The next week was pure hell for Danny.

It was just like in his nightmares. Whenever he came across Sam and Aaron, she would greet him with false cheer and wouldn't meet his eyes. She was no longer cold toward him, but he could almost see the pity radiating off of her. His heart was a frozen tundra, his world grey and cold. It was what he'd always known would happen – once she knew his true feelings for her, she withdrew with guilt and pity, thinking she led him on, not being able to reciprocate the feelings.

Tucker had also commented on the brief time he'd seen Danny and Sam as a couple, confirming Danny's suspicions that he was either having memory loss or someone was doing this on purpose, because he knew he would never cheat on or hurt Sam. That was the only thing that kept him going, knowing that once he caught the ghost that had created this icy hell he was living in, he'd send it into the same place. And maybe he could convince Sam he'd been overshadowed when he said he loved her, too, so they could be friends again.

He didn't know what he'd do if they grew apart.

To Mr. Lancer's distress, Phantom didn't get better, but worse. He looked haggard and old, like his heart was breaking. The only good thing about it was that he put his all into his performance in the play. The heartbreak was there in his voice, his looks, his attitude, and everyone was mesmerized by his soulful rendition of the Phantom.

The play was coming up, and while Mr. Lancer was excited and proud of his student's work, he was extremely concerned with both Danny and Phantom. They both seemed to be heartsick and tired, not speaking to Sam. But he was never able to speak to the boys because they always left class in a hurry, not taking time to talk to anyone. Danny would run out the door while Phantom would rip off his mask and fly out through the ceiling, leaving everyone bewildered.

No one saw Aaron's girlfriend gaze at him as the ghost left, sadness in her eyes.

...

Sam was confused, and scared.

Ever since Danny told her he loved her, her thoughts had been torn. She wasn't used to it. She was used to being completely in love with Aaron, thinking of nothing but him. Now she thought of both him and Danny.

He hurt you, her mind reminded her. He cheated on you, he lied to you, insulted you! Aaron is perfect. He loves you, cares about you, wants you to be the best you can be!

Sam glanced down at her clothing, the kind Aaron had chosen for her. She wore a light pink shirt with cap sleeves and a pretty white skirt with lace etching the bottom. 'No, he wants you to be the best of what HE WANTS you to be.' Her heart replied simply. Her head throbbed with the indecision.

'But I love Aaron!' her mind shot back. 'Shouldn't I want to be and do what he pleases?"

'But if he loved you,'her heart said quietly, 'He'd love you for who you are. Not what he's making you into.'

Silent tears cascaded down Sam's face as she lay down on her bed, hugging her pillow close.

...

"Great rehearsal!" Mr. Lancer called out the next day to his actors as they left the stage. "Remember, the play is at 8 tonight, dress rehearsal at 6:30! Be there or you fail this class!"

That was the only motivation they needed. The kids began talking to their friends about costumes and carpooling as they shuffled out of the auditorium, glad this play was about to be over.

"I'll pick you up tonight, sweetie," Aaron said to Sam before she had time to speak. Just then, Danny as Phantom walked by, so the boy smirked at him and gave her a passionate kiss, much to the other boy's chagrin. Danny rolled his eyes and flew out of the building while Sam pulled away from Aaron, dizzy from his kiss but still a little taken aback.

"What are you doing?" She inquired, rubbing her head.

"Kissing my future bride!" Aaron replied, and she gasped.

"You…are you proposing to me?" She asked, stunned.

"I suppose you could say that." He murmured to her. "Although it's going to happen."

Her heart rebelled, though her head rejoiced. She kissed him to keep him from talking and ruining the moment again; wanting only to feel the love she was used to feeling.

He grinned into the kiss, the dark thoughts in his head rejoicing as well.

...

"Five minutes!" Mr. Lancer cried backstage that night. "Five minutes until showtime! Is everyone in costume? Good! Aaron, you're up first! Where's Mitchell? The auctioneer is in this scene!"

"Break a leg, darling," Aaron purred to Sam, kissing her hard. She smiled at him and said the same, then went to fix her hair that he'd mussed.

She was reapplying her lipstick when she saw Danny, as Phantom, reflected in the mirror. Her heart thumped, hard, and turned over when she turned around to face him, forcing a weak smile to her face. "Hi."

"Hi." He was gazing at her with equal surprise, his normally neon green eyes going dark as he appraised her costume. Then they raised to meet hers, seeing the nervousness there.

She swallowed hard, forcing words to come to her lips. "You look handsome."

It was true. His costume consisted of a sheer white shirt with ruffles down the front and sleeves coupled with a worn black jacket. He also had black pants and brown dress-like shoes, with black gloves. His white half-mask contrasted with his tan skin and black jacket, but matched his snow white hair that was slicked back.

"Thanks." He said, voice low. His eyes caressed her. "You look…"

"Hideous?" Sam guessed with a slight smile. "That's what Aaron said."

"Actually, I was going to say beautiful." He murmured, stepping closer. "You could never look hideous."

She was wearing the costume from the first scene, where the men who bought the opera house discovered her dancing as a background dancer to Carlotta. Since it was high school, though, they had modified it. Instead of ending right beneath her breasts, the brown corset ended above her belly button. The straps holding it up was like a Roman style, a circle of darker brown fabric around her neck with buttons adorning it. The bottom part was a wispy skirt with the same dark brown fabric around her hips, with the lighter fabric falling to her knees.

Her hair was pulled back with a gold band, the dark hair curled into ringlets and falling to her shoulders. Her shoes were gold ballet slippers.

"Thanks," She replied bashfully, looking down and blushing. She spun a ringlet around her finger shyly, then pushed it behind her ear.

"Aaron said you looked hideous?" Danny asked, stepping even closer. "Why?"

Her smile fell slightly. "Well, he didn't like the color and he said it was an ugly cut." She glanced down at the outfit and shrugged self-consciously. "I mean, I guess he's right, pink looks better on me, I just thought he'd…say I look nice, or something." She rolled her shoulders, which she did when she was hurt. "It doesn't matter."

Suddenly she realized he was standing right in front of her, gazing down at her intently. "You look gorgeous, Sam, and don't let him tell you different."

Her heart flipped and her knees went curiously weak. "Thank you." She croaked.

His eyes flitted away from her and then hardened, as if he'd come to a decision. They locked gazes once more and he grabbed her hand. "Sam, look. I know you love Aaron. I'm okay with that, but I can't lose your friendship. I know you don't love me back, and that's fine. I understand. But I'll always love you. And Aaron seems…" His lips tightened on the words as her head spun from the force of his words. "Never mind. Just know…that I'll always be here for you." He kissed her gently on the cheek.

Sam's mouth opened to speak, but she was interrupted by Lancer. "Showtime everybody! Aaron and Mitchell, you're up! Sam, get ready, you're first on the next scene!"

Danny's green eyes bore into hers, then he gave her a small smile before he pushed her gently toward the stage.

It was show time.

...

Thank you guys for being so patient with me. I'm posting this chapter because I don't think I'll be posting any for a while. I've written all the chapters up to chapter 9, but I need to stop for awhile because of my schoolwork and the fact that I'm sick. So please bear with me, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you did, please review! :)

Sam's outfit: http:/ screenmusings .org/ PhantomOfTheOpera /pages/ PotO_ (Just take out the spaces)