As always, a huge thanks to my beta phantomsmelody1871! Without you, I couldn't even bear to look at what I wrote, much less post it for others to see. Everyonedeserveslove also deserves a huge thanks as well! Your encouragement is wonderful and your reminders for me to update keep me from falling too far behind :)

Chapter 11

The next few weeks pass in a blur. After my first date with Raoul, he seems more confident to put his arm around me, or hold my hand as we walk. I feel special and popular when I'm with him, when people are looking at me enviously. I know they are wondering why Raoul is with me of all people, but I try not to let it bug me. What do they matter, when I have Meg and Raoul? I make sure not to let Raoul see that it hurts me. I wouldn't want him to worry, and he doesn't seem to notice anyway.

Meg is enjoying the attention, in her usual happy-go-lucky way. I don't think Hayden cares, as long as it makes Meg happy, which makes him happy. I think we are in the same boat. We are happy, as long as our other half is.

My lessons with Erik were strained in the beginning. He would meet me, looking menacing, inside the practice building. I was unsure if we were going to continue lessons, until he came up to me in music class. I was so surprised that he was talking to me that I dropped everything I was carrying, sending it all across the floor. As I bent to pick it up, I thought of the first day, when Erik had helped me. This time he didn't, and it made me terribly sad. More than I would like. He told me that he would meet me inside the practise building from now on for our lessons, instead of in his usual room. Then he left me standing there, feeling like I had been slapped. Had I expected an apology with a warm embrace? Of course not, but I had expected some form of an apology. I guess that wasn't happening.

Eventually, he started to relax. Just a bit. He didn't look like he was out for blood, which I took as a good sign. After a week, I started making comments on classes, the weather, and things going on in the school. I would do anything to get him talking, even if the topics were superficial. He would "uh huh" and "oh, really?" insincerely when I tried, but later, he started giving his opinions every once in a while. It wasn't like it used to be, but I can't expect that either. I am still so unsure and confused about what happened the night I told Erik about my date with Raoul. I prefer not to think about it, pushing it to the back of my mind. It's better for everyone that way.

As I wait outside the boy's dorm for Raoul, I pull my jacket tightly around me. It doesn't keep out the cold very well. The jacket is one of the things that 'mysteriously' appeared on my receipt when I went shopping with Meg. It is a leather jacket that matches Raoul's. Meg thought it was cute, and Raoul said it was "hot," so I decided I would wear it. Personally, I think it is kind of ridiculous to match him. He doesn't own me. But Meg whined and complained that I didn't have any other really nice jackets, so, in the end, I agreed. It's true, my other jacket's sleeves no longer fit, and I don't have Erik's coat, not that I would wear it if I did, no matter how comfortable it was. I felt strangely hollow the day I gave it back to him.

It had taken two days for me to remember, and when I did, it was with a sense of foreboding. I put it in my backpack to take it with me to my lesson, and when Erik asked what was in it, once inside the room, I had grudgingly reached in and pulled it out.

"It's washed and everything. I thought you might like it back," I had said in a falsely happy tone.

Erik looked at it with a strange look on his face as I held it out towards him. Slowly, with long, leather clad fingers-for he had begun to wear them around me again- he took the jacket from my hand, leaving me with a fist of cold air.

"Thank you," he said, folding the jacket perfectly on his lap, then putting it beside him on the bench.

"You're welcome," I faltered, wanting to take it back, not knowing why. It was just a jacket.

As I stand in the cold, I can only be glad that Meg hadn't done something completely ridiculous, like have the jacket personalized with Raoul's initials, or have it engraved with "Raoul's Girl," or something equally as ludicrous. Actually, I am probably lucky that she didn't have rhinestones put on it. That would be a Meg thing to do. Raoul would find it just as ridiculous, I know. However, if we tried to get back at her, like giving her a jacket with "Hayden's Girl" written on it, she would probably like it.

My phone beeps, and, hoping it is Meg or Hayden, I open the message. It is Tania, a girlfriend of one of Raoul's friends. I don't really know her, and the first time she texted me, I wondered how she got my number, and why she wanted it in the first place. But, after a few days, more people like her were asking for my number, or getting it from friends. It was flattering and annoying at the same time. I didn't want people bugging me all the time, and Erik certainly wasn't happy when it began going off in the middle of our lesson. Several times.

"Who is this insolent person who insists on repeatedly annoying you?" he snarled.

"It's not just one person," I said, glancing briefly at the eighth message. It was one of Raoul's friends, asking me to hang out with him and a few others. It still flustered me when people asked me things like that, or even if they just talked to me. At first, it made them think I was weird, but now it's kind of their thing to tease me about it.

