Ta-da!


Chapter 12

It had been five full days since I had returned to school. Five wonderful days where everything flowed smoothly, rehearsals were great (except for the fact that Ty had only been there for like two rehearsals and then only long enough for his scenes. He always managed to disappear right as I got a chance to try and talk to him.) Jason and I were, well, we were wonderful. Every once in a while though, if he tried to grab my left hand, both of us would get a nasty shock. It was getting annoying.

I walked downstairs to the refrigerator and pulled my rehearsal schedule away from the magnet that held it in place. There was one week until the play, which meant it was tech week. I was ecstatic. There were rehearsals every night this week for however long it took us to run through the musical twice with notes and reworks. It was going to be wonderful.

I opened up the fridge and scanned the contents. I needed to go shopping. I grabbed an apple and the jug of milk and sat down to eat after pouring myself a glass. Ty was worrying me. Mrs. Radley had said not to stress because she had gone through the whole musical with Ty already and that he was great, but it was still strange. I scanned through my contacts as I munched on my apple and stared at Ty's phone number for a minute before I hit call. The phone rang once, twice, three times before Ty picked up. "You going to be at school today, slacker?" I asked. "If you miss another rehearsal, you'll be fired as the Phantom." (Not likely, but I wanted to hear his reasoning behind missing so much. Hey, I had a legitimate excuse. I mean, being kidnapped is a pretty legit reason for missing anything.) "Why? Did you miss me?" He laughed. "Yeah, I'm going to be at school today. Don't you worry, sweetheart."

I grimaced in embarrassment. "Sweetheart?"

"Kidding."

"Ty-?" I remembered something. It seemed like ages ago. "You weren't hurt when the lab table caught on fire a couple of weeks ago were you?"

A moment of silence and then, "No. I'm fine."

Relief swept through me. My Angel wasn't hurt.

My Angel? Where did that come from? I moved the thought away and asked, "Hey, can we maybe meet early this morning and run through some stuff? I'd like to practice before class time today."

"Anything for Miss Daaé." His deep voice purred in answer. I laughed and said, "Okay. See you at 7, then?"

"Works for me. Bye, sweetheart."

"Hey!" He hung up laughing. My cheeks were burning, but no longer from embarrassment. I think I actually sort of like it when he calls me that. I sat there, grinning like an idiot until I remembered I was going to be late if I didn't hurry up. I scarfed down the rest of my small breakfast and finished getting ready. I tried not to notice that I took a little longer than normal when applying my makeup. It's not like I'm trying to impress anyone. Not really. It doesn't even matter that I haven't seen Ty in a couple of weeks. I'm just doing this because I want to look nice. I threw my clothes on and rushed out the door. When the lights came on, shining onto my car, I paused, feeling like something was missing. No rose. I briefly closed my eyes and sighed. It's done. I slid into the driver's seat and reached behind me. All the roses I had gotten had all ended up thrown into the floor. I grabbed them all; they made quite the bouquet. Dead and dry, perhaps, but that wasn't why I wanted them. They all had a strip of paper rolled along the stems. I should've asked Nathan about them. I mean, this is so weird. I pulled each strip off and unrolled them. All of them said things like, Brava!; Well done, little Lottie; and Sing, my Angel of Music. All quotes from the musical. These didn't seem like something Nathan would do. Leave me roses with lines from the show, and then take me from it before it could be performed. That was just cruel, and I don't think cruel was what he was trying to be. I ended up throwing everything back into the back and driving to Jason's house. He was already waiting for me in his driveway. He got in the passenger's seat and buckled in. "Hey, sweetheart." What was with all the 'sweetheart's' today? I wasn't sure I liked it when Jason said it. It didn't give me the same feeling as when it came from Ty.

Problem there! I yelled at myself. You shouldn't be feeling anything to do with Ty!

"Did you figure out if Ty's gonna be at school today?" Jason's question snapped me out of my thoughts. "Yeah." I told him. "I'm meeting him early to practice the blocking since neither of us have really had a chance to work through everything together."

Jason nodded. "Alright." He glanced over at me, slyly. "You need me to help don't you?" He grinned at me mischievously. I laughed and said, "Sure."

