Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own the Phantom of the Opera. It belongs to Gaston Leroux (original novel) and Andrew Lloyd Webber (musical rendition). Please buy the book or tickets to see the live performance (I know I will one day when I have enough money).

Ch. 2: Goodbye

"Relax your wrists!" Monsieur Daae corrected.

"Straighten your bowing arm!"

"Tune that F sharp...there we go! You got it!"

Endless corrections and praises were heard from the practice room where Monsieur Daae was teaching his pupil of four months, Olivier.

From the hallways, Christine could always hear her father and friend playing the violin for hours. Always stopping to fix mistakes and make improvements. So far, lessons have been going very smoothly.

Olivier was learning quickly and improving at a solid speed. In fact, ever since he began taking lessons from Christine's father, Olivier has been smiling more than he used to.

He became more talkative and imaginative. Or at least Christine thought so.

Today's lesson was probably going to be cancelled though. Outside, grey clouds were gathering and the distant sound of thunder echoed throughout the bay. Christine sighed as the first drops of rain splashed against the window.

"Looks like Olivier won't be coming today," she said sadly.

Her father nodded as the rain grew heavy and violent.

"Come, my angel. Let's warm up by the fireplace."

A flash of lightning startled Christine followed by a loud crackle of thunder. Or was it a knock? Knock! Knock! Knock! Both Christine and her father looked at the door curiously. Who could be outside in this kind of weather?

Monsieur Daae opened the front door and in came a completely soaked Olivier. He was shivering and squeezing his shoulders, seeming to tremble in pain.

He had a small gash above his forehead, causing blood to trickle down his face.

Without asking a single question, Monsieur Daae and Christine brought him to their guest room where they prepared to help him dry off.

Once Olivier stopped dripping onto the floor, Monsieur Daae asked him why he was out in such weather.

"Olivier, what happened to your head? And why were you outside when it's storming like this?"

The boy shivered and held back tears.

"I...I wanted to come for violin lessons. But I tripped and hit my head on a rock outside. That's how I got this wound...I'm so sorry, sir. I'm sorry."

Both Monsieur Daae and Christine wrapped their arms around Olivier. Assuring him that everything is going to be ok. But they'll need to address his wound and get him a change of clothes.

Olivier seemed uneasy at the thought of needing to change clothes. So Monsieur Daae says that he'll clean the wound first. Christine leaves and returns with the first aid kit.

Monsieur Daae opens it up and takes out all the equipment he needed to treat Olivier's small injury. He knelt in front of the boy, slowly cleaning his wound with some rubbing alcohol.

A rock he said? Would an impact upon a rock make a small wound like this? Monsieur Daae thought as he wiped the blood away and took a better look at the wound.

Before he was about to reach for the gauze, he caught sight of something bright and golden sticking out from under Olivier's dark wet hair.

It was a patch of hair that seemed more authentic than the hair sitting on top of it.

"Olivier, are you wearing a wig?" Monsieur Daae asked cautiously.

Immediately, Olivier violently adjusted his toupee and tried to run out of the room. But Monsieur Daae grabbed him and held him close, trying to calm the boy down. Christine watched from afar in shock.

Olivier stopped struggling eventually and broke down in tears.

Monsieur Daae released Olivier. The boy slowly removed his toupee while whimpering, "please, don't tell anyone else about this. Especially my father."

He untied his golden hair, letting it fall down. Christine covered her mouth in shock.

That stormy afternoon, Olivier sat with the Daae's, dressed in one of Christine's spare nightgowns, and explaining to them about why she is like this.

About her father and why they moved to France and most importantly, to keep this a secret.

Throughout it all, the Daae's never flinched or asked her anything that made her uncomfortable. They were so accepting. Just like Raoul was.

"And that's it," Olivier finished. "I'm sorry for having to lie to you for so long. Raoul found out a while back but I made him keep it a secret. Now, you two have found as well. I'm not doing a very good job pleasing my father."

Christine scoffed. "I can't understand why your father would make you do this. It's not fair to you!"

But Olivier shook her head. "Please understand, he's the only family I have left. This is the least I can do for him. But Monsieur…" Olivier turned to face Christine's father.

"I...I can still take violin lessons from you...right?"

"Of course!" Monsieur Daae said incredulously. "This changes nothing! Music is art. And it can be enjoyed by anyone!"