"Oh, so you are popular now?" he asked.

I gave him a curious look, wondering if it was an insult. "I suppose so. I don't really know them. They're Raoul's friends."

"And how is your boy? I am assuming the date went well, then?" he asked. It was the first time he mentioned it.

I was full out staring at him. He seemed calm. He wasn't looking me in the eye. "Yes, it was nice," I said carefully.

"Nice?" he asked.

"Yes." Was he expecting me to gush to him about how much of a gentleman Raoul was?

"I would think from how much things have changed, it would have been better than nice," he said casually.

"What do you mean?" I asked defensively.

He finally looked at me. "Your clothes, for starters."

"What's wrong with my clothes?" I said, looking down. I liked what I was wearing. Meg phoned me to wake me up an hour earlier than usual so she could help me pick out what I was going to wear. Now, I don't need her helping me. Carlotta had just scowled when Meg came over around six in the morning, being louder than usual to annoy Carlotta. At the time Erik said that, I was wearing the light blue dress that I had gotten with Meg, with a pair of black flats. Sure, it was freezing, but I looked nice. I looked nice and felt nice.

"What happened to the jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers you so often wore?"

I shrugged. "I still have them. I just don't wear them as much."

"Did your boy make you give them up to look like the rest of his pretty friends?"

"No," I said, starting to feel slightly hurt and annoyed. "I like how I look. Do you not like it?"

He stopped mocking. "Did I say I didn't like it?"

"It sounds like you don't," I had said. "And you implied I wasn't pretty." That part hurt a lot, although it made me feel vain to think it. It wasn't that I wanted to be told I was the prettiest girl on earth, because I wasn't. However, he always made me feel beautiful. But I guess he didn't think I was.

Erik seemed at a loss for words. I knew I was making him tread thin ice, but I didn't care. I was angry, especially since it took me so long to look nice in the first place.

"You are lovely, Christine, no matter what you are wearing," he said quietly, glaring at the ground. My jaw dropped open. Then, he snapped at me to start the song from the beginning.

That was the first and last time he had complimented me in a long time, aside from his occasional "good" when I sang something right at our lessons.

I am debating on answering the text when Raoul walks out, his long blonde hair looking windswept. His bright blue eyes sparkle when he sees me and he grins. "Hey, babe," he says, putting his arm around my shoulders.

"Hi," I smile, wishing he would use a different term of endearment.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing, just texting Tania," I say, waving my phone.

"Good." I know it means a lot to him when I interact with his friends. They're not all that bad, nowhere near as bad as I thought they would be. Actually, I find myself having a lot of fun with them. We may not be in the inner circle of Carlotta's friends who are the only ones who haven't warmed up to me, but that's fine. I don't think I can pretend to like them, anyway.

As we walk, I text Tania and another friend of Raoul's, Jake. I like him the most out of Raoul's best friends, because, when he teases me about my shyness, I know he really is just joking. His humour is almost reminiscent of Papa's, in a more boisterous way.

There is a light dusting of snow on the ground, and some of it gets into my flats as I walk. "Isn't it too early for snow?" I mutter, making Raoul laugh. We stop so I can shake some of the snow out of my shoes. My toe is back to normal, thank goodness, and I am back to dancing, more importantly. When Meg started getting me to actually think about what I was going to wear, I realized it is hard to look pretty when you're limping through the school with a purple, swollen toe. And a lot of shoes just don't fit the same way.

Meg and Hayden are waiting outside the dining hall. Meg is practically blue, and Hayden is rubbing her arm, probably to make sure she hasn't turned to ice.

"Why didn't you guys go sit at our table inside?" I laugh. "You could have just texted us where you were."

"We were just waiting for you, chica," says Meg, her teeth chattering. "Sorry for being a good friend."

I give her a one arm hug, and we walk into the dining hall together. As we get to our table, Meg immediately pulls off her jacket and mittens. "I can't feel my fingers or my toes!" she exclaims. "Isn't it too early for there to be snow outside?"

"I said that too!" I say. Looking down our joined table of about ten people, I realize how much Raoul was giving up, sitting with just me, Meg, and Hayden. He could have been surrounded by his friends, and it makes me feel so warm and happy inside that he made sure I was comfortable first.

Sarah waves at me from across the table. I smile, and wave back shyly. Okay, so I'm not completely comfortable yet. But I will be. This is just different from what I am used to.

"I like your shirt, Chris," says Sarah. "Where did you get it?"