We drove and chatted about nothing in particular, the subject changing randomly. When we arrived at school, we got out and walked to the theater together. Jason holding my right hand. Ty was already waiting, sitting in the front row of the house. "Hey, man." Jason called. "Why'd you miss so much? We needed you."

"Didn't see a reason to come. Besides, I did all of my work and I know all the stuff, so what's the point in wasting time here?" I looked hard at him. I had a feeling that he wasn't telling the truth. He was too blasé about it. But he hadn't lied about his face, it looked alluring as ever. Wait, what? First he's my Angel and now he's alluring? I must have been hit in the head harder than I thought. Jason and Ty both stared at me. "What?" They said simultaneously. I felt my face turn red at the realization that I had said that out loud. "Um- n-nothing." I rubbed my forehead. This was a great start to the day.

Jason looked confused by my odd statement that he may or may not have heard, but Ty looked somewhat pleased. I desperately hoped he hadn't understood what I meant. I felt my face burn hotter under his gaze. I hadn't even realized that I was talking aloud! I had never done that before. Why did this have to happen now? I was going to die of embarrassment and maybe get in another argument with Jason before the day had even begun. Wonderful.

"Um- shall we?" I asked, changing the subject; ready to get a move on things. Ty nodded and Jason sat down in the middle of the house, ready to direct if necessary. I was almost satisfied that he hadn't heard me and breathed a sigh of relief. Ty gave me an intense look and I gulped. He had heard me. I took a deep bracing breath and then let it out. I was about to go on stage. And these feelings couldn't follow me onto there. They weren't a part of my character, therefore, I had to let them go.

Ty and I walked to the middle of the stage and we paced out through everything. Jason threw in a couple of pointers, correcting us when we made a small mistake. When we reached the end, we started over, jumping around to where we felt we needed the practice most. We ended up getting Jason on stage, since he was in so much of the blocking we had together. We rushed through the Point of No Return and went on to the quick bit where the Phantom is dragging me down back to his lair. And then we were there. The part when I had to kiss him. When we arrived at that part, I skipped it and just went on ahead, half singing the words. "Wait, wait, wait." Ty stopped us. "Don't you think we should practice that part, too?" A tiny smile lifted the corners of his mouth. "No- um- we don't have to- not now, I mean." I stammered, glancing at Jason, who was now trying, and failing, to keep a blank face. I would rather practice the kiss when Jason wasn't around, or just not at all. I didn't want him to watch. Especially not in the condition my heart and mind were in. I was scared of what it would do to me.

"Oh come on, Em. This is the perfect setting. Your 'love' is here watching and the play is a week away and we haven't practiced it yet. We'll have to eventually." He cajoled.

Normally, we would have practiced multiple times already, but considering I had been M.I.A. the week before, and Ty had been M.I.A. this last one, we hadn't gotten a chance. I looked over at Jason and saw him stiffly nod. I looked up at Ty and swallowed. After another quick glance at Jason, I tried to get into character and took Ty's face in my hands and kissed him. I tried to be quick and chaste.

It was dizzying. His warm scent and his surprisingly soft lips made me forget about it being a supposedly fast kiss and kept me in place for what seemed to be an eternity. I felt Ty wrap his arms around me and did nothing to stop him. I couldn't do anything, didn't want to do anything. Ty deepened it and I could hear the blood rushing through my ears. It created a low rhythm that seemed to underline the melody that sprang into my head. It felt like the very air around us was singing with energy.

When Jason coughed, I came back to myself and realized that the kiss had been going on for a long time. Too long. I forced myself to break contact and gasped for breath. Ty tried to close the distance but I stopped him, pushing him back a little saying, "I think that's enough for now..." But I had to force the words out of my mouth. I wanted to kiss him again. Ty looked over towards Jason and tried to keep a straight face, tried to keep the smirk from his lips. I followed his gaze and saw Jason standing red faced from jealousy or embarrassment, I don't know. He was glaring daggers at Ty. He didn't look too happy with me, either.

