Love is an Art
Chapter 10
Erik saw her expression and started to laugh.
"Right, Erik, you say I can have one of your cars. I let it go and agree to it, but do you have to have five of the world's most expensive cars?" Christine said as she walked up to him.
"Of course." He laughed. "Some of the cars have certain reasons. The Dodge Charger is for dates and special events. The Mustang is just for fun. The Porsche is just for fun, too. The BMW is for like road trips, and such, and the Benz, well, I had to have a more sophisticated car; but you can have anyone you want." Erik said.
"I don't know, Erik. I would be to scared to drive any of these." She said.
"Don't you have your license?" Erik asked.
"Of course I do."
"Then take your pick, I have complete insurance on all of these so don't worry about theft or wrecks. Just choose one."
"Okay, okay, keys to the Benz please." Christine held out her hand, and Erik laughed as he put a whole ring of keys in her hand. It had five keys on it. "What are all of these?"
"One is for the Benz, on is for the house. One is for the gate in front of the house. One is for the garage, and one is the key to my heart." He said.
"Aww, the key to your heart." Christine kissed it and held it to her heart. Erik touched her cheek and kissed her.
"The key is a spare. You already own the key to my heart." With that he stuffed a clip of money into her hand, kissed her cheek, said good bye, and went back into the house.
Christine was speechless, and got into the Benz. She turned on the car and smiled when the music came on. Beauty and the Beast. She pulled out of the garage and drove off of property. What had he meant about that? You already own the key to my heart. If only he knew that he had her heart, and she never wanted it back! She smiled just thinking about him. It seemed as if so much had happened, and he was strong for her trough it all. Meg would hear about this. As she crossed the Golden Gate Bridge she smiled as she remembered crossing it with Erik.
She stopped the car when she came to one of her favorite stores. Ann Taylor. Erik had said, not to worry about cost, he could take care of it, but she wasn't going to go crazy with his money. That would be a betrayal of trust. That was the last thing she wanted to do to Erik. Then she remembered the clip of money that Erik had put in her hand. She took it out of her pocket and almost passed out. It was fifteen one-hundred dollar bills. She took out her cell phone and called Erik.
"Hello?" Said his silky voice.
"Erik! I can't take this money!" she cried.
"Yes you can, think of it as a pay check in advance." He chuckled into the phone.
"You mean a pay check for three months of work." She said.
"Christine, get whatever you need. I assure you that money is not a problem. Don't forget to get something for tonight. You can go visit Meg while your out, if you want to. Nadir and I are in the middle of putting together her room." He said.
"Oh, ok, then I will let you go. But I will pay you back later." Christine said.
"Ahuh, ok. I have to go. I'll see you when you get back." Erik said.
"Ok, I'll see you in a little while."
They hung up and Christine went into the store and was approached by a store clerk.
"Hello is there anything I can help you with?" the woman asked.
"I am looking for something to wear tonight. I have a date with a very special person." Christine replied.
"Did the person tell you where you were going?" the woman asked.
"No, he just said that we were going to dinner, I have no idea what he has planned."
"Ok, well follow me; I know something that will do nicely."
The woman led Christine through the store and to a wall that had a few cocktail dresses on it. She took down of the dresses and presented it to her.
"This is called the Alicia Halter Dress. It is very comfortable, it looks great, and it is affordable." The woman said.
"Yes, I think this will do quite nicely. Thank you." Christine said.
"No problem, if you need anything else let me know." The woman handed the dress to Christine and went to the clerk's desk.
Christine held up the dress and admired it. It would need something to go with it. She walked around the store more and found little black strappy heals. She picked them up and carried them with her.
'I will only get this outfit here,' Christine thought. 'I'll get my day to day clothes somewhere less expensive.'
She walked around the store but didn't find anything she wanted; so she took the dress and shoes up to the register.
"Did you find everything ok?" another store clerk asked.
"Yes, I did. Thank you."
Christine paid for her items and left the store. She got into the car and headed for the nearest Target. She quickly ran in and grabbed the essentials. A few T-shirts, jeans, pants, caprees. Then she got lingerie, stockings. Then she went to the beauty isle and got toiletries, nail polish, and make-up. Then she went to the female isle and got tampons and Advil.
