Raoul

How dare she?!

I slammed my fists onto the desk and kicked the chair out of my way. "After all I have done for her! She is still reluctant to marry me!" I sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "Why won't she just love me?" I whispered.

"Because you are an ungrateful, ignorant little bastard who will never be worthy of Christine's love."

My entire body stiffened to the sound of that voice. I already knew who it was so why turn around? I grabbed my drink off of the desk and swallowed the rest of it in one gulp. I finally turned around and came face to face with the very thing that has haunted my dreams ever since the incident. He stood tall, shoulders back, and head titled up to look at me. He wore a black jacket, with a black tie, along with a black vest and a white dress shirt. The thing that stood out most to me. though was his mask.. his stark white mask that was the same color of his shirt. I glared at him.

His hair was black as well. He had it slicked back from his face and it was just inches above his shoulders... Erik seemed to have this strange aurora to him, one that screamed darkness and danger. Its so peculiar because Erik might just be darkness itself. He certainly looks the part. Yet, the strangest thing about this whole meeting was that I never heard the door open, and the window was closed... So, how did he get in here?

I gathered my voice and stated as strong as I could, "Ah, Erik. I was just thinking about your worthless self. The real question here is; how did you get past my guards?" I crossed my arms and leaned against the desk. He doesn't scare me. The mask makes me uncomfortable, but I am not frightened by someone who doesn't have the upper hand in a situation. And by upper hand I meant Christine.

He smirked and crossed his arms. He walked over to my bookshelf and gazed at the books as he spoke in a harsh tone. "Your guards are incompetent fools who believe that they need a break every 2 minutes. Well now they are on a permeant one." I gasped and dropped open my mouth. He killed my guards... he truly was a monster. He casted an amused glance my way and laughed. I could feel my anger beginning to boil. He was toying with me. "Relax, brother. I did not kill them, although I wanted to. They are locked in a broom closet under the stairs."

"You are not my brother!" I shouted. I relaxed after my sudden outburst and then took a deep breath. "What do you want, Erik?" I sneered and turned to refill my glass. I turned back just in time to find him shrug.

Erik stared at me unfazed. "I want Christine, Raoul. Stop all of this nonsense and let her go. Can't you see that you are making her miserable? Do you even care if she even loves you?" I stared at him with an annoyed look. Then his eyebrows raised. "Oh, I see. You only want her as a trophy. You only want to be best me once again and use her to show off to the world that you have the strength to take on the Opera Ghost!" He stepped forward and I cringed back. I couldn't help it, he was terrifying. "I won't let you do this to Christine. She doesn't deserve this and she doesn't deserve you."

"Oh? And who does she deserve then? You?" I laughed. "Oh, please. Why on earth would she want you over me? But see, that is what bothers me right now. You are an ugly disfigured man that would probably kill someone in a heartbeat to gain whatever you want, and yet you believe she wants you. You are a monster, Erik! And I have vowed to God and her that I will keep her away from you."

Erik threw his hands in the air and growled. "She loves me! Why can't you just leave us alone and let us be together?"

I stepped forward and yelled, "Because if I can't have her then you can't! I deserve her! Not you. You don't get to come back from the dead and claim everything like you had when we were kids. This time I will enjoy watching you lose everything because she will choose me! Over and over again. You don't get to have her, Erik, and you never will." I turned my back to him and tried to calm down. My heart was beating out of control and I needed to calm down. I gripped the edges of my desk until my knuckles turned white. "She is mine. I don't care if you have her heart, she will always belong to me."

I heard him talk softy. "Raoul, please." I flinched when I heard his soft, pleading voice. "Have you ever loved someone so much that their mere existence is a source of joy to you?"

I jerked my head around and yelled, "Just because she means something to you doesn't mean you get to have her! You can't always have everything perfect in your life, Erik!"

