Erik mulled the information he just gained in his head as Alanna left. He watched her as her gown whipped out of sight, and he sunk into that solitary armchair, running his hands over his face. He hadn't come to the Garnier to fall in love, but she was making that impossible for him. She knew that he had been a murdering maniac, and she accepted him and forgave him for that. She understood the hardships of his life… And yet… Erik couldn't let himself fall into that hole again, no not again.
She was just making it impossible for him not to love her.
()
I paced up and down my room, running my hands through my hair. I had been at the Garnier for almost two months now, and the first show would be in a few days, and I had to focus, but I couldn't. I hadn't come to the Garnier to fall in love. And then Erik shows up, and all my defenses are torn down in a single swoop. Why did I have feelings for this man? Did he even deserve a second chance? I shook out my hair with my fingers as I sunk down onto the bed. Erik. He was making it impossible for me to guard my heart.
Too much had happened in the past for this to happen to me again. I let them in, and they tore me down from the inside. Those walls had been put there for a reason. But when I was pierced by those beautiful blue eyes they crumbled, and when our lips had touched they had been blown away completely. It hurt. All of it. I never wanted any of this. Courting the Opera Ghost?
His name is Erik, I thought, you didn't even know he was the Opera Ghost until you read that article.
There was a knock on my door and I jumped.
"Alanna," It was Rufus. I stood, pulling my disheveled hair back into a quick braid. I grasped the latch on the door and swung it open. Rufus stood there, his curly dark hair tucked behind his ears, his brown eyes twinkling.
"Hello," I murmured, smiling at him.
"Hey Alanna," He said putting a hand on the door frame. "I was told to come and make sure you were alright, you missed rehearsals this morning,"
"Oh, I'm sorry," I said, pressing a hand to my mouth.
"It's alright," Rufus reassured me, "I was just checking in."
"I just slept in, that's all…" I actually had forgotten, since I had gone down to see Erik.
"Just make sure you show up tomorrow," Rufus said with a nod of his head.
"I will," I said quickly.
"Have you seen Alice?" Rufus asked. I shook my head, my braid swinging.
"Alright then, take care," He replied, pulling out of the door way. I waved at him as I closed the door. I let out a breath as I let my hand fall away from the door. Missing rehearsals wasn't like me… I was just so confused. I turned to my vanity, bracing my hands against the edge of it.
"Alanna?"
I spun on my heel and I saw Erik standing there.
"Erik," I responded, keeping my voice cool, ignoring my racing heart.
"Do you think we can give this a try? You and me?"
I bit my lip, and I hesitated, but my heart was already screaming my answer.
"I know that you probably deserve better than me," Erik said quickly, "but if you are willing…" He cut off.
"Alright. I suppose we can."
