After that little incident with Erik and Nadir, I think neither of them trusted me alone with the other for long periods of time, which was probably why Erik roared like a lion and hid in his room for an entire day when Nadir finally asked if he could escort me to the masquerade. I felt bad and often appeared at his bedroom door, trying to start a conversation with him, but there was only ever silence. He hadn't been this reclusive since he found out that Christine was in love with the vicomte.

I had the belief that maybe Erik wanted to ask me to escort him to the masquerade as well, obviously as friends, but I also felt that Erik would manage his job a lot easier without me. With Nadir by my side, at least I wouldn't look like some loner. Wouldn't it be ironic, I thought, if the managers ever found out that the one man they hired to catch the Opera Ghost was in fact helping him? That thought made me smile every once in a while.

But back to the matters at hands, Erik plan was to change the way things were run at the opera house, for the New Years eve party, was simple and effective. He was to dress in a similar fashion to the rest of the guests, sneak into the party, blending into the crowd, and slip messages into the pockets of the managers, and maybe Carlotta and Piangi. He hadn't actually decided whether to leave 'Tweedledum' and 'Tweedledee' a message, but I suspected that he would, having many a thing to say to them. It would be easy enough, he'd just need to borrow a costume for the party (I never did ask where he was going to get the costume from, and I always turned my head away whenever he tried to explain), and he'd blend right in.

Well, any old reason to dress up, I suppose.

It was a fine, safe plan, but I thought occasionally that he wanted to do more, make a grander impression, but I told him 'The safest plan, while often the most boring, often turn out to be the best plan of action'.

He had nodded, and I hoped that he would let the words sink in. I relaxed, knowing that in the end, Erik would listen to me.

But after that night, the masquerade party turned out differently than either of us expected.

I finished twirling the last hair twirl into my hair, and admired myself in the mirror. The hair swirls were holding nicely, I noted, my fear of losing even a single one reduced. They were pear shaped diamonds, no bigger than my little finger's nail, which were each attached to a coil of wire, which, when twirled into the hair as I had done so, hid the wire in the hair, and showed the diamonds off beautifully. It was as though someone had shattered a diamond in my hair. All this, and an elegant bun at the nape of my neck, which was fastened there with a cream coloured hair stick.

Nadir bought them for me, saying, "If the both of you are going to roll around in sin, then I might as well do the same!"

I admired my face in the mirror as well, pleased that the make-up that Rouge and Texas had left me complimented my features perfectly. The simple, graceful colours left me positively glowing with beauty, instead of making me looked forced and trampy.

I stood up, stepping in front of the long mirror that enabled me to see my entire body. Erik had brought it in for me during the first few weeks I stayed with him, muttering something about a 'woman's vanity'.

I smiled, brushing out the creases in my dress. I had never looked so beautiful. I had never felt like more of a woman before. The dress was a little loose, but I guess it wasn't noticeable. I think. I never was a good judge of good dresses. Shrugging to myself, I began practising my bows and curtsies, and then released that I hadn't even decided on shoes yet!

I heard a light tapping at the door, and panicked, dragging out all of my nice shoes from under the bed.

"Jennifer?" It was Nadir! And I could hear Erik pacing and grunting outside.

"Yes?" I asked, stalling for time as I tried to decide between strappy or sensible shoes.

"When she come out, for God's sake! She's been in there for three hours!" Erik hissed, trying to keep his voice, but failing.

I pouted. It had only been an hour, surely!

"Are you ready?" Nadir asked, after shushing Erik.

"Kinda." I muttered, placing my hands on my hips and staring at my shoes decisively. I picked up the cream coloured shoes, to match my gold dress.

"I hope she … I need her to be … Please God!" I heard Erik whisper.

I paused, stepping closer to the door, eager to hear more. What was he talking about? Who did he need what to be? I pressed myself up against the door, trying to see if Erik would speak again, but I gave out a yelp and jumped back when Nadir spoke again.

"Erik, keep your voice down, she'll hear you!" Nadir whispered back to Erik, and I had hold myself back from laughing as I slipped on the strappy shoes. How silly was I? I was acting like a teenager, listening from behind shut doors.

