Rehearsals flew by in what felt like no time at all. Christine's days became a blur of routine—lessons, classes, work, rehearsal, homework—only allowing her a break when she collapsed into exhausted sleep that never seemed to last long enough. True to her word, she was sure to set aside time to spend with Raoul, although this time was often spent either sitting in a wearied, quiet daze or sneaking in some assigned reading, which at least Raoul didn't seem to mind much given that he had his fair share of work to do as well. They had managed to settle into a comfortable routine, and as worn out as Christine was, she was happy. Really happy, actually. Her days were busy, but the activity left her satisfied.

There had seemed to be so little rehearsal time when rehearsals were just starting, and it had still managed to go by faster than Christine had expected. Then, suddenly, she found herself in the dressing room she shared, preparing for opening night. She had felt calm and fully prepared up until the moment she had entered the concert hall; all of the months of hard work and careful preparation had been leading to this night, and while that preparation had been a comfort to her earlier, it began to feel a little more like something she had to live up to. What if she didn't do well and all of that hard work had been for nothing? She tried to shake the thoughts from her head, tried to ignore the nerves pooling in her stomach as the minutes ticked by. It wasn't long now before the show would start. Taking a breath that did little to steady her, she reached for her phone and dialed the familiar number.

Erik felt his phone buzz just as he had taken his place, unnoticed and tucked away at the back of the crowded auditorium. He answered immediately, hardly glancing at the screen to see who was calling—he could guess. "Christine?"

"Hi Erik," she said, her voice sounding upbeat but a little uncertain. "Are you here? Are you going to be watching?"

"Of course I am," he nearly laughed. "How could I miss your big night? But you should be starting soon. Is everything alright?"

"Yeah," she replied unconvincingly. "Everything's fine. I just wanted to see if you were here."

"Are you sure you're fine?" Erik pressed.

Christine released a shaky breath. "I'm really nervous. I didn't think I would be—I felt completely fine right up until I got here."

"There's no need to be nervous, Christine," he told her gently. "You could sing the show perfectly in your sleep."

"Are you sure?" she asked, growing quiet. "Are you sure I can do this, Erik? What if I mess up? What if I'm not good enough?"

"You are more than good enough," Erik said firmly. "Christine, I never wanted to take on a student before you because I was convinced that no one could be talented enough or dedicated enough to do anything but frustrate me. You have exceeded every expectation, and I have enjoyed teaching you, which I never would have thought possible. You are incredibly talented and you've worked hard. I am entirely sure that you can do this. Take deep breaths and focus on the music. You have nothing to worry about."

A second passed before Christine spoke again, her voice a little thick but more certain than before. "Thank you"

"You will be wonderful. Now go finish getting ready."

"Will you come and see me after the show? I could meet you at our practice room."

The request filled him with warmth, as simple as it was. "Of course I will."

He could hear the smile in Christine's voice. "I'll see you then."

It wasn't long after the call ended that the lights in the auditorium dimmed and the buzz of the conversations around him quieted. He couldn't ignore the anxious flutter in his stomach as the first notes rang out from the orchestra. He had every confidence in her; there was no doubt in his mind that she would be a great success. Perhaps he was only sharing her nervousness, he thought with amusement. He'd gladly take it all from her if it would allow her to focus and begin her night with assurance.

A smile formed on his lips when Christine floated onto the stage, looking as though it was exactly where she belonged. He wasn't sure he had ever seen her look more poised or dignified, even despite the overly frilly gown she wore. The nerves she had spoken of just minutes before had left no trace. She sang her first lines with a strong, clear voice, the bouncy notes falling lightly from her lips. Erik settled back in his seat, swelling with pride as he watched her; she was perfect.

Finally she was left alone on the stage, and the familiar notes of the song they had worked on so much drew all attention to her. She didn't shrink from it—if anything she seemed to grow more radiant, blooming beneath the spotlight. She flitted around the stage, eliciting laughs from the audience and radiating charm, but it was her voice that really shone. The rest of the cast members were not without talent, but she was head and shoulders above them and it showed. Erik had been stunned by her voice that first night he'd heard her, but she had grown remarkably since then—a testament to her genius and dedication, he knew—and hearing her now… She was beyond words.

The music began to build as she stood smiling coquettishly at the center of the stage, her voice climbing with it. In the brief pause before her final notes, and he could have sworn that she locked eyes with him, somehow finding his gaze in the darkness. For just a flash of a moment, she wasn't playing Cunegonde; she was just Christine, grinning excitedly at him as if to say, "This is it." She held his gaze as her voice soared, hitting her high notes with practiced ease. And then the song was ending as she twirled around on stage, laughing giddily to the final notes.