Christine nodded eagerly. "And don't worry. We won't tell anyone about your secret. Never."

Ever since moving here, Olivier never thought he'd be so happy. Or be so accepted. First, it was Raoul who found out about his secret. Then it was Christine and her father. But that was it.

No one else knew about his true gender, other than his father and those closest to their family.

And then there were the violin lessons. It made Olivier feel more alive than he had before. Music was his new need. But he can't let his father find out. His father wants him to become a lawyer like he is, and his father before him.

Anything related to the arts is out of the question.

It wasn't just art that Olivier's father forbids him from pursuing. His father also purged all feminine thoughts from his head at a young age. He's not allowed to do activities or think like a girl. If he did, he would be punished severely.

But...ever since that day…

"And what do you mean 'freak of nature'? You're fine just the way you are."

Olivier felt a warm blush crawling up her neck and to her cheeks.

"Olivier!" Raoul ran up behind an unsuspecting Olivier, lost in his thoughts.

"Olivier, what are you doing out in the open? Christine's almost done counting, we need to hide!"

He grabbed him by the arm and they dashed across the field towards a rock pile, where they squeezed into a tight gap. The three friends were playing a game of hide and seek.

Christine was done counting and started looking for her two friends. Raoul and Olivier suppressed groans of discomfort as they attempted to shift around their hiding spot.

It would be a pretty awkward situation to be in if they were a boy and a girl—oh wait.

Raoul felt his cheeks start to flush at remembering Olivier's true gender. Despite the oversized trench coat, layers of boy's clothing, and toupee, it didn't erase the fact that Olivier is a girl.

Olivier seems to be having the same thoughts. Luckily, their hiding spot was dark enough to hide the redness in her face.

She was about to ask him if they could find a new hiding spot when Raoul suddenly begins staring intently at her chest.

Immediately Olivier felt a need to cover herself and flung her arms across her chest but as she did, she felt a tickle on her hand.

A giant insect was sitting on top of her shirt. That's why Raoul was staring. She lets out a shriek.

"Aaaahhhhh!"

The two children began squirming about as the insect was flung off Olivier's shirt and landed somewhere between them.

Pushing and screaming, they made their way out of the hiding spot where Christine was standing before them triumphantly.

"Found you!" She laughed at the sight of her two friends tangled in a heap before her.

Raoul playfully pushed Olivier down when he attempted to get up. "Thanks a lot for giving away our hiding spot."

Olivier scoffed and gets up, dusting himself off. "It's not my fault. If it wasn't for your staring, I would've never noticed that bug."

Immediately, Raoul felt his ears grow warm. Right, he forgot that Olivier was a girl, again. Before he was about to apologize, he could hear his brother's voice in the distance.

Philippe appeared over the hills with an unknown tall man. The man closely resembled Olivier but had firm, masculine features. Raoul felt Olivier back up behind him. He sensed his friend's uneasiness and squeezed his hand.

Christine also walked closer to the two boys. Philippe introduced them to the man, Karl Koenig, who is Olivier's father.

Raoul is shocked, it's been nearly half a year since they became friends with Olivier and this is the first time they saw his father in person. Karl looked back and forth from Raoul to Christine.

"You two are friends with my son, Olivier?" He asked in a deep but smooth voice.

The two children nodded furiously. But Karl didn't seem too pleased. It's like he's waiting for them to say something. Raoul knew what the man wanted to hear.

"Olivier is very fun to play with. He's the first boy whom I've become friends with, sir. Ever since I lived here. We never did anything to get in trouble, honest."

A smile formed on Karl's face. He nodded in approval. Christine and Raoul exchanged glances with each other, telepathically agreeing that there's something off about Olivier's father.

Karl Koenig held out his hand to Olivier who was still standing behind Raoul.

"Come, my son. I'm sorry children, but we have some important business to attend to back home. I'm afraid Olivier may not be able to play for the next few days."

Before Olivier or Raoul and Christine could complain, Philippe gave them a look that silenced them. Karl took Olivier by the hand and led him away.

The last thing Raoul saw of his friend was his long trenchcoat fluttering in the breeze behind him.

The 'important business' Karl said back at the fields turned out to be a quick interview for a private school he secretly enrolled Olivier in. The school had a good preparation program for aspiring lawyers.

But as soon as the interview was over, Olivier expressed his unhappiness that Karl is thinking about moving.