Something clicked in his eyes and he looked at me like he was going to luge and kill me at any second. This man could turn from being a perfect gentlemen to a wild animal in mere seconds, and that was what frightened me the most. "Perfect?! You think my life is perfect?! Because you of I have had to live in the shadows! I have been beaten to an inch of my life because of you! I have begged your pathetic God to take my life from this earth and just end my miserable existence, and yet you stand there cowering over the sound of my voice? You stand there in all your riches, good looks and try to tell me that you truly think my life is perfect? Well then you are the foolish boy who set that barn on fire many years ago. The only thing perfect in my life would be Christine, and you don't get to take the one perfect thing away from me when all I have had was misery and torment for most of my life. Christine is the light in my darkness and I will stop at nothing until she is away from you and safely back in my arms where she belongs."

I stiffened and shook my glass at him as I spoke angrily, "It may not be perfect now but it would have been if I hadn't step in, Erik! You made me feel like I was nothing. Nothing, Erik! Now you know how it felt when I was the shadow, your shadow. Now you're the shadow, and my life is perfect! I do not regret my choice at all because I have lived a perfect life and I have gotten everything I have always wanted! Besides, Christine couldn't possibly love you, Erik. You are an evil, horrible monster, and that's all you ever will be. She is perfection and she deserves better than you. You can't give her the things I can and you will never make her happy. Christine doesn't belong to you and its about time you learned."

He growled and clenched his fists beside him. "Enough! I have had enough of you, Raoul! I was nine years old! For gods sake, I hadn't even begun to live yet and you just took my future away from me as if you were God himself! You ruined my life, Raoul. I apologize for making you feel worthless, but I will not apologize for wanting a future I should have had; a future with love and happiness." He stared me dead in the eyes and there was something almost menacing about that stare. I shivered and backed away. "Oh, a monster you say? I became a monster by your doing! You made me one! I will not sit here and let you ruin the only thing I have ever hoped for!" He sighed and closed his eyes. "Raoul, why can't you understand that I have found the one that my heart and soul loves? Why can't you just leave me alone to have my happy ending? What is wrong with making amends and just giving me back my love? I need her to live."

I laughed a cold and heartless laugh. "A happy ending, Erik? You are only thinking about yourself! You can't give her anything! But I can give her a happy ending! Have you even given the slightest thought that maybe Christine wants to be with me? You have to think about what Christine wants. Do you truly believes wants to live in a world filled with darkness and despair?" I huffed a hard deep breathe and averted my eyes from him. "Besides, what makes Christine have anything to do with you, Erik? Christine is a gift herself and she shouldn't have anything to do with you. She can't and won't love you." I turned my back to him and took a drink. "I'm sure of it." I whispered.

I heard him growl and again, I cringed. "Everything about her has to do with me! You ignorant fool, Christine is the reason I am standing before you breathing! Actually alive! Why can't you see that and just leave us be? She loves me and I love her. We are meant to be together and I swear Raoul, if you keep her from me any longer, it will be you who suffers this time. Not me..." He sighed a saddening sigh, but I still couldn't look at him. I could feel the alcohol take over, but all if filled me with was emptiness. Damnit. It was suppose to help, but I shrugged the feeling of emptiness away. "Just let her go." He whispered so calmly.

"How can I, Erik?" I whispered quietly, knowing that he can probably hear me. "How can I just leave and never look back? I love her as well and I want a future with her."

"No," Erik snapped. "You don't love her. You were living a love-free life, and you wanted someone to be there. You wanted somebody to love. Or maybe, she was just good for your ego, or perhaps she just made you feel better about your miserable life, but I know for a fact that you do not love her, because you don't destroy the people you love."

I whipped my head around and glared at him with just as much anger as he had in his eyes. "Destroyed her? What on earth are you talking about? I have given her everything her heart might desire! Christine has a nice bed, beautiful gowns, and servants to wait on her every need. How could I possibly be destroying someone who I have given so much to?"