The applause began before the last note rang out. It was deafening, and though Christine tried to remain in character, her expression softened after a few seconds, overwhelmed by the response. Erik felt as though he might burst with pride for her, though it was not the self-congratulatory pride he might have expected at his student's achievement—his role in her success was far from his mind. This was what she deserved, what he had known she was capable of. This was the kind of success he had envisioned for her, and this was only just the beginning. This was only the first of a long string of triumphs that would undoubtedly make up her career. She was everything he could possibly have hoped for.

It took a few moments for the audience to settle enough for the show to begin again, and through the rest of the night Christine's performance never faltered. She was unerringly charming just as her voice never wavered in its beauty. She glowed on stage, seeming just as much at ease there as if she had never known anything else. The rest of the show was well enough done, but she was by far the best part of it.

When the cast came out for bows, the cheers were uproarious for her. The cast members that stood around her grinned and nudged her forward. She looked utterly overcome, her smile soft and her eyes glistening with tears. Her gaze darted over the dimly lit auditorium for a moment before landing on him again, though he still wasn't sure how she could see him from her place on stage. But she met his eyes and her face brightened, and he beamed back at her.

The rush that accompanied the applause took Christine's breath away. It felt like her legs were about to give out from under her, and she searched the audience for familiar faces to ground her. There were a few people she recognized from the department scattered through the crowd, and near the center sat Raoul, Meg, and Mrs. Giry, smiling up at her and applauding enthusiastically. But her eyes sought out Erik again—those strange golden eyes that had glinted at her in the darkness, that she felt more than she actually saw. She looked to the back of the auditorium until she found his eyes again. She wanted to talk with him, wanted to hear what he thought, but she would have to wait a while longer for that. For now, they had this moment. She hoped he knew how much of this she owed to him.

The curtain went down and she stood still for a moment, exhausted and exhilarated and amazed. Some of the cast members congratulated her as they moved by her, telling her what a great job she had done, and she smiled and thanked them, saying that they had been great too and that the show had been so much fun. Still half-dazed, she made her way to the lobby, her progress slowed by the string of people pausing to praise her performance, until she finally spotted her family in the crowd and hurried over to them.

Meg was the first to get to her, wrapping her in a tight hug. "Christine!" she squealed. "Christine, you were amazing! I mean it, you were absolutely perfect. I have no idea how you could have gone so long without being discovered."

"Thanks, Meg," Christine laughed. "And thank you guys so much for coming. I'm so glad you could make it."

"Of course," Mrs. Giry smiled, taking her into her arms as soon as Meg released her and pressing a kiss to her temple. "We wouldn't have missed it for the world. You were fantastic. We were all very impressed."

"Thank you so much," Christine smiled, feeling like the words were inadequate but not knowing what else to say.

"You really were great," Raoul told her, opening his arms to her when Mrs. Giry let her go. "You blew everyone away. I've heard you sing before, but I had no idea you could sing like that."

She laughed again, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thank you. Did you all enjoy the show?"

"We did," Meg said. "It was really good. It definitely seems like a step up from the production last year, but that might just be because you were starring," she added with a grin.

"Everyone did a really good job," Christine insisted.

"True," Meg replied with a nonchalant shrug. "But you were the star."

Christine smiled and shook her head. "Well, thank you. And thank you again for coming. It means a lot to me. I hate to rush off, but I still need to go get changed and wipe off all this makeup."

"What, you mean this isn't just your new look?" Meg teased, poking at Christine's panniered skirt.

"I do like it, but it's a little impractical. I really enjoy being able to fit into cars," she replied playfully before turning to Mrs. Giry. "Are you staying with us tonight or do you have to go home right away?"

"I'm staying," Mrs. Giry replied. "So Meg and I will meet you at your apartment."

"Do you want me to wait around for you?" Raoul asked.

"No, that's okay. I have Meg's car. But we're still on for brunch tomorrow, right?"

Raoul pressed a quick kiss to her lips. "You bet. Go get changed. I'll see you in the morning."

"See you." She hurried off with a wave, then, heading at first back in the direction she'd come from, but instead of going to the dressing rooms, she continued on down the big hallway until she came to the alcove of practice rooms. Her steps quickened as she made her way through the winding halls to her usual room. By the time she reached the door she was practically jogging, her heart hammering with excitement at the thought of sharing her happiness with the one person who would really, fully share it. Pushing open the door, she found him waiting for her inside, a bouquet of red roses in hand. He smiled at her more brightly than she had ever seen him smile, and a similar grin spread across her face.

