Sorry for any spelling mistakes. I'm still kinda new at this writing thing. So if anything is messed up or confusing, I'm saying sorry now.

I hope you like this chapter.

Thanks to all reviewers, you're the people who keep me writing.


"Christine." Erik finished for her. "What can I do for you and no Raoul is not here."

"Raoul is the last thing I care about right now." The statement caught him off guard.

"Why would she being calling if it's not to talk to that...that boy Raoul? That last time I saw her yesterday she got mad at me and stormed away." He wondered to him self.

"I called..." She stuttered. Erik could hear Meg telling her to just ask him. She kept pausing, whispering to Meg that she couldn't. Erik really want to know what Christine wanted to ask him. He finally heard Meg whisper something he couldn't make out but Christine finally came back on. "I called" She restarted her self, "I wanted to know," there was a pause, "If you wanted"

Anther short pause, "Ifyouwanttohavelunchwithme?"

She said it so fact he wasn't sure if he heard her right. "Did you just ask if we could go to lunch?"

"Yes." She whispered.

"Sorry I'm really busy." He paused Christine felt even worst now. "But I can do a late dinner. And when I say late I mean 8:30." Christine didn't care what time it was. For once someone wasn't rejecting her.

"That fine."

He smirked, "Great I could pick you up or I can meet you at the gallery?"

"Doesn't it close at 6:30?"

"I'll tell someone to let you in."

"Ok I'll meet you there." She smiled.

"Great, see you at 8:30."

"Ok bye Erik."

"Bye Christine."

She was still holding the phone to her ear even a few minutes after he hung up. Meg start jumping up and down demanding she was told what going on.

"I'm meeting him at the gallery at 8:30 for dinner."

Meg screamed, then her eyes got big, "wait won't Raoul be there?"

"No he took the day off and I'm sure the last place he wants to be is anywhere near Erik." Christine and Meg sat there smiling at each other. "Oh my god Meg what I'm I going to wear? He didn't say where we were going, but I mean I can't be that nice. It's not like it's a date."

"You mean not like it's a second date?"

"It was just coffee and now it's just dinner, that you talked me into."

"Sure bam it on me."

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It had took Meg and Christine almost 3 hours to find something for her to wear. It took Christine another 2 and a haft hours to get ready. It was now 7:30. Donald had order Pizza for him and Meg. He was know sitting on the couch watching the Steelers game.

"Donald!"

"Just a minute."

"Donald!"

"Hold on it's almost break time."

"Now Donald!"

"Ok, ok I'm coming." He got up to see Christine walk out of her bedroom.

"So how does she look?"

"Fine."

"Fine that's all?"

"Meg I'm not going to judge your best friend but if you really want me to be honest. She look good."

Meg seemed happy so with that he turned around to finish the game.

"Well Christine you better get down there."

Saying goodbye to Meg and Donald she left.

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She was wearing a strapless red shirt with a part of nice jeans and brown high heal boots.

As she was walking to the gallery, when she thought it ironic that last time he asked her and was wearing a red shirt, this time she asked him and was wearing a red shirt.

She had forgot to grab a jacket so she was a little chilled. She reached the front doors at 8:15. She was early. She hoped that she wouldn't be standing out side for 15 minutes. But she soon saw there was a man waiting in side to let her in.

Simon Gordon opened the door, "You must be Miss. Daae?"

"Yes."

"Simon Gordon." They shook hands. Christine noted that was in his late 40's early 50's and married.

"So how long have you been married?" She asked after a few minutes.

He smiled and looked at the gold ring that lay on the left hand. 28 years. Married when I was 24." Christine smiled. "I have 5 kids, 8 grand kids."

"Wow big family."

"Yes I love every minute of it to." He smiled again.

They stood the last 10 minutes in silence.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Erik, Simon gave me the signal to tell you that she's here."

Erik looked at his watch. She was early, he smirked. "Yes I'll be down shortly."

Nadir said goodnight shutting Erik's office door.

He walked down the stair to see Ms. Daae standing there nervous.

"Night Simon, tell the Mrs. Hi for me." Nadir waved leaving to go down to the underground parking lot. He still had to pull Erik's car out front, so he and Christine wouldn't have to go down there. After pulling Erik's car out front Nadir left for his own car.

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Christine was looking at her shoes. So Erik took the moment to stop at the top of the stairs, to look at her.

Christine heard the foot steps. Her eyes slowing going from the owners's black shoe's( she knew those shoes), to the jeans he was wear. They had paint on them and they looked well worn. Her eyes still traveled up word to a black button up shirt the top 3 buttons undone like last time. Her eyes finally reached Erik's green one's when he was standing right in front of her.

"Christine." said offering her his left arm. She followed him out waving good bye to Simon. As she looked up at him she wondered for the first time why he wears a mask. He was plenty handsome.

Erik could feel her gaze.

Erik opened the car letting her get in, then rounding it to get in him self. They rode in silence, Christine noticed that Erik was driving a little to fast. "So where are we going?" She finally asked.

