Chapter 10: Remembering
Christine got to the apartment to find Meg still doing her usual dancing around to the music playing from her headphones. She smiled to herself, it was nice to see her so carefree. She grinned and sat down on her bed while Meg took out her headphones.
"Hey," Meg said cheerily.
"Hey, Meg," Christine sighed. "We need to talk."
She frowned and sat down on the floor. "What is it?"
"I know what happened. I remember everything and I know you do too," she stated firmly.
She pretended she didn't understand, "What are you talking about…?"
"Don't play dumb with me," Christine got up and took her hands. "I know exactly what happened, Meg. It's okay; I promise that it's okay. I know Nadir remembers too: our past, our second chance."
"I don't want to think about it..." She looked away. "I thought I was the only one that knew."
"We have to talk about it, Meg," she whispered and squeezed her hand. "You were, and still are, my best friend. We need to talk about why we're here and why on earth my Erik… Doesn't remember."
"He doesn't remember? At all? I thought that's why you two were together…"
"No… I didn't recall the opera house incident until I was in Sweden again," she sighed. "I was with him because I sincerely loved him and that connection from the past was still strong into now…" In Sweden, one beautiful sunny day, she had remembered who she was over a hundred years ago. She was Christine Daaé, soprano, prima donna, and victim to the strange affair of the phantom of the opera. That day had been so terribly distraught for her. "I just need to talk about it with someone. It's still terribly taxing on my mind."
"We've been given a second chance...I remembered during a dance recital. It didn't go very well…I'm sure Erik will remember in time."
"Yeah," she sighed shakily. "I guess… But what if he doesn't Meg? Then again, what if he does and he hates me… Erik and I didn't exactly see eye to eye back then."
"He could never hate you and you know that. He loved you even when it didn't seem like it."
"I know, Meg… But things got especially delicate when I left with Raoul of all people… And he bullied Erik in high school... Who's to say he won't take different memories and hate me?" Christine put her face in her hands. "I just don't want to lose him…"
"Christine. You don't need to worry. He loves you and he won't let anyone get between you two this time around," Meg reassured her.
Christine bit her lip and hugged her tightly. She really needed to hear those words from someone who understood her situation.
"Alright, now let's go! I know about a party happening!"
"I-I can't actually," she mumbled guiltily. "Erik begged me to move into his apartment and damn that man for his charm, I agreed. I'm so sorry, Meg. If you don't want me to move out, I don't have to."
"Oh...okay. I get it. I'll just see you around I guess…" She grabbed her bag and left quickly.
"M-Meg, wait!" Christine cried and quickly went after her. Meg hurried off so they didn't have to talk. She was upset. Christine groaned and went back into her room. She sat down on the bed and didn't pack; instead she put her head in her hands and waited for Erik to get back.
He showed up, dressed nicely again. "My love! The key to my heart!" He held out a set of house keys for her. "I cleared out a dresser and closet for you!"
"Shit, neither of you are making this easy for me," she said shakily. She looked up at him brokenly and took the keys slowly. "Meg w-wasn't too happy about me moving out. I-I don't know what to do, Erik."
"She'll be okay. We're in love, it's important."
"But she cried and ran away… She was really upset," she sounded so guilty.
"Baby...it'll be okay. She'll understand," he tried to reassure her. Christine pulled him down onto her bed and hugged him tightly. This day had been stressful because she didn't want to hurt anyone. That's all she felt like she did in her past… And now she felt the need to be perfect all the time. "If I move in with you, I hurt Meg… If I don't move in with you, then I hurt you…" she groaned and buried her face against his chest. "At this point, can I live on the streets as a hobo?"
"Maybe I asked you too soon...we haven't been together very long."
"N-no! You didn't ask me too soon!" She shook her head. "I want this… God, I've wanted this for a very long time, but I don't want to hurt anybody." She just felt so bad. She had brought up that painful subject with Meg and then dropped this bomb on her. "I just wish there was a way I could make everybody happy…"
"Well...maybe she could move in too?"
