Chapter 7
**** Evangeline's POV ****
How could he, how could he say that to me? He tells me that he will have to leave to give Christine Daae her singing lessons, and then assures me that he has no feelings for her. Erik would not have to assure me if he truly did not still have feelings for Christine in the first place.
Was this all this was? Coming to visit me at home, meeting my family, was it all just his way to prove to me that he loves only me? If he wanted to do that he would have started by arriving in that white porcelain mask of his instead of that cover-up. Had I not always told him that I did not care about what he looked like, I mean yes he probably thought that it would be the best since he was meeting new people. But these people were my family, if they saw that I accepted Erik than they too would accept him, not to mention that because of my Pépére we were already accepting to those who were born different.
Despite how I felt on the inside, I walked close to Erik. Pierre was chosen by my grandparents to be our chaperone as we walked to the park, walking on the other side of me. Personally I was glad to have my brother so close, because if I started to cry due to my clashing emotions, at this point I would rather cry on Pierre's shoulder than Erik's.
Erik and I did not even talk to each other on the way to the park; in fact we barely even gave each other a glance. My brother on the other hand, talked to me all the way there. Though, he could have found a better subject to talk about in my opinion.
"So how long have you been seeing Monsieur Masque?" asked Pierre.
"You could say, we have been seeing each other for a while." I answered.
"I see," said Pierre, "Does he treat you well?"
"Usually," I said. Erik looked over at me, obviously he could not remember the times he made me feel stupid by correcting me and he was also unknown to him how he had made me feel just earlier today.
"Do I need to whack him?" asked Pierre quickly, "Because I will if you need me to."
"No, that will not be necessary." I stated. I added inwardly, well not yet at least.
When we reached the park, my family settled in like we usually did. Pépére set up his easel in the direction of the river, Mémé sat down on a nearby bench, and Pierre sat down next to Mémé. I sat down on a bench a little ways away from the rest, Erik sat next to unsure of what to do.
We sat on opposite sides of the bench. It was awkward of course, to think that yesterday we seemed so close, now any passerby could assume that we had just met each other or were complete strangers. The silence was naturally horrifying, mixed with how I felt on the inside made it even worse.
"I am sorry," said Erik breaking the silence.
"Huh?" I questioned
"I said, I am sorry." Said Erik, "I should have not mentioned…her"
"You should not have mentioned her…at all," I agreed.
"I realize that," he said moving himself closer. "But what I said is true, I really do love you,"
"I know you do Erik," I said inching myself closer.
"I just wanted you to know," he explained, "I do not want to keep secrets from you."
"Erik, I understand." I said, "I put most of your idiocy off to your lifestyle."
"My lifestyle?" Erik questioned, "What do you mean?"
"You live alone under the Opera House." I explained, "You perform tricks and cause mischief for ballerinas and singers for your own personal amusement."
"It is amusing though." He defended.
"I am sure it is." I said, "The point is Erik, you do not get a lot of human interaction."
"Yes I do," he said, "I talk to Giry and I have you don't I?"
"Yes, you do have me." I agreed.
"Am I forgiven then," Erik asked hopefully.
"Not in the slightest." I answered.
"Oh come on!" he said, "Why not?"
"You really upset me earlier Erik," I said.
"And I said I was sorry," he stated, "Twice."
"That does not mean those feelings go away Erik!" I said.
"Well they should," he said, "Can't you just make them go away?"
"No, no I cannot." I said, "I would if I could but I can't."
"Why are you being so difficult?" asked Erik sternly.
"Me? Difficult? You…you…" I said.
"Marry me?" Erik said out of the blue.
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"Marry me." He repeated.
"You think now is the best time to propose?" I questioned.
"Yes," he stated.
"Are you asking because you love me or do just want me to forgive you?" I asked.
"Both," replied Erik, "What is your answer?"
"No." I said.
"Why?" asked Erik angrily.
"One you are asking me while we are fighting. Two you are only asking me to get me to be quiet," I said raising a finger for each, "And third you still have feelings for Christine and you know it!"
"How many times do I have to repeat myself woman. I DO NOT HAVE FEELINGS FOR CHRISTINE ANYMORE!" he yelled, fractions of a second later I felt his hand hit my face.
My family's heads turned towards us. Mémé's hands covered her mouth, Pierre went to go grab his crutch to lift himself off of the bench, and the look in Pépére's eyes was downright murderous.
"You would not have to keep saying that if it was true." I stated, trying my best to ignore the throbbing on my cheek.
"You…You," Erik stuttered.
"Just go Erik," I said, feeling the tears well up in my eyes, "Before you say something that you will regret."
"Fine then." He said getting up from the bench.
As he walked away, I felt the hot tears stream down my face. Pierre hobbled his way as quick as he could to get over to me, Pépére followed close behind him. When they reached me Pierre say down next to me and wrapped his arms around me. Pépére on the other hand remained standing screaming some very choice words at Erik who just continued to walk away.
REVIEWS?
A/N: Considerly shorter than the others, but man can I put a lot in so few words. Can you blame Evangeline for being upset about this situation. Now before you all attack me saying how Erik would never do something like this I got one thing to say. Yes, yes he would as he is deformed not just physically but mentally and emotionally (it is why we love him so much…I guess). Does this spell curtains for our love birds? Keep in mind that we are not even into the events of the movie/show yet. On a clever side of me note, back in chapter 7 of my fic THE PHANTOM, Erik also proposed to Evangeline. To leave you with it may be awhile till the next chapter due to finals and I want to get some work done on my POTC fic.