Erik shook his head. "Yes, you nearly destroyed her, Raoul, when you blackmailed her into staying away from me." My eyes widened and I gulped for air, but none came. He narrowed his eyes at me. "If you believe that Christine likes any of those things, then you really don't know her at all. She doesn't need any of those lavish gifts or giants beds. What she needs is love. A love so blinding, so beautiful that even with the poorest of life, it can seem like the richest one she will ever live. If you give her gifts without any sentiment, then she will only see them as things and not full of the love you claim you have for her. Stop hurting her and let her choose what her heart truly desires. Whatever you have scared her with to stay away from me, put an end to it now. You can't win this one, Raoul."

He stopped and turned to look at anything but my eyes. He sighed and his tone became rough and serious. "She and I will find a way to be together, even if I have to follow you to the ends of the earth and steal her away. I will not let her leave with you until I truly know if she loves you, which is less likely the case." He shook his head and it seemed like a sadness had suddenly washed over him. His eyes filled with a melancholy that seemed almost endless. I almost pitied him. "God, Raoul you filled her head with lies and thoughts of betraying me, and that..." He paused and looked me in the eyes. "That was almost as worse as you burning me in that barn. Taking away my future is one thing, but taking the one thing that is my every reason to live deems you perfect for the part of the monster, not me."

I sighed and closed my eyes. As much as I hated him, he was right. But I was never going to tell him that. Mimicking his harsh tone was going to be tough. "I refuse to give her up, Erik. You are going to have to pry her from my hands if you want her." I met his eyes and I was sort of surprised to find his stare calm. I have never witnessed a man with so much to lose and yet remain so together. He's acting like a man that actually has a chance to win... I smirked. Guess it is time to break that courage. "You want to know what I threatened her with? The future." Erik's eyebrows furrowed and his hands clenched into fists by his side. I'm guessing he doesn't like not knowing things that concern Christine, and the future.

"What are you talking about?" He questioned annoyingly.

"I am talking about the fact that Christine wants nothing more than to be with you, correct?" I snapped. "Well, I told Christine that if she doesn't choose me," I looked at him straight in the face and tried to make my face emotionless as possible, "I would hunt you and her down until I killed you right in front of her and made her watch as the blood would drain from your face. Then I would take her by force and make her a willing wife." I watched as horror crossed his face and it brought a strange satisfaction. He was actually vulnerable. As long as I kept Christine in my grip, Erik was at my will. This should make things much more interesting.

"You bastard!" He grabbed a glass cup off of the bookshelf next to the door and threw it against the wall, just above my head. I ducked and felt the pieces of the shattered cup fly across the top of my head. His breaths were slow and rasping. He closed his eyes and then opened them. They contained anger, fear, frustration, and most of all they looked hopeless."I had hope, Raoul. Hope and you took it. That's enough to make anyone dangerous, especially a man like me. I will get her back, whether it be over your dead body or not." And with that he slammed open the door and stormed out. I ran to the door and watched as he ran outside into the night, practically disappearing. He truly was a ghost, a phantom, if you will. But that won't stop me. I will twist Erik in any way that I will allow me to win.

Christine

I woke to find Erik missing. It wasn't surprising, but I just hoped that maybe I could see him one more time before the wedding tomorrow... wedding. When I imagined saying that word, I imagined the love of my life being the groom, but the actual man I was doomed to marry would be my husband. I hated the thought of marrying him. Submitting to him, and playing everything in my life the way he wants it to be. If I marry Raoul, there is no more singing, no more joy, no happiness. I would be just an empty shell roaming around the house. Why are you doing this to yourself? I have asked that question multiple times over and over again, but nothing came up expect for one impeccable name, that seemed to be my everything: Erik. I sighed. I know there is some goodness in Raoul, but once we are married, I will be nothing but a trophy. I won't have a voice, a thought, or even an idea. I'll just be here, breathing and living like Raoul's little doll, doing his bidding.