"I-I could ask her… God you're the best," she whispered and kissed him deeply.
Erik kissed her back and smiled. "As you saw, there are a few extra rooms. I was thinking about asking Nadir to move in too."
"You're incredible… You have made me so, so happy," she whispered lovingly.
He smirked broadly. "Now… Can we have sex now? I've been very patient today," he trailed off.
"Fuck. Yes," she growled and pinned him to the bed. "You deserve it after all you've done for me today."
He grinned up at her. "I've been a good boy today."
"Mm… I'll agree to that, my Erik," she said smugly and pulled off her shirt. She leaned down and kissed him roughly. Just as they were getting into it, the door opened and Meg was standing there.
"Oh… S-sorry," she stammered. "I umm forgot the keys." She turned around to leave, not even grabbing the keys. Erik blushed hard and Christine didn't even care. She had straddled Erik's hips and just sat there now with her shirt still off.
"Hey Meggles, do you wanna move in with Erik and I? We're inviting Nadir as well," Christine inquired nonchalantly. She had relaxed now that she was with Erik.
Meg looked up in surprise, "Really? Is it that big of an apartment for four people?"
Erik awkwardly tried to fix his clothes, "Um yeah. It's got three bedrooms."
"See? That way we can all stick together," Christine sounded very pleased.
"Well, okay." Meg grinned. "That sounds great."
Christine cleared her throat and glanced back down at Erik. "Anyway… Umm if you'll excuse us," she said finally with some shyness to her voice.
Meg pouted, "Aw Chrissy I wanted to start packing!"
"Well dammit, you're going to have to wait about… An hour," she smirked down at Erik. "Yeah, an hour sounds about right."
"Go back to Erik's and you won't have a time limit!" She huffed.
"Oh my goddddd!" Christine groaned. "Meg, for the love of god! I guarantee that I won't make it to his place, so pleasseee! Just. Go. For. A. Walk.'
"Ugh, fine!" She turned to go, "It's gonna smell, open a window." She hurried off and Erik quickly undressed them.
"Finally," Christine growled and straddled his hips again. She ran her hands down his chest and kissed him deeply.
He kissed her back, "Mmm do you have do you a condom?"
"Mm yeah…" She quickly dug one out of her bedside table. She wasted no time ripping open the package and slipping it onto him. "Apparently we need to be quick about this. I don't want to be interrupted again."
"That's fine, I don't want to wait." He quickly pulled her close and kissed her hard again. Christine grabbed his length and slipped it inside her without much warning to Erik. She didn't want to wait any longer either. She placed her hands on his chest to steady herself and slowly began to rock her hips against him. Erik moaned and held on to her hips. Soon enough, they moved together in a rhythm that felt perfect, it was fast and rough. They didn't care that their chorus of moans could be heard out in the hallway.
"Mmm I love you! So much!" He pushed his hips up to meet hers.
"Oh!" Christine cried out. "Fuck, I-I love you too!" She whimpered and bucked her hips erratically as her climax drew closer.
"D-Don't stop!" He held her hips tighter. He was so close.
She let out a sweet cry as she met her peak of pleasure and shuddered hard. "ERIK!" Christine cried out his name loudly and collapsed onto his chest. Erik cried out with her and panted heavily after their mutual climax.
"Mm so good…" he mumbled.
"Mhmm," she sighed and curled up on his chest. "You've had two good workouts today."
"Love you…" He holds her close.
"I love you too," she said in content and speckled kisses on his jaw. "Christ, I don't know if I can do more physical activity after that." She laughed tiredly and yanked the blankets over their entwined bodies.
He yawned and held her on the tiny bed, "Mm, nap time."
"Just for a bit," Christine chided. "Meg will be back soon and we don't want her to see us both bare ass on the bed."
"Who cares?" Erik sighed happily and fell asleep with her in his arms. He had buried his face within her golden curls, breathing in their sweet scent.
While he was sleeping, Christine stayed awake. She moved slightly and ran her hand across his jaw. "Sleep well, my angel of music," she whispered.