and fight back the tears welling up in her eyes. Instead, all she was met with was the garnet liquid of her blood, staining her fingertips.