I sighed and reluctantly got up and noticed a dress laying at the foot of the bed. It was a plain and simple light blue dress with a white ribbon, tied with a bow in the back. It was beautiful with the natural fabric and the creamy blue color. Nothing too fancy or overdone. I loved it. The sleeves stopped just above the elbows and there was lace that covered the top outline of the dress. I smiled and crawled over to it. A note was left on it. Erik... My smiled brightened as I reached over eagerly to read the note.

Good morning, my love.
I had to leave, of course you understand why, but know that I wanted to stay. I wanted to stay forever. I wanted to make love you, kiss you, and hold you in my arms while you slept. But our love is being tested at the moment and I won't stop until the threat is gone and we can once again, live our forever. I will come to you tonight to ask you to make your choice once more. Please, for the sake of both our futures, choose the right choice. Me. Pick me, love. I can't promise you it will be flawless like the life Raoul can give you, but I can promise that you will be loved every single day for the rest of my life. I will make sure nothing happens to you. We will be two steps ahead of Raoul and we will live our happy ending together as it should be.
I love you with all of my body and soul,
~ Erik

I had to reread the note about 100 times before I finally pulled my eyes away. I closed them and sighed. Erik. How I loved him. He knew the exact thing to say to make me feel better, and to constantly make me fall in love with him all over again. I smiled and looked down at the dress. Today, I think I'll take a walk around town in my beautiful, plain dress. I grabbed it and ran to the bathroom, giggling. A maid shortly came in to help me get ready and she pulled the top half of my hair back and tied with a ribbon and left the bottom half loose. My curls were so long that they nearly reached my lower back. Erik loves my curly hair, so I plan on showing them off, and if he sees me, and hopefully he will, he will see that this is for him, not for me or Raoul. Just for him.

I smiled in the mirror as the maid put a little bit of powder on my face. "Not so much," I said politely.

"Sorry, my lady." She smiled and told me when she was done. I smiled and thanked her.

Finally I grabbed my shoes, and made my way down to the dinning room to meet Raoul for breakfast. As soon as I walked in, everyone stood up out of their chairs and bowed. I was shocked. They were all men. My heart stopped beating for a moment or two as my eyes wondered around the room. There were maybe 20 people here already! And it wasn't even time for breakfast yet! I didn't even have my shoes on! Quickly I threw my shoes down and slipped my feet in them. I felt my face get red with heat.

I heard a small clap and leaned over to see Raoul at the end of the table. He looked at me with eyes filled with wonder and adoration, as if I were actually beautiful to him... thats curious. He's never looked at me that way before. I smiled at him and curtsied. He bowed and came around the long, incredibly filled table to meet me. As he walked, he spoke proud and loud for everyone to hear.

"Gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to my beautiful fiancée, Miss Christine Daaé."

Fiancée... He said it like as if it actually meant something, and not a part I was suppose to be playing. Once he reached me, he grabbed my hand and kissed my cheek. "You look so lovely this morning, Christine." I looked into his eyes and saw that he meant it. Maybe... Just maybe my sacrifice could work. I would never love him, but this look in his eyes, this endless adoration he was showing me might help overcome my loss of Erik. "Come, we were just talking about you." He winked and led me to my chair. Of course I sat right next to him. Once I sat down, everyone else sat down. Its as if my appearance alone makes the entire world stop and my actions can move it forward again. Raoul leaned over towards me and smiled.

"I hope this little get together didn't frighten you." The men sitting closest to us laughed and smiled.

I took a sip of my glass and shook my head. "On the contrary. Being engaged to you, my darling, I expect nothing but surprises." I smiled at him, while all of the men laughed again.

The man that sat across from me laughed the loudest. "My, my isn't she lovely? You will make a fine addition to the family, Mademoiselle."

