A/N: Okay, here's that chapter I promised. I already have the skeleton of my story figured out, so I think I may actually be finishing this story within the year. I'll go back, of course and add.

redvsblue

Chapter Six

Chris was sitting in the audience, waiting for Megan's performance to begin, when all of the sudden, the dancer was right beside Chris.

"Megan! What are you doing here?" Chris demanded to know. "You should be backstage!"

"I know, but come see me after the show! I have some big news to tell you!"

Chris sat, puzzled as Megan ran off and the show started.

The show for the most part was good. There were no disturbances from the 'ghost', but Chris noticed how some of the dancers forgot the steps.

Oh, she thought, Ms. Gary is going to have a field day.

When the show was over, and the last of the cast had finished bowing, Chris got up, and headed for backstage. Megan was already changed and waiting for her when she got there.

"You were great!" Chris exclaimed.

"Which is more than I can say for the rest of my dancers," Ms. Gary mumbled as she passed by Chris.

Chris and Megan traded grins, when she asked, "So what was so important, Megan?"

"Oh, you won't believe it, Chris! The managers got an anonymous note demanding that you be hired!"

Ralph.

"Do you think it was Ralph?" Chris asked.

"I don't know," Megan replied, honestly. "Some of the dancers have been suggesting that it was Joe Bucket. Everyone knows how much he's been hoping they'd replace Carla."

At this, they both broke into a fit of giggles.

"I don't know," Chris said, still laughing, "maybe it was that 'ghost' you spoke of!"

Megan instantly sobered. "I would hope not. It's not a good idea to get involved with the phantom. Joe Bucket told some of the dancers that he saw him. They constantly pester him to tell them about he phantom, but Mama says he needs stop, or he might regret it."

Chris' face suddenly turned serious.

"But I'm sure Ralph sent it," Megan assured her.

Chris was about to agree, when all of the sudden, two men rushed up beside her.

"Miss Davis!" Mr. Ferris cried happily, clapping his hands together. "How are you?"

"Um, fine, thank you-"

"Yes, yes, very nice, very nice," he said, not paying attention.

"We take it that you would like to be part of our theatre?" Mr. Andrews asked, now stepping in.

"Oh, yes sir. I would like very much to be part of the chorus, sir."

Mr. Ferris and Mr. Andrews both gave a sigh of relief. After the note they had received, they had been hoping she wouldn't demand to be a diva. They both knew Carla wouldn't go down without a fight. With that out of the way, they proceeded to tell her when rehearsals were.

As they left, Chris noticed she was shaking. This didn't go unnoticed to Megan either.

"You nervous?"

"Ha! You don't know the half of it. I just wish my father were here. Or Ralph... my 'Johnny angel'."

Megan started to laugh. "I remember that! You used to love that song! And he said that one day, he make sure that you got your 'Johnny angel'."

"Yes," Chris said, remembering. "He was supposed to be my special someone, supposedly perfect."

"Someday, Chris," Megan guaranteed her, as she turned to leave, "one day, he'll show up. Who knows? Maybe it'll even be Ralph..."

Luckily, rehearsals were at six, and they wouldn't interfere with Chris' job. She was very giddy her first day of rehearsal. She stood with the rest of the sopranos in the chorus, silently waiting to begin.

Sometimes the theatre performed older operas like Carmen, sometimes they did musicals like Cats, but right now, they were practicing the musical version of one of Chris' favorite Disney movies, Beauty and the Beast.

Of course, Carla had gotten the part of Beauty, and Peter was to play the Beast, but Chris was perfectly happy singing the chorus' part. She was happy for Megan, who had gotten the part of Chip, one of the enchanted teacups.

Chris shot Megan a glance when the managers stepped on stage, both looking quite pale and a little shook-up. Megan slipped off-stage, and to the chorus, making her way to Chris.

"They say the managers got another note last night. This one was a little more threatening."

Chris gasped. "Do they know what it said?"

Megan sadly shook her head, and went back to the wings.

The rehearsal started out nicely. Chris had gone over the lyrics at home, and was beginning to feel more comfortable in the chorus. But it was when Carla came onstage to sing her part that things got out of hand.

She was waiting for her cue, and was about to sing, when the backdrop fell. Stage lights followed, and soon it was almost like a reenactment of the first rehearsal Chris had been at.

The dancers began screaming, the managers were running back and forth, and Carla high-tailed it out of there.

"Joe Bucket!" Mr. Ferris yelled at the top of his lungs.

"What?" Joe asked, coming out of the men's room.

Mr. Ferris opened his mouth, but no words came out. The managers gave each other worried looks, and Mr. Andrews stepped forward.

"Chris Davis?"

"Yes, sir?" she asked meekly.

"You will be taking the part of Beauty."

The rest of the rehearsal went on without any interruption, and Chris quickly learned her part. It was soon time to leave and the theatre quickly became empty.

Chris was the last one on stage when the lights went out. Chris cursed and felt around for her backpack. She sat down on the stage as she dug through it.

"I don't remember things going wrong this often the last time I was here." She grumbled to herself. "Aha! Found it."

Chris pulled her flashlight out of her backpack. She had taken to carrying it after the first night when she twisted her ankle. She was thankful she remembered.

Chris zipped her bag back up, and clicked on her flashlight as she stood. She was smiling to herself, happy that she was smart enough to carry it, when she turned and came face to face with two burning eyes.

A/N: Okay, was it a fair enough trade? Please Review!