Renovating

Wednesday morning, I wake up to the sound of my alarm and make an immediate move to turn it off, but, once again, discover that I'm held in place by Erik's arm, which is coiled around my waist and his face is nuzzled into my curls. I honestly wasn't sure if I should smile, frown, or blush.

Erik *stirs as I switch the alarm off*: Good morning, my dear.

Me: *flatly* Good morning.

Erik: Is something wrong?

Me: Not really…I just realized this is the last time I'm going to wake up next to you.

Erik: Oh…well, why do you say that?

Me: Because after we finish our schoolwork today, Mary Frances and I are going to help you, Christine, and Raoul decorate and furnish your rooms.

Erik: Well, finally! It's going on two weeks since our trip to Bed Bath & Beyond!

Me: I know, we just haven't had the time lately. PLUS, we'll be able to show off your finished rooms to the Phangirls when they come over for the Karaoke Slumber Party next Friday!

Erik: * groans in horror* OH NO!

Me: OH YES! So far, Cori (Grissrox), OprGhst, FromTheDepthOfMyMind, Crash, Izzy (Heywhatup), EriksNewLove, TheTricksterPrincess and her twin sister Nikkibell, MapleRock and her Erik, Neverland Child, and her sisters are all coming! Oh, and so is my awesome new friend, RoseTheHorrorlover (or Tia), along with her Erik from her new story, 'Angel of Doom'!

Erik: Well, since there are going to be so many other Eriks, I guess I'll survive…

Me: Exactly, and we will all have a crazy awesome time together! *sits up* Well, I guess we better get up, we have a busy day ahead of us.

Erik: Yes, good idea. *sits up* By the way, I have a feeling this won't be the last time we wake up next to each other…

Me: *smirks, but hisses nonetheless* Pervert!

So, after school…

Mary Frances and I changed into some old, worn clothes and pulled our hair up into messy buns.

We're now all gathered in Christine's room, pouring the paint into trays and prepping the rolling brushes.

Mary Frances: Alright, Erik, I think you're capable of—Christine, why in the world are you wearing a dust mask?

Christine *slightly muffled*: The last thing I need is to inhale stupid paint fumes and permanently damage my lungs and mental health!

Erik: *gasps, hastily grabs a dust mask, and puts it on*

Mary Frances: Okay then… Well, Erik, as I was saying, you are capable of painting your own room. Meanwhile, Lauren and I are going to help Raoul and Christine paint and then start assembling the furniture.

Erik *slightly muffled*: What? Why do I have to work alone? You know I hate being alone!

Me: Well…*sings* learn to be lonely!

Mary Frances: Erik, you lived 20-something years under an opera house without any company whatsoever… I think you'll survive a few hours of painting.

Me: How about this, since Erik's room is larger than Christine's and Raoul's rooms put together, after we finish with them, we'll all come in and help you get yours done.

Erik: Fine… *leaves and goes into his room*

Mary Frances and Raoul go down the hall to Raoul's room and get to painting while I assist Christine.

Christine *while we alternately paint her walls purple and blue*: So I was reading over our recent 'Phanmail' and RoseTheHorrorLover asked why Raoul and I weren't sharing the same room and I can't help but wonder the same thing… I mean, we are married, so why separate us?

Me: Let's just say we can't afford any more additions to the family at this time…

Christine: Oohhhhhhhh… *pauses* I don't get it…

Me: *facepalm*

Meanwhile, in Raoul's room…

Mary Frances: You idiot! That wall is supposed to be white, not green! And don't paint outside the blue tape!

Raoul: Well, I'm sorry! I've never painted a room before! Who knew it was this complicated!

Mary Frances: Just shut up and pay attention to what you're doing!

Raoul: Someone's in a poor mood today…

Mary Frances: You would be too if you were stuck painting an entire room with a stupid fop who is apparently colorblind!

Raoul: AGH! Holy crap, I dripped paint in my hair! *sprints into his bathroom and takes a shower*

Mary Frances *muttering continuously while painting*: …I'm going to murder him…I'm going to murder him…I'm going to murder him…

One hour later…

Me *sets down roller*: Alright! We're done!

Christine *hops up and down excitedly*: YAY! *high fives me* It looks great!

Me: I know! Let's let it dry and check up on Mary Frances and Raoul.

Christine: Good idea!

We go down the hall to Raoul's room to find Mary Frances finishing the last wall.

Me: Hey, how's it going in here?

Mary Frances *sighs and sets roller down*: Just finished…

Me: Well, it's looks good!

Christine: Um, where's Raoul?

Mary Frances: He accidently got paint in his hair and has been in the bathroom ever since.

