Chapter Four

Touch me, trust me, and savor each sensation

"You be quiet!" He bellowed. "You aren't telling anyone anything about my face!"

She began to back up slowly as he continued shouting. Multiple thoughts racing through her mind, but no words could make their way to her lips. Everything made perfect sense now, Why he kept to himself and his attitude wasn't the greatest. That's why he was the perfect phantom.

He was the phantom.

All feelings of anger evaporated and her heart reached out to him in a way she'd never felt for any man before. How could she tell him it was all right with her? That it didn't scare or affect her in way? How?

He continued yelling at her. "I've put up with people like you for years! My own parents included!"

Suddenly, she did something she would never have done to any man she wasn't engaged to. But Christine did so to the phantom, and she didn't need courage to do so. She had to. She stepped forward quickly before he could say another word. He opened his mouth and her lips met his.

Instinctively, she caressed the scarred flesh in her hand. She heard him gasp audibly and felt him tremble under her touch as she held his face. A tear dripped on her cheek and she deepened the kiss. His hands fell from arm and she slowly pulled back to realize that they were both crying.

"Why…did…you do that?" He gasped out. Shock in his beautiful eyes as he sank down onto the cot in the dressing room. "You kissed me…. of your free will!"

"How…else could I show you…I'm not like everyone else?" She sniffled as she attempted to gain control of her emotions. "I'm not. I-I care for you," he looked up and added hastily. "but I don't pity or hate you."

"You…won't tell will you?" He asked. "It's hard enough as it is."

"I won't tell." She promised as she sat down next to him and held his hand. "it helps to talk about it. I'm a good listener."

Words spewed from his mouth like lava from an erupting volcano. "Father divorced mother shortly before my tenth birthday. One of the last things he bought me was a chemical set. I mixed the wrong things together, it burst into flames, and it burned my face. Sure, mom paid the hospital to clean it, but wouldn't allow any surgery to fix my face. She didn't have the money and was too proud to ask anyone for help. It got infected and the doctor clipped away a lot of skin. It never healed right."

"I'm sorry." She said softly as she squeezed his hand. "What did your mother do?"

"being as wonderful and loving as any mother should be." he said sarcastically. "She tried to hand over her parental rights to father, but, he had a new girlfriend and neither of them could stand me. So she was stuck with me. After years of scaring my mother and classmates, I wore a mask everywhere." he glared at her. "But there's always someone who tries to rip it off. You're one of the few who succeeded."

She knelt and picked up the mask as he stood up. He held out his hand for it, but she didn't return it.

She stepped closer to him, he eyed her suspiciously. "Understand this…I'd never intentionally hurt anyone, no matter what they did to me. I swear I'll never rip your mask off again." She touched his red skin. When he flinched visibly, she gasped. "Oh my! I hurt you! I'm so sorry."

He shook his head. "No. It's just…..no one….no woman…has ever….touched my face before."

What you need to know is…I'm your friend. And in a strange way, you're mine." At his look she stammered. "You're my friend." She continued, struggling to keep her voice under control. "Come to me anytime, with any problem, big or small and I will be there for you. I'll be honest in my words and actions. I swear it."

Standing on tiptoe, she leaned forward and gently trailed kisses down the scarred side of his face. She heard him gasp audibly; his skin felt odd to her lips, but she didn't really notice it that much. She grabbed a hold of his shirt to prevent him from shying away from her. She realized that this was the one way she'd be able to show him that it didn't matter. Now if she could tell her heart that she didn't want more.

"Christy?" Gerald banged on her dressing room door and they both started.

They separated and she said. "Come in."

Gerald came in and his face went into a mask of horror. "Oh my goodness!" He gasped. "What happened to your face?"

"Makeup." She blurted out with a smile. "Pretty good huh?"

"Yes." Gerald exhaled. "It looks…real."

"Thank you." Erik smirked. "I'm a makeup artist too." He looked at her. "I scared Christy a minute ago." She nodded as Erik placed his mask back on. She could see the worry in his eyes; fear that she'd betray him.

She placed her hand on her chest, "I'm…still trying to recover." She looked at Erik with a serious look on her face. "I'm used to it by now though." She turned her back to Gerald and faced Erik with a pointed look. "It's not that bad."

"Not that bad?" Gerald snorted. "He really looked like a monster! Great job with the makeup though."

"What did you want Gerald?" Erik said as he reverted back to his typical grumpy fashion. "We're busy you know."

"Lunch." He said. "She's supposed to eat you know!"

"She'll join you in a minute." Erik said. "I'd like to talk to her for a minute longer."

"I've had just about enough of this!" He trumpeted.

"Very charming Gerald." She said with a smile. "I'll be out in a minute I promise."

She watched as Gerald shut the door, her heart pounded in her throat. She turned to Erik. "What did you want to talk about?" her voice came out in an almost whisper.

Eric stepped slowly towards her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She could read the desire in his eyes and knew he was going to kiss her. "Thank you." He whispered.

Erik slowly ran his hand up the side of her face. She closed her eyes as shudders racked her body. She felt him hesitate. He caressed her chin and tilted her face up to his. She opened her eyes as he drew her face to his. But he didn't kiss her on the mouth. He respectfully kissed her on her cheek, but it seemed as if time had stopped and focused on them. They pulled back and stared at each other, neither spoke.

Erik stepped away from her and walked out the door. She stood there for a moment before following after him. The rest of rehearsals were a haze for her. Erik managed to act his typical self. But her mind was greatly troubled. Something about his touch fulfilled her more than Gerald's. Had she really fallen in love with her teacher in so short a time?