Hey! So I hope you guys like the chapter yesterday! So dramatic…what's going to happen!? Well, you'll just have to read to find out! This is my longest chapter, so I hope you enjoy! I also have the link to all of their Masquerade outfits on my profile. I suggest looking at them because I am not very good at describing them. Thanks.

~Lauren

Chapter 9

Masquerade

Eva opens her eyes slowly and looks around. Where am I? She looks to her right and sees Erik lying next to her. She looks down and realizes she isn't wearing anything, and neither is Erik. She gasps. Did we…? She whips the covers off, grabs her dress that she was wearing yesterday off of the floor, puts it on, and runs back upstairs.

She slams the mirror closed and leans against it, panting like a dog. She looks at her watch and realizes it is only five o'clock. "What just happened?" she whispers. She slowly walks away from the mirror, scratching her head. She sighs and looks in the mirror. "Okay. I remember we were celebrating for being her for two months. And then we got really drunk. We kissed, and then…he took me to his bedroom. Now here I am, naked." She plants her face in her hands. "We really slept together." Eva has no idea why she is so upset about this, she loves him. I really wanted it to mean something. My first time was just being drunk! That isn't special! Oh, my, gosh, Eva! What if he doesn't remember it and you have to tell him? He was really drunk, that wouldn't surprise me." Eva grunts in frustration. "I am just hoping he remembers it."

Erik wakes up with a sudden realization. Oh my god, I slept with her. He throws off the covers and doesn't realize he is naked until after. He gasps in surprise. He runs over to his dresser and pulls out his undergarments. He slips them on and then goes over to his wardrobe and takes out some nice black pants and white shirt. He sits down the bed to pull on his pants and gets a sudden moment of dizziness. "Gosh, I was so drunk." He murmurs. He slips his pants on and rests his hands over his knees to stop the nausea he suddenly felt once more. "I hope Eva is alright." He says out loud to himself. He gets up off the bed and puts his shirt on and buttons it. He sighs, thinking about Eva. "Gosh, I am such an idiot! I never should drink alcohol! It never ends well!" He storms out of his bedroom and goes over to his organ to play some depressing music.

Eva dozed off at about 5:30. She then woke up when someone was shaking her awake. She shot her eyes open to see Meg. "Meg! What's going on?" Eva lifts herself up and Meg backs up from over her. "I was worried. I knocked and you wouldn't answer. Then I came in and it looked like you fainted." She puts her hand up to her head and says, "Sorry to worry you. I think I did faint." Meg furrows her brow. "Why? Are you sick?" Eva shakes her head and sighs. "I just fainted in shock." She exhales before continuing. "Last night, I was downstairs with Erik. We were celebrating my being here for two months with some beer. A lot of beer." Meg's eyes bulge, knowing where this is going. "And well…one drink led to another and I…slept with him."

Her jaw drops and she starts pacing around the room. "Eva, I told you to be careful around him!" Eva clenches her jaw and says, "Well sorry for drinking beer and having a good time!" Meg throws her hands up and grunts. "That's not what I meant! Eva, oh god, what if you get pregnant?!" Eva throws her arms at her. "Don't say that!" Thy both sighs and start to calm down. "I just have one question." Eva nods. "Did you like it?" She looks at the floor and smiles. "I did, Meg. I was quite sober, Meg. So, I knew what was going on and yes, I did like it." Meg slightly smiles. "Then that's all that matters to me, is that you're happy." Meg grabs her hands and she giggles. Eva giggles too.

"So, are you ready to go out?" Eva furrows her brow, not remembering much. "The Masquerade is tonight! We were going to go shopping tonight for our dresses!" Eva squeezes her hands and yelps. "Oh! That's right! Yes, I am so excited! Could you just wait outside the door for me to get changed?" Meg nods with a smile and scurries out of the dressing room.

Eva smiles. Meg is my friend again! She then skips over to her wardrobe and grass a simple, sky blue dress to go out in. Then she runs over to her mirror and sits down. She takes her wig off and sighs. Then starts to put it into a braid. After she is done, she slips it back on her head. She continuously adjust it so that it covers enough and will not fall off. She smiles at her reflection and runs to the door. She glances back at the mirror and expects to see Erik come through, but he never does. So she opens the door and smiles at Meg. "Ready!" They take each other's hand and walk out of the Opera Populaire.

