Satine leaned her chin on her hand and tapped her pencil on her open
Calculus book, and glanced at her blank notebook. She looked up and saw
Christian a few seats away, his head bent over his book and hurriedly
plugging in numbers in his calculator and writing them down.
She sighed. It had been only been a week since the opening of the play. . . since she went out with Robert Duken. Christian seemed so hurt backstage, but now things were back to normal. . . except Satine didn't know if they wanted them to be.
Satine sat back in her chair and wondered what Christian would do if she told him she was engaged. Her eyes fell and a lump clung to her throat. They'd be through - no man would ever put up with that. The only happiness she had ever known would fly away without her.
She had no other choice. Her fate was all ready decided. . . she was to marry Robert Duken. Satine felt sick at the thought and laid her head down as the bell rang.
She sighed again and lifted her head, jumping slightly when Christian sat in the seat in front of her, her chin on his hands.
"Oh, hello," she whispered.
He smiled widely. "I have a surprise for you. . ."
"W-What is it?"
"Silly, it's a surprise! I can't tell you." He nodded his head toward the door. "Darling, lets go."
She smiled at the name packed up her things in her bag and took his hand.
After being blindfolded the whole car ride that seemed like hours, Christian rolled into a gentle stop. "We're here," he whispered, leaning over and kissing her cheek.
She smiled. "Where are we?" she asked.
"Just stay there." She heard his door open and close, and then his smooth footsteps came around the car to open her door. He put his arm around her and helped her up, walking her carefully a distance.
"Can I take my blindfold off yet?" she laughed.
"Yes," he whispered in her ear, untying the back of the bandana and letting it fall to the ground.
Satine's mouth hung open when she saw the large gray elephant structure. "Ch-Christian, what-?"
"I know you just moved here so you haven't heard of this place, but it's really famous here. It's called 'The Elephant'."
She forced herself to take a breath. "Isn't-isn't there a dress code here Christian? I mean I'm not wearing anything fancy."
Christian slipped his arms around her waist. "I borrowed some costumes from the prop shop."
Satine was at a lost for words. Last Friday night she had been here with Robert Duken. Although he never told her, she saw him slip the manager a fifty and whisper that she was only aloud to be seated when she came with him.
"It's - it's too fancy," she said, tugging on his arm. "It's a wonderful idea, darling, but why don't we go somewhere else?"
"Well, I. . ." his face turned pink. "I had reservations weeks in advance."
"Oh," she whispered, tucking some hair behind her ear. Maybe if she kept her head down, maybe if they were seated in a small table, maybe if they didn't have the same waiter. . . the whole list of maybe's were racking up in her head, but only half heartily did she believe them.
She kissed him softly. "Lets go."
"Really?" he asked, smiling widely. "Really?"
"Really really."
Christian changed first, and then Satine, with the help of tinted windows. Satine emerged in a long light purple dress, with diamonds laced around the edges. She fixed her hair into an elegant bun and smiled at Christian's glazed eyes, wrapping her arms around him. "You sure know how to pick out a dress."
"Uh. . . thanks," he whispered, looking into her face with a warm expression.
"How can you do that?" she wondered to her self, surprised when it came out.
"Do what?"
She took a deep breath. "Look at me like I'm the most beautiful person you've ever seen?"
"You are," he whispered, touching his forehead with hers. "It's scary how much I feel when I just look in your eyes."
She blushed and looked away from his gaze, seeing his crooked tie. She laughed slightly and started to re-tie it.
"There," she whispered when she was done and patted his cheek. "I believe we're ready."
He offered her his arm with a smile and she took it gently, resting her head on his arm, hoping no one would recognize her inside.
When they approached the desk, the snooty manager scowled. "Do you have a reservation?" he asked with a thick french accent.
"James, party of 2."
The man looked in his book and scowled, picking up two menu's. "Right this way," he said with forced sincerity.
When they were seated in a table far away from the desk, the man looked very suspiciously at Satine. "Do I know you miss?" he asked.
Satine bit her lip. "Of course not. I've never been here before," she whispered.
He nodded skeptically and scurried away.
"Isn't this fabulous?" Christian asked, looking through his menu.
