"The Phaaaantom of the Opera is here, inside your miiiiinds!" Yay, Zach just has a stubborn cold and as for the other thing, it as been pretty much written off by everybody as, "He's 4, which means he doesn't know what he's talking about." Which is good enough for me.

As everyone left the stage, Ben hung back, speaking with Flint. He waited till everyone had retaken their seats before speaking.

"Mr. Mercer has volunteered to go first, as long as none of our round two performers have no objections?"

Everyone was silent, their eyes on Annie. She looked down, trying her hardest not to look interested. When they saw that she wouldn't react, they looked back at Ben. He did nothing, just signaled for the music to start.

Earth angel, earth angel
Will you be mine ?
My darling dear, love you all the time
I'm just a fool, a fool in love with you

Annie's head snapped up so fast, she almost gave herself whiplash. Was he really trying to play the romantic, sympathetic card with her? It did not suit him. He was wrong if he thought she was going to fall for it. The only thing he did have right was that he was a fool. She whole-heartedly agreed with him on that.

Earth angel, earth angel
The one I adore
Love you forever, and ever more
I'm just a fool, a fool in love with you

If he really did adore her, and loved her, then why the hell did he leave her the way he did? Every time she asked him, he would blame it on the Agency. That excuse had gotten really old really fast. "He had plenty of chances to contact me one I joined the Agency, didn't he?" She asked Auggie.

"Of course he did. Joan said that he told her that he didn't want to put you in danger, which I think is stupid. Everyone knows you can more than handle yourself. You had the best hand-to-hand combat instructor, after all." He finished with a smile. Annie rolled her eyes and bumped his shoulder with her own.

I fell for you and I knew
The vision of your love, loveliness
I hope and I pray that someday
I'll be the vision of your happy, happiness

Annie actually laughed at this. Did he seriously think that he was going to work his way back into her bed just by calling her lovely? Auggie had called her much more flattering things, and he had never even made it past her bedroom door. She wondered if Ben really thought she was that shallow. This thought made her curious if Auggie felt the same way.

Oh earth angel, earth angel
Please be mine
My darling dear, love you all the time
I'm just a fool, a fool in love with you

"Auggie? Do you think I'm shallow?"

He turned and gave her the strangest look. "Of course not. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing. Just curious."

I fell for you and I knew
The vision of your loveliness
I hope and pray that someday
I'll be the vision of your happiness

"He can just keep hoping and praying, because he ain't nowhere near my "vision of happiness". Annie said to Auggie.

He laughed at this. He realized at that moment, that laughing was something he did a lot with Annie. "What about me? Am I in your "vision of happiness"?

"Maybe."

Earth angel, earth angel
Please be mine
My darling dear love you all the time
I'm just a fool, a fool in love with you

The reaction was sudden, and deafening. Annie's heart sank. It sounded as though Ben had just made his way into the final round. 'As long as Auggie makes it.'She consoled herself. This brought up another un-bidden thought. She embraced the fact that she...felt something for Auggie, but could she imagine spending her life with him? Could she imagine her life without him? Annie glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He looked angry.

Auggie wasn't angry, not by a long shot. He was furious. Mercer had some nerve, trying to guilt Annie into getting back together with him. If Annie was his, he would never have lost her in the first place. He reached for Annie's hand, blindly, and he felt her slip it into his. He pressed a kiss to the back of it.

This one simple show of emotion was enough to make her mind up for her. Between Auggie and Ben, she chose...

"I'm up next!"

The bunnies took off with this story and have no intention of giving it back. Its really sad when you have "Deleted Scenes" from a story. I'm probably going to post them under "God save those kittens". But first, I have to post a request story.