When they get to the dress shop, Eva cannot help but be utterly overjoyed. She has suffered way too long and it is now paying off. Meg grabs her hand and runs into the shop, pulling her in with her. They run in the door and Eva is just astounded by all the beautiful dresses before her. Meg runs to the red dresses that being her favorite color, and Eva just wanders around. What color do I want? She passes a million colors. Purple, blue, orange, red, white, black, pastels and other dark colors. And then when she sees one color, she stops dead in her tracks. Yellow. Erik. His favorite color is yellow and so is mine! And of course I am asking him to go! So, I should definitely get yellow. She runs up to the yellow section of dresses and looks around. She doesn't see many that catch her eye, but then she sees a magnificent yellow, sleeveless dress with black flowers going down the sides of the breasts. Oh, it's perfect! She grabs it off the rack and runs to the dressing room to try it on.

When she slips it on, she is absolutely in love with it! And it fits perfectly! "I have to get it!" She takes it off, slipping her other dress back on and then walks up the clerk. She puts it on the counter for her to pay. "That will be six thousand francs." Eva ruffles through her purse and pulls out a bunch of coins. The clerk takes them and then slips the dress in a cover for protection. He hands her the dress and she takes it. "Thank you!" she says smiling. Then after Meg pays for her dress they both walk out of the store, just anticipating tonight!

Dear Erik,

As you probably know, there is a masquerade tonight. I have never been to one of these so this will be my first time to one! I am so excited, so I would be absolutely delighted if you were to come! It will be very fun, trust me! So, I am hoping to see you there.

-Eva

Erik throws the letter down on his desk and he sighs. "How could she be so calm after last night?" He is talking to himself. "I shouldn't go." He shakes his head. "But it would make her so happy…" He sighs once more and then scratches. He smirks to himself. "I need to get an outfit, but not the same outfit I wear all the time." He gasps. "Yellow! I need to go buy something." He jumps up out of his chair and grabs his cloak, ready to go buy a new tux.

Eva is just finishing curling her hair when she hears a knock at the door at the door. She jumps up and runs to the door. She opens it to see Meg in a stunning red, sleeveless gown with flower detail all over it. "Oh, Meg, you look absolutely stunning!" Meg guffaws. "I look nothing compared to you!" They both giggle before grabbing their hands and running to the party.

Masquerade!

Paper faces on parade!

Masquerade!

Hide your face so the world will never find you!

The room fills with singing and dancing! Eva just laughs in happiness. Mag runs off to a man that Eva has not met and she goes around searching for Erik.

"Erik?"

"Erik?"

"Erik?!"

Eva has finally given up on asking people if they are Erik, so she just walks over to the table of food. She grabs a cookie and munches on it. Once she is done, she turns and faces the table to get a beverage. Before she can grab a cup, someone taps her on the shoulder.

"Eva?"

She whips around to see a man with a yellow coat, black pants and a very unique black mask. "Erik?" she asks desperately. "That's my name!" he chuckles. "Oh, you did come!" she yells with a huge smile. Erik laughs. "I didn't want to disappoint you." "Thank you." She says and hugs him. He gasps silently, surprised by her embrace. But he soon relaxes and puts her hands around her. He laughs once again and says, "Shall we dance?" She releases their hug and grabs his hand immediately and drags him to the floor to dance.

Masquerade!

Every face a different shade!

Masquerade!

Look around there's another face behind you!

Eva is very happy as she and Erik sing, it is too much to handle. She hears his enchanting voice and feels as if she were hypnotized. He has the most beautiful voice. Her voice eventually fades away and she just listens to him. She was having the time of her life.

Erik is walking her back to her dressing room, he compliments her and says, "You look beautiful, by the way. You look very stunning in yellow." Eva looks over at him and says, "Thank you. I saw yellow and thought out you." Erik blushes a mighty shade of red and says, "I did the same thing for you. Yellow is your favorite color, and I thought it would make you happy." She smiles and nods. "It did. Thank you." They reach her dressing room and they face each other. "I had a wonderful time, Erik." He nods and says, "As did I. I hope to see you tomorrow." He takes her hand and kisses. She blushes. "Goodnight, Erik."

"Goodnight, Erik."