All Thangs Just Keep Getting Better For Erik

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Carson frolicked merrily around the room as Thom followed in celebration and glee. Carson found Jai in the living room, setting up for the re-shoot of the guest commentaries. Upon hearing this, Jai grinned and gave Erik a hug. Erik went to the bathroom soon after.

"Jai," whined Extra Cameraman #1. "Can we get this done with? We've been idle for three chapters now."

"Or more." Grunted his superior. "Or, I don't know." He nudged the cameraman beside him and fell asleep once more.

"Okay, okay." Sighed Jai resignedly. He clasped his hands and looked around. "Okay, make-up people, go prettify Christine. Oh, and someone go get her!"

Carson sighed, his nostrils flaring and face aghast. "Oh, fudge, I forgot about the real girl!" With that, he turned 'round and skidded down the hall.

Jai shrugged and said, "Okay, people, while waiting for Chris, let's tape... Um, the coworkers now. Yeah, let's tape 'em now." He tiptoed and yelped in a high voice, "Oh, Monsieur Menidzers!!!" At that, two men pushed Andre and Firmin onto the couch, coincidentally, when a distressed Erik glided into the room.

The look of sheer confusion and hopelessness on their faces, on any other occasion, would have made Erik giggle like a schoolgirl... An evil biatchy schoolgirl... But now, his face distorted to an all-time low.

"WHAT IN HELL ARE THOSE TWO DOING IN MY HOUSE!!!" he roared. "HOW!? WHY?!" Upon remembering why, he shook his head with a moan of distress and hatred and said, "Hell. Hell, all of you... THESE DAMNED FOOLS KNOW THE SECRET ENTRANCE TO MY HOME! DAMN! BECAUSE OF YOU!!!" pointing an accusing finger to everyone. "GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

The man who threw down Andre and Firmin raised a decent finger. "Uh, sir, what secret entrance?" he said, using that decent finger to point to a large gaping hole in the wall.

Erik impulsively raised the finger his pointer and his ring. "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!??!!??" He flopped down on the couch, carrying his throbbing head in his hands. Andre and Firmin, noticing a troubled phantom wailing quietly beside them, watched in awe in this one-shot opportunity to watch a crumbled phantom. Erik, with one guttural hiss and that strange raised finger, sent Andre and Firmin fumbling to the edge.

"Okay, people, intimidation-and-getting-to-know-you time is over." Jai paused abruptly. "Or could it be intimidation-and-getting-to-know-thee time?" he wondered out loud to himself. He recalled his duties and shook his head. "Slap me, I'm Irish... Anyways, let's get to filming. We need to get this done in two hours." Looking down the hallway and seeing nothing, he looked to Firmin and said, "Okay, Mr. G, you go first." As the make-up people gave Firmin some final rouch-ups, Jai gave his instructions. "Okay, Firmy, ya just have to rave about Erik dear here."

Firmin snapped up and raised a bushy, untrimmed brow. "Nuh uh," said Jai, waving a reproachful finger. "You don't have the right to do that." With that, he raised his own shapely brow and said, "Okay, in five, four, three, two..."

The marker snapped, and Firnin began. "Well, he's a pest, for one. Always stalking around in halls, eavesdropping in conversations, and dropping the occasional chandelier..."

"I told you, that wasn't me!!!" he pouted sarcastically. "I was scraping the chewing gum of the girders, and my unnaturally long arm unhooked the thing." He rolled his eyes.

Jai waved him off. "We'll edit him out..." To Firmin, he said, "Continue."

"He's a funny sort of specter..."

"Nothing plainer!" chimed Andre. "He is clearly quite insane."

"And to expect something from that innocent Christine Daaé! Oh, heavens above! You know, he could be charged with charged with child molestation with all that he does!"

"Yes, quite, quite!" supported Andre. "And he's a fag."

Erik bolted to his feet. He didn't know whether it was the 'child molesation' or the 'fag' thing that got to him, but he went on snapping French and English words that, if printed here, will violate the PG13 rating. Unfortunately, Christine heard him and with that, she rushed to his side and held his arm just as he reached into his coat pocket.

"Erik, that's enough!" she shrieked. "I won't tolerate this!" In a lower voice, she whispered. "And so won't... She."

Erik nodded resignedly and turned to Christine. The elegant red dress, sashed and sequined got to him. "Yes, Christine." He stuttered. "Okay... Uh huh... Uh... Uh..." but in his mind, he thought, I like. He managed to smile and keep his eyes at her face or in the space above. For that, he congratulated himself. Then, noticing Christine's long fingers wrapped firmly around his arm, his inner teenager smiled and said, Father Louis was wrong. Violent tendencies are good...

"Ah, there's the little flower!" said Jai, smiling as he walked up to her. "Oh goodie!" he peered over her shoulder and called out, "Carson, you're so fab! I love it, I love it, I love it!"

From the hall, Carson replied, "Thank you dearie, and you are too!!!"

Turning his attention to Christine, he said, "Let's just let Firmin here finish, then we'll tape you, mmmkay?"

Christine nodded and went to take a seat at the back. At first, she wanted to question on how Andre and Firmin got in, but, upon seeing the large HOLE in the WALL, she used her better judgment and bit her tongue.

Erik sat by the door, his thoughts jumbled. His eyes were fleeting. If they weren't on the huge hole in his wall, they were smoldering on the pile of expensive, imported suits on the floor, or they were softly lingering on Christine. He sighed. She looked awfully pretty as she sat there and awaited her turn.

His eyes lingered on the dress, hot and tightened and all the right places. This further accentuated her beauty and he thought, "You know, I'm beginning to like this fashion savant." The words throbbed in his head, and upon remembering his clothes, shook his head repentantly and said, "Slap me, I'm Erik." With that, he gave himself three sharp smacks in the cheek.

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1,017 words! I will work on making my chapters longer, I promise. In the meantime, please review this. I haven't been getting much, so I'm starting to think that I'm losing my muse. [You're my muse by the way. Erik quitted.] So, please review. If you'll continue reading this story without reviewing, remember: I'm writing not for you, you ingrate! I'm writing for my reviewers/critics/BFF's! I'm writing for them! ::points at an empty lot:: Oh, never mind. Please claim a lollipop as you click the purple button! Thanks! Until next time!!!

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