Chapter 11: The Party

The last thing Christine wanted to do was to go to the cast party Arthur had insisted on throwing, but Celia and Meg had begged and pleaded until she finally relented.

"What about this one?" Celia asked, holding up a dress. It was one she didn't wear it often because she thought the back was a little to low cut, but on the rare occasion that she did, the scarlet velvet never failed to make her feel elegant. That's what she needed right then.

She was letting the other two doll her up, not protesting when Meg pulled out some eyeliner and a tube of lipstick that matched the color of her dress. She let Celia play with her hair until Meg stepped in and styled the way she knew Christine liked.

She nodded and smiled passively when they pushed her in front of the mirror, grinning as they handed her her pearl studs and the matching necklace.

She received several compliments throughout the evening, but the first was from Lillian as soon as she entered the party with Meg.

"Don't you look nice," she said.

"Thank you, but was all them," Christine said, gesturing to Meg, who was off socializing, and Celia who was giving out appetizers on a tray.

"Whoever's responsible for it you look beautiful," she said and grabbed the arm of a person passing by. "Doesn't she look beautiful?"

Of all the people at the party Lillian could have grabbed, she had pulled Erik over. They didn't look at one another, both fidgeting and trying to force the moment to pass without requiring them to interact.

"Erik?" Lillian pressed and he swallowed, looking at Christine.

"Yes," he whispered. "She does."

As suddenly as he appeared he disappeared, hiding surprisingly well for someone who was at least a head taller than everyone in the room and wore a mask.

She made her way through the throng of party goers, trying to find a quiet place to sit. Her favorite bay window was vacant and she sat down, watching as people danced and socialized and drank.

A young woman with blonde hair Raoul had briefly introduced to her at the beginning of the trip turned from the group she was talking to and smiled at Christine.

"Isn't it a wonderful party?" she asked. Christine only nodded, giving her a thin smile.

Erik sat down in an armchair on the opposite side of the room, also by himself.

He had spent most of the afternoon and evening pacing in his room before Raoul had come and dragged him down to the party.

He didn't understand what had happened between him and Christine, and had spent several hours trying to puzzle it out. The only thing he could think of that upset her so greatly was his face, which he had made sure she hadn't seen. He hadn't taken his mask off for the entire trip, unless he was alone in his room with the door locked.

'Maybe Raoul told her about it and the mere thought was so gruesome she couldn't bring herself to be near me,' he thought, tapping his foot in time with the pianist. 'Or maybe Raoul told Meg, and she told Christine.'

It was the only logical explanation.

In the middle of the room, Raoul and Meg stood by the piano. He looked to where Christine was sitting, looking generally very unhappy.

"She's making herself miserable," he sighed. "We have to do something. Save romance and all that."

He crossed is arms and looked across the room at Erik.

Struck by inspiration, Raoul leaned down and whispered in Meg's ear, "Go ask Erik to dance."

"Why?" She asked. "He doesn't look like he's in any mood to."

"Because I have a plan," he said, glancing meaningfully at Christine. Meg caught on and grinned before hurrying off in Erik's direction. Meanwhile, Raoul strode towards Christine.

"Christine!" He called as he approached. "Shall we take a spin?"

"Why not," she said, standing up and smiling genuinely for the first time in hours.

While Raoul approached Christine, Meg was making her way towards Erik.

"Hello, Meg," Erik said as she approached. She gave him a smile and offered him a hand.

"Would you like to dance?" She asked.

He hadn't wanted to come to the party at all, and had tried to get out of it but Raoul insisted. He had tried to brush him off, but then he had gone to get Artie and Erik relented for the general's sake.

"It'll be fun," Meg said, pulling him to his feet. She led him onto the dance floor and they swayed together while Meg chattered in his ear about this and that. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Raoul, dancing with Christine. Meg followed his gaze and nodded slightly to Raoul, who very casually took her hand and nudged Christine in Erik's arms.

