Disclaimer: I own Josh, since I made him up.
Chapter 6
"You," I said coldly, "Why are you here?"
"Are you surprised to see me Minuet?" Raoul asked, grinning in that stupid, childish way of his.
"In a bad way, yes," I replied, "I didn't think you'd come back here after what happened. I didn't want you to come back here after what happened. I thought you'd know better than to come back. What if Erik comes up here and finds you here talking to me?"
"Erik?" Raoul asked, looking confused, "Who's that?"
"Buffoon," I said calmly, "Don't tell me you're stupid enough to not even think that the Phantom of the Opera might have a name?"
"His name's Erik?" Raoul asked, surprised. "I never knew."
"I figured you wouldn't. Why would you? You never saw my brother as more than a monster and monsters apparently don't have names in that little world of idiocy and prejudice you seem to live in."
"Minuet! Why are you acting like this? What happened to you, I-wait, did you say the Phantom is your brother?!" Raoul asked, incredulously.
"Oops, I guess the cat's out of the proverbial bag. Well, actually he's probably still asleep on my bed, but that's beside the point." I replied indifferently. "Don't I look like the Phantom?"
"No! You're beautiful and he's hideous! How could you look like him?" Raoul asked, still shocked.
"That's the biased, prejudice opinion I was sure I would get from you, Raoul, thank you so much for not disappointing me." I jeered. "Look closer and try to see for once."
I was so certain that Raoul's eyes were going to pop out of his head and roll across the stage, he was so dazed. But he did look at me and I could tell he was trying to think of similarities between Erik and myself. I was sure he wouldn't find any. That's why I was stunned when he answered.
"Your eyes," he said slowly, "They're the same misty, silvery grey as his. I-I didn't notice before. I guess I didn't want to. I did wonder why he told Christine and me to take you and go, but I didn't bother asking."
I looked at him, surprised. "Can you really see the similarities between my brother and me?" I asked, "I didn't think you could. I thought you were too blind to see, or too stubborn to believe. Can you really see?"
"Yes, I can," Raoul said, gently, "I'm sorry for what happened. I came back hoping to find you, hoping we could be friends. Were we ever friends before the incident at-at your home?"
"I think I once thought of you as a friend." I replied slowly, "I-I think I liked you a little. I forgot about that when everything started. I thought it was your fault that Christine betrayed Erik and broke his heart, causing him to act as he did. I thought that if you hadn't shown up and told Christine you loved her, she would have kept loving Erik. I know she did, she told me she did. I'm...sorry."
"So am I Minuet," Raoul replied, "So am I."
"Wait a minute, where is Christine? I want to talk to her." I said suddenly. "Is she here with you? Did she come here with you to find me?"
"Yes I did," came a voice from the door. Raoul and I both looked over and smiled as Christine came towards the stage. "I was just getting something. Sorry I took a while." She smiled at me and held out a wrapped parcel. "It is your birthday, right Min?" she asked, "Happy Birthday."
"Thank you." I said, surprised, as I took the package. I unwrapped it to reveal a beautiful music box. It was shiny and black, with indescribable silver designs all over it. On the top, a silver rose was painted. I wound up the key on the bottom and opened the box. I smiled as a song I liked a lot, "Moonlight Sonata", plinked out. The inside of the box was a jewelry box as well as a music box. In front of the little mirror on the inside of the lid was a silver half-mask rotating slowly on a spring. A half-mask exactly like Erik's. I just stared at the box and then looked up at Christine and Raoul. "Thank you so much," I said softly, "It's beautiful."
"Think of it as a birthday present and a peace offering." Christine said smiling. "I just wanted to see you again, my old friend, and say I'm sorry for what happened last year."
"Well, some of it seems to be happening again." I replied and gave them an account of what had been happening lately. When I finished, both looked thoughtful.
"Well, I have heard that history repeats itself," offered Christine.
"I've heard that those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it," Raoul said. All of us were silent for a while. At length, I spoke.
"But I thought all of us had learned from the past." I said thoughtfully, "Didn't you? I'm sure I did."
"I certainly did," Christine replied.