I tell her about the store Meg and I went to. We've gone back a couple times since then. It's mine and Meg's secret that she still helps me pick things out, although I am getting better at coming up with my own opinions on what to wear.

"Sounds great!" she says. "Maybe I could go with you guys next time?"

"Absolutely," I say. Meg jumps in and begins to tell Sarah about how great the store is, and other ones that we always visit when we're in town. I like Sarah, too. She was one of the people who were crowding Carlotta on the first day, but she also tried to defend me. Yesterday, she suggested that she could play back up for me at a recital. I gave her a vague "maybe". Erik hasn't told me that I can't sing other than where he instructs, but I assumed so, and I don't want to bring it up, especially when his temper is still fairly high. There are so many rules concerning him that are just assumed.

"Chris," says Tobias. "Carla, James, and I are going out to the lake tonight. Want to come with us? Raoul, Meg, and Hayden can come, too."

"Yeah, Chrissy," says Carla. "You should come! You can bring anyone you want."

I highly doubt they mean anyone. "Thanks guys, but I have a lesson tonight."

Already, everyone sitting at the table, and more, know about my singing lessons. Luckily, they don't seem to care too much about them, just saying they want to hear me sing again if it is brought up. So, I don't really mind.

"Come on, Christine. Just one time," says Tobias.

They look at me expectantly, and I see Raoul looking at me out of the corner of my eye. Meg is giving me a stern look, and that is the only thing that makes me feel confident enough to say no. "Sorry, guys, but I have to go. Some other time, alright?"

"Okay," sighs Carla.

Raoul looks down at the table, disappointed, and I want to hug him and explain it to him, but I'd probably end up with him chasing down Erik to beat him up, and I really don't want that to happen.

"You must be pretty good by now," says Tobias.

"Didn't you hear her at the party? She's amazing," says Raoul.

I smile at him and entwine our fingers on the table. If I can't hang out with him in the evenings, at least I can make the time that we do have together special.

"Yeah, I remember that," says Sarah. "You were so great, Chris."

"Thanks," I say shyly.

"You should sing a solo in the Christmas concert," says James. "I hear Carlotta's doing one."

"Great," says Meg with a roll of her eyes. "Not only will we get to listen to her brag about it before and after it happens, we will actually have to listen to her sing, too."

Everyone laughs and nods in agreement. "C'mon, Chrissy, you have to sing again. Do you know how much that will bother her?" says Clara.

"I'm her roommate. Do you know much she will bother me?" I say sarcastically.

"She'll be so jealous that she won't have anything to say," says Sarah.

"Yeah, right," I say. "But thanks."

"Think about it," says James. "Not just for you or for us. But for all of humanity."

I laugh. Erik would appreciate that not many other people like her singing either. I feel a pang of sadness. But he won't know because he'll never talk to these people. He barely talks to me.

"Okay, fine. I'll think about it," I say, thinking that Erik was probably going to have me sing at it anyways. There must be Christmas music in the large stack of sheet music he's been setting aside for me. It seems to a foot taller every time I see it.

Sarah looks down at her phone. "Fifteen minutes until class. We should probably go," she says.

Clara moans. "Do we have to? Can't we just skip?"

"You can," says Sarah, pushing her chair in, "but I'd like to pass."

"Fine," says Clara, picking up her garbage and following Sarah, with Tobias and James in tow.

"I guess we should go," I say, getting up from my chair. "Bye, Raoul." I lean over and give him a small hug. My nose is assaulted by his strong cologne.

"Bye, Lotte," he says, his breath tickling my ear. He pulls away. "See you next class."

Meg waves Hayden off as she waits for me. "Don't you need to be somewhere?" I ask her. "Like class?"

"In a few minutes," she answers.

"Alright," I say uncertainly. We say goodbye to the other students still sitting at the table, unaffected by the time. We start walking towards my room, and Meg is quiet, giving me an uneasy feeling.

"Meg, are you sure you're alright?" I ask.

"Yeah," she says with a smile. "Are you?"

"Yes," I say. "Why do you ask?"

"You've just seemed different lately," Meg says with a shrug.

Not her too. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know. You're smiling and you look happy, and that's good. You and Raoul are almost nauseatingly cute," she says, giving me a smile. "But you're also kind of pale. And there are bags under your eyes. Have you been sleeping alright?"

"Yeah, perfectly," I say. I've had no dreams since that weird one the night of my first date. For once, I've been sleeping soundly throughout the night, and I am not tired in the morning.

"I guess if you feel alright," says Meg. "How are your lessons going?"