Satine finally lifted her head. "Fabulous," she whispered.
"I've only taken one year of French. . ." he whispered.
"Then let me order for you," she said with a smile.
"You know it?"
"Harold's girlfriend, Marie, was from France. She taught me."
After saying in English what everything was, a waiter finally came. "Can I start you two out with some drinks?"
Satine quickly looked away. It was the same waiter as Friday. She hoped he hadn't recognized her. "Hot tea, please."
"I'll have the same," Christian said.
"Do I. . . Do I know you from somewhere?" the waiter whispered.
"No you don't."
"Why. . .you-you were here with that. . . that movie producer's son of Friday! Robert Duken. . . is that right?"
"I wouldn't know," she whispered, hoping Christian wasn't listening to a word of it.
"Yes! It was Robert Duken!" the waiter exclaimed, his voice becoming a little too loud. "You know, I'm an actor. I didn't get much of a chance to talk to him, but if you know of any auditions coming up, I can play many different roles. Robert Duken is going to get married soon, right? I think people who just get married are so much nicer to work with-"
"Will you please excuse us?" Christian drily.
"Oh, sure. Be right out with your tea."
After he had left, there was an eerie quietness and Satine slowly lifted her head to look into Christian's stern face.
"Where were you on Friday?" he asked.
She bit her lip. "I-I told you, I was sick."
"You don't have to lie to me."
"Oh, Christian, I don't want to-"
"Then don't!" he hissed. He set his head in his hands for a moment. "Were you here. . . on Friday. . . with this-this Robert Duken?"
She took a deep breath. "I was," she whispered.
"Oh, God." He threw down his napkin and headed for the door, and Satine followed him out to the parking lot.
"I wanted to tell you, Christian, I wanted to-"
He whirled around suddenly, startling her. "Then why didn't you?"
"I-I don't know." He turned away and started walking again. She ran to catch up with him. "Christian, I wanted to tell you, but-"
"Was it Harold?" he demanded, stopping again. "Did he make you do this? Did he give you another job you just couldn't refuse?"
"That's not fair."
"No, you know what's NOT fair? My GIRLFRIEND said she was sick, but instead she went on a date with some GUY!"
"Please, Christian, you have to understand-"
"There's more?"
"Well. . ."
"Oh, God. Next you're going to tell me that the one he is engaged to is YOU."
She was silent for a moment, her eyes tearing up.
"It's - it's true, then?" he whispered.
Satine reached into her purse and pulled out a large diamond ring and presented it to him. "I'm engaged," she whispered.
His lips were pushed tightly together, and finally he looked away, tears forming in the corner of his eyes. "When were you going to tell me?"
"Soon," she whispered.
"Soon?!" he roared. "How about the moment you found out?"
"I fell in love with you," she whispered. "I don't know about you, but that has never happened to me before. I knew about Robert Duken. I knew I should tell you. . . but I didn't." She took in a deep breath. "I didn't think we'd last this long. . . you'd grow tired of me and throw me out like the rest of them. I've lived eighteen years. . . so dark. I wanted some happiness in my life."
She brushed some tears away from her eyes. Christian was silent, so she began again, moving closer to him. "I tried to imagine a life without you. . . and I couldn't do it. If I was Mrs. Duken, nothing would change. I would still cry, still be so cold. . . I thought being a famous actress would make me happy. . . being married into Hollywood would give be a sure chance of becoming a star. But I never knew what happy was, until there was you."
"That's bull," he whispered and got out his keys, walking closer to his car.
She hung on to his arm, but he pushed her away. "Christian, I love you!"
He paused, his door halfway open. "You love me?" he whispered.
"Yes!"
"You LOVE me?!" he yelled, slamming his door shut. "Do you know that from the beginning, the MOMENT I saw you I was in love with you." He laughed. "That is until I knew who you were, a lying whore."
Satine's tears fell harder. "Christian, please."
"Do you know why I even wanted to come here, huh? Do you know why I drove an hour and a half to some fancy restaurant I had to dip into my college fund to come to?" He laughed at himself and brought out a black ring box. He opened it in front of his eyes and laughed again, turning it her way so she could see the gold band with diamonds shaping a flower around it. "I can't live without you, Satine. I was going to ask you to marry me after high school or. . . after college."