Before she was aware of what she was doing, Christine was rushing to him, practically jumping into his arms. He caught her and held her tightly, letting her feet dangle just above the ground, and she laughed. There was no trace of the hesitation that had tinged their previous embraces—no caution or uncertainty. Just them. It was a second before he set her down again, but he still didn't release her completely, his hands remaining lightly on her waist.

"You were extraordinary, Christine," he told her. "Truly. You were better than anything I could have imagined."

Christine blushed at the praise. "Thank you, Erik," she told him quietly. "For everything, I mean. You know I'd never be here if it weren't for you."

"You'd also never be here if it weren't for all your talent and dedication. You made my part very easy," he said, his smile softening. "Really, Christine, you were stunning tonight. I'm very proud of you."

Christine blinked as tears pricked her eyes, starting to thank him again but feeling the words catch in her throat. It wouldn't be enough, anyway—nothing she could say could do justice to the difference he'd made in her life. And, after all that, he was proud of her. Those simple words filled her with warmth. He had seen her potential from the start, he had thought enough of her to meet with her almost every morning for months, he had guided her and encouraged her; he had seen every bit of progress she'd made, and he had helped her make it. And he was proud of her.

She realized then that their arms were still around each other, but instead of pulling away, she leaned back into him, tightening her arms around him and resting her head on his chest. He seemed a little uncertain this time, more aware of the contact than before, but after a second of hesitation he returned the embrace. There was something so tender about the way he held her, as if he wanted to never let go of her but was afraid that she might break in his grasp, and the thought made her heart flutter a little. She was reluctant to pull away from him, and she had only put the slightest bit of distance between them when she paused and glanced up at him. He was looking down at her with that warm, intense gaze that always made her breath catch, and she thought of how easy it would be to just stretch up onto her toes and press her lips to his, just briefly. No, it wasn't that it would be easy—it was that she wanted to do it. The thought of kissing him was fixed in her mind, and while she knew that this should make her pull away from him, she couldn't quite find the will to. She had thought she'd put aside anything she thought she might have felt for him; she'd decided that the whole thing had been silly. But here she was, wishing very badly that things were different.

Erik was the one to pull away, and as he did Christine let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. He let his arms drop to his sides, and with a pang of disappointment, she did the same. They had only stood there for a few seconds, but she felt as if she was coming out of a long dream. Her head cleared and she was aware again that they were standing in their practice room, and that it was late and she was tired and still in her costume from the show. The adrenaline from the performance was fading, leaving her worn out. That was probably why she had thought about kissing him, she told herself. She was tired and her mind was a little muddled. That was all.

"I should probably go get changed," she murmured, gesturing to her dress.

"Of course. You must be tired. I don't want to keep you." This was said without a hint of coolness, but Christine knew that the happiness they had shared only moments before had dimmed a little. Determined not to leave on this note, she smiled and nudged him.

"We did it."

He returned her smile, seeming to brighten a little. "You did it."

"I think both things can be true."

Relenting, he nodded. "Alright. Do you need a ride home?"

"I have Meg's car. She left with her mom. Mrs. Giry mentioned wanting to meet you, by the way. She'll have to leave early tomorrow, though, so I guess you were spared that."

"I don't know that I would mind meeting her all that much," Erik said, and Christine looked up at him with surprise. "You speak very highly of her. Perhaps meeting her wouldn't be so terrible."

"I thought you didn't like people," Christine teased.

"Well, you're not so bad. Maybe there are a handful of others who are tolerable." He smiled. "I'll let you go now. I'm sure you're exhausted after tonight."

"I am pretty tired."

"Rest up. You have another show tomorrow night."

She grinned. "I do, don't I? I get to do this again."

"You do," he chuckled. Holding out the bouquet of roses, he added, "And I'll be there watching again."

"Sounds good. I'll see you tomorrow, then."

He nodded. "Have a good night."

The building had grown quiet, the audience having long since left and only a handful of cast members still lingering around. The other girls who shared the dressing room had already gone, so Christine had the small space to herself while she removed her makeup, pulled the pins from her hair, and stripped off her gown. Something about being back in her own clothes made the exhaustion settle in even more heavily, and suddenly all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and stay there for a very long time. The night already seemed like a dream. It was too surreal, too unbelievable to have actually happened. But the applause was still echoing in her head; when she closed her eyes she could see the glare of the stage lights. She had actually performed tonight, and she had loved every second of it.

And tomorrow night she'd get to do it all over again.