Christine frowned when she felt Erik hand on her waist. He didn't seem any happier with the arrangement than she was, much to her relief.

One of the young men in the cast approached and tapped Erik lightly on the shoulder.

"May I cut in?" he asked, motioning to Christine.

Erik practically threw her at him, turning to go sit down. His path was blocked by the girl Raoul had tried to set him up with in New Orleans. Carolyn.

"Care to dance?" She asked and he almost said yes, before someone placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Sorry," Meg said to her, giving Carolyn a thin smile before guiding Erik back onto the dance floor. She knew it would work this time, if that idiot didn't cut in again.

Raoul had managed to take Christine back from her partner.

"Look," she murmured, pointing to where Celia and Fred were dancing a few yards away. "Celia's had a crush on him forever. He's been our paper boy since they were eight, and then a few years ago Celia talked Artie into taking him on part time."

"Uh huh," Raoul muttered, nodding as he casually guided them towards Meg and Erik.

When they were close enough, Meg took Raoul's offered hand. They watched as the other two danced with one another, grinning like they had one the lottery. Another cast member tried to interrupt them but Raoul grabbed him before he could and pulled him towards the piano where Carolyn was standing.

"Joe, this is Carolyn, you've probably met," he said.

"How do you do?" Joe asked.

"Better with you," Carolyn giggled. Raoul rolled his eyes as he left them to dance and returned to Meg, only to find Erik standing alone as Christine went back to her window seat.

"Look's like we absolutely have to," Meg said as the song ended.

"What do you mean?" Raoul asked, wrinkling his brow. She gave him a meaningful look and raised her left hand. "Oh! Right now?"

"We have to. For Erik and Christine," Meg said.

"Alright," Raoul sighed and turned to the band. "Hold it for a minute fellas. Give be a little ching-a-ring please."

The pianist played a little fanfare and the room fell quiet as Raoul made his way to the middle, holding Meg's hand.

"Excuse me folks, I have an announcement!" he called.

"An announcement?" someone whispered.

"An announcement," Raoul repeated with a nod. "I- we want you all to be the first to know."

On opposite sides of the room, Christine and Erik sat up.

"I guess there's a lot to be said about being in the right place at the right time, because- uh, well. I've found the right person," he said, gesturing to Meg. Christine shifted to the edge of her seat. She watched as Meg put her arm around Raoul's waist and her heart dropped.

"That is to say," Raoul said, rather quickly, but Christine heard everything in slow motion. "Meg has agreed to- I mean, she asked me- what I mean is, we're getting married!"

Everyone cheered and applauded. Only Erik and Christine didn't say anything. Erik had been smoking and inhaled to hard and started coughing, Christine was just in shock. If she had been standing she would have fainted.

Raoul and Meg were being swarmed by the crowd, each offering a handshake or a hug or a pat on the back.

"I sure wish it would happen to me," Carolyn said, setting a hand on Raoul's arm.

"Me too," Raoul muttered as Meg gently pulled him away, saving him.

Christine finally came to her senses and stood up, hurrying towards them.

"Congratulations," she murmured in Meg's ear, giving her a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you."

She could feel tears brimming and she willed them not to fall, but Meg noticed those and the tightness in her voice and her face fell.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm just fine. Congratulations," she said again, giving her a peck on the cheek before turning to look at Raoul. "You're getting the best girl in the whole wide world. Remember that, ok? You have to take good care of her."

"I promise," Raoul said, squeezing her hand.

"This calls for champagne!" Lillian cried.

"I'll help you," Christine whispered and followed her down the hall to the kitchen.

Erik approached them, his arms crossed.

"Congratulations. I don't know what you see in him, but after you've known him for a little while he's almost tolerable," he said to Meg. He looked at Raoul, giving him and look. "Look's like you'll be settling down. Congratulations again."

"Yeah, yeah," Raoul muttered, peering out the door where Christine had exited. "The water's fine, by the way. You should consider jumping in."