"To a quiet family owned restaurant. I'm good friends with the owners."

Christine looked at him. Only seeing the masked side of his face. Erik was getting uncomfortable with all this staring she was doing.

They arrived 10 long minutes later. They were sat out on the porch. It wasn't very busy, must everyone sitting in side due to the cold October air. A young boy had took their order and served their drinks. Erik had ordered red wine for both of them. They sat in silence. Christine was already in love with the place. The porch was small, decorated with stings of star and moon lights. There were candles on each table. There was a small band in side playing. Christine could feel the homey well loved feeling here. The porch over looked the Hudson river. There was a small dock and seating for summer time right behind the porch. Christine decided she loved it and never wanted to leave. It was like a place away from the real life and that's what she need right now. When she finally looked back Erik he was staring at her. His green eyes glowed with more of a gold look in them in the candle light then they did Friday night. She was about to tell him how happy she was that he bought her here but that chance never came.

Mrs. Firmin decided she would deliver Erik's food. "Ah my young Erik. Twice in one week. I didn't think you would listen when I said come back more often." She smiled wondering if this was the woman her husband had been talking about.

Getting up to hug the woman Erik replied, " It's the food, I can't stay away."

The woman laughed, "Good your to thin anyway Erik."

Erik shrugged it off, "Marry this is Christine, Christine this Marry Firmin. Her and her husband own the restaurant."

Christine smiled, "It's a real pleasure to meet you. Your place here is very lovely. I love the homey, close feeling it puts off." Mrs. Firmin smiled. Christine went to shake her hand but Marry pulled Christine up into hug. Erik smiled.

"Thank you so much darling, that's the feeling I was going for."

"Well Marry It's been nice but we should really eat before it..."

"Oh yes of course darlings, you eat, enjoy." With a smile she left.

"She nice." Christine commented.

Erik smiled, "Yes she is. Nadir and I always eat here at least once a week. They think we should eat here everyday."

Christine laugh, Erik decided right then he really liked her laugh.

They eat in silence, the waiter came to get their plates, "Is there anything else I can get you."

Christine didn't want the night to be over, because tomorrow she would have to go back to boring job and deal with Raoul.

"Um...how about, will have the chocolate moose with the double chocolate brownies."

The waiter took the order and walked back to the kitchen.

"I hope you don't mind, that ordered desert."

"No that sounds quite good." She smiled.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mr. And Mrs. Firmin watched the two sitting outside from the inside.

Richard smiled at his wife.

"So is so nice Richard, she will do Erik good."

"But she's engaged remember Marry?"

Marry said nothing just smiled.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As their desert was brought out, Erik took his spoon and fed Christine a bite.

Christine blushed excepting the brownie from Erik's spoon. Erik then bought a bite to his own mouth keeping eye contact with Christine. After Christine had a few more bites from her own spoon, She offered Erik a bite from her spoon. Slowing taking the spoon into his mouth he savored the brownie, making Christine blush again.

As they finished dinner, Erik payed. They walked into the restaurant, Marry came out.

"Dinner was great Mrs. Firmin."

"Christine darling call me Marry."

Christine smiled. And Erik spoke, "Well we must be off, see you next week."

Marry hugged Erik, whispering in his ear, "Bring her back sometime." Erik nodded his head yes.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As they walked to the car Christine shivered. Erik didn't get why she didn't bring a jacket. As he reach into his pocket to get the keys Erik stopped him saying, "Can we walk around for a little?"

Erik look to his watch to see it was 11:20,but he figured why not, he had no meetings tomorrow. He could sleep a little late. Erik unlocked his car, retrieving his long black coat from the backseat. He draped it around Christine shoulders. She smiled up at him.

They walk for about 15 minutes before Christine said something. "Tell something about your self Erik?"

Erik looked a little puzzled before replying, "Only if you agree to tell me something to?" Christine nodded yes and he continued, "I'm 33, my birthday is November 13."

Christine was upset she had already new that. "Well I'm 22 and birthday is April 24. Tell me something else?"

He looked at her, "Hum... I was born in France."

"I thoughts so, but it sounds like your not completely french."

"Your right my mom was from Scotland."

"I like your accent." Christine blushed, causing Erik to smirk.

"Now something about you."

"Well I was born in New Jersey."

"You don't have Jersey accent?"

"My parents were both from Ohio."

There was a silence and he took that as his cue to say something else, "Nadir is my best friend and business partner."

"Meg who answered the phone the time you called is my roommate and best friend."

Erik figured Meg must have been the one in the background earlier too.

They walked in silence the rest of the way. They returned to the car 40 minutes later.

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Erik had offered to walk her up to her door, to make sure she got in safe.

As they reached the Christine's apartment door there was a note taped to it.

Christine,

Donald and I went out with his 2 friends. Be back late.

-Meg

When Christine turned around to say something to Erik she found him standing right be find her.


Hehehehehehehe.

Don't you just love Erik?!

Ok chapter 9 is almost finished. And I have started writing a new story, along with this one. I'll tell you when I post it.

R&R