As she walked through the store thinking of anything else she would need for now, when she came across the candy isle. She picked up Hershey's with Almonds, and Reese's, and a bunch other candy that she would share with Erik, Nadir, and Meg.
Christine looked over her items and decided that she was ready to go. She went and purchased her items and didn't even look at the total price. She just handed the teller the money and smiled.
As Christine walked out of the store, she heard her name being called.
"Christine! Christine, is that you?!" A blonde man was running toward her.
"Raoul de Chagney?" Christine said.
"Yes, it's me! I haven't seen you in years! How have you been?" he asked.
Raoul de Chagney, Christine remembered him very well. He was her boyfriend all through high school. During senior year, everyone thought that they were going to get married right after graduation, but they didn't. Christine wasn't really sure about what happened. All she remembered was that Raoul went to England to work for his father's business; and now they were reuniting in front of a Target.
He still looked the same and Christine remembered. Still the dazzling white smile, and blonde flowing hair. He was very slim, but looked like prince charming. Christine almost started to laugh when she thought of how different Erik and Raoul were.
"I've been good Raoul, lately my life is a little hectic, but it is looking up." She answered his question.
He saw the bags in her shopping cart and said, "Here let me help you with that. Where is you car?"
Christine led him to the Benz and he looked surprised.
"Wow, Christine, nice car." He said, still surprised.
"You are wondering how I got it, right." Christine smiled.
"Well, I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious." He replied.
"It is my boyfriend's car." She said.
"Oh, you have a boyfriend," he said, a bit disappointed.
"Yes, I do, his name is Erik. He owns Rozier Architecture. That is were I work. I recently got a job there because we had an accident at my apartment." She said.
"An accident?" Raoul asked.
"Yes, you remember my best friend Meg Giry?" Christine said.
"Meg, of course, we were partners in crime, all of us were." He replied.
"Well, Meg and I live together with Erik, and his friend Nadir, now. I was out with Erik and the apartment caught fire. I didn't have a job, or a place to live so Erik helped Meg and I out. I am going to visit her right now, Meg is in the hospital."
"I am sorry to hear that. When will she be released?" Raoul asked.
"Tomorrow morning. Erik is getting her room ready as we speak, or he should be getting her room ready. He is probably in the library reading or drawing up a storm." Christine laughed. "Maybe later in the week you could come over for lunch or something. Meg would me pleased to see you again, and I have no clue weather or not Erik would want to meet you, but he is going to." Sh laughed again.
"That sounds good. Here is my number, call me when you want me over. I was good seeing you again Christine, but I have to go now." Raoul said.
They said good bye and went their separate ways.
Christine let out a breath and made her way home. As she drove up the driveway, she saw Erik and Nadir running across the front lawn. They were both wearing running shorts and sweatshirts. She smiled and drove into the garage; liking that look on Erik. As she got out of the car, she herd Erik yell, "Nadir, you goddamn cheater!" She walked out so she could see the men fighting.
Nadir laughed, "I didn't cheat! You want to believe that I cheated so you can automatically assume that you have won."
"If that is what you think, then I challenge you to a fight later." Erik said.
"What kind of fight?" Nadir rubbed his forehead.
"Fencing. Only this time, no armor, and no dull knife either." Erik smiled, for he was exceptionally good at fencing.
"You plan to kill me then?" Nadir laughed.
"Not kill. Wound severely; but not kill." They both started to laugh.
"I'd pay to see that!" Christine spoke up. Erik beamed. "Meg would want to see that too!" she said as she made her way towards them.
"Then tomorrow after Meg gets settled; how about it Nadir?" Erik held out his hand for a shake. Nadir stared at the hand.
"Come on, you aren't scared are you?" Christine said.
"Hardly." Nadir replied dryly, shaking Erik's hand.
"Well you should be," Christine said, "I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of Erik's sword…well now that I think about it, it depends what sword we are speaking of." Christine gave Erik a looked before she kissed him. Nadir and Erik both laughed. "Erik, come I have to talk to you."
"Alright, can I meet you in the library in twenty minutes?" he inquired.
"Sure; meet you there. Bye Nadir, see ya!" Chrisitne waved good bye, and went into the garage to grab her shopping bags. It was a trying task, to take all the bags up at once, but she did it. She quickly threw everything out of the bags and looked for some of the perfume she bought she dabbed a bit on her wrists and cleavage and ran to the library.
