A/N: Introducing... Julia Morel! Now the lead is actually a person and not just a name. That would be problematic later on...

Chapter Seven:

Julia Morel

"Laila! Wake up, sleepy head!" Meg called, running into the room and jumping onto the bed.

Stretching and rubbing her eyes, Laila sat up. "What is it?" she asked groggily, "Isn't today our day off?" She pulled the end of her braid over her shoulder and started to undo it.

"Mme. Giry is making us rehearse for a couple hours," she explained making a face.

They heard a knock on the door. "Who could that be?" Laila wondered aloud, seeing Meg shrug her shoulders. "Come in" she called.

The door opened to reveal Julia Morel, the lead. "Am I interrupting?" she asked, looking slightly nervous.

"Of course not. Come on in," Laila said as she combed through her hair with her fingers. Meg scooted over and patted on the bed, indicating that Julia should come and sit on the bed with them. Julia closed the door behind her before she walked over and sat down uneasily on the edge of the bed. "Did you need something?"

"I was just wondering if you two would like to spend the time off with me. I wanted to go shopping for new dresses and need a companion, or in this case, two."

Meg looked at Laila with a question in her eyes that seemed to ask, 'the Lead is asking Us, to go shopping with her?'

She shrugged in response before looking at Julia. "We would love too."

Julia noticeably relaxed, "Great. I can't wait."

"Besides, Laila needs some new dresses." She continued in a stage whisper, "Hers are all plain and boring except for her ballet ones."

Julia giggled as Laila threw a pillow at Meg. "Shush. I would like to buy some new dresses," Laila grinned before continuing, "I could use the opinion of someone with a great fashion sense."

Meg gasped and promptly picked up the pillow and hit Laila over the head with it.

"Oh! Laila, this would look so pretty on you!" Meg exclaimed bringing the dress over and thrusting it into her arms. "You simply must try it on."

Laila rolled her eyes. This was the fifth time this had happened. She threw an exasperated look over her shoulder to Julia who giggled, before going to change. After some help with the laces, She stood in front of the mirror and her companions.

It had a black corset with pale green trim and a thin strip of lace around the top edge. The skirt was of a matching green with a pale rose ribbon that wrapped around the waist to tie in the back. The simple design of it, that left her shoulders bare and accentuated her slender waist, was stunning on her.

Meg sighed happily. "You simply have to get it Laila. It looks like it was made for you."

"You look darling in it," Julia agreed.

"Alright, I'll get it."

After paying for their purchases, the girls wandered down the street, exploring the different shops. They had bought jewelry, shoes, and some sweets when Laila saw a shop that sold trinkets. "Can we please go in?" she asked her companions. They nodded and they all hurried into the shop.

Laila looked around excitedly and Meg spoke up, "Ten minutes, Laila. We'll stay here for ten minutes."

They all wandered around for a while, occasionally seeing something that caught their interest. Laila was about to pass by a shelf when she saw something. It was a beautiful mask. It was made of black wire that surrounded the right eye and covered the forehead and the right cheek. It looked like lace with swirls painted onto the fabric and intermixed with the swirls, were little, red, paste jewels. It was one of the most beautiful mask she had ever seen.

"That is beautiful," Julia said walking up to Laila who was holding a mask she had found. Of the two girls, Julia felt more comfortable around Laila. Meg could be a little too dramatic at times.

"Isn't it? I just love it," Laila replied looking at the mask.

"Here, let me buy it for you."

"Oh no. I can pay for it," Laila replied quickly.

Julia smiled. Laila was a very nice, talented girl. "I insist. It will be a gift."

"I guess if you insist..."

"I do. Will you help me find something for Meg?"

"Of course." They looked around before they found the perfect gift. It was a letter box with a fake bottom in it. "She'll love it! It's beautiful and has a hint of a secret to it."

Julia paid for the mask, box, and a necklace she had found and then the two of them went to find Meg. Upon finding her, Julia presented her with the letter box. "It's a gift for you."

"It's beautiful! I love it!" Meg exclaimed before hugging Julia. She resisted rolling her eyes at her energy.

"You're welcome. Let's go back to the opera house. It's getting late."

"Are you going to stay up with us?" Laila asked Julia. The cast and the stagehands were going to tell ghost stories, and Laila was very excited.

"I wasn't invited," she replied with a frown that Laila saw before the girl could cover it.

"Well you're a part of the cast, even if you are the lead. Therefore, you are invited." Seeing Julia's face brighten, she smiled, "Come on. It's about time to go."

"Like yellow parchment is his skin, a great black hole serves as the nose that never grew. You must be always on your guard or he will always catch you with his magical lasso," Joseph Buquet sang, in a voice that matched his appearance, causing the girls to scream. He pulled out a lasso and roped one of the dancers.

Laila rolled her eyes. He wasn't like that at all. Of course she hadn't seen him without his mask but she doubted it was so bad that it would stand in the way of his finer qualities. Her musings were interrupted by Mme. Giry entering the room.

"Those who speak of what they know, find too late that silence is wise. Joseph Buquet, hold your tongue," she slapped him before continuing, "Keep your hand at the level of your eyes." She put the lasso around his throat and tightened it when she finished speaking.

"Let's go," Laila whispered to Meg and Julia. The girls linked arms and left to go to bed. Meg waved to them and left to her room.

"Sleep well," she said waving as she left.

When she was out of sight Julia spoke up, "Thanks for going shopping with me. I don't know very many people here."

"Everyone needs a friend, Julia. I would like to think I could be counted as one of yours."

"Thank you. Good night."

Julia smiled as she prepared for bed. She had been the most popular girl in her home town, and had many friends there. When she came to the opera house, she hadn't known anyone and hadn't been accepted into any their groups. It seems she didn't need them. She could make her own group. She grinned and blew out the candle casting the room into darkness.