A usual day in the High School Populaire, the bell had just run, and the third hour had come to an end. Students exited their classrooms, heading towards their lockers or their next class while chatting with their friends. Adam and Angel were walking side by side, discussing the latest album of one of their favourite bands; Within Temptation.
"Out of the way!" someone had shouted, and the duo stopped and looked behind them,
A girl with dark brown hair, glasses and green eyes was running down the halls. In her arms, she holds dozens and dozens of flyers. She passed by our heroes and tried to keep the papers balanced on the pile. She was unaware of one flyer that had escaped and was slowly making its way on the ground. Angel, though, noticed it and quickly grabbed it before turning it around. She read the paper along with Adam surprised by its content; well almost.
It was a flyer, informing about the school's latest musical; the Phantom of the Opera. Furthermore, the paper informed about times of the auditions and the place they would be held.
"Hmm" Angel hummed as she focused on the paper more than her friend, different thoughts passing her mind.
"Let me guess, you thinking to apply?"
"I do not know yet. I am uncertain if it would be wise or not"
"Well, it is something out of our league. I mean, theatre and well… us. Yet again, we never truly followed any unwritten rules of society"
She shook her head and gave a friendly punch to her friend, amused by his philosophical side which was still under development. Then, she placed the flyer in her back and the duo continued their way towards their next class.
The same night, Angel had decided to approach her father. She found him, as per usual, in his music room. He was playing one of his latest pieces on the piano and the girl waited patiently for him to finish; knowing very well that he didn't like to be interrupted.
"What is it, Mon Cher?" he asked as he finished and turned his face so he could see her, his face unmasked and his deformity visible.
Angel approached and passed him the flyer, allowing him to give it a quick read. Dark eyebrows frowned as light blue eyes read each phrase carefully.
The title and the whole play were very familiar to him as he was the inspiration behind him. Well, him and some other of his classmates. He could still remember, how all this started as an English Essay where they were forced to write a small story or play. A classmate of his, from the few he had come in better contact; had taken inspiration on his mask and his connection with the rest of the class and the girl he had a crush on. Then, he turned it into a story which he later expanded and even published as musical.
Of course, he would never say any word about the whole past or his relation to the said play. It was something he wasn't proud of and preferred to keep it deep down in his chest along with the rest of the things he kept in secret. He was thankful that the man had changed a big amount of details which didn't scream his name or pointed at him or the others.
"Thinking to apply?" he asked as he noticed how silent she was.
"Well, I would love to go as the Phantom, but I cannot. Therefore, I am not certain if I should" she said as sat by his side.
"Go for the role of Christine then. You have got this"
"Will you help me practice?"
"Of course," Erik said with a smile on his face. "I will make sure you take that role"
A few days later, it was time for the auditions. Angel had spent each day practising along with her father, perfecting the piece she had to present. Now, she was sitting in one of the comfy red chairs of the amphitheatre.
Their school took great pride in the arts and talented students it trained, going as far as to have a building that inside resembled a small version of a 1800s Parisian Opera. It had everything, from the red chairs to the statues and a mini fake chandelier handing from the top. The stage was huge and so was the backstage, allowing a big amount of people to work there. The orchestra pit was fair but enough for a good number of organs that would accompany the production; since this school preferred to do it the old-fashioned way.
They waited, hearing almost every girl that had come after the same role she had. Yet, their voices were average to her well-trained ear. Minus, of course, Carlotta's. The woman had a good technique but stretched the notes and her voice too much, resulting in quite an unpleasant performance.
"Angelique Destler" her name was called, and she stood up.
"That's me," She said as she made her way to the stage, ignoring the faint whispers around her.
It was quite unusual for her, of all people, to apply for a musical and in general be interested in the art of Theatre but she didn't care. There were many things people didn't know about her and she wasn't planning to let them know any time soon.
"Destler?" the man responsible for the whole production, Mr Francus, repeated her last name with a small tone of surprise. "Are you Erik's… Erik's Destler daughter?"
She almost froze on the steps of the stage, finding it very unusual that someone recognized her father. Most specifically, someone who was fully focused on Theatre production.
"Yes Monsieur, I am," she said and looked at him, her blue eyes connecting with his green ones.
Mr Francus was a man no older than 40 with curly black – dark blue hair and bright green eyes. A pair of round glasses on his nose and faint baby hair on his chin and upper lip. He wore a simple white shirt that was too big for his thin form and black jeans, also a size bigger than he needed.
"Perfect!" he said and clapped his hands, a big smile on his lips. "I expect big things from you *turns to his assistant* Her father was my biggest star. A true musical genius and with a voice…always on the lead"
Strange, she thought; not recalling any information about the said teacher or her father being the Lead in musicals. Yes, he was infested in music and was a genius on that field; but she never had his capable of associating directly with such things.
Apparently, she wasn't the only one out of place; maybe it even ran in her veins. Either way, she had come here for a role and she was ready to get it.
"Joshua!" the director shouted and a boy walked towards the edge of the scene. He was tall with a fair built frame, soft characteristics on his face and curly dark chocolate brown hair.
"Yes, sir?", he asked and let his dark eyes land on the older man while his hands were behind his back. The boy, around the age of 18, wore a simple grey shirt with long brown sleeves, brown pants and black trainers.