Once there she plopped down on the couch, then she ran to one of the shelves, grabbed a random book, sat back down on the couch and began "reading". She was still "reading" when Erik walked in.
He had apparently taken a shower, and was now dressed in black slacks, and a deep blue button down shirt, with the white mask. He looked, in one word, striking.
"You are doing some hardcore reading, Christine." Erik said with a smile, as he sat down next to her.
In truth, she was really thinking about Erik. Maybe he is the one. She was defiantly falling for him…if she hadn't already.
Christine looked at the book and it was a book on prehistoric elephants. She looked at the book some more, then set it aside.
"Yikes, I wasn't really readying that." She said.
"I see. Did you get all of the items that you needed?" he asked.
"Yes, I did. I put the change on the counter, in the kitchen. Thank you so much, Erik." Christine hugged him, and smiled when she felt his arms around her.
"I would do anything to see you happy, Christine. Now, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Well, I ran into an old friend today at target."
"Don't tell me you went to target, Christine. I gave you more than enough money to go to Macy's or somewhere else."
"I know, I just didn't feel right spending that much money without you there. I'm not used to shopping in such places, I am comfortable and content with Target. I didn't mean to make you up set." She said.
"I'm not upset, Christine. I just want you to know, that when I give you money, don't worry about spending too much. Money is not a problem for me; I have a lot of it, and really like spoiling you. So be prepared for a lot of spoiling. Now, this friend you ran into?"
"Well, he was our best friend in high school." She said.
"Our?" Erik said.
"Meg and I."
"Wait him? Who?"
"His name is Raoul, and he was my ex-boyfriend." Erik immediately got jealous, and Christine saw. "Don't worry, we are over. I only have eyes for you, and will only have eyes for you. You don't have to worry about him stealing me away from you. I wouldn't let that happen, nothing can take me away from you, not even death."
Erik chuckled, "Not even death, huh?"
"That's right. So I kind of invited him for lunch here once Meg gets out of the hospital. He wants to see Meg, and I, and he wants to meet you. So I told him to give me a call at the end of the week."
Christine couldn't read the look on Erik's face and got worried.
"Erik, I have something I should probably tell you, I want to tell you, but I don't know if now is the right time or not. If I tell you and now isn't the right time, I don't want to push you away from me." Christine said looking at her hands in her lap.
"Christine, there is nothing that you can say that will drive me away, nothing. I can't help it, but I have very deep feelings for you." Then he stopped.
'Should I tell her that I am madly in love with her?' his mind said. 'By god, I am in love with her. There is nothing I can do about it, she has taken my heart and I don't ever want it back!'
"Christine, I have a question. Why haven't you ever asked me about this." He pointed to the mask.
"Erik, don't you know? I could care less about your mask, or what is under it. It doesn't make you any less of a person. Look at what you've done for me and Meg. I don't care about your mask; but, if someday you wish to show me, fine, I will still want you as much, maybe even more." Christine said.
"That time is not yet, Christine. Please understand that." He said.
"I do understand, Erik. When you are ready, I will be also."
Christine smiled at him and leaned in for a kiss. He obliged and wrapped his arms around her. As their lips wrestled their hands explored each other. Erik pulled her back against him as he lay back on the couch. He liked the feeling of Christine on top of him and started to kiss her harder.
Christine broke the kiss and smiled, "It appears that you want me too." She sat up.
"I thought that was apparent." Erik said.
Christine kissed him once more and stood up. "Come on I want to show you what I got for tonight."
Erik stood up, "No, I don't want to see it until it is on you tonight. Surprise me." He said.
"Oh, ok, in that case. I have to go back out. I didn't see Meg this afternoon; I wanted to get the bags home. I will go visit Meg then be back, okay?"
"Ok, why don't I come with you?" Erik said.
"Do you want to?"
"Any moment I can get to spend with you…"
"Okay, let's go." Christine said, rolling her eyes.
///AN\\\\
Here is Chapter 10. I hope you liked it. Please review!!!!!! Oh, and if there are any artists out there who would like to do a drawing of one of my characters, perhaps a drawing of the drawing of the dance; let me know, I would love some drawings! REVIEW!!!
-Primadonakate