Hey everyone I'm back. Sorry for the longer wait after the big reveal last update. I've decide to start updating once every 2 weeks. This way sometimes I can work ahead and still give you new material when I am busy, which I will be now that school's started back.

Christine drove home in a blur. Her face was still wet with tears and she kept bursting into new fits of tears. She felt hurt and ashamed and heartbroken. Her relationship with Raoul had never been perfect, but she'd thought he was a good stable guy. She'd thought he was the type of guy who wouldn't hurt her. She'd thought she was enough for him, but she wasn't. That was what hurt most of all.

By the time Christine gets back to her apartment, she is in desperate need of a friend. A shoulder to cry on and someone to help her forget about all this, if only for a little bit. She instantly dialed Meg's number. The phone rang, and rang, and rang before going to voicemail. Christine didn't let the mechanical voice that answers finish its automated message before angrily pressing the end call button. Frustrated and emotionally frayed, Christine paced her apartment like a caged animal. Meg would only not answer her phone if she was doing something important, and as much as Christine wanted someone to talk to, she didn't want to interrupt her just to deal with her problems. After a minute, though, Christine didn't know if she could take it anymore. She grabbed her car keys and left the apartment. She just needed something to clear her head. Something to stop herself coming up with a million things that Raoul probably didn't like enough about her to stay with her.

She ended up at the bar she and meg often visited to celebrate together or in commiseration of their failures. Over the years it became their spot. They came here when Christine got a place in the chorus, and again when she got the solo part. But without Meg, Christine found that the bar did not feel so welcoming. Although the bar was crowded with people, she felt so alone. Nevertheless, she pushed through the crowd, found a spot at the bar, and ordered a drink. She downed the drink quickly and ordered another. After a few drinks, Christine was buzzed and happy. She felt lighter, but Raoul and the girl she found him with still plagued her mind, pulling her down. She forced herself to push the memory away, finding it easier to ignore with some alcohol in her. After a few more drinks Christine wasn't thinking about Raoul anymore.

She was, however, completely drunk. She knew she was not making smart decisions; she was flirting with the bartender and not in her right mind anymore. But she was tired of always making smart decisions. She had done that all her life, and no one ever stuck around. If she was less inebriated, Christine would know this wasn't true. She would think of Meg and her mom, and she would think of Erik. They hadn't left her. But she was drunk and bitter. She thought of Raoul and her parents. Raoul who chose to leave her, and her parents who were gone. She ordered another drink.

"This is your last one, I'm cutting you off," the bartender told her. "You need to call someone. The bar closes soon, and you can't drive home."

"I don't want to go home," Christine said sullenly.

"You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here. Call a friend," the bartender insisted.

"Fine," Christine muttered, pulling out her phone and attempting to click on Meg's number. After touching the screen a few times the phone started ringing.

It only rang for a second before there was an answer. "Christine?" said a deep male voice that definitely did not belong to Meg.

"Erikkk?" Christine slurred.

"What's wrong, Christine?" Erik asked, concerned. He answered without hesitation when Christine called. But now he could tell she was drunk, and he was worried.

"I didn't mean to call you… I tried to call Meg. She needs to drive me home."

"It's okay. You called me, and I can pick you up. Where are you?" He was already halfway out the door when Christine gave him the name of the bar.

"You don't have to come," she protested. "I'm fine."

"I don't mind. I'm coming, just stay where you are," Erik told her firmly. He didn't hang up until she promised she would stay put.

Christine didn't wait long in the bar before Erik texted to let her know he was there, and she stumbled outside. He was waiting on the sidewalk outside the bar, in front of his car.

"I'm sorry I bothered you," Christine said, upset. She was glad Erik was here, but she was not happy to see him in her intoxicated state. Her tongue was always looser when she was drunk, and she wasn't sure what she would end up saying to him. Her feelings for him had grown increasingly confusing, and now that she was broken up with Raoul she wasn't sure what she would do.

"It's no bother," Erik assured her, leading her to the passenger side of his car. After making sure she was securely seated, he moved to the driver's side and started the car.

"Erik, do you think I'm pretty?" Christine asked abruptly.

"I know you're beautiful," Erik said thoughtlessly, before cursing himself. Surely she would be frightened by such bold assessments by someone like himself. What Christine said next surprised him.

"Raoul doesn't think I'm pretty. Not pretty enough for him."

Erik's hands tightened on the wheel of the car as he fought the rush of defensiveness at just the thought of anyone making Christine feel that she wasn't enough. "What makes you say that?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"I'm not good enough for him. He was with someone else. I don't know what I did wrong. What's wrong with me Erik" Christine asked, suddenly close to tears.

Erik tightened his grip on the wheel of the car and forced himself to take a calming breath before speaking "Nothing is wrong with you. Raoul's the one who's wrong. He had you and he threw it away. It's not your fault, Christine," Erik reassured her.

They drove the rest of the way to his house in silence. Erik didn't know where Christine lived, and he didn't want to leave her alone in her current state anyway. Instead, he helped her out of the car and led her inside.

"Thank you, Erik. You're too good to me," Christine slurred, leaning heavily on him. Her eyes were half-closed. "What did I do to deserve you?"

"I wonder the same thing all the time," Erik said softly, letting his defenses down. It was hard not to, with Christine's soft body pressing against his. He led her to the guest room, sat her on the bed, and pulled her shoes off.

"Get some sleep, Christine," he suggested.

"I don't want to sleep, I want to stay up with you." Christine protested.

Hearing Christine say this made Erik's heart soar, and he had to remind himself that she didn't know what she was saying. "You need to sleep. I'll be here in the morning."

Christine curled up on the bed and closed her eyes obediently, mumbling her acceptance. Satisfied that she was comfortable, Erik gave her one last glance before leaving the room. He stood outside the door for a long time before finally heading out into the living room and sinking into a chair. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, not with Christine sleeping in his house. All he could do was stay awake and replay the last words she said to him over in his mind.

I know it's not super long, but some good E/C interaction. Let me know how you liked it. I plan to make the next chapter longer and have more important content, but I won't give it away :). Please Review and feel free to PM me. Every review I read means so much to me. - K