"Thank you, monsieur." I lifted my glass to him watching him with curious eyes, and he did the same to me as both of us drank. That must be Raoul's father. He was a little big, with a bit of fat in his face, but he had a strong built to him. He looked as though all his life he sat down and drank whiskey. I shook my head and smiled. He seemed to be a sweet man though I would not mind calling him my father-in-law.

As the minutes passed by, breakfast wasn't as horrible as it seemed. I thought I was going to be scared of all of these men but my curiosity became the best of me and I was intrigued by everything! Everything that was said, everything they do. It was like watching a live opera without music. There was gossip, laughter, agreements and arguments. I actually found myself enjoying it.

As soon as breakfast was complete, the men decided to move to the library to discuss business and politics, I believe. So before they all could leave, I grabbed Raoul by the hand and led him away from the group. I stopped us and watched as all of the men filed into the library. I turned my gaze on Raoul and noticed he was watching me the entire time. He smiled down at me and kissed my check.

"Christine, you were impeccable this morning. I would have never imagined you would act like that!"

I straightened my shoulders and smiled a weak smile at him. "Well, I am an actor, Raoul. I can portray anything you want me to do as long as Erik's life is safe." His features hardened at the sound of Erik's name. "But, I pulled you aside to ask you something."

He eyed me curiously, his eyes filled with wonder and hope. "What is it?"

"I was wondering if it would be alright if I went into the market today." He raised his eyebrows and begun to shake his head. I gripped his arms and pulled him closer to me. "Oh, please, Raoul. I can bring a few servants with me! They will watch my every move and report back to you if anything happens. I just want to go do something on my day off from the opera. Once the wedding is over I will have to go back, and I rarely ever get holidays. Please? It would mean the world to me."

He searched my face for any sort of deception in my request and when he finally found none, he sighed and nodded. "Very well, but I want Issac to accompany you. He just got back yesterday from a trip I had sent him on and would be willing to look after you." He took a sip of his drink and glanced around. "Oh and from now on, I expect Issac to be at your side at all times if you are leaving the house." He glanced back at me. "I don't want you alone, Christine, do you understand? If you are in the house, that's fine but out in the town or at the opera you will have someone with you at all times."

I stared back at him for a few seconds, and then nodded. Then, his father poked his head out. "Raoul! Come now, dear boy! We are going to play a bit of poker while we talk money! Miss Daaé, I hope you are not keeping him away from his political duties." He smiled and winked.

"Now, now father. I was only having a conversation with my fiancée." There's that word again, filled with such admiration and love... I was so confused. Raoul leaned down and kissed my cheek and then ran off to the library. "Go and inform Issac of your departure, my love, before you leave. He is in my study." He called over his shoulder before he shut the door.

I relaxed a bit and sigh. My eyes closed and I stood there for a moment with my head facing towards the ceiling, feeling the cool winter breeze flow through the open window. I opened my eyes and walked over to it. I scanned outside. The winter snow was already melting and it was a beautiful day outside. Perhaps I should bring my cloak just in case it gets chilly again. I smiled and walked up to my room, grabbed my cloak and ran down the stairs to Raoul's study. I didn't even have to enter the room, because Issac was in the main lobby waiting for me. Issac seemed to be a stern man. He had some handsome features, but he was so unbending to the world, that his looks almost looked unfriendly.

"Miss Daaé," he said softly and then bowed. "I have been told I will be accompanying you into town today, it would be my honor."

I blushed, I couldn't help it. Too many people have already bowed in my presence and I hate being put on the spotlight like that. I whisked that thought away. Wasn't I an opera singer? I should be getting use to being in the spotlight. "Please, Issac, you don't have to bow. I have had enough of the bowing for one day." He simply smiled and held out his arm in the direction of the door.

"Shall we go?"

I nodded. Then I stopped in my tracks. "Wait. If I wanted to buy anything, Issac, would I have to pay for it? Or is Raoul also letting me into his money vaults along with marriage?"