"So did I," added Raoul.
"Then let's just pass this off as a strange coincidence and not think about it." I suggested brightly. Just then the door opened again. All three of us looked, but only I moved.
"Josh!" I cried happily and rushed over to him.
"Hello Minuet. Happy Birthday." Josh said smiling. He gave me a beautiful, blood red rose, my favorite flower. I smiled and kissed his cheek. Josh was my sweetheart, you see. I had met him in the opera house not too long before and we had kept contact and soon became sweethearts. He was so handsome, in an adorable way that I really liked. He was tall and lean, with brown, somewhat wavy hair, bright sky-blue eyes, and an alluring smile. He was a musician too, a singer. I had told Erik about him, and Erik had just smiled and said, 'Aw, my little Minuet's all grown up, getting a sweetheart already!' I had punched him, but not hard enough to hurt. I told Josh about my brother (not EVERYTHING about him of course) and Josh had said he sounded like someone he'd like to meet. I told him there unfortunately wasn't much chance of that, as my brother traveled around a lot and I hardly got to see him, but maybe someday they could meet. Like after I had either broken up with or married Josh.
"Who's this young man?" asked Christine pleasantly, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"This is Josh Hemlock, my sweetheart." I replied, "Josh, these are my friends Christine Daae and Raoul Vicomte de Chagny."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Josh said smiling. Christine and Raoul smiled back and said the same.
"So what brings you here tonight Josh?" I asked him.
Josh smiled and replied, "I wanted to give you your birthday present and thought I'd find you here since this seems to be where you always go. The rose isn't much, I know, but I hope you like it."
"Of course I do! It's beautiful. I couldn't have asked for anything more." I replied. Then I made a huge mistake. "You'd never guess what my brother gave me. A kitten! Can you believe that?" I added.
"Oh your brother's in town?" asked Josh. I stiffened, realizing what I had just said and trying to figure a way out of it. "How long will he be here? I'd like to meet him after all you've told me about him."
'Damn my big mouth,' I thought. "Uh..." I said cleverly, then I gave up trying to hide, "Josh, you love me right?"
"Of course I do! I never loved anyone before I knew you." Josh replied, still smiling. "Nothing will ever change that, I promise."
"I wanted you to say that, and yet I dreaded that you would," I replied.
"Why? Minuet, you can tell me anything. What's wrong?" Josh asked.
I looked at Christine and Raoul. Both nodded at me. I swallowed and turned back to Josh. "You've heard the stories about the Phantom of the Opera, haven't you?" I asked him. Josh nodded.
"But they're just stories. Aren't they?" he asked looking a little concerned. I understood. I had just been talking about my brother and now I was asking him about the Phantom. Josh must have guessed there was some sort of connection.
"No. No, they're not just stories Josh." I replied heavily. My heart already hurt from the knowledge that Josh would run from me as soon as I told him the truth. I braced myself and continued, "The Phantom is real. Very real. And I know his name." I looked meaningfully at Josh as I spoke those fatal words, "His name is Erik Duquesne."
"But-but-but that would mean...he's...your brother?" asked Josh, shocked.
"Yes. But it's not what you think! Don't believe the stories, they're not true. He's not a monster, he's just sad and lonely. Well, he was until I found him and stayed with him. He's my brother, he's a person. He can love, Josh, he loves me. And I love him. Please understand Josh. I couldn't tell you the truth before, and I am sorry that I lied. But I didn't want to lose you. I love you. I thought you wouldn't love me if you knew." I said. Tears welled up in my eyes and one found its way down my cheek. To my surprise, Josh reached out and brushed it away. I looked up at him. He smiled at me as he spoke.
"I love you," he said, "I will always love you. Nothing will ever change that, I promise." He smiled as he said this and I smiled as he continued, "I understand why you didn't tell me the truth. I know I would have done the same thing if I were in your position. But you could have told me the truth. I know you didn't know that then, but know it now. Nothing will make me stop loving you. Nothing."
"We never said our love was evergreen, or as unchanging as the sea," I sang, "So we should say it now."