Why had I agreed to this? Why hadn't I tried to insist on waiting until we were alone, or at least away from Jason? I was stupid, this wasn't right, it shouldn't have happened; not like this. All my thoughts crashed together and I tried to back up only to find that I was still ensnared in Ty's arms. And he didn't seem willing to let me go either. He was tracing patterns on my back. I had to fight not to shiver. "Ty-," I choked out. Ty looked down at me, fire burning in his eyes. Mine, they said. I couldn't look away, try though I might. He had captured me.

As if sensing that I was in the midst of internal chaos, his arms released me, though his eyes held me there for a few seconds more. I quickly backed away a few feet. I stammered out a goodbye and tried not to run to my stuff I had thrown near the door. Jason caught up to me and gazed at me, his face now bearing a look I wasn't sure I could put a name to. It was like a combination of everything. Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed my shoulders. He pulled me to him and kissed me roughly. I made a surprised sound in the back of my throat. It was rough, and angry. I hated it. I found myself thinking for the second time, it wasn't right. It shouldn't have happened. Not like this. Not like this. I pushed Jason away, knowing that he only kissed me to tell Ty that he couldn't get anywhere with me. "Don't. Not right now." I whispered. It made me so mad that he felt he had to do that. I managed to glance over Jason's shoulder to see Ty watching us. He looked happy that I hadn't enjoyed that awkward kiss as much as I had his. I entered the hallway with Jason staring at me in bewilderment and with not a little hurt on his face. I felt his hand on my arm and I spun around to face him. "I don't care if he doesn't know that I'm yours." I tried to speak quietly. And calmly, but with the state my head was in, it wasn't likely that it would last very long. "You know. Don't you?" I tried pleading with my eyes, begging him to understand that I couldn't deal with anything right now. I was too broken right now. This shouldn't be happening. There was too much too soon, too quickly. I tore my gaze away from him as I whispered, "So please, don't doubt me."

Jason angrily answered back, "You kiss him like that and expect me not to get jealous?!"

"No-," I started. "But you should know how I am right now. This was a stupid thing to do today. There's been too much going on that I can't deal with, and this doesn't help." Jason tried to interrupt, but I continued, "I'm not going to change my feelings for you just because of a stage kiss."

Jason relaxed with that response and gave me a small smile. "I know, Em. I'm sorry." He leaned forward to kiss me again. This time it was real and sweet.

It still made me cringe on the inside.


"God gave me courage to show you,

That you are not alone,"

I sang. I grabbed Ty's face and kissed him very quickly and broke away, avoiding his eyes.

"Oh come on, Emily! Make it look more real, more passionate than that!" Mrs. Radley called out.

If only she had seen the one this morning. I thought. I made the mistake of looking Ty straight in the eyes as we backed the blocking up. I was a goner. We worked our way back up and did it again, this time I allowed myself to kiss him like I had that morning. I got so lost in the kiss, more than the first one. I heard Mrs. Radley laugh and say, "Yes! That's what I mean. Keep it up!" I broke away for air, Ty looking at me in astonishment, and then we kissed again, Ty's arms grasping my shoulders, holding me in place. I heard someone say, "Well, Jason, she looks pretty into it. You sure she's into you and not Ty?" That snapped me out of it. I turned away from Ty and did something I never did. I broke character to answer the speaker, "Yes, he's sure." I snapped. But I wasn't sure. I felt confused. It was like half my heart said, Yes, Jason is the guy for you. He's been there for you like no one else has, while the other half said, Ty is who you really love. He can sing like no other. He gives life to some dark part of you. He is truly like the music of the night. And always there for you? Please, when has Jason ever really truly seen your heart? You're cautious around him even now, for fear of causing an argument. You've always been open with Ty, and him mostly with you. I gave my head a little shake to force those thoughts away.

We continued on until we finished the play. We had a fifteen minute break. Jason and I utilized each and every second. He cornered me in the hallway, alone.

"So you're sure you love me and not Ty?" Jason asked me with a forced laugh, playing for a light tone. He couldn't hide the uncertainty in his voice, though.

"Positive." I think.

