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"I can't believe I got so defensive with him," Christine said into the phone.
"You've been under a lot of stress. I'm sure he'll understand," Meg said from the other end.
"I hope so. I wish I knew where he was so I could apologize. I mean I feel terrible."
"Stop thinking about it for now. We have rehearsal in a half hour and I'm sure that'll take your mind off things. You used to love the theatre Christine. The lights, the make-up, the songs, everything will be spectacular again. Just like when we were younger," Meg said happily.
"Hopefully. Well I'll see you later," Christine said hanging up the phone. She couldn't shake the feeling of guilt for last night. "I might as well just go to the opera house. I'm not going to get anything accomplished here," Christine said to herself.
Fifteen minutes later Christine entered the opera house only to be met by the slightly talented and extremely haughty leading soprano. "Out of the way little nobody," the leading lady said pushing Christine out of the way.
"Watch where you're going," Christine said angrily.
"Excusi moi?" the lady said turning around with an angry glint in her eye. "I am La Carlotta, first lady of the stage. Around here I get respect. So you better watch where I'm going," Carlotta said with a smirk.
"That should be easy considering how big you are," Christine said just loud enough for Carlotta to hear.
"You little no talented whore," Carlotta said jumping at Christine. Christine was taken off guard and fell under Carlotta. Carlotta continued to claw at Christine's face until Christine landed a well dealt blow to Carlotta face. Carlotta rolled off of Christine and lay on the floor moaning in agony.
"Pick your battles wisely La Carlotta," Christine said rushing down the hall.
"Well fought," a soft voice said in Christine's ear.
"Wha…I swear, but there's…I'm going crazy," Christine said walking on.
"Christine I heard what you did to Carlotta," Meg said as she burst in ten minutes later. "That's simply amazing."
"I'll probably be in so much trouble for it," Christine said biting her lower lip.
"No you won't. Carlotta refuses to tell anyone what happened. She's embarrassed," Meg said laughing.
"You're kidding?" Christine said joining Meg in laughter.
"You might want to watch your back with Carlotta though," Meg said once the laughter had subsided. "I heard she can be pretty mean."
"I'll deal with her. She can't be any worse then Sara," Christine said nonchalantly.
"Just be careful. I wouldn't want you to get fired," Meg said as she pulled on her dancing clothes.
"So how do you think practice will go? I can barely remember practices from all those years ago," Christine said as she pulled her hair back away from her face.
"Probably just run through some songs and like an act or two then some dances and go home," Meg said with a shrug. Meg was never worried about anything that pertained to the arts. She had this natural ability to adapt to anything on stage, which is what made her such a phenomenal dancer.
"Can I share this dressing room with you?" a small voice said from the door. A girl no older than 14 stood in the doorway clutching a small dance bag and looking at the two girls nervously.
"Sure," Christine said before Meg could protest. "I'm Christine and this is Meg."
"I'm Sabrina," the girl answered quietly as she set down her bag. "I'm a dancer slash chorus girl. What about you guys?"
"I'm a dancer and Christine is the best chorus girl that ever lived. She's going to be lead soprano next year," Meg said with a smile.
"Meg!" Christine said throwing a shoe at her friend. Meg just laughed and lobbed the show back to Christine. "She lies. I just got into chorus."
"She has high hopes like everyone. I think you look talented," Sabrina said.
"How does someone look talented?" Christine asked.
"I don't know. It's something you can feel," Sabrina said as she got ready for practice. "I'll see you guys on stage. I have to go meet the new ballet mistress." She added as she walked out of the room.
"Something you can feel? That's basically what Erik had said when we met. He said he knew I had talent," Christine said.
"Earth to Christine, you are talented. They probably have heard you sing before. What does it matter?" Meg said indifferently.
"Never mind," Christine said exiting the room.
"Oh come on Christine," Meg said running after Christine. "Everyone knows you're super talented. Prove it tonight at practice and maybe my prediction of leading lady won't be far off."
"Prediction? More like evil joke," Christine said with a small smile.
Rehearsals were laid out like this: warm ups for singers and stretches for the dancers, going over company pieces, running through the first act, and auditioning for supporting roles. It wasn't all too exciting. Meg was of course the prima ballerina and not just because her mother was the ballet mistress. A few of the chorus girls auditioned for the supporting roles, but most of them were mediocre to say the least.
"I can't work like this!" Carlotta yelled halfway through rehearsals. "The little dancing girls need to stay on beat and out of my way," she yelled, when in fact she had stepped in the way of the dancers.
"Miss Carlotta please if you will with the aria," Mr. Reyer sighed.
"NO! Not until you replace these little dancing girls and the little chorus girl who was off," Carlotta screeched.
"She was the one off," Christine whispered to Meg. Meg stifled a laugh and nodded.
"I quit!" Carlotta yelled as she stormed out of the opera house.
"Finally!" a few dancing girls chorused. This raised a laugh from the others on stage and a few smiles from the instructors.
"Who will play La Carlotta's role?" Mr. Reyer said, obviously distressed.
"Christine Daae will sir," Meg prompted.
"What?!" Christine and a few others said in unison.
"She has this amazing vocal trainer and I knew she can do it," Meg continued as though no one had reacted.
"From the beginning of the aria then," Mr. Reyer said as he heaved another sigh. Christine glared daggers at Meg, but began to sing anyway. The whole opera house seemed to stop and stare as she sang. Her voice was clear and strong, like Erik had cultivated it to be. Christine was as surprised as the others when the aria ended. She hadn't even practiced the song. They had handed her the music and it just seemed to flow from her very heart.
"Bravo!" a voice boomed through the theatre. Everyone jumped and began to look around in fear.
"It's the Phantom of the Opera!" one of the ballet rats shouted.
Suddenly Christine jumped as a hand was placed on her shoulder. "He is pleased," Madame Giry said in Christine's ear.
"Who is?" Christine said with a confused look.
"The Phantom my dear," Madame Giry said with a curt nod as she walked away.