"Then our love is evergreen, and as unchanging as the sea. Though that was always an understood concept from the beginning in my opinion." Josh replied smiling. I smiled back, knowing that words were pointless at the moment. Josh held my face in his hands, then gently pulled me toward him. Our lips met. I knew in that moment that nothing would ever end our love. When we pulled apart, Josh added, "I'd still like to meet your brother, though." I laughed.
"I think I can arrange that," I said, "Stop by tomorrow."
"All right then. It's getting late, so I should be heading home anyway. I'll see you here tomorrow." Josh replied. He leaned forward and brushed a kiss against my cheek. "Good night Minuet." I kissed him and smiled at him as he left.
"Perhaps we should be going too," I heard Raoul say behind me, "It is getting pretty late. We don't want your brother worrying about you, do we?"
I laughed. "As far as I know, he's asleep, but I should be getting home too." I replied. We said our good-byes and left for our homes. I wondered what Erik would say when I told him that nights events over breakfast the next morning.
Normal Normal Default Paragraph Font Default Paragraph Font Body Text Body Text Strong Strong Ken & Jill ThompsonGC:\My Documents\Kasey Shea\Kasey's Story Folder\Kasey's FanFic\TOA6.doc Ken & Jill ThompsonGC:\My Documents\Kasey Shea\Kasey's Story Folder\Kasey's FanFic\TOA6.doc Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asdÿ??á?á? Unknownÿ! Times New Roman Times New Roman Symbol Symbol The Other Angel Chapter 6 The Other Angel Chapter 6 Phanphic Phanphic Dark Amysitka Dark Amysitka Ken & Jill Thompson Ken & Jill Thompson The Other Angel Chapter 6 Phanphic Dark Amysitka Normal.dot Ken & Jill Thompson Microsoft Word 9.0 The Other Angel Chapter 6 Root Entry 1Table 1Table WordDocument WordDocument SummaryInformation SummaryInformation DocumentSummaryInformation DocumentSummaryInformation CompObj CompObj ObjectPool ObjectPool Microsoft Word Document MSWordDoc Word.Document.8
Chapter 6
"You," I said coldly, "Why are you here?"
"Are you surprised to see me Minuet?" Raoul asked, grinning in that stupid, childish way of his.
"In a bad way, yes," I replied, "I didn't think you'd come back here after what happened. I didn't want you to come back here after what happened. I thought you'd know better than to come back. What if Erik comes up here and finds you here talking to me?"
"Erik?" Raoul asked, looking confused, "Who's that?"
"Buffoon," I said calmly, "Don't tell me you're stupid enough to not even think that the Phantom of the Opera might have a name?"
"His name's Erik?" Raoul asked, surprised. "I never knew."
"I figured you wouldn't. Why would you? You never saw my brother as more than a monster and monsters apparently don't have names in that little world of idiocy and prejudice you seem to live in."
"Minuet! Why are you acting like this? What happened to you, I-wait, did you say the Phantom is your brother?!" Raoul asked, incredulously.
"Oops, I guess the cat's out of the proverbial bag. Well, actually he's probably still asleep on my bed, but that's beside the point." I replied indifferently. "Don't I look like the Phantom?"
"No! You're beautiful and he's hideous! How could you look like him?" Raoul asked, still shocked.
"That's the biased, prejudice opinion I was sure I would get from you, Raoul, thank you so much for not disappointing me." I jeered. "Look closer and try to see for once."
I was so certain that Raoul's eyes were going to pop out of his head and roll across the stage, he was so dazed. But he did look at me and I could tell he was trying to think of similarities between Erik and myself. I was sure he wouldn't find any. That's why I was stunned when he answered.
"Your eyes," he said slowly, "They're the same misty, silvery grey as his. I-I didn't notice before. I guess I didn't want to. I did wonder why he told Christine and me to take you and go, but I didn't bother asking."
I looked at him, surprised. "Can you really see the similarities between my brother and me?" I asked, "I didn't think you could. I thought you were too blind to see, or too stubborn to believe. Can you really see?"
"Yes, I can," Raoul said, gently, "I'm sorry for what happened. I came back hoping to find you, hoping we could be friends. Were we ever friends before the incident at-at your home?"