I know he sensed my confusion. "What's the matter with you?" Jason gently grabbed the sides of my face and made me look up at him. "I know you were talking about Ty this morning when you said those things about him being your Angel and being alluring. And there is no way you could have 'acted' the way you did when he kissed you. It was too real." He took a deep breath. "Em, I'm just confused. With everything. Tell me now. Do you really love me?"

I stared at Jason. "O-of course I do." I couldn't hold his gaze. "I don't know what's wrong with me." I turned away. "The week before last was just- and this morning- Jase," I struggled to keep my tears from falling. Couldn't cry in full makeup and costume. That could get messy. "I- I can't answer you right now. I'm not- not- fixed. From Nathan. I'm not okay. Let me- let me-," I buried my face in my hands. I inhaled and held it for a few seconds. I released it when I looked back up. "I will be okay. Eventually. But right now, there's too much going on, too much stress with the musical and you and Ty and I- I can't right now."

"Em, the way you look at him...," he sighed. "It just makes me wonder."

I decided the safest thing for me to do was to place my hands back against my forehead. "Ever since I heard him sing- I- I don't know. It's just-," I wrapped my arms around myself as I concentrated on taking in even breaths. It kept the tears from falling. It kept me from going numb.

"Even when you were kidnapped?" Jason asked, quietly.

"No." I shook my head and looked up at him. "Not then. But, I wasn't awake for most of that. I don't know what's wrong, okay? I feel like I'm wading through Jell-O or something when I hear him. And when I do hear him, I only hear him. Nothing else." I wasn't going to say that I didn't seem to mind it so much.

Jason looked at me and was quiet for a long moment. Then he murmured, "This is just too much like the actual musical. It's so real right now that it's- creepy." Jason's gaze sharpened. "You're not just messing with me, are you?"

I stared at him in disbelief. "No! I wouldn't do that to you. I do love you." The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them and I felt reassured of my feelings when I said them. Sort of. "I know I love you and that I want to be with you for the rest of my life." I think.

Jason gave an unsatisfied sort of smile. Just a turn of the corners of his mouth, really, and held me in a hug. "I just want to be sure, Em." I stood there, leaning against him, quiet.

Me too.


She thinks she's sure. She isn't. I saw her. The way she looks at me. She's so confused, so conflicted. But her soul. It knows. It calls to me as mine does to hers. The rose wouldn't be on her wrist, otherwise, the match to mine. And Jason, always trying to hold her, when he shouldn't even be touching her. The small shocks he got when he touched her left hand were courtesy of the healing that had taken place when Emily had been taken away. No. Let it go. The fact that I had even allowed her to be kidnapped by that idiot guy galled me to no end.

I see you Emily, struggling to find the words to say to Jason.

My darling Emily, my Christine, soon you will be mine. Soon you will realize how deep our love flows. It cannot be compared to him and his paltry emotions. He has no hope of ever understanding. Of ever knowing what it's like to love someone this much.


The Phantom held his hand out to me through the mirror. What choice did I have but to take it? His voice, oh his voice! It snared my heart and soul with only a single note. Anything he would ask of me I would do. He led me down a dim hall, my hand still in his. Through a labyrinth of halls and tunnels, we finally came to a ladder. He helped me up and we climbed for what seemed forever until we reached a cat walk running along the wall to a door on the opposite end. I took a step, testing the stability. A gentle nudge on my back helped me take another step and another until I reached the door. He reached around me and turned the doorknob. The door swung open and we walked in together. "Sing, my angel." He murmured. "Sing for me." I opened up my mouth and the notes began to float, unearthly and beautiful melodies I had never heard before, could never dream of creating, hanging in the still air.

I heard the door click closed and the deadbolt creak as it was turned. But I didn't care. As long as I could be with him, all was well. But I was curious. Who was the face behind the mask? Who was he, this mysterious and handsome Phantom? He walked up to me and took my hand. I reached up and caressed his cheek. Then I slid the mask off of his face. Surprisingly, he made no action to stop me or reprimand me. I stared at his face. He was Ty. And he was Jason. His features kept changing from one to the other. "Well, my love? Which of us do you choose?"


So, originally, this was two chapters, but neither of them were over 2500 words. Which is kind of short for two chapters. So they are together. And are now long enough. Yay! See you next week!