"Will you be out soon, Jennifer?" Erik asked, his voice trembling.

I gave the door a curious glance. "Yeah, I'm coming out now; go wait for me in the living room!"

I pressed myself up against the door, listening to their footsteps disappearing, smiling to myself about Erik's poor nerves, and opened the door, allowing myself into the corridor. I breezed into the living room, grabbing a light fistful of my dress, and twirled daintily into the room. I laughed as I stopped in the middle of the room, scared to go on in case my shoes gave out, but excited enough not to care!

"I can't believe this is happening! I feel like a princess! I just want to twirl and dance and sing, like a Disney princess!"

I laughed at the thought of birds and fuzzy little animals arriving to help me wash the dishes and dust the furniture, down here in the underground. I laughed again as I realised that Erik and Nadir would have no idea about what I meant by a 'Disney princess'.

I opened my eyes, and they soon settled on both Erik and Nadir sitting in their respective chairs, opposite each other, their chairs turned slightly towards me. They were smoking cigars, enjoying my giddiness as they sipped on their brandy. Or at least, one of them was enjoying my giddiness.

Nadir smiled, twirling the stem of his brandy glass between two fingers wistfully. His moustache twitched, as his eyes noted certain aspects of my appearance, like my hourglass figure, or at least what I hoped was an hourglass figure. I was flattered, if not a little embarrassed. His eyes drifted down to my shoes, staring at them bemusedly, before lifting them up to my own eyes. He saw my smile, and my glowing eyes, and burst out into the biggest grin I had ever seen, and his face never my own again for the rest of the night.

I glanced over at Erik, and he was the image of sadness. His expressionless, pale eyes wouldn't leave my own, and held me stead fast to the floor. He was eerily still, nothing but the cigar smoke moved around him, making him more mysterious and daunting. I remember wondering whether he was drifted off, until he said aloud,

"You are the vision of an angel."

I started, surprised by seven little words, such a simple sentence! He said this without blinking, or moving. He moved not an inch, not a change in his expression either. He was emotionless.

"And I never thought that I'd see the day when a beautiful woman laughed happily in our home."

In our home. He had never called it our home before; he had always referred to it as his. I didn't grasp why he suddenly thought that now, after all of this time; I was finally a part of his life.

"What? I questioned stupidly, the dress still spinning around me as I stood staring at his stick figure. "I don't understand."

"You're stunning." Erik replied smiling, lifting the brandy glass to his lips and sipping from it.

"I…Thank you, Erik. That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me in years." I whispered, the truth spilling from my lips like an embarrassed secret. My breath caught me surprised in the back of my throat, and I struggled to breathe as Erik smiled to himself.

He must have known how much I was longing for his approval, but even that thought worried me. I had never needed anyone's approval, not even Aleksander's, so want it so badly, to need it like oxygen, frightened me and caught me delighted at the same time.

His smile turned dark and mischievous, and his eyes suddenly followed the figure of my body, and I had never seen him look at me like that before. I felt naked, exposed and shy, but most of all, he made me feel like a woman, the ways he took delight at the sight of my quivering breast and shaking fingers.

Nadir noticed how Erik's stare was affecting me, anyone could see that I was becoming alarmed, and he cleared his throat, looking directly at me, though his attention was on Erik. Erik woke from whatever dream he was having, and apologised. He left the room, clenching his fists. I shrieked with surprise as I heard the brandy glass that he carried away with him smash against the wall. He cursed loudly, and heard him crash many other things. I began to follow Erik, but Nadir grabbed the tips of my fingers as I passed him.

"Jennifer?"

"Yes?" I asked, turning to face him.

"What are you wearing on your feet?" He asked simply, staring off into space.

"Shoes." I replied, trying to leave Nadir to go tend to Erik, but he adjusted his grasp on my fingers and held me beside him.

"Jennifer, you must leave him. Let him work it out."

"I don't understand why has he gone off like that?"

"I don't think you realise how hard for him it is having you here."

"What?"

"A young, carefree woman. That is how he sees you." Nadir looked up sadly. "You don't realise how enchanting you can be sometimes."