"I think I once thought of you as a friend." I replied slowly, "I-I think I liked you a little. I forgot about that when everything started. I thought it was your fault that Christine betrayed Erik and broke his heart, causing him to act as he did. I thought that if you hadn't shown up and told Christine you loved her, she would have kept loving Erik. I know she did, she told me she did. I'm...sorry."
"So am I Minuet," Raoul replied, "So am I."
"Wait a minute, where is Christine? I want to talk to her." I said suddenly. "Is she here with you? Did she come here with you to find me?"
"Yes I did," came a voice from the door. Raoul and I both looked over and smiled as Christine came towards the stage. "I was just getting something. Sorry I took a while." She smiled at me and held out a wrapped parcel. "It is your birthday, right Min?" she asked, "Happy Birthday."
"Thank you." I said, surprised, as I took the package. I unwrapped it to reveal a beautiful music box. It was shiny and black, with indescribable silver designs all over it. On the top, a silver rose was painted. I wound up the key on the bottom and opened the box. I smiled as a song I liked a lot, "Moonlight Sonata", plinked out. The inside of the box was a jewelry box as well as a music box. In front of the little mirror on the inside of the lid was a silver half-mask rotating slowly on a spring. A half-mask exactly like Erik's. I just stared at the box and then looked up at Christine and Raoul. "Thank you so much," I said softly, "It's beautiful."
"Think of it as a birthday present and a peace offering." Christine said smiling. "I just wanted to see you again, my old friend, and say I'm sorry for what happened last year."
"Well, some of it seems to be happening again." I replied and gave them an account of what had been happening lately. When I finished, both looked thoughtful.
"Well, I have heard that history repeats itself," offered Christine.
"I've heard that those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it," Raoul said. All of us were silent for a while. At length, I spoke.
"But I thought all of us had learned from the past." I said thoughtfully, "Didn't you? I'm sure I did."
"I certainly did," Christine replied.
"So did I," added Raoul.
"Then let's just pass this off as a strange coincidence and not think about it." I suggested brightly. Just then the door opened again. All three of us looked, but only I moved.
"Josh!" I cried happily and rushed over to him.
"Hello Minuet. Happy Birthday." Josh said smiling. He gave me a beautiful, blood red rose, my favorite flower. I smiled and kissed his cheek. Josh was my sweetheart, you see. I had met him in the opera house not too long before and we had kept contact and soon became sweethearts. He was so handsome, in an adorable way that I really liked. He was tall and lean, with brown, somewhat wavy hair, bright sky-blue eyes, and an alluring smile. He was a musician too, a singer. I had told Erik about him, and Erik had just smiled and said, 'Aw, my little Minuet's all grown up, getting a sweetheart already!' I had punched him, but not hard enough to hurt. I told Josh about my brother (not EVERYTHING about him of course) and Josh had said he sounded like someone he'd like to meet. I told him there unfortunately wasn't much chance of that, as my brother traveled around a lot and I hardly got to see him, but maybe someday they could meet. Like after I had either broken up with or married Josh.
"Who's this young man?" asked Christine pleasantly, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"This is Josh Hemlock, my sweetheart." I replied, "Josh, these are my friends Christine Daae and Raoul Vicomte de Chagny."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Josh said smiling. Christine and Raoul smiled back and said the same.
"So what brings you here tonight Josh?" I asked him.
Josh smiled and replied, "I wanted to give you your birthday present and thought I'd find you here since this seems to be where you always go. The rose isn't much, I know, but I hope you like it."
"Of course I do! It's beautiful. I couldn't have asked for anything more." I replied. Then I made a huge mistake. "You'd never guess what my brother gave me. A kitten! Can you believe that?" I added.
"Oh your brother's in town?" asked Josh. I stiffened, realizing what I had just said and trying to figure a way out of it. "How long will he be here? I'd like to meet him after all you've told me about him."
'Damn my big mouth,' I thought. "Uh..." I said cleverly, then I gave up trying to hide, "Josh, you love me right?"