Issac eyed me for a minute. It was as if I just spoke rudely against his own child. "Of course, the money is yours as well. That is why, the Vicomte asked me to follow. I am in charge of every cent that flows through this house and his business. If you want to buy something, you ask and I will get it for you." Once again I nodded and headed towards the door. I walked right through it, because the guards had opened the door for me! I shook my head. This was going to be really hard to get use to. But that was the point of all of this, right? I had to get use to this life with Raoul. My life with Erik was over. Its time to look into the future and stop dwindling in the past. My wedding will be tomorrow, so maybe the first stop should be a dress shop.

Erik

I couldn't stay in that house any longer. I needed some air. The events that were planned for last night were still all over the floor and I couldn't bare to look at it any longer. It broke my heart and it will break even more when I have to clean it up. I guess I'll be leaving my house covered in rose petals until my heart is done breaking... which will most likely be never. I sighed as I reached for the door knob that leads to the roof. I miss her. If she chooses Raoul again, my world will be crushed. I won't have a home to go back to, I won't have a heart to play music with and I won't have a brain to keep myself thinking any rational thoughts. I will be empty. No life in my soul. What would everyday life be like? Nothing. Alcohol perhaps, but nothing else. No thoughts of music because Christine is music herself! I won't be able to dig myself out of this grave because it would be entirely too deep and too wide.

I shook my head and opened the door. I stepped out into the light and I grimaced. My eyes weren't as adjusted to the light of day. I walked until I reached the ledge. Then I sat down on the edge and huddled close to the angel hanging off the side. I needed to keep hidden but it was becoming difficult to do so because of the sun, but what was the point? So what if they saw me. There was no such pain out there that could equal to the pain I am feeling from this heartbreak. I watched as the market below buzzed with their usual chatter. I glared as I watched girls twirl around one another and men watching them with lusty eyes. But how can I hate them for it? Wasn't I the same with Christine? No. I loved Christine. There is a difference between lust and love, and my wanting was a combination of both. The eyes from those men are just filled with lust.

The opera house stood right in the center of Paris with all kinds of shops, cafés, and businesses wrapping all around it. I glanced towards the direction Raoul's house was. I can see it the top of it and I have loathed that building ever since I set eyes on it. Ever since my Christine began to live there. Oh, Christine, how I miss you. I wondered what she was doing, if she was wearing the dress I brought her, or if she even read the note I left. And then, I heard her laugh. My head shot down towards the café across the street but no sign of her. I grunted. My head must be playing tricks on me. I must miss her so much that I am imagining her laugh. Then, I heard it again, this time it was louder than before and there were more giggles surrounding hers. She wasn't alone.

I stood and ran to the other side of the building towards her laugh, and there she was. Meg and her ballerina friends were standing around Cristine. My heart stopped as she spun around, laughing and smiling so bright. She was so exceptionally beautiful, and the best part was that she wore the dress. I stared her down with such intensity that I knew she felt me looking at her, but she refused to acknowledge me. That was something strange. My Christine would be looking for me everywhere, but this Christine didn't even waste any time looking for the man who loves her, the man she truly loves. My heart sank as I finally took my eyes off of her and noticed they were standing in front of a dress shop. All of the girls were pointing at a wedding dress in the window and Christine was spinning in circles allowing the girls to imagine it on her. What if... what if she never intended on coming back to me? What if this entire set up was planned by Raoul to hurt me in the most cruelest way possible, by showing me love and then ripping it from my grasp? And Christine was the main part? What she never loved me..

I growled and grew angry. Christine would be quite the little actress if she was part of this plan to get to me. Then, I felt a presence behind me. I snapped my head around and saw Madame Giry standing there, watching me with concern and worry in her eyes. I turned back to look at Christine, still angry and hurt.

"If you have come for another little favor, then you have found me for nothing. Leave me be." I growled. I hadn't meant for it to come out so rudely, but then again my heart was hurting and I didn't care.

