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Christine was meeting with Meg for breakfast. She used to hang out with Meg much more often, but now with her schedule so busy she had a lot less time to see her. However, they both still made time for their friendship and Christine was very happy to be meeting Meg.
"So, how's Raoul?" Meg asked that morning at breakfast.
"Oh, he's fine. We're good" Christine told Meg with a smile.
Meg didn't look convinced and she raised her eyebrows at Christine and her face told Christine to be honest with her.
"I mean, he's really nice. And I do like him, it's just I don't know. There nothing wrong." Christine said, and she didn't know what else to say. What she told Meg was true, there was nothing wrong with her relationship with Raoul. But there was something bugging her that she couldn't put her finger on.
Meg must have seen the conflict on her face "Its okay Christine, just as long as you are happy. If you aren't happy, you don't have to be with Raoul. You know, just because he's nice doesn't mean you have an obligation to be with him if you don't want to." she said, her tone soft and comforting.
"Yeah... I know" Christine said.
"So what else is new?" Meg asks
"Well, I'm trying out for a solo part, it's this Saturday."
"That's great Christine! You'll do amazing, its great that you are trying out." Meg exclaimed.
Christine smiled "Thanks I was on the fence about it, but Erik convinced me that I ought to at least try. Plus we had a deal that if I did well on the first concert I'd try for a solo part and if he thinks I can do it, I trust his judgment. I was so nervous I was going to fail at my first concert, and I didn't."
"I told you you would do great, but I'm glad you have more faith in yourself now. You have the talent to be amazing, you just need to believe in yourself."
Christine might not have noticed it, but Meg did. When she talked about Raoul Christine seemed neutral, but when she talked about Erik her face became animated and a look that Meg couldn't place took over her eyes.
Tomorrow was the solo auditions. The date was closing in on Christine as she practiced with Erik. Practicing felt good because it reminded Christine that she really was ready and that it would be fine. Practicing took her mind off the fact that auditions were so close. Christine finished singing the part they were working on and looked to Erik for critique.
"That was very good, you hit all the notes perfectly. Straighten your posture a little, it will help you breathe more. Make sure when you audition you focus on both your posture and your singing"
Christine nodded and corrected her stance before singing again.
"Very good" Erik said when she was done "Now we've worked a lot on the individual pieces, and I think you have that all down. Let's try putting it all together now, just do an run through. You need to hear it all together from yourself. From the top" he instructed. They never chatted much during their lessons. They often talked before and after, but not during. That was reserved for instruction.
Christine started singing the part, each piece and Erik's instructions in her head as she sang. She kept her posture steady and sang through the song, the highs and lows. Erik listened to her sing, and if she had been looking at him she would have seen the admiration in his eyes. He loved everything about her, and her voice light up his world. To Erik, their lessons were a reassurance that they would see each other even if they weren't what Christine called friends. And even though Erik wanted more than friends, he would be happy with that.
Christine finished the song, carrying out the note at the end. She took a breath before taking a sip of water.
"Very good, you sounded great" Erik told her "Even your transitions were good and we haven't worked on those as much. Let's focus on the transition between measure 28 and 29"
The rest of the lesson passed smoothly and when it was over and Christine was gathering her stuff she noticed a text from Raoul.
It read "Hey babe, I won't be able to make your audition tomorrow. Something came up at work. I'm sorry, I wish I could make it. Dinner tomorrow instead?"
Christine frowned as she read the message on her phone. Now no one she knew would be attending her audition. Meg was busy, but she had told Christine that when she invited her. Cecilia and Judie both had work, neither was auditioning. Raoul had said he was going to make it, and it sicked that he was bailing on their plans.
"What's the matter?" Erik asked, concerned to see Christine frowning.
Christine sighed "It's nothing, just none of my friends are going to be at my audition. Raoul was going to come but he's got something else now."
Erik's fists curled at the mention of Raoul. Of course she was still with her pretty boy. "If it's any consolation, I'll be at your audition" Erik told her.
"You'd really do that for me? But you usually don't like being around a lot of other people" Christine said, shocked.
"You're worth it, I wouldn't miss it for the world" Erik told her gently.
Christine gave Erik a tight hug for a second before pulling away. "Thank you" was all she said but she could not put into words how grateful she was, and she could not explain why she was so happy.
Christine was standing in the back of the stage at the theater, waiting to audition. She could hear the people who had gone before her, and they were good. She tapped her foot anxiously and scanned through her music, singing it in her head. She wished they would just call her name already and get
"Christine Daaé" the judge called and Christine walked onto the stage. She scanned the crowd for Erik, needing his familiar presence to guide her. She saw him in the back row, cloaked in shadows. Christine focused her eyes on him and pretended that she was just at lessons, singing for Erik. She forgot all the people around her and just sang.
Erik watched Christine as she auditioned. He couldn't help but smile a little when she found him in the theater. Usually when he watched her sing he made sure he was completely hidden. However, since harold Christine he would be here he decided to make an appearance. They're weren't many other people there, besides the performers and the judges.
Christine sang beautifully, as usual and Erik was sure she had secured a solo. As Christine exited the stage Erik moved to the back entrance to meet her.
"You were amazing" he complmented
Christine's cheeks were pink and she smiled at the complement "I'm glad you think so, do you think I will get a part"
"Of course you will. The only reason you would not get the biggest part is because you are new, even though that is what you deserve. But you are a shoe in for a solo. It would be stupid of them to ignore your voice" he told her.
Christine smiled again "I wish I had the confidence you have in me"
"You will in time, Christine. You already are more confident than when we started" Erik assured her.
"Your right" she said as they passed by the coffeehouse "Hey, can I buy you some coffee? It's the least I can do after all the help you gave me for this audition."
Erik didn't want to get coffee, but he couldn't say no to Christine. The chance to spend time with her was never something he passed up on. So he accepted and they walked into the coffee shop.
End of chapter. So how'd you like it? Please review, and feel free to PM me.