*Note: Thank you all for the extremely kind reviews! I honestly thought
this would be a flop... I kid you not. I just have the intense urge to
write something to this effect. I thought it had been done already.
But... Maybe not! I want to put a quick disclaimer: I don't own any POTO
references.
I know it's pretty dorky for guys in black capes that are stalking the halls to be popular and cool, but my mind thinks like that now (and I wouldn't change it for nothing!).
I mention a theater with seats and everything right in the school in this chapter. It sounds crazy, I know, but I actually have one at my school. It's called the Bertha Frank Performing Arts Center. But, you can just think of it as an auditorium or something. It's basically the same. Okay!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meg was silent, even though the intense urge to pester for details was burning inside of her. Christine, noticing this unease, went ahead and said, "We didn't talk much, really."
Meg, releasing a huge sigh like she was holding her breath, said, "Well, it's about time you started talking!"
"We didn't say anything... Well, not anything worth mentioning."
Meg looked at her. "Well, if you don't want to tell me, that's fine..."
Christine didn't want to tell her. She wanted to keep everything she knew about him a secret. Which, granted, the things she did know were a secret to her as well. But she didn't want anyone else knowing about the beautiful voice...
They arrived at the music room, which was in the far corner of the school. There was a note posted on the door.
Singing Arts Students,
Today, in the absence of Mrs. Rivera, we are going to the Performing Arts Center for a complementary orientation. Meet the class there.
-Ms. Giry
Christine and Meg looked at one another. "Okay... So... Where's the Performing Arts Center?..." Meg said.
Christine pulled out the map of the school which was given to every freshman for reference. She was startled to see where it was because it was on school grounds! She showed it to Meg, who was equally astounded.
"Wow, that's cool though. A theater right in our school! It must be the new community theater and they just added it on. I don't remember any theater in the school before..."
They headed silently in the direction the map indicated. They heard the bell ring to signal the start of the next hour. "I hope your mom doesn't count us late..."
"Oh, she will."
There was a door at the end of a dark corridor. Christine reflected upon the fact that most hallways in this school were at a loss of natural light...
They walked through and saw the lobby of the center. Words cannot fully describe the marvel of the place. Certainly nothing compared to the Paris Opera, but equal on a smaller scale. Most everything was suave and smooth. The black marble floor was so shiny they could see one another in its reflection. Here and there were cast iron benches and there was wallpaper that had musical staffs and masks printed upon it in turns. In fact, music and ancient theater seemed to be the theme of this most intriguing place, proven by the very large paintings of ancient Greek masks (portraying sadness, worry, happiness, and wonder) that dotted the walls. The ceiling was also open, with the steel structure exposed.
"This place is spectacular! I wonder who designed it? They must be very gifted!" Meg exclaimed.
Christine did not hear her, because she had wandered off. She was enchanted by the majesty of the room. It had a certain romantic appeal. She gazed into the painting of the large, sad mask on the wall closest to the theater entrance doors. She was looking for the artist's name. She peered down to the lowest right-hand corner. In very sloppy writing in red ink was the name "Erik". "Erik..." She repeated to herself. She looked at the painting closer and saw a tiny beam of light shining through. The light startled her, and she jumped back. But she soon recovered herself and took a closer look. But when she did, the light was gone... "Meg... Take a look at this painting..." Christine said, "I don't think there's a back to it..."
"Oh, Christine, we don't have time to look at paintings! My mom will be really mad! We've probably lost them! Come on!" Meg took Christine's hand and dragged her into the theater.
~~~~~~~
The theater appeared plush and regal. Everything was the color black, gold, or red. Again the mask theme was carried into this room, with two above the stage and one on and in each of the two boxes on the stage's left and right.
They saw Ms. Giry in the middle aisle. She saw them and accosted them immediately. "And just where have you two been? We have been on the tour! You have missed some very interesting things!" Ms. Giry said. "Why, would you look at the time? This hour is nearly over! I would like an explanation please."
"Oh, well, mom... Um..."
"Christine, can you better explain?"
"Um, yes, perhaps. Well, you see, we didn't know where the theater was and we had to find it, which was not very easy, because it is new and all. Well, when we arrived, we were distracted by the decorations and..."
"Do you mean to tell me, Miss Daae, that you were distracted by decorations?"
"Yes..."
"Well," she sighed, not attempting to hide her disappointment in them, "there's no worse punishment that I can deal then the one you have already given to yourselves..."