"What's that, Olivier?" Karl asked in a calm but menacing tone. "You want to stay here? What for? It better not be for that de Chagny boy and Daae girl. You know what I told you about making friends, you mustn't get too close. They'll find out. Or have they already found out?"

"They have not, father," Olivier said while standing his ground. "They are good friends, true friends. And I'd hate to leave them—"

Smack. Karl hit the side of Olivier's cheek, causing him to stumble back against the wall. The boy held his cheek in pain. Karl knelt in front of his 'son', putting a finger under Olivier's chin and saying slowly.

"Try saying that again. Deepen your voice more."

Olivier repeated his previous sentence, this time in a deeper voice. Karl clapped his hands together in satisfaction.

"I shouldn't have to remind you. If you accidentally let this happen in public, then I will be ruined. Our name will be ruined. Now, remember, unless you want a repeat of what happened that stormy day. I still can't believe you had the gall to run out into the rain like that."

Silence. After a few minutes, Karl began talking again.

"I want you to start prepping for some entrance exams I signed you up for. No more going out on weekdays to play, understood? Paying your tutor isn't cheap, you know."

Olivier nodded while still leaning against the wall. He didn't say a single word. Karl accepted his silence and leaves to go to his study. Before he completely left the room however, he tells Olivier one last thing.

"That Raoul de Chagny seems to be quite close to you. Standing in front of you, holding your hand, and even claiming you to be his first true friend."

"We're friends, good friends," Olivier whispered.

"And friends you shall remain," Karl stressed the final word before leaving for good.

Raoul asked his family that night what they knew about the Koenig family. His older brother Philippe said that Karl Koenig is an able lawyer who's been rising very fast in the field of law.

He offered his services to the de Chagny family out of thanks for Raoul being friends with his awkward son, Olivier.

"Your friendship with that Koenig boy earned us a discount for his services, Raoul," Raoul's father praised over the dinner table.

Philippe glanced at Raoul curiously. "You and Christine seemed very tense today when meeting Monsieur Koenig. Why is that?"

"Maybe because Olivier himself was tense as well," Raoul said with a bit of attitude.

"Probably the pressure of being the son of such an accomplished man," Raoul's mother suggested, trying to break the tension between the two brothers. "I don't see Olivier often, but from what I do know, he seems like a very sweet boy. Quiet but polite. He also gets along with the Daae's very well. And he's quite attractive too, it's a shame he always wears clothes that look two sizes larger than him."

Raoul had half a mind to start an argument with his mother but he quickly cooled down. It will only cause them to be more curious about Olivier. And Raoul couldn't forget his promise. Instead, he diverts the topic towards the Daae's.

Mainly Christine.

"Gustave's daughter is a talented little beauty," Raoul's father said. "But she's a bit of dreamer. She needs someone to help her and guide her."

Raoul laughed. "Yes, Little Lotte does tend to let her mind wander. And ever since Olivier's been going to their place for music lessons, he's slowly becoming like her too."

"Cherish her, Raoul," his mother told him. "It's not every day you meet girls like Christine Daae. Talented girls with a good heart and sense of character."

Talking about Christine made Raoul feel fluttery in his stomach. It's true that he's attracted to Christine, perhaps that attraction is growing little by little. But they're only children.

He has no idea what will happen to the two of them in the future. Same thing with Olivier. It scares Raoul, knowing that these happy playful days will be over eventually.

Little did Raoul know, these days were coming to an end sooner than he expected.

Raoul and Christine lied down on the field together, looking up at the clouds. They were talking about the grand party that was coming up to celebrate Philippe's birthday.

Christine's father was to be performing a solo piece, which relieved Christine very much. Since lately, her father seemed more tired than normal.

"I insisted that we call a doctor, but he won't listen, Raoul," Christine said sadly.

"Maybe it's the weather," Raoul suggested. "It's been more humid than usual and I know my mother does have trouble breathing during these kinds of days."

"Or maybe it's Olivier's absence. My father always enjoyed teaching her the violin," Christine used the female pronoun confidently since it was just the two of them.

Raoul almost forgot that she and her father also knew Olivier's secret.

Raoul reached out to hold her hand. They looked at each other's eyes.

"Don't worry Little Lotte. Once Olivier's finished with her important business, everything will go back to normal. I'm sure of it!"

Christine's eyes beamed at the thought of that. She turned back to the sky and sighs.