I haven't told her about mine and Erik's fight yet. I'm worried she will freak out and tell a teacher, or tell her mother. She might even tell Raoul. It would not end well. "They're fine. I've just gotten through another aria. After two weeks," I say with a smile.

"He really strives for perfection, doesn't he?" says Meg.

I shake my head with a small laugh. "Absolutely. No mistakes pass him."

"Doesn't it make you exhausted? It sounds just as bad as Mama and dance class," says Meg.

"Maybe it's why I've been sleeping so well," I suggest. If it is, it's only helping me more.

"That's good, then. I really want to meet this guy, though. Talk to him, alright?" she asks.

"Sure," I lie. "See you next class!"

I hurry into my room to grab my stuff, pretty sure that I am going to be late to vocal. I'm so busy picking up my binders and papers that I almost don't notice Carlotta standing there.

"Looking for this?" she asks, holding up a page of warm ups that had fallen out.

"Thanks," I say, taking it from her and shoving it back in.

"I saw you and Raoul," she says.

I look up. "Oh?"

"It will not last."

"Thanks for the advice," I say, feeling annoyed. I get up to walk around her.

"He is easily bossing you around, getting you to do what he wants you to. You were best friends, once, but he will grow bored."

"Well, great, I'll make sure to think about it," I say in a huff. That last sentence struck home. What had Erik said about Raoul? "You need someone to look after you, to keep you away from silly boys who will only play with your heart until they get bored." Why was everyone saying that about Raoul? They are all biased, anyway. Carlotta is jealous and just mean, and Erik is…I don't know why he said that. He just doesn't like Raoul.

"I'm trying to warn you," Carlotta calls from the doorway. "I'm trying to help."

"Why would you help me?" I ask.

Carlotta glances away from me, displaying a brief uncharacteristic moment of vulnerability. Then she glares at me. "Fine, then. Don't listen. But you can't say I didn't warn you." She slams the door of our room shut, leaving me standing in the hallway in bewilderment.

Unsurely, I walk quickly to class, wondering what Carlotta was about to tell me. She couldn't have been helping. She was mean, and all she wanted was to tear me apart. Starting with my relationship with Raoul. He was my key to popularity, to confidence. He's the only one keeping me up on my feet. So, of course, that's what she would try first.

I am certain that Carlotta is nothing but a cruel, conniving witch by the time I arrive to class, two minutes late. I am short of breath, and the entire class turns to look at me. I blush and face Miss Meyer, who is looking none too happy.

"I'm so sorry," I say. "I couldn't find some of my papers, and I hadn't realized the time…"

"Christine, you have been late to my class four times already. Do you know what happens when you get to five?"

"Detention," I say, my voice little more than a squeak. Maybe I am a goody-two-shoes for being scared of getting a detention, but things like that go on your permanent record.

"Exactly. Please do not be late to my class again," says Miss Meyer. "And would you happen to know where Carlotta is?"

I look to the front of the room. Erik is sitting at the piano, his eyes on me. By a music stand is a boy, Adam, I think his name is. They must have just finished the warm ups, I realize.

"She was still in our room when I left. She…" She slammed the door in my face. "She didn't look like she was feeling well." I almost gape in surprise at the words coming out of my mouth. Why was I protecting her from getting in trouble?

"Why didn't she see the school nurse, or tell a teacher?" asks Miss Meyer.

"She…" Erik is looking at me with a strange expression. "She didn't want anyone to worry. She said it wasn't too serious, but she wanted to be alone."

"Alright," says Miss Meyer, her expression softening. "Take your seat, Christine."

I nod in appreciation and take my spot among the sopranos. "Carlotta's sick?" asks a girl named Eliza.

"I think so," I say, and turn to my music, because I don't think I'll be able to come up with any more fake details.

"Halloween is coming up," starts Miss Meyer, instantly getting an excited reaction from the class. "We are having a dance and party, but we were also thinking of having some performances from classes."

I grin, and Tania smiles at me from her place with the altos. I love Halloween! You can dress up and be whatever you want, and Meg typically drags me to the dance. It's the one time Madame Giry lets Meg and me eat sugary candy. The classes have decorations, and everything is so festive!

"I'm happy you guys like the idea," says Miss Meyer with a smile. "How about some ideas for what we should sing?"

"Thriller!" someone shouts.

"The Monster Mash," says another.

"Misguided Ghosts," calls the girl beside me.

"Ghosts!"

"She Wolf!"

"Poker Face!" someone yells, and everyone laughs.

"I see you guys have lots of ideas," says Miss Meyer with a large grin. "How about I post some sheets to the wall outside the classroom door, and anyone who has an idea can write it down? They don't have to be in this class either, as long as it is appropriate.