Satine was struck speechless, her quivering mouth hanging open. He stared at the ring again. "It was my grandma's. You know, I told my mother about you, said I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, and she gave me this." He forced another laugh. "Well, hell, what a lot of good that did." He slid into the drivers seat.
"I'm still yours, Christian!" she yelled. "Even if you don't want me any more. . . I'll always be yours, whatever may come. Seasons may change, winter to spring. But I love you, until my dying day, come what may."
He was about to put his key in the ignition, but he stopped. "Come what may?" he murmured.
"Don't leave me this way," she sang in a whisper. "I can't survive without your sweet love, oh baby. . . don't leave me this way."
Christian's arms fell to his side, and Satine opened the door and kneeled down on the pavement. "Darling. . ." she said, caressing his cheek. She choked back a sob. "Darling, say something."
He took in a breath and opened his mouth, but no words formed. He touched her hand lightly and looked at her. He sighed. "Why can't I just be angry with you?"
She forced a smile. "I'm so sorry. . ."
"When are you getting married?"
She looked down. "Graduation night. He wanted it as soon as possible. I-"
"Like hell you are."
Satine slowly looked up into Christian's face, his eyes full of tears and his lips pushed into a smile.
"Romeo and Juliet. . ." he said, taking her hand and pulling her into his lap. "Juliet was engaged, right?" Satine nodded. "If they're love can overcome all obstacles. . . why can't ours?"
Satine smiled. "Oh Christian."
"I can't go on without you."
"Ditto," she whispered.
He pulled out the ring box from his pocket and opened it in front of her eyes. "So what do you say?"
"I say. . . how wonderful life is, now you're in the world." Satine giggled. "Yes. . . yes, I say yes. . ."
Christian hands went to the back of her neck and pulled her in close for a long, slow kiss.
------------------------------------------ Disclaimer: All characters belong to me and my good friend Baz. And, um. Stephen Duken is not a real producer, I just made him and his son up.
A/N: Ok, this took me a LONG time, but I think it's pretty good. Hope it was worth the wait!!
Songs used: 'Come What May. . .' 'ELM. . .'
She sighed. It had been only been a week since the opening of the play. . . since she went out with Robert Duken. Christian seemed so hurt backstage, but now things were back to normal. . . except Satine didn't know if they wanted them to be.
Satine sat back in her chair and wondered what Christian would do if she told him she was engaged. Her eyes fell and a lump clung to her throat. They'd be through - no man would ever put up with that. The only happiness she had ever known would fly away without her.
She had no other choice. Her fate was all ready decided. . . she was to marry Robert Duken. Satine felt sick at the thought and laid her head down as the bell rang.
She sighed again and lifted her head, jumping slightly when Christian sat in the seat in front of her, her chin on his hands.
"Oh, hello," she whispered.
He smiled widely. "I have a surprise for you. . ."
"W-What is it?"
"Silly, it's a surprise! I can't tell you." He nodded his head toward the door. "Darling, lets go."
She smiled at the name packed up her things in her bag and took his hand.
After being blindfolded the whole car ride that seemed like hours, Christian rolled into a gentle stop. "We're here," he whispered, leaning over and kissing her cheek.
She smiled. "Where are we?" she asked.
"Just stay there." She heard his door open and close, and then his smooth footsteps came around the car to open her door. He put his arm around her and helped her up, walking her carefully a distance.
"Can I take my blindfold off yet?" she laughed.
"Yes," he whispered in her ear, untying the back of the bandana and letting it fall to the ground.
Satine's mouth hung open when she saw the large gray elephant structure. "Ch-Christian, what-?"
"I know you just moved here so you haven't heard of this place, but it's really famous here. It's called 'The Elephant'."
She forced herself to take a breath. "Isn't-isn't there a dress code here Christian? I mean I'm not wearing anything fancy."
Christian slipped his arms around her waist. "I borrowed some costumes from the prop shop."
Satine was at a lost for words. Last Friday night she had been here with Robert Duken. Although he never told her, she saw him slip the manager a fifty and whisper that she was only aloud to be seated when she came with him.