"I miss her."

"Yeah, I miss her too."

The night of the party came. The de Chagny manor was more grandeur than ever. Guests from all over the country came and made the place more alive than it was before.

Raoul was dressed in a suit tailored just for him. He successfully escaped from his parents and Philippe a couple of minutes ago to find Christine and Olivier.

Before long, Raoul spots Christine, looking more beautiful than ever in an elegant pink dress. The two friends hug and compliment each other. Then they began looking around earnestly for their third friend.

But he was nowhere to be found.

Finally, the time for Monsieur Daae's performance came. Raoul and Christine ran to the private gazebo to watch. The music began and everyone is mesmerized.

Suddenly, Christine tugged Raoul's sleeve to get his attention. He looked at who she was pointing at.

It was Karl Koenig.

The two children made their way over to the German man, but to their dismay, Olivier was not with him. Karl noticed the children and smiled at them. Raoul nervously whispered.

"Ummm. Monsieur Koenig?"

"Let me guess, you're wondering where Olivier is, hm?" Karl said as if he read their minds.

Both Raoul and Christine nodded in unison. After a violin cadenza, Karl takes out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and presents it to the children.

"Here, Olivier wanted me to give you this." Then he left.

Raoul leads Christine inside the house and to his bedroom for more privacy. There, they unfolded the paper and read the contents.

Dear Raoul and Christine,

I'm sorry but I'll be moving by the end of this month. I got accepted into a specialist school in Marseille so my father and I will be living there from now on. Thank you for making my stay here the most wonderful time ever.

I fear we may not have time to keep in contact, so I ask you to please never forget me. Because I will never forget you two.

Your friend,

Olivier Koenig

As soon as they finished reading, Christine locked herself in Raoul's private bathroom. She sat on the floor and sobbed. Raoul didn't try to force the door open. He too, understood what Christine was feeling.

Holding the letter in hand, he slowly leaned against the other side of the bathroom door and slid down to the ground. Tears formed in his eyes. He let them flow freely.

The rest of the party went without a hitch. By the end of the night, the guests were leaving. Christine's father carried his tired daughter back home with one arm and his violin case in the other.

Raoul went to bed without saying goodnight to any of his family.

Karl Koenig left the de Chagny manor after informing the family of his move to Marseille by the end of the month. They all wished him and Olivier the best. Entering his house, Karl checked to make sure everything was still in place.

Slowly, he made his way to Olivier's bedroom. The boy—girl, was lying on her bed. Her toupee was tossed onto the nightstand and her face was buried in the pillow.

Karl made his way to her bedside, sitting down on the edge of the mattress.

"Your friends know now, Olivier. So you don't need to worry about revealing it to them."

No reply.

"Olivier, I did this for you. Pursuing that de Chagny boy and taking violin lessons, may I add, in secret, will be our downfall. Just think of the humiliation you'd receive! A girl, pretending to be a boy? My son…you need to know that you will never hold a candle to that Daae girl."

Olivier burst up violently.

"Well maybe if I wasn't raised like this, maybe I would've held a candle to her! Maybe I could've taken singing lessons with her! Dress up and have tea parties! Maybe Raoul would've looked at me differently!"

Then she put her face back in her pillow and sobbed.

Karl held his temper back. He already took it out enough on Olivier, ever since that day when Philippe told him that Olivier's been taking lessons from Gustave Daae.

And that night when he caught Olivier wearing her mother's old clothing and pretending to talk to Raoul in the mirror.

It disgusted Karl beyond comprehension.

That's when Karl knew they had to move. This place has been nothing but a danger to their new life.

"Olivier, for the love we both bore for your mother. I'll let you see your friends one last time the day before we leave. And that's it."

Olivier threw a pillow at her father in response.

The days following the party seemed to be colder and gloomier. As it to match what's going currently between the three friends.

Christine's father seemed to be getting more and more tired. Eventually, he agreed to call in a doctor. The doctor diagnosed him with no clear result and suggested that he go to a hospital in the city.

"Papa, you'll be alright, right? If something happens to you...I don't know what to do! You won't leave me, right?" Christine asked, almost begged.

The violinist smiled at his daughter.

"We'll see, my angel. And remember, if something does happen to me. I will send you an Angel of Music down from the heavens to watch over you and guide you. You'll never be lonely, my dear daughter."