"Enchanting? Me?"

"Yes, compared to the women of now, you are quite the temptation. The way you act, it's unlike anyone of this time, it's so refreshing. Well, to a man like Erik, that is. To the rest of us, it worries us. Sometimes you two are so at ease with one another, it's hard to believe that you are both from difficult times. I wonder how Erik would fare in the future."

"I think he'd do quite well." I backtracked. "To the rest of us? Does that mean you too? Do I worry you?"

"I hate to admit it, but yes, you do worry me. I never know quite how to act around you. Have you never seen the way men and women look at you when you're around?"

I shook my head, "In truth, I have, but I've never quite known what to make of it. But I'm nobody, why should they care?"

"You're somebody to Erik." Nadir whispered, looking up at me, as though waiting for a reply.

I looked down at Nadir, waiting to see if he'd say anymore, but a new thought entered my mind. "How badly have I affected him?"

Nadir sighed, ruffling his hair. "Jennifer, you have to understand, he's rejected human contact for years, decades even. You burst in, and you're a whirlwind of emotions for him. He doesn't know what to do, and he tries so hard to please you, but doesn't want to repel you."

"Poor Erik." I whispered, sitting on the armrest of Nadir's chair. "I'd be confused too, if I was him. Nadir, what do I do?"

"Well, I think you should just leav-"

"Jennifer, forgive me, my mind was elsewhere."

I looked up, and found Erik hovering from only a few steps away. His eyes had darkened, and he stared intensely at Nadir. Nadir didn't even bother to look around, and he grumbled under his breath. I looked back at Nadir. What was he going to say to me?

"That's alright Erik." I replied, once realising that Nadir wouldn't say a word now that Erik had appeared. I took a second look at Erik. "Wait, I've just realised, you haven't even got your costume on! Why are you not dressed?"

"Erik would not want to miss Jennifer in her dress. Erik wanted to see her before anyone else." He said, staring at my feet.

I frowned as a twinge of guilt struck me. Erik spoke only in the third person when he was running high on his emotions. I began to wonder where he picked up this trait. He looked up at me, and I quickly turned my frown into a smile.

"You're so sweet to me." I said awkwardly, yet standing up gracefully. Huh, ironic.

I turned to face Nadir. "Well Nadir, I do believe we had better get going. Though it's quite fashionable, I don't want to be late!"

Nadir smirked, standing up to stick out his arm. I smiled coyly, cradling my arm into his, lacing my other gold gloved hand over my mouth to suppress my excited giggles.

"Oh God, I feel like Cinderella off to her first ball, only in this case it's a masquerade!" I laughed, looking at Erik.

Erik nodded solemnly, his trained a focus eyes gazing heavily at our entwined arms. Nadir and I shifted uncomfortably under Erik's extreme stare. I coughed lightly, and Erik looked up.

"I'm my sorry, my dear, Erik was daydreaming."

"Ah, that reminds me!" Nadir said, reaching into his jacket. "Erik told me that you hadn't even bought one, so…"

I gasped. Nadir pulled out an eye mask. It wasn't made out of plastic, but out of white lace, so it moulded to my face beautifully! It covered my eyes beautifully.

I laughed, happily putting it on. "Wow, my first mask!"

I closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of the cold material on my tops of my cheeks and around my eyes. I opened my eyes to Erik's hurt and confused face. I mentally slapped myself as I thought over what I had just said.

My first mask.

What I fool I was! A damn fool who should think before she speaks!

"I'm sorry, I…"

Both men started talking suddenly at the same time, understanding my embarrassment. I looked from one to the other and back again, wringing my hands in shame.

"I honestly hadn't meant to…"

"Just a slip of the tongue…"

"Erik forgives you, my dear…"

"I don't think sometimes…"

We all fell silent, looking about awkwardly.

"Um, perhaps we should go." I said slowly, adjusting the few strands of my curled red hair that fell out of my bun.

Nadir put his own mask on. "Yes, lets!" He guided me to the boat, and as we walked, I looked back over my shoulder at Erik, and smiled, hoping he would understand my smile and know everything would be alright.

