Erik didn't notice when morning finally came. He listened for Christine, but she never made a sound. Erik could only imagine how exhausted she was from everything last night. He still sat there on the ground outside the door leading into her room. He turned his head upward once he heard instruments being tuned above him. He looked down at his watch realizing that he was running late for rehearsal. Erik ran is hands over his face drying the tears then put on his mask standing.

He glanced at the door and sighed hoping that she would be at rehearsal and they could talk. Erik straightened his hair and dusted off his clothes before he left the passages. When he walked in his assistant, Johnathan, sighed with relief. "Thank God you're here sir!" Johnathan walking up to Erik. He looked at him with a worried face once he was closer. "No offense sir, but you look like hell. Are you alright?" He asked.

Erik looked at him and replied, "I'm fine. Rough night. Is there a problem?"

Johnathan's eyes widened remembering. "Carlotta will not be rehearsing and no one can find Roseland."

Erik rolled his eyes. "Because she left last night."

"We will need someone to sing lead today sir." A few chorus girls heard and rushed over.

"I can sing it sir." They each said then began arguing over who coupled sing it better.

"No." Erik muttered looking around. "Where is Christine?" He asked.

The girls grew quiet. "The costume girl?" One asked. Erik glared at her.

"She hasn't come in yet." Meg said from behind him. Erik looked at Meg and sighed.

He looked back around to see the pleading eyes of the chorus girls. He rolled his eyes and looked to Meg. "Either you fill in or pick one of them. I don't have the patience for this." He said pushing passed them all to his desk.

The girls stared off after him then a few of them flocked over to Meg. She watched Erik closely for a moment then held her hands up silencing the girls. "You heard him. I'm filling in. Now move." She pushed them to the side and walked to Erik. He stood there sorting through everything for today. "So, what has you in a mood?"

"None of your concern." He mumbled.

Meg scoffed and rolled her eyes. "You're my brother. I'm making it my concern." Erik glared at her. "Is it Christine? Are the two of you fighting?"

Erik looked at her annoyed. "I know you don't want us together Meg. So drop the act like you care."

He started to walk away but she grabbed him. "Hey! I know I wasn't the biggest fan of it at first, but I just didn't want either of you to get hurt. I've seen it now thought. How happy she makes you. How happy you make her. The two of you are good together. I see that now. I may not have cared at first but I do now. Please believe me."

Erik stared at her for a moment then looked around to see if anyone was near. He leaned on his desk. "Last night Roseland came to me. She said she needed help on some notes I had given her. I had told Christine to meet me here. Roseland timed it perfectly."

Meg looked at him Confused. "What do you mean?"

"She kissed me as soon as she saw Christine." Erik replied. Meg looked at him shocked. "Christine ran off crying. I fired Roseland then went after Christine. She locked herself in her room. She wouldn't let me explain."

"But the hidden door?"

Erik smirked some. "I've always admired her cleverness. She managed to jam it. I couldn't get in, and believe me I tried. I spent the night on the floor of the tunnels. Another reason for my mood."

Meg leaned night to him. "So you just sat there outside the door all night?"

Erik nodded. "Listening to her cry herself to sleep."

Meg sighed. "Give her time. She'll come around, then you can explain." Meg stood in front of him. "And when she does come around you better be ready."

"For what?"

"With big romantic gesture." Meg explained and Erik laughed. "Trust me. You know Christine, but I know her better. She has told me nearly all her little secrets. The little secrets you're still learning dear brother. Believe me. You want a gesture." She walked off onto stage.

Erik shook his head and grabbed the script walking down into the front seats where Jonathan stood. "You sure you're alright sir?" He asked again.

Erik sighed. "No. Jonathan," Erik looked to him. "I swear I will never understand women."

Jonathan laughed. "I grew up with three girls, and even I don't understand them sir." The two shared a laugh.

"Alright places everyone! Act two, scene 3! Places!" Erik yelled to everyone.


She was exhausted. Everything hurt. Inside and out. She never thought that was possible. To actually feel heartbreak. She did though. Christine sat on the floor leaning against the bed. She still couldn't bring herself to even sit on it. The room was a disaster. She had thrown quite the tantrum. Everything that Erik had given her, or anything that reminded her of him ended up thrown across the room. If she could have set fire to the room and not burn the whole opera down in the process she would have.

She flinched when she heard a knock on the door. Christine stayed silent keeping her eyes to the ground. Go away. Go away. She thought. In her mind she could see Erik standing there. He looked so handsome. She nearly got up just so she could look at his face. The face that she found so beautiful. Then there it was. Tears streamed down her face again. She saw him with Roseland again.

Another knock on the door. She stayed silent still. This time she buried her head in her skirts holding onto her legs tightly. Go away! Go away! She screamed in her mind. She couldn't do it. Christine was still so in love with him, but she couldn't bare to look at that beautiful face.

"Christine." She opened her eyes hearing a man's voice. It wasn't Erik at the door. Surly her mind was playing tricks on her. "Come on Little Lotte. Open the door. Please." She dried her eyes and slowly stood up on shaky legs. She walked over and leaned on the door for a moment. "Everyone is at rehearsal. No one is roaming the halls. It's just me."

She unlocked the door and cracked it open to make sure he was alone. The man stood a head taller than her with short blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He smiled at her. "I heard you were having a rough go of things Lotte." He said.

Christine let out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding. "Raoul." She whispered. Her throat felt raw when she tried to speak and she could feel the tears rising again.

Christine opened the door and he took her in his arms. "Shhh." She said stroking her head. "It's alright." Raoul walked her back into the room and shut the door again locking it back.