"It's - it's too fancy," she said, tugging on his arm. "It's a wonderful idea, darling, but why don't we go somewhere else?"
"Well, I. . ." his face turned pink. "I had reservations weeks in advance."
"Oh," she whispered, tucking some hair behind her ear. Maybe if she kept her head down, maybe if they were seated in a small table, maybe if they didn't have the same waiter. . . the whole list of maybe's were racking up in her head, but only half heartily did she believe them.
She kissed him softly. "Lets go."
"Really?" he asked, smiling widely. "Really?"
"Really really."
Christian changed first, and then Satine, with the help of tinted windows. Satine emerged in a long light purple dress, with diamonds laced around the edges. She fixed her hair into an elegant bun and smiled at Christian's glazed eyes, wrapping her arms around him. "You sure know how to pick out a dress."
"Uh. . . thanks," he whispered, looking into her face with a warm expression.
"How can you do that?" she wondered to her self, surprised when it came out.
"Do what?"
She took a deep breath. "Look at me like I'm the most beautiful person you've ever seen?"
"You are," he whispered, touching his forehead with hers. "It's scary how much I feel when I just look in your eyes."
She blushed and looked away from his gaze, seeing his crooked tie. She laughed slightly and started to re-tie it.
"There," she whispered when she was done and patted his cheek. "I believe we're ready."
He offered her his arm with a smile and she took it gently, resting her head on his arm, hoping no one would recognize her inside.
When they approached the desk, the snooty manager scowled. "Do you have a reservation?" he asked with a thick french accent.
"James, party of 2."
The man looked in his book and scowled, picking up two menu's. "Right this way," he said with forced sincerity.
When they were seated in a table far away from the desk, the man looked very suspiciously at Satine. "Do I know you miss?" he asked.
Satine bit her lip. "Of course not. I've never been here before," she whispered.
He nodded skeptically and scurried away.
"Isn't this fabulous?" Christian asked, looking through his menu.
Satine finally lifted her head. "Fabulous," she whispered.
"I've only taken one year of French. . ." he whispered.
"Then let me order for you," she said with a smile.
"You know it?"
"Harold's girlfriend, Marie, was from France. She taught me."
After saying in English what everything was, a waiter finally came. "Can I start you two out with some drinks?"
Satine quickly looked away. It was the same waiter as Friday. She hoped he hadn't recognized her. "Hot tea, please."
"I'll have the same," Christian said.
"Do I. . . Do I know you from somewhere?" the waiter whispered.
"No you don't."
"Why. . .you-you were here with that. . . that movie producer's son of Friday! Robert Duken. . . is that right?"
"I wouldn't know," she whispered, hoping Christian wasn't listening to a word of it.
"Yes! It was Robert Duken!" the waiter exclaimed, his voice becoming a little too loud. "You know, I'm an actor. I didn't get much of a chance to talk to him, but if you know of any auditions coming up, I can play many different roles. Robert Duken is going to get married soon, right? I think people who just get married are so much nicer to work with-"
"Will you please excuse us?" Christian drily.
"Oh, sure. Be right out with your tea."
After he had left, there was an eerie quietness and Satine slowly lifted her head to look into Christian's stern face.
"Where were you on Friday?" he asked.
She bit her lip. "I-I told you, I was sick."
"You don't have to lie to me."
"Oh, Christian, I don't want to-"
"Then don't!" he hissed. He set his head in his hands for a moment. "Were you here. . . on Friday. . . with this-this Robert Duken?"
She took a deep breath. "I was," she whispered.
"Oh, God." He threw down his napkin and headed for the door, and Satine followed him out to the parking lot.
"I wanted to tell you, Christian, I wanted to-"
He whirled around suddenly, startling her. "Then why didn't you?"
"I-I don't know." He turned away and started walking again. She ran to catch up with him. "Christian, I wanted to tell you, but-"
"Was it Harold?" he demanded, stopping again. "Did he make you do this? Did he give you another job you just couldn't refuse?"
"That's not fair."
"No, you know what's NOT fair? My GIRLFRIEND said she was sick, but instead she went on a date with some GUY!"
"Please, Christian, you have to understand-"
"There's more?"