Me *notices the sound of a hairdryer coming from the bathroom*: Probably applying all of his hair care products…

The hairdryer then stops and Raoul comes out of the bathroom, his hair as shiny and swishy as ever.

Raoul *notices walls, turns to Mary Frances*: Oh hey, you finished!

Mary Frances *tone dripping with sarcasm*: Yes, I did, thanks for all your help!

Raoul: You're welcome…um, you missed a spot… *points to a little area*

Mary Frances: *approaches Raoul with paint can and dunks it over his head* No, YOU missed a spot!

We all then go into Erik's room to see how he's doing…and our jaws instantly drop.

Me *hands jump to mouth*: Oh my gosh, Erik!

Mary Frances: Michelangelo much!

Not only had he finished painting his walls, but he had painted a whole freakin' mural on the ceiling above! It was identical to the one from the Opera Populaire!

Erik *looks over at us*: …what?

Me: You're done…and you're ceiling…it's just phenomenal!

Erik: Oh, that? That's nothing! *notices Raoul and his appearance* What on Earth happened to you?

Raoul *points to Mary Frances*: SHE happened to it…

Erik: Figures… What'd you do?

Raoul: The usual…

While we wait for the paint to dry, we start constructing their furniture. I'm in Erik's room, helping him put together his four-poster bed while Mary Frances is in Christine's room, assembling her vanity. Raoul is taking another shower.

Me: So…are you excited about the karaoke slumber party next Friday?

Erik: I'm as far from "excited" as you can get. It's more like "utterly terrified".

Me: Well, you better get excited! The Phangirls are all really excited and I'm really excited, too!

Erik: If it's anything like the pool party, I don't think I'm going to survive!

Me: That sucks for you because by the looks of it, it's actually going to be crazier than the pool party…

Erik *cries and folds hands*: Oh, merciful God, please just kill me now!

Me: Oh quit being such a drama king and help me get this bed done!

Erik: As a matter of fact, I have a little…erm, project I have in mind, so I'll be back in a bit!

He flees from the room before I can even open my mouth to protest.

2 hours later…

Erik comes back, looking quite satisfied with himself. I've nearly finished assembling all his furniture.

Me: There you are! What in the world was it that you had to do?

Erik: *dazedly stares off into space*

FLASHBACK (Erik's POV)

Me: As a matter of fact, I have a little…erm, project I have in mind, so I'll be back in a bit!

I quickly fled from the room before Lauren could protest. Good thing, too… I'm finding it more and more difficult to disobey her lately.

Perhaps I'm having a change of heart towards solitude? Or am I just afraid of what she is capable of doing to me if I go against her orders?

Whatever the case, I really don't have time for a mental debate right now.

I immediately get to work on my…project…hoping desperately not to be caught. God only knows what kind of punishment I'd be given.

I first went into Lauren's room and pushed her wall mirror aside to reveal a passageway, which was currently under construction by my own doings.

In two hours, I had connected all of the wall mirrors in the house and made one huge passageway inside the walls of the house. I would go and complete my…project…by making one of my own wall mirrors the main entrance, but, of course, Lauren's in there putting my furniture together and the last thing I need is her finding out about my…project…

Speaking of which, I need to get back up there before Lauren starts getting suspicious, if she hasn't already!

END OF FLASHBACK (Lauren's POV)

Me: Erik? Erik! ERIK!

Erik *snaps out of daydream*: Huh? What?

Me: What was it that you were doing for 2 whole hours?

Erik *stuttering slightly*: Oh, um, nothing…just, um, helping Mary Frances and Christine…

Me: Whatever, let's go make some dinner, I'm starving.

Erik: I'm right behind you!

Me: Yeah, I highly doubt Erik was "helping Christine and Mary Frances", but I'm too tired to nag him about it after today's activity… At least their rooms are complete and decorated now.

Erik: Can I make the announcements now?

Me: Yeah, knock yourself out.

Erik: YAY! Alright, so, Announcement 1: Mary Frances now has a FanFiction account! Her username is Secret Night Owl and she has her first Phantom of the Opera story posted!

Me: It's called "The Weight of Words"! Check it out!

Erik: Hey, I'm giving the announcements here!

Me: Alright, sorry…jeeze.

Erik: Announcement 2: For those of you who haven't heard, the karaoke slumber party is next Friday! So you have until then to tell us you're coming and submit your ideas and all!

Me: If you already have, we're soooo glad you guys are coming and can't wait to see you!

Erik: *attempts to pull out punjab lasso, but discovers it missing once again* Stupid mongrels!

Me: *smiles* Well, review, my lovely Phangirls!