I can't stop smiling. This Halloween is going to be the best! At the party, I will be with Raoul, and we'll be surrounded by friends. For once, I'll be popular and in the middle of things, instead of skirting the edges. We will have to pick our costumes this weekend, because Halloween is next week. I forget what Meg said she and Hayden were being. I know that he just happily went along with what she said. Raoul and I still haven't been able to agree on anything. He doesn't want to look "stupid," and, apparently, half of the ideas we've had have been stupid.

Oh, well, he'll agree sooner or later. We'll find something we both like. A princess and a knight? Frankenstein and his bride? Two pirates? They are really classic ideas, and I want to think of something different. Something that will show that I belong on Raoul's arm, with friends surrounding us.

"Remember, Halloween is next week, so we need to have three songs for our class by Monday, and all other songs will up for grabs for individual performances," reminds Miss Meyer. "Okay, guys, we have to at least try to get to work, now." As she tries to rein the class in, I look at Erik, who is scowling at the class.

0000000000

"Why can't I sing one?" I ask. I have finally mustered up the courage to want to perform, to ask Erik if I can, and he says no?

"Because I said so."

"That's not fair," I say.

"Life isn't fair."

"And that's old," I say, trying to keep my bottom lip from pouting. "Please, Erik?" I try again. "I actually want to perform this. I want to! Me!"

"No, Christine," he says. I sigh, missing his terms of endearment.

"Why not? Don't you like Halloween?" I ask.

"Why should I?" he snorts.

"Because it's great!" I say. Erik looks at me to elaborate, and the list I have in my mind vanishes instantly. Now, the reasons seem very childish. "Well, there are games, and prizes, and the party we have is really fun! The decorations are so cool, and I love the costumes." I think about when I was little and spent Halloween with my father. "When I was five, I dressed up as the Disney princess Belle, six years in a row," I say, laughing a little. Raoul went as a zombie, ninja, or a pirate. I'm pretty sure his costume was different every time.

"Yes, well, I cannot see you as a fan of some of the more gruesome costumes," he says dryly.

I giggle. "Depends. If they're really bloody, then they freak me out."

"And if they're not?" he asks, sounding bored.

"If they're just scars and they look weird, then they won't scare me. Unless someone jumps out of the dark wearing one. Then I might scream and run."

"Darling, you do that whether the person is scary looking or not," says Erik.

"I guess so," I laugh, trying to hide my feeling of jumping for joy that he called me something other than "Christine." I was getting sick of my own name.

"So, is that a yes?" I ask, hopefully.

"No," he answers plainly, and my smile vanishes. "If such things existed, you would be running for the hills. You would not be having a party to celebrate it. I will not have your loveliness in the midst of that ridicule."

"They don't exist, Erik," I say. "It's just a fun holiday, and I'm going with Raoul, Meg, Hayden, and lots of other people anyway."

"Wonderful, there is another reason for you not to do it."

"Why do you hate Halloween so much?"

"The answer to your question is one you would rather not know," he says.

"But I do want to know!"

"No, you only think you do," he says. "If you did know, then you would only wish you didn't, and that you could continue to sleep peacefully at night."

"No, Erik, I do want to know."

"It would only cloud your pretty mind with terror, and that will not happen if I can help it."

I am tired of him referring to me like a child, like I wouldn't understand. "Erik! You can't just say things like that and not explain. I want to know what you're thinking."

"I am thinking that you will not be performing."

I sigh in frustration, but finally give in. If he doesn't want to tell me, he won't, especially if I beg. Really, what was so bad about Halloween? And what does he mean I would only wish to sleep peacefully at night? I try to focus on our song, and I come up with a plan to sing at the party, one that Erik will agree with once he sees.

A/N: I feel like I am always asking you guys not to hate Christine. You'll just have to trust me...and Erik. Do you really think Erik will let Christine go to Raoul? Thank you everyone for the wonderful reviews, and for giving me your honest opinions and advice. I truly do consider them while writing my story. I've always liked hearing people's opinions, whether I agree with them or not, so I'm glad you guys share with me what you're thinking.

On an unrelated note, has anyone seen Sierra Boggess and Hugh Panaro in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway? I badly wanted to see it, but I live too far away. And then there's school...but mostly just because of the distance. :P Anyway, I can't believe she had her last show yesterday :( I guess she will be moving on to other things, so I'm happy for her. And Ramin is playing Jean Valjean in Les Miserables in Toronto at the end of the year! Who else is planning on going?

:) EriksAngeDeLaMusique