"You will duet with her"
"With all the respect sir, I have already duet with many and it didn't work out. I am reaching my limit here"
"Trust me, boy. This time it is worth it", the director said as the assistant gave a nod to the man responsible for the music.
The sound of the organ echoed throughout the room as the main theme song of the whole show started. The two teens looked at each other before preparing themselves, they had singing and small acting to do.
(A: Angel, J: Joshua, D: Duet)
A: In sleep, he sang to me, in dreams he came
That voice which calls to me and speaks my name
And do I dream again? For now, I find
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside my mind
J: Sing once again with me our strange duet
My power over you grows stronger yet
And though you turn from me to glance behind
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your mind
*Angel walks towards him*
A: Those who have seen your face draw back in fear *hand on the supposed masked cheek*
I am the mask you wear
J: It's me they hear *grabs her wrist and lowers it, away from his face*
D: Your/My spirit and my/your voice
In one combined
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside my/your mind
A: He's there, the Phantom of the Opera *Angel Vocalizes*
Sing, my angel of music
Sing, my angel
Sing for me!
*Joshua takes step back*
J: Sing!
Sing, my angel! *hand motions her to turn to the stage*
Sing for me! *Angel looks at the stage and reaches higher note with ease*
Clapping replaced the music as the Director stood up from the velvet chair and congratulated the young woman. Angel gave a small theatrical bow and looked at Joshua who seemed to approve her. Then her eyes went to the velvet chairs. First, she looked at Adam who was clapping despite the small shock written on his face. He knew Angel could sing but reaching such high notes never crossed his mind.
She then noticed Belle and Esmé who were sitting next to each other. The younger teen had her mouth opened, a look of amazement and total shock was visible while the blond clapped and smiled. A row in front of them, a redhead had the sourest face of jealousy Angel had the misfortune to see. Hands crossed in front of her chest; she looked the other side.
Lastly, light blue eyes went to the Director's assistant who was writing something on her clipboard. She was a petite woman, around her father's age with oily black hair which was currently in a messy bun, brown eyes hidden behind spectacles and slightly chubby cheeks that stood against her thin and small frame.
Once the final bell rang, many students rushed to the Theatre; wanting to see if they got the role they auditioned for. Angel was one of them, even though she took her sweet time to walk there with Adam by her side. She pushed some girls aside and looked at the paper that was stuck on the closed door. A smile found its way on her black lips as she backed away and walked towards her friend.
"You took the role, didn't you?" the boy said as the duo walked further away.
"Yep," she said, emphasizing the letter 'p'. Esmé is Meg and Carlotta is my understudy"
"Oh joy. Good luck with that"
"Destler!" someone shouted and the duo stopped and turned, only to look at Joshua walking to them.
"Joshua, I have a name you know"
"My apologies. Just wanted to congratulate you on the role and tell you that we have a rehearsal in an hour"
Adam patted her shoulder. "Enjoy. I will see you tomorrow, Angel"
The girl watched her friend walking away and then let her eyes go to Joshua who was standing there, looking at his shoes.
"Thank you for telling me. I will come soon"
"It will be an honour to walk alongside with you," the boy said and smiled before walking into the Theatre via another door.
Angel looked at him leaving, a thin eyebrow raised. Confused by his words, he let them slip and pulled the phone from her back pocket before deciding to text her father.
'Got the part, what a surprise. First rehearsal in an hour. Most likely will be late'
She closed her phone and looked left and right, feeling once again as if she was being watched but nothing seemed to help her small paranoia.
The same night at the De Changy manor, the family of 4 were sitting on the big table. Raoul at the head, Christine at his right and Gustave at his left. Next to the older woman sat her daughter and they were all enjoying their dinner. The younger of the 4 had a big smile on her face as she kept talking about the play, the music and the coincidence that her parents shared the names of the protagonists.
"Coincidence… yes…" Christine said, uncertain and she locked eyes with her husband before taking a sip of her soup.
Gustave had stayed quiet throughout the whole dinner, holding a calm demeanour; like his father. His eyes were locked on his mother form, sensing something suspicious about the whole story but decided not to utter a word.
"I have already the whole script and it is so amazing. Of course, I feel little sad about the ending… and I cannot wait to hear Angel's voice. Mother, you would appreciate her so much after you heard her sing. She was absolutely freaking incredible"
"Why don't you built a statue and worship her then? You seem to be close to by the way you talk about that emo"
"Hey! Angel is amazing and much better than you or anyone else! And she deserves to be praised"
"Children" Raoul's voice was calm, too calm but held a warning behind it.
The two siblings immediately stopped and looked back at their foods, knowing too well than to anger their father. He had quite the temper and none wanted to face that any time soon.
"Who is this Angel, Esmé?"
"Angel Destler. She is emo in our school, but she is very kind. She always treats me kind. And did you know that her father was in our school? Yes, and he was apparently Prima Uomo all the time!"
Raoul And Christine exchanged a look, the last name and the extra detail of the man gave them a sense of uncertainty deep in their guts. Both felt in a small de javu, a too familiar de javu which they wanted out of it.
"*clears throat* Interesting. Now, why don't you tell us about the incidents, Gustave?" Raoul said as he changed the subject and turned to look at his son, not wanting to listen more about the girl who had earned a place in his daughter's heart.