He didn't look at me. He stared at the lever that lifted the gate in the lake, and then pulled it. He didn't look up, not even when I said goodbye.

"Now remember Erik, nothing extravagant. You're still a ghost!" Nadir said distractedly, helping me into the boat.

I didn't see Erik's face when he said this, as I was trying not to fall down in a rocking boat, but his next few words struck me.

"Nadir, you treat Erik like an insolent child!" Erik roared.

I swung around, somehow managing to keep my balance as I clung to Nadir's hands. Erik screwed his hands into fists, clenching and unclenching them as his eyes flickered about. I reached out with both hands towards him.

"Erik." I called out to him, softly. I was annoyed with the amount of emotion in my voice, it made me sound foolish!

He looked up sharply, his eyes bursting alive with sentiment once he saw my smile.

"Yes, Jennifer?"

"Please, it's so you don't get hurt. Just give them the letters and leave them wondering how you did it." I sighed. "I know you want to do more, but please, be safe?"

Erik didn't say anything. He didn't even move. He just stared at my hands. I twitched my fingers a little, wanting to see his reaction.

He moved forward a little, his own hands twitching, wanting to make the contact with me. He still stared at my hands.

"Erik, won't you even say goodbye?" I asked softly, suddenly wanting to see the effect I had on him.

Erik crept closer, and reached up slowly, taking the tips of my fingers lightly. He began to stutter. I had to hold back the 'cheshire cat' grin that was threatening to form on my face in case it might scare him away. The way it he was acting, it was kinda cute, in an awkward way. He was like a geek, asking out a cheerleader.

"J-Jennifer, may I…? Could I possibly…?"

I wondered what he was going to ask.

"Hug you?"

Oh.

Oh!

I couldn't take it any longer, and I laughed loudly and unwomanly. Both Nadir and Erik took a step back as I doubled over. Erik couldn't move very far though, without letting go of my hands.

"Oh my god, the way you were acting, I thought you were going to ask me something really serious! Jesus, you had me nervous there for a minute! Buddy, you can always have a hug from me!"

I pulled him forward and embraced him. He stiffened, not quite realising what had just happened in those first few seconds, but once he comprehended that we were hugging, he relaxed, giving in to what he wanted.

It was what I wanted too.

"There we go." I whispered, pulling away.

Okay, to hell with this, what is up with me!? What's happened!? I thought desperately as Nadir climbed into the boat.

Erik stood on the shore, the waves lapping up by his feet, watching us sail away in his boat. I clung to Nadir as he rowed us underneath the iron gate that Erik lifted for us.

You're somebody to Erik. I thought sadly, the words echoed in my head, stinging me and blinding me where it hurts the most.

Erik's face followed mine, and I clutched at my mask, the soft, light material choking me, and I breathed heavily as my eyes watered and my heartbeat struck like drums in my ears.

It had been weeks since I left Erik's side, and it hurt me more than I thought it would. His face told the same story. He looked like a lost child, waiting for his mother to return. I wanted to run to him, wade through the water, cold and desperate, and gather him into my arms again, until you could no longer tell me from him.

"The same happened to me once." Nadir whispered, continuing with his rowing, staring into the darkness ahead.

"W-what?" I stammered, looking up at him.

"The first time I left his side, it became difficult to breathe, and I started to get headaches. Believe me, it will soon pass." He replied slowly.

"My head doesn't hurt." I whispered back, rubbing my chest. "It's my heart."

We reached the shoreline. In front of us was a staircase, which, at the very top, we would find the several different tunnels, which spread out and separated further into the opera house.

Nadir helped me out of the boat, a sad knowing smile on his face, and said,

"Come, we will see Erik later. Smile, you will be the belle of the ball."

"Yeah, and then we actually reach the masquerade, and everyone else won't be wearing strappy shoes."

Nadir laughed. "Maybe, but you will be so scandalous that everyone will say that you are an angel!"

I laughed back. "A scandalous angel? I'm not quite sure that right, Nadir."

We both laughed, making our ay up the stairs, ready for a night that we would never forget.