I'm not very proud of this chapter, but hey, what else canI do to introduce Raoul? The chapter is short but expect another one tomorrow or today, so don't worry:) Yes, it's true I've been updating very often and I tend to do that, but also because I've already written these four chapters before I posted the story, they were only an idea, and then i thought it very unique and so i poted it. I'm loving how I'm getting reviews constantly, and I have my own "official" reviewer. Thanks a lot .heart.anger.93, for doing that. It's so thrilling to receive feedback about how people want to read my story. I literally scream everytime I come back from school to see a review here, or a favorite there. It makes my day, and week, and it inspires me to keep going with this story unlike the other stories I have written. Yeah, that obssessed with fanfiction. Expect more frequen updates... and yeah, I guess I'm spoiling you :):):):)

THANKS!

ThePhantomsFlutist

Eternal Music

Chapter 4:

Regained

"Guess who?' The familiar voice asked, coming closer from behind me, as I was sitting on the chair. I felt his warm hand resting on my shoulder, my heart started to rush.

"I'm guessing, but my mind is telling me that this can't be true." I smiled broadly, taking his hand on my shoulder.

"Oh it is, they let me off early." Before he finished I leaped up and turned around to see him standing there. I threw my arms around him, as did he, and kissed me on my cheek.

"Raoul! You have come back!" I exclaimed into his shoulder, giggling,

"You were amazing up there!" He commented, laughing just as I was. I felt good there in his arms... content, and happy, "I didn't know you could sing that well... but you looked as if you were about to faint, Christine, which made me worried." The mood changed, as he turned straight faced, "I came because of that... just to see if you were okay."

"I don't know why... but I felt as if I was going to faint." I replied, the mood fitting. My smile slowly vanished, "Something else seemed to be singing through me, Raoul. But I'm fine now, Raoul, couldn't be better."

"What do you mean?" He question, seriously, seeing the strange look on my face when I thought of that.

"I don't think I can tell you, Raoul, it's just too complicated. I don't think you've ever sung like I have up on that stage... the crowd watching intently. It's exhilarating! I just... wasn't prepared for that I guess." I explained, he just watched me as I stared off somewhere else in the room, I could see to the slightest point that he didn't understand, but that's okay. "That's the past, how about the present? Are you staying or do you have to go back to the navy?" I questioned anxiously.

"I will be here for the next two years! Isn't it wonderful?" He announced happily, bring back my smile, and his.

"Oh yes, yes! You have to stay here!" I told him, coming into his arms, childishly, and tucking myself into them slightly. He put his head into my hair, as if smelling it, making a spark of electricity pump through my veins. Now this would have to be the best minute of my life, as if I'm rating them.

The moment was slightly ruined when we heard a horrible and ghostly groan escape from behind us. My back straightened and my expression was firm.

"What was that?" He questioned, whispering, his smile immediately disappearing, looking around.

"Don't know..." I whispered once again, looking around the room. My mistake during this time: I forgot my teacher. Did I even want to think of the darkness when the sun was brightly shining upon my world through the storm? No. I don't care what this "voice" might say... well, now that I think of it... maybe it does matter what he says. Another knock came upon my door, which froze me into place, again.

"Flowers for Miss Daae." A business-like voice announced. I jumped out of Raoul's arms, and headed for the door, taking about ten to fifteen bouquets of flowers from the man into my hands. "Congratulations, Miss." He said, shaking my hardly open hand. I thanked him and closed the door, turning to face Raoul with a sheepish grin saying what in the world can I do now?

"Oh! One of them is from myself!" Raoul announced grabbing a small bouquets of purple and red roses from the pile, knowing that roses were my favorite flowers, with a note attached to it in his own script,

For my Little Lotte, and sweetheart, Christine.


With Love, Raoul,

(I'll be visiting soon)

The note was a little late, but the attempt was sweet. I held the note carefully, not to ruin the moment. The rest of them all had compliments of how well I did and how my first debut was the best they've ever seen. Some were even admiration notes, I thought them sweet, but I don't know them. Now, where am I going to put these? I placed them onto my vanity, but my eyes caught onto a rose that I didn't see there before. All the thorns had been scraped off, and the rose color was red, laying next to it was my name scrawled in blood red ink. I decided not to show it to Raoul, but keep it to myself, putting it inside a drawer of the vanity that hasn't been used yet. The rain was coming back again.

I gazed to myself in the mirror. By whole face was a bright red, either because of the performance, or I had been blushing. It's never a tomato red, because of the paleness of my skin. I hated never getting a decent tan, but it's mainly because my ancestors were mainly English or Swedish. My hair came from my father though, a dark brown, luckily it's not too curly that it's unmanageable, but it at least has some volume, without any style at all. I never considered myself pretty, compared to the other girls I see, but I don't look through others eyes... If I will ever be egotistical, it definitely won't ever be because of my looks... my voice maybe, but I don't ever want to be selfish.

"Well, Christine, I shall see you around, and I will definitely see you again soon, Little Lotte..." He told me, wrapping his arms around me again. The day only keeps getting better, and he kissed me on the cheek then turned to leave. I walked with him to the door and I watched him go down the hallway.

I fell back on the hinge of the door and heaved a deep sigh, smiling largely. Could this be love? I've never even thought of love toward anyone else besides my father, not many times someone else. I didn't have a crush when I was in high school either. And I always thought of Raoul as just family for a long time... but maybe, I'm just tasting love right now. How it's so bitter sweet! How you can't stand being away from them, ever. How you want to kiss them whenever.

I had something else to do now before leaving. Who gave me the other rose? I came back to the vanity, and opened the drawer with the red rose waiting patiently for me inside. I grabbed that and the note, and opened it. The writing inside was typed out, with a signature of simply a messily written "E" with the lines hardly attached.

Dear Christine,

You have pleased me very much tonight. The angels would have wept tonight, for you sang much more better then them.

-E

I closed the note after reading. It was like an adoration note... from someone with a name starting with "E" again! Like the man who kicked me out of the musical to bring me here! My teacher's name must start with an "E" but... there's hundreds of names with that! I put the note down with my shaking hand, and looked around the room once more, still finding it empty. My heart was pounding fast, and I think I over-stayed my welcome for right now. Nobody has ever said, or written such strong words about me or to me... I put the note into the drawer and I gathered all the bouquets of flowers and the single rose together into a bag, not knowing where else to put them, and because I hardly knew the people who gave them to me, but I carried the rose outside the bag not to ruin it- they don't last long.

"Christine..." The hypnotic voice was coming from behind me now. I froze before turning the lights out, "You did excellent, Christine..." It said musically, I don't want to know what my face looked like, because it either twisted with shock, or horror.

"Thank you... it's because of you... whoever you are, you know." I whispered, shaking, "I'm tired, and if it's alright with you, I'm going to my apartment to sleep. Good night, Mr. E." I forced out the last part, just for him to know that I still need to know his name. Sleep will never come without knowing that. Without another word, I shut off the lights and went out of the dressing room area. Checking my cell phone, it was already midnight... just what I needed. I'll be sleeping in tonight, happily, and smiling. Tomorrow, the storm will settle back in most likely, and I'll be back to living my normal solemn life as usual, and Raoul will be there next to me, every second, as my shield from everything. I prayed... I prayed that Raoul will be with me forever. He's the only one that can truly bring a smile to my face, my only ray of light in the darkness... and my only bridge back to the memories of the days of my loving father, and when we were children. I dreamed good dreams for the first night in a while... it's better then nothing at all.