"What?"
"You have missed much of the orientation!"
"Oh."
"Just fall in line you two. If you would like to get better acquainted with the theater, I suggest that you come back after school..." Christine and Meg looked at one another, silently deciding it best not to mention their detention at the moment. "Come, come. We still have to see the backstage area..."
The rest of the class was anticipating this, but Meg and Christine soon fell behind, caught up in their own conversation.
"What were you saying about the painting in there?" Meg asked.
"I don't think there's a back to it... I think someone might be able to see through it. But... Who would do that? That's very frightening."
"It is... I hope I never meet them."
Christine thought for a moment, "The artist's name was Erik. Do you recognize that?"
Meg raked her mind. "No, I don't think so."
"Hmm, maybe it's just me..."
They continued to the backstage and were shown the dressing rooms and the costume rooms. Neither was open at the time, but they were told that there was no need to see them, because they were empty.
They finally finished the tour and made their way back through the lobby and through the door that transported them from the marvelous spectacle of the theater back to the humdrum high school.
"Meg, I'm going to stay behind and look at the painting one last time..."
"Do you want me to stay?"
"No, I need you to cover for me if Ms. Giry, I mean, your mom sees I'm gone. Hurry up, they're leaving!"
"Okay, you hurry too!"
"Alright!"
Christine bent down and pretended to tie her shoelaces. Swiftly she crept back into the lobby and peered into the painting once more. "I know that's not a real painting. It's just sheer linen... Or the like. Who would be that... Strange?..."
Suddenly, and appearing out of nowhere, a note came fluttering from the ceiling. It landed before her. She picked it up and read it:
"Curiosity-
I have noticed you are intrigued by these paintings here. I suggest, if you would like to get a more in depth tour of this theater, that you arrive here at nine tonight. Meet me in the farthest dressing room. It will be unlocked.
Cordially Yours,
T.P."
"T.P.?" Christine thought, "Who could that be?" She looked up at the ceiling but it was so dark she couldn't see anything... Nothing but two small beams of light...
She noticed that the handwriting was familiar, but she knew she would be late for her next class if she didn't hurry. "I'll be here, tonight T.P.! Make no mistake!" She cried to the air on her dash out.
*Authoress' note: Hmm... I wonder who T.P. is (does NOT stand for toilet paper!)? And the handwriting... Weird. What did you think? Review!
I know it's pretty dorky for guys in black capes that are stalking the halls to be popular and cool, but my mind thinks like that now (and I wouldn't change it for nothing!).
I mention a theater with seats and everything right in the school in this chapter. It sounds crazy, I know, but I actually have one at my school. It's called the Bertha Frank Performing Arts Center. But, you can just think of it as an auditorium or something. It's basically the same. Okay!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meg was silent, even though the intense urge to pester for details was burning inside of her. Christine, noticing this unease, went ahead and said, "We didn't talk much, really."
Meg, releasing a huge sigh like she was holding her breath, said, "Well, it's about time you started talking!"
"We didn't say anything... Well, not anything worth mentioning."
Meg looked at her. "Well, if you don't want to tell me, that's fine..."
Christine didn't want to tell her. She wanted to keep everything she knew about him a secret. Which, granted, the things she did know were a secret to her as well. But she didn't want anyone else knowing about the beautiful voice...
They arrived at the music room, which was in the far corner of the school. There was a note posted on the door.
Singing Arts Students,
Today, in the absence of Mrs. Rivera, we are going to the Performing Arts Center for a complementary orientation. Meet the class there.
-Ms. Giry
Christine and Meg looked at one another. "Okay... So... Where's the Performing Arts Center?..." Meg said.
Christine pulled out the map of the school which was given to every freshman for reference. She was startled to see where it was because it was on school grounds! She showed it to Meg, who was equally astounded.
"Wow, that's cool though. A theater right in our school! It must be the new community theater and they just added it on. I don't remember any theater in the school before..."
They headed silently in the direction the map indicated. They heard the bell ring to signal the start of the next hour. "I hope your mom doesn't count us late..."
"Oh, she will."
There was a door at the end of a dark corridor. Christine reflected upon the fact that most hallways in this school were at a loss of natural light...