"Well. . ."
"Oh, God. Next you're going to tell me that the one he is engaged to is YOU."
She was silent for a moment, her eyes tearing up.
"It's - it's true, then?" he whispered.
Satine reached into her purse and pulled out a large diamond ring and presented it to him. "I'm engaged," she whispered.
His lips were pushed tightly together, and finally he looked away, tears forming in the corner of his eyes. "When were you going to tell me?"
"Soon," she whispered.
"Soon?!" he roared. "How about the moment you found out?"
"I fell in love with you," she whispered. "I don't know about you, but that has never happened to me before. I knew about Robert Duken. I knew I should tell you. . . but I didn't." She took in a deep breath. "I didn't think we'd last this long. . . you'd grow tired of me and throw me out like the rest of them. I've lived eighteen years. . . so dark. I wanted some happiness in my life."
She brushed some tears away from her eyes. Christian was silent, so she began again, moving closer to him. "I tried to imagine a life without you. . . and I couldn't do it. If I was Mrs. Duken, nothing would change. I would still cry, still be so cold. . . I thought being a famous actress would make me happy. . . being married into Hollywood would give be a sure chance of becoming a star. But I never knew what happy was, until there was you."
"That's bull," he whispered and got out his keys, walking closer to his car.
She hung on to his arm, but he pushed her away. "Christian, I love you!"
He paused, his door halfway open. "You love me?" he whispered.
"Yes!"
"You LOVE me?!" he yelled, slamming his door shut. "Do you know that from the beginning, the MOMENT I saw you I was in love with you." He laughed. "That is until I knew who you were, a lying whore."
Satine's tears fell harder. "Christian, please."
"Do you know why I even wanted to come here, huh? Do you know why I drove an hour and a half to some fancy restaurant I had to dip into my college fund to come to?" He laughed at himself and brought out a black ring box. He opened it in front of his eyes and laughed again, turning it her way so she could see the gold band with diamonds shaping a flower around it. "I can't live without you, Satine. I was going to ask you to marry me after high school or. . . after college."
Satine was struck speechless, her quivering mouth hanging open. He stared at the ring again. "It was my grandma's. You know, I told my mother about you, said I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, and she gave me this." He forced another laugh. "Well, hell, what a lot of good that did." He slid into the drivers seat.
"I'm still yours, Christian!" she yelled. "Even if you don't want me any more. . . I'll always be yours, whatever may come. Seasons may change, winter to spring. But I love you, until my dying day, come what may."
He was about to put his key in the ignition, but he stopped. "Come what may?" he murmured.
"Don't leave me this way," she sang in a whisper. "I can't survive without your sweet love, oh baby. . . don't leave me this way."
Christian's arms fell to his side, and Satine opened the door and kneeled down on the pavement. "Darling. . ." she said, caressing his cheek. She choked back a sob. "Darling, say something."
He took in a breath and opened his mouth, but no words formed. He touched her hand lightly and looked at her. He sighed. "Why can't I just be angry with you?"
She forced a smile. "I'm so sorry. . ."
"When are you getting married?"
She looked down. "Graduation night. He wanted it as soon as possible. I-"
"Like hell you are."
Satine slowly looked up into Christian's face, his eyes full of tears and his lips pushed into a smile.
"Romeo and Juliet. . ." he said, taking her hand and pulling her into his lap. "Juliet was engaged, right?" Satine nodded. "If they're love can overcome all obstacles. . . why can't ours?"
Satine smiled. "Oh Christian."
"I can't go on without you."
"Ditto," she whispered.
He pulled out the ring box from his pocket and opened it in front of her eyes. "So what do you say?"
"I say. . . how wonderful life is, now you're in the world." Satine giggled. "Yes. . . yes, I say yes. . ."
Christian hands went to the back of her neck and pulled her in close for a long, slow kiss.
------------------------------------------ Disclaimer: All characters belong to me and my good friend Baz. And, um. Stephen Duken is not a real producer, I just made him and his son up.
A/N: Ok, this took me a LONG time, but I think it's pretty good. Hope it was worth the wait!!
Songs used: 'Come What May. . .' 'ELM. . .'