I heard her laugh and that made my anger build even more. "Erik, I have not come to ask you for a favor. I came to talk to you. I know you are heartbroken, I know you are alone now, and I know you have had a relationship with Christine."

I cringed at her name, all the while staring at her. She was still laughing and giggling about the dress in the window. "I am not in the mood to talk, Giry. I can't even breathe right now."

I heard her take a few steps forward and stop. I turned my head and she had her hands up, as if trying to calm a rabid dog. "Erik, you need to hear what I have to say. I know you think Christine has done this to you on purpose but I know for a fact she is doing this because she truly does love you."

I released my fists and I allowed my hands to breathe. I was so worked up I didn't even realize how hard I clenched them. "How did you know about us?" I asked softly, still staring at my hands.

She laughed. "My dear boy, nothing goes on in this opera house that I don't know about. I have been watching over Christine for quite some time and ever since she began taking lessons with you she has had this glow to her. She sings all the time, you know. While she cleans, while she sews, or even while she bathes. But I've noticed she doesn't sing for accuracy or to practice. No, its the type of singing to signal everyone that you are in love. She loves you, Erik, and it surprises me how easily you let her go."

My head snapped up and tears began to blurry my vision. "I had to let her go. If I had forced her she would have hated me for choosing for her, and I would rather love from a distance than have her hate me up close." I sighed and closed my eyes, allowing my face to look up to the sky and take in the warmth the sun was bringing down upon me. This warmth felt like Christine. "I am losing her, Madame Giry."

"Then fight for her. I know for a fact she fought for you, and now you can do it for her. Erik," I opened my eyes to look at her, "She doesn't love him, you must know that."

"Of course I know that!" I snapped. "But the more time they spend together, the more likely she will fall for him. I've watched her this entire time and something must have happened this morning to make her seem more... willing to get married. She isn't acting anymore, Madame Giry. From what I can tell she truly enjoys shopping for this wedding." I released a breathe that I have been holding in ever since I saw Christine this morning. "I can't lose her," I said quietly.

"Then go get her. But tonight you need to plan, so I would stay away for a bit. Tomorrow is a big day and you need to brew something big in that brain of yours or else you will lose her. Think of something, Erik. There may be a chance she will fall in love with Raoul, but then again we all know her heart beats for you. She's simply caught between who she is, and who she wants to be." She turned and began walking away.

"Madame Giry!" I shouted. She looked over at me as she held the door open. I gazed at her for a moment and then said, "Thank you." She smiled and went back inside. How that woman does it, I will never understand. She always seems to be there when I need someone the most. I smiled and looked back at Christine, but now she was walking out of the shop with arms full of bags. I noticed a man walking closely behind her and saw that he was offering to carry her bags, but she bluntly refused. That's my girl, always dependent on herself. I squinted harder to get a good look at the man... Oh my god. My mouth dropped and I just couldn't believe it! That man was Issac. I never really liked Issac because he always favored Raoul instead of me. Now I guess he's working for him. Well that makes things much more interesting. I watched Christine as she spoke more with her friends and finally turned to leave, but before she turned she glanced up at me. She smiled.

My heart warmed and for a second, it was as if the entire world stopped moving. It was only Christine and I, standing a good distance away from one another, and yet watching each other with heavy hearts. Since it felt like we were the only two in the world, I smiled and blew a kiss to her, forgetting how angry I was at her for a moment. Her smile brightened and she winked at me. I laughed out loud and shook my head. Oh, how I loved her. Then her attention went back to walking and our little bubble of sunshine was broken. I sighed as I watched her go. Nobody saw our little exchange, so that made me feel immensely better but the thing that startled me was the fact that she knew I was watching her. Christine must have felt my eyes on her and glanced up in the exact spot I was standing. I didn't think that she felt my eyes anymore, so that alone proves that we are meant to be together. I sighed again and rushed back down to my home. I had to plan like Madame Giry requested. Tomorrow, I will take back Christine and we will begin living our forever once more.