A knock was heard from the front door. Christine opened it thinking it was the doctor again, but it was Olivier. Christine embraced her in a bone-crushing hug and led her inside.

Monsieur Daae also hugged Olivier with the little strength he had now.

"Christine, Monsieur Daae, I'm sorry for not visiting in so long," Olivier apologized. "I suppose you already know the truth. I'm moving to Marseille."

"Sad news, it is, for all of us," Monsieur Daae said.

He had heard the news from the de Chagny's the night after the party.

"Why do things have to change so fast?" Christine asked. "First you got sick, papa. And now you're moving away, Olivier."

"Monsieur Daae! You're not feeling well?" Olivier exclaimed.

But he reassured her that it was nothing. Christine said otherwise, even bringing up the doctor that just visited them. This made Olivier feel very guilty.

"I'm sorry for having to leave at such a bad time. I was hoping to learn more from you. I—I really did love playing the violin! But now…I don't know how I'm supposed to continue."

Monsieur Daae picked up a nearby notepad and feather pen. He wrote down a name and address before handing it to Olivier.

"A former friend and orchestra colleague of mine. He's a fine teacher and lives in Marseille. If you wish to continue, pay him a visit."

Olivier felt tears well up in her eyes. Monsieur Daae asked Christine to bring him one of his spare violins from his practice room. Christine did as she was told and returned with a full-sized violin case.

Monsieur Daae handed it to Olivier. "Take this. You'll be big enough one day to play this violin. Please accept it as a parting gift."

Without a second thought, Olivier accepted the violin and rushed forward to wrap her arms around the man who was like a surrogate father to her. She was so grateful.

So grateful to both him and Christine for introducing her to this wonderful world of music.

Raoul left his house as soon as all the lights were out. He ran towards the beach. Despite being quite cold over the past few days, tonight is pretty warm.

"She'll be waiting for you at the place where we first met tonight when the moon is up," Christine told Raoul earlier this afternoon. Raoul still remembered the first time he saw Olivier.

All wet and sputtering from the seawater, he couldn't get a good glimpse of his saviour until they reached the shore. And tonight will be the last time he'll see her. Until fate decides that they'll meet again.

At the beach, Raoul sees a figure standing near the shore. And as he drew closer, he could hear the faint sound of a violin being played.

It was coming from the figure. The moon appeared from behind a cloud and lit up the entire bay.

The figure playing the violin was Olivier. She wasn't wearing her usual oversized boy clothes and toupee anymore.

Tonight, she let her natural hair down. And wore an ivory nightdress, one that Christine gifted to her.

Raoul stepped foot on the sandbar and Olivier stopped playing, sensing his presence.

"Hello, Raoul."

The moon made the place feel ethereal, combined with Olivier's outfit and recent violin music, it made Raoul feel like this is all a dream. But it wasn't. And he kept walking forward towards her. Stopping until he's right in front.

"Hello, Olivier."

A few seconds pass before the two begin talking. They talked about the time they first met, the days spent playing together with Christine, the discovery of Olivier's secret, and finally, their plans for the future.

It was like coming in a full circle. They were talking about the exact same things they talked about on the first day of meeting each other.

"I'm so glad," Raoul confessed. "So glad to have become friends with you. You, Olivier Koenig, will always hold a special place in my memories."

Olivier smiled. It was a smile that she never made before. A smile that made her look like a girl. She put her violin back in its case. Then she leaned in close and held Raoul by the shoulders.

Standing on her toes, she softly said in his ear.

"Don't forget me, Raoul. Don't forget. Because I will never forget you."

The next morning, the Koenig's property was emptied and the moving carts had packed up their belongings. Olivier and her father left before Raoul or Christine could say goodbye one last time.

And that was it.

The end of the childhood innocence of the three friends. Little did they know, fate had something in store for them when they entered adulthood.

A/N. Here is the 2nd chapter. This marks the end of the childhood introductory arc. Starting from the next chapter onward, the events of the Phantom of the Opera will begin. And of course, there will be some changes and additional events since this is an AU. But nothing too out there.

I hope you lovely readers enjoyed this chapter. If you did, please read it as much as you want! And the overall story too (once it's finished).

I write because I love to write.

But favourites, follows, and reviews are always motivating! :)

Until the next time we meet,

MiraLake

(PS. New chapters every week unless I announce a hiatus)