"Of course I do! I never loved anyone before I knew you." Josh replied, still smiling. "Nothing will ever change that, I promise."
"I wanted you to say that, and yet I dreaded that you would," I replied.
"Why? Minuet, you can tell me anything. What's wrong?" Josh asked.
I looked at Christine and Raoul. Both nodded at me. I swallowed and turned back to Josh. "You've heard the stories about the Phantom of the Opera, haven't you?" I asked him. Josh nodded.
"But they're just stories. Aren't they?" he asked looking a little concerned. I understood. I had just been talking about my brother and now I was asking him about the Phantom. Josh must have guessed there was some sort of connection.
"No. No, they're not just stories Josh." I replied heavily. My heart already hurt from the knowledge that Josh would run from me as soon as I told him the truth. I braced myself and continued, "The Phantom is real. Very real. And I know his name." I looked meaningfully at Josh as I spoke those fatal words, "His name is Erik Duquesne."
"But-but-but that would mean...he's...your brother?" asked Josh, shocked.
"Yes. But it's not what you think! Don't believe the stories, they're not true. He's not a monster, he's just sad and lonely. Well, he was until I found him and stayed with him. He's my brother, he's a person. He can love, Josh, he loves me. And I love him. Please understand Josh. I couldn't tell you the truth before, and I am sorry that I lied. But I didn't want to lose you. I love you. I thought you wouldn't love me if you knew." I said. Tears welled up in my eyes and one found its way down my cheek. To my surprise, Josh reached out and brushed it away. I looked up at him. He smiled at me as he spoke.
"I love you," he said, "I will always love you. Nothing will ever change that, I promise." He smiled as he said this and I smiled as he continued, "I understand why you didn't tell me the truth. I know I would have done the same thing if I were in your position. But you could have told me the truth. I know you didn't know that then, but know it now. Nothing will make me stop loving you. Nothing."
"We never said our love was evergreen, or as unchanging as the sea," I sang, "So we should say it now."
"Then our love is evergreen, and as unchanging as the sea. Though that was always an understood concept from the beginning in my opinion." Josh replied smiling. I smiled back, knowing that words were pointless at the moment. Josh held my face in his hands, then gently pulled me toward him. Our lips met. I knew in that moment that nothing would ever end our love. When we pulled apart, Josh added, "I'd still like to meet your brother, though." I laughed.
"I think I can arrange that," I said, "Stop by tomorrow."
"All right then. It's getting late, so I should be heading home anyway. I'll see you here tomorrow." Josh replied. He leaned forward and brushed a kiss against my cheek. "Good night Minuet." I kissed him and smiled at him as he left.
"Perhaps we should be going too," I heard Raoul say behind me, "It is getting pretty late. We don't want your brother worrying about you, do we?"
I laughed. "As far as I know, he's asleep, but I should be getting home too." I replied. We said our good-byes and left for our homes. I wondered what Erik would say when I told him that nights events over breakfast the next morning.
Normal Normal Default Paragraph Font Default Paragraph Font Body Text Body Text Strong Strong Ken & Jill ThompsonGC:\My Documents\Kasey Shea\Kasey's Story Folder\Kasey's FanFic\TOA6.doc Ken & Jill ThompsonGC:\My Documents\Kasey Shea\Kasey's Story Folder\Kasey's FanFic\TOA6.doc Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asd Ken & Jill ThompsonHC:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of TOA6.asdÿ??á?á? Unknownÿ! Times New Roman Times New Roman Symbol Symbol The Other Angel Chapter 6 The Other Angel Chapter 6 Phanphic Phanphic Dark Amysitka Dark Amysitka Ken & Jill Thompson Ken & Jill Thompson The Other Angel Chapter 6 Phanphic Dark Amysitka Normal.dot Ken & Jill Thompson Microsoft Word 9.0 The Other Angel Chapter 6 Root Entry 1Table 1Table WordDocument WordDocument SummaryInformation SummaryInformation DocumentSummaryInformation DocumentSummaryInformation CompObj CompObj ObjectPool ObjectPool Microsoft Word Document MSWordDoc Word.Document.8