"I know it might seem a little cold today but it'll warm up by tomorrow," Meg said. "Practically tropical, I promise."

Erik didn't say anything and walked away. Raoul didn't get a chance to see if he was following Christine because Artie blocked the way.

"Are you going to kiss the bride?" he asked as he approached.

"Yes, sir," Raoul said, giving Meg a chaste kiss. Meg gave him a look and he bent down again, pulling her close and kissed her again, with a touch more passion. He had tried not to let his feelings get in the way, but there they were.

Meg smiled as he pulled away for the second time.

"That wasn't too hard was it?" she asked.

"Congratulations," Artie said before moving away.

Erik hesitated for a moment before leaving the living room. He met Lillian in the hallway, going in opposite directions.

"Champagne?" She asked, holding a large tray of the bubbly liquid.

"Yes, please," he said, taking to glasses and walking into the kitchen.

Christine was standing over the sink, looking out the window as rain pattered against the glass. She hadn't heard Erik come in and jumped when she saw his reflection in the window behind her.

"Shall we toast to their happiness?" He asked softly, offering her a glass of champagne. She took it and looked into the liquid, frowning a little.

"To spilled milk and late night-" late night kisses "-late night singing," he said. He raised his glass and drank. Christine watched, trying to hold back more tears. She brushed past him, setting her still full flute of champagne on the counter as she fled the room.

Erik watched he go, heart stinging as she slammed the door behind her.

Christine ran across the house and up the stairs to her room, locking the door behind her. She sank to the ground, finally letting her tears fall.

Why, out of all the people in the world, did her heart decide Erik was the best choice? She hated business men as a rule, they were selfish and greedy and robbed little girls of their homes and their mother's when they charged too much for rent and medicine. She thought Erik would be better, he was a musician and performer too after all, he would understand. Alas, he was the same, planning on destroying Artie's well built reputation on national tv. Her vision went red just thinking about it.

She rummaged through her luggage looking for her handkerchief but couldn't find it. She gave a frustrated grunt and looked around the room wondering where it could be. She knelt down, looking under the dresser and saw a sparkly hand bag that she recognized as the one she had used in New Orleans.

"If you aren't in here, I'll scream," she muttered to herself as she sat up, bag in hand. She opened it and saw a handkerchief, but nearly screamed anyway when she remembered whose it was. She pulled out the rumpled piece of black silk and smoothed it out on her lap.

She sighed and realized her tears had dried anyway. She set the bag and handkerchief on the dresser before stripping out off her dress. She tossed it over the back of a chair and pulled on her robe. She went into the bathroom she and Meg shared, determined to be done before Meg came up for bed.

Her efforts were in vain, for despite hurrying through her bath and post-bath routine, there was a knock on the door as she settled into bed.

"Christine?" Meg's voice called. The door cracked open and light poured in from the hallway. "Are you asleep?"

She sighed, signaling that no, she was awake and Meg crept in. She sat down on the bed, her back to Christine.

"I just wanted to say goodnight," she said.

"Goodnight then," Christine whispered.

"I also wanted to make sure you were alright. I didn't see you leave," Meg said. Christine didn't say anything so Meg continued. "I know we said that we'd never split up the act, but that isn't really very realistic, was it? I think we both knew that someday we'd both want to settle down. You can only live on the road for so long."

Christine was trying very hard not to start crying again. She just wanted Meg to go away.

"Now that I have someone to take care of me, you don't have to anymore and are free to do anything, with anyone if you wanted. I'm not your responsibility anymore," Meg said, her voice sounded too optimistic for Christine's liking so she tuned her out, focusing on trying to fall asleep instead.

"Right, Christine?" Meg must have finished her speech while Christine cried silently into her pillow. "Are you asleep?"

She felt Meg stand up and hurry out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

Now Christine was finally alone and she wanted Meg to come back and sit with her and tell her what to do.