If you haven't already noticed. We have entered the movie now. So let's review,
Ages here are now Phantom 35, Gabriella 25, and Christine about 17. All my references now come from the 2004 movie. So as always, review and ENJOY
Gabriella POV
I think the riggers are the dumbest and more drunk people I know. They're always drinking, and they are the ones always taking advantage of us. One of them is here tonight, scaring us. He comes sometimes, reminding us all to be careful of the 'Opera Ghost'. His stories always make me angry, in lots of different ways.
First off, every last thing he says about the Phantom are completely false. He has a nose, and his skin is not yellow. And he does not kill unless he has to, as far as I've seen, and I've been in this opera house now for 10 years. The only things these stories ever did was scare the younger ones for days on end. And at night, it was quite annoying trying to get them to sleep.
As an older ballerina, I have to watch out for the younger ones. There are still ballerinas older than me, but most of them leave when they turn 30 or so. Either because they're too old for the demands of dancing on their bodies, or because they settle down with someone and have a family. I don't think I'll leave for either, but I fear Lizzy plans to leave.
Finally Madame Giry comes, and slaps some sense into him, at least I hope so. When the commotion is done I sit and quietly begin to write. He has Christine with him tonight, so whether he'll answer me or not is uncertain. It doesn't matter to me so much though, I'll have my hands full calming the younger ballerinas tonight.
They settled faster than usual tonight. Mostly because he didn't have enough time to tell that much. Usually he tells the most horrific stories that only a heartless bastard could even think up, let alone tell.
Sighing, I settle into bed, not before pulling the rose he left me out from under my pillow. I hold it in front of me for a little while, gentle stroking the petals. Finally I set it down and fall asleep, tomorrow starts the rehearsals for Il Muto would begin.
The morning we headed straight to the stage to rehearse. I don't know who's bright idea it was to have Il Muto be the night after Hannibal, but we were somewhat prepared. We'd already performed this opera once about two years ago, and it was back by popular demand. All we really had to do was brush up.
We were just practicing when we all heard screaming. Lizzy laughed "Sounds like another 'diva attack' she said. I laughed "Yep. Wonder what its' about this time?" I asked. Just at that moment Carlotta plowed through the stage and through our routine, followed by a whole mess of people. I rolled my eyes "Great. Now we gotta start over!" one of them said. We reassumed our positions and went through one more time.
When we finished we went back to the dormitories to get ready, only to be greeted by Carlotta's parade coming back. I watched the poor managers have to carry her. It was slightly amusing, I'll say that much. But for Carlotta's future reference, older gentlemen do not take backbreaking labor so well.
Everyone sorta followed her as they paraded out with her, asking her to sing for them. I rolled my eyes, tone deaf dogs could sing better than her. I sat down in the dormitories alone, when I realized that Christine had returned. Lizzy came up and called me, telling me it was time for the show to start. I stood and followed her slowly.
We didn't have anything to do in the first act, so we just sorta watched. Carlotta was in the middle of something when suddenly a loud voice thundered over her "Did I not instruct, that box 5 was to be kept empty?". I looked, sure enough, the stupid patron stole Phantom's box "Idiots" I muttered under my breath. Carlotta yelled at Christine for saying something, then went of stage for a moment.
She came back and began to sing. We watched, our ears bleeding, but then a strange yet wonderful thing happened. That stupid prima donna started croaking like a toad! Me and Lizzy started laughing as she began to panic "You do that?" I asked. She shook her head "No but whoever did is a GENIUS!" she said. The managers went out onto the stage as Carlotta went off, crying.
"We shall now continue, with the ballet from act 3", that was all I heard before we all burst out running, trying to change as fast as we could. Lizzy helped me with my skirt as I tied her corset. Suddenly the curtain opened, who decided to do that? Not even give us a moment. Some of the others had started. I finished tying Lizzy before we both got into position and danced.
I felt very rushed, and somewhat laughed. So much for those rehearsals from earlier. We were all dancing in our positions, but the stupid sheep were being difficult. This, was exactly the kind of reason I was a horse person. We were all our of sync, and we tried to get ourselves back together but it was hopeless. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, it did.
That stupid idiot spreading rumors, well the Phantom caught up to him. Lizzy, like the others screamed really loud and huddled into a group. I looked up, knowing exactly who did this. And what was more, it was my fault! Last night, the letted I'd written had tattled on the fool. I told the Phantom of how frustrating it was to calm the younger ones after that bastard told them all those untrue stories.
Phantom got revenge, big surprise. I followed the other ballerinas off the stage as they all went running to Madame Giry. I wondered where Christine had gone, if she knew what her 'angel' had just done. Something told me she knew. I huffed, annoyed, and began heading towards the roof. I knew Phantom wouldn't be up there, but I still liked being up there to get away from everyone else.
I got to the door and heard voices. Quietly I slipped out and dove behind the pegasus statue near the door. I found Christine and the new patron alright, kissing on the roof! My eyes widened unbelievingly, Phantom gave up everything for Christine, and she was now kissing this... this fop!
Their kiss didn't seem to ever end. But finally when it did, they held hands and walked towards the door. I heard him say "Christine I love you". I hid as they went through the door and back into the opera house. I was about to follow when I saw the Phantom make his way out from behind the other pegasus statue. I stayed hidden.
He knelt down and picked up a rose that Christine had dropped, I could see the black ribbon, and I knew he'd given it to her. He held the rose tightly and began to cry, a part of me wanted to go hug him and comfort him, and yet another side, a cold and dark side, told me he deserved to suffer for choosing her over me! I had never through that way about it before, it upset me that I would even think that.
I was about to go out when he stood up, crushing the rose in his hand and dropping it. He ran up to one of the statues and yelled to the sky angrily "You will curse the day you did not do, all that the Phantom asked of you!", I shudder and shrank back. Quietly I watched as the Phantom turned and began to make his way towards the door.
Now or never, I thought, I came out of my hiding and confronted him. Well, not really, I sorta stepped out and looked at him. He looked at me back, his eyes red from crying. Slowly, I stepped up to him, not sure if he would hurt me or not. "Phantom?" I asked softly, holding out my hand. He slowly reached out and grabbed my hand.
Swiftly he pulled me into him and began crying again. I patted his back and hushed him. Now he grabbed onto me, not wanting me to leave. I stood quietly and let him do as he liked. Finally I reached down and pulled his hands off of me. Our eyes met, and wordlessly I kissed him before turning and leaving him. Now one word, neither of us had said one word.
And yet, in those few moments, it felt like a thousand words had been said. I walked down to the dormitories "We're still going" Lizzy said. I began undoing my skirt "I don't care, I'm done for tonight" I told her firmly. She nodded and headed out. I got into my nightgown and got into my bed. But before I could fall asleep I reached under the pillow for the rose I knew would be there.
I sat up and looked at it, all kinds of emotions flooding me. Slowly, one by one, I began to pluck the petals off. When the last petal fell from my grasp, I picked up the petals and the stem and put them where I kept all the other roses I had. Now I'd remember, the night she broke his heart.
Lying in my cot, I thought about it. Phantom's heart, was like a dead rose. On the outside, it was black, hard, and shrived. But if u peeled the outer petals, the inner petals were still pure and soft. But above all, it was fragile. How could Christine do that to him? I closed my eyes, becoming lost in thought. What was I supposed to do and think now?