They walked through and saw the lobby of the center. Words cannot fully describe the marvel of the place. Certainly nothing compared to the Paris Opera, but equal on a smaller scale. Most everything was suave and smooth. The black marble floor was so shiny they could see one another in its reflection. Here and there were cast iron benches and there was wallpaper that had musical staffs and masks printed upon it in turns. In fact, music and ancient theater seemed to be the theme of this most intriguing place, proven by the very large paintings of ancient Greek masks (portraying sadness, worry, happiness, and wonder) that dotted the walls. The ceiling was also open, with the steel structure exposed.
"This place is spectacular! I wonder who designed it? They must be very gifted!" Meg exclaimed.
Christine did not hear her, because she had wandered off. She was enchanted by the majesty of the room. It had a certain romantic appeal. She gazed into the painting of the large, sad mask on the wall closest to the theater entrance doors. She was looking for the artist's name. She peered down to the lowest right-hand corner. In very sloppy writing in red ink was the name "Erik". "Erik..." She repeated to herself. She looked at the painting closer and saw a tiny beam of light shining through. The light startled her, and she jumped back. But she soon recovered herself and took a closer look. But when she did, the light was gone... "Meg... Take a look at this painting..." Christine said, "I don't think there's a back to it..."
"Oh, Christine, we don't have time to look at paintings! My mom will be really mad! We've probably lost them! Come on!" Meg took Christine's hand and dragged her into the theater.
~~~~~~~
The theater appeared plush and regal. Everything was the color black, gold, or red. Again the mask theme was carried into this room, with two above the stage and one on and in each of the two boxes on the stage's left and right.
They saw Ms. Giry in the middle aisle. She saw them and accosted them immediately. "And just where have you two been? We have been on the tour! You have missed some very interesting things!" Ms. Giry said. "Why, would you look at the time? This hour is nearly over! I would like an explanation please."
"Oh, well, mom... Um..."
"Christine, can you better explain?"
"Um, yes, perhaps. Well, you see, we didn't know where the theater was and we had to find it, which was not very easy, because it is new and all. Well, when we arrived, we were distracted by the decorations and..."
"Do you mean to tell me, Miss Daae, that you were distracted by decorations?"
"Yes..."
"Well," she sighed, not attempting to hide her disappointment in them, "there's no worse punishment that I can deal then the one you have already given to yourselves..."
"What?"
"You have missed much of the orientation!"
"Oh."
"Just fall in line you two. If you would like to get better acquainted with the theater, I suggest that you come back after school..." Christine and Meg looked at one another, silently deciding it best not to mention their detention at the moment. "Come, come. We still have to see the backstage area..."
The rest of the class was anticipating this, but Meg and Christine soon fell behind, caught up in their own conversation.
"What were you saying about the painting in there?" Meg asked.
"I don't think there's a back to it... I think someone might be able to see through it. But... Who would do that? That's very frightening."
"It is... I hope I never meet them."
Christine thought for a moment, "The artist's name was Erik. Do you recognize that?"
Meg raked her mind. "No, I don't think so."
"Hmm, maybe it's just me..."
They continued to the backstage and were shown the dressing rooms and the costume rooms. Neither was open at the time, but they were told that there was no need to see them, because they were empty.
They finally finished the tour and made their way back through the lobby and through the door that transported them from the marvelous spectacle of the theater back to the humdrum high school.
"Meg, I'm going to stay behind and look at the painting one last time..."
"Do you want me to stay?"
"No, I need you to cover for me if Ms. Giry, I mean, your mom sees I'm gone. Hurry up, they're leaving!"
"Okay, you hurry too!"
"Alright!"
Christine bent down and pretended to tie her shoelaces. Swiftly she crept back into the lobby and peered into the painting once more. "I know that's not a real painting. It's just sheer linen... Or the like. Who would be that... Strange?..."
Suddenly, and appearing out of nowhere, a note came fluttering from the ceiling. It landed before her. She picked it up and read it:
"Curiosity-
I have noticed you are intrigued by these paintings here. I suggest, if you would like to get a more in depth tour of this theater, that you arrive here at nine tonight. Meet me in the farthest dressing room. It will be unlocked.
Cordially Yours,
T.P."
"T.P.?" Christine thought, "Who could that be?" She looked up at the ceiling but it was so dark she couldn't see anything... Nothing but two small beams of light...
She noticed that the handwriting was familiar, but she knew she would be late for her next class if she didn't hurry. "I'll be here, tonight T.P.! Make no mistake!" She cried to the air on her dash out.
*Authoress' note: Hmm... I wonder who T.P. is (does NOT stand for toilet paper!)? And the handwriting... Weird. What did you think? Review!