Chapter 7: Dreams Come True
"Alright everyone, that's enough for today," Jean said, ending the three hour rehearsals for the day. The other performers trooped home, but Caroline stayed behind to wait for Guilliame. Raoul met her at her dressing room instead.
"Raoul, what brings you here?" Caroline asked, not really wanting to deal with her lover.
"I just wanted to let you know that the opening night of this show will have Monsieurs Firmin and Andre in its audience to watch you. Good luck!" Raoul turned and left, without kissing her even though they were alone.
Caroline returned to the stage to find Guilliame already there. His back was to her and she could see his mask in his hands. She could also sense he was tense. She cleared her throat to alert him to her presence. Guilliame placed his mask on and turned around, smiling. That smile diminished slightly when he saw Caroline's appearance. "What's wrong?" he asked. Caroline lost it and told Guilliame everything.
"So Raoul is this man your friends have warned you about?" Guilliame asked. Caroline nodded. "And Raoul wants you to kill Christine?" Caroline nodded again. Guilliame sighed. "Lovely," he remarked.
"I know," Caroline replied.
"But you can't do it, can you?" he asked.
Caroline shook her head no and began to cry. "I'm not a murderess," she said. She continued to cry the entire time, with Guilliame comforting her. Finally, she got herself under control, and asked, "Enough about me. What about you? Something's troubling you. I can tell," Caroline said.
Guilliame tensed up again. "Raoul isn't the only patron of the Opera anymore," Guilliame said. "My stepfather and stepbrother are using the money my mother inherited from my father's death as well as my inheritance to support the Opera."
Caroline looked at Guilliame. "So?" she asked.
"I don't mind that, it's just that now they will hang around the Opera and I don't want to deal with them as well," Guilliame said.
"It'll be okay," Caroline said. Guilliame smiled and then sent her home for sleep, which was one order not even Caroline could mind.
The week passed by quickly and opening night came. It was chaos in the backstage hallway as everyone rushed around. Caroline sent both Guilliame and Erik to Balcony 5 and saw Raoul, Firmin, Andre and two familiar men in Balcony 6. She figured those two were Guilliame's stepfamily, but didn't have time to place their faces in her memory, for Adellina told Caroline curtain was going up.
"Gentlemen, welcome to Le Cirque Boheme. I am Jean, your Master of Cermonies for the evening. Let me introduce you to our performers tonight—Robert, Christophe and Pierre!" Jean pointed to the three men. Applause was politely given. "And our dancers: the masked American beauties, the Gemini!" Elisa and Elena struck their opening poses. "From the Emerald Isle, as beautiful as her namesake—Dove!" Adair took her pose next to Elena. "From deep in the heart of Africa, the Chocolate Countess!" Tymara struck a pose next to Elisa. "From the beautiful Mediterranean Aphrodite!" Olga took her place next to Tymara. "A fiery sprite—Blaise!" Marie-Antoinette joined Adair. "The goddess of love and beauty—Venus!" Adellina stood next to Marie-Antoinette. "An exotic beauty from Latin America—Caramel!" Carly ran out to her place next to Olga. "Lastly, the one the only La Belle d'Amour!" Caroline joined her friends, filing in the blank spot.
Jean waited for the men's applause to die down. When it did, the Master of Ceremonies announced the first number, performed by the girls. The music started and Caroline heard her cue. She began to sing.
The other girls were dancing as Caroline sang this, but as the first verse came to an end, Carly came forward to sing.
Now the other girls joined in singing the rest of the song, earning applause from the audience. At the end of the song, Caroline winked at the men in the front row. "How 'bout it, monsieur?" Applause and catcalls ran through the hall. The girls took multiple bows as the stage crew finished setting up for the play.
At the end of the play, Caroline found Raoul and his guests in her dressing room. "Ah, here she is!" Raoul said, bringing Caroline into the room. Monsieurs Firmin and Andre were standing in the middle of the room and started talking.
"Superb!"
"Wonderful!"
"A tour de force!"
"Mademoiselle Caroline, would you mind coming tomorrow to L'Opera Populaire?"
"Mind? No, monsieur."
"Good. Tomorrow we can work out your contract. Goodnight, Vicomte, Firmin, Admiral and Captain," Andre said. Firmin also said his goodbyes and left.
When Andre had addressed the other two men as "Admiral" and "Captain," Caroline's memory was jogged. She suddenly realized why the two were familiar to her. She also remembered the Admiral mentioning having a stepson, but he wasn't eligible for marriage. It hit her with such force that Caroline needed to sit down. Luckily, the other three thought it was because of her contract.
"Exciting, huh?" Raoul said.
"Yes," Caroline agreed, weakly.
"We'll have to tell Monsieur Myrcel. Of course, you won't begin until next month. But you will still have to tell him of you resignation," Raoul said. The Captain volunteered to go fetch the nightclub owner. They didn't have to wait long and Monsieur Myrcel was informed of the offer.
"Splendid! It is such a wonderful opportunity for you Caroline. We will miss you and always remember that our door is always open to you. You can return, ma Belle d'Amour," Myrcel said. He left, leaving Caroline alone with these three men.
"If you excuse me, monsieurs, but I need to change and go home. It's been an exciting night. Bon nuit!" she ushered them out the door. Raoul caught the door as she began to close it.
"Everything according to plan. Within three months you will be the Prima Donna of L'Opera Populaire and the Vicomtess de Chagny. Good night," he said, kissing Caroline.
After Raoul left, Caroline heard another knock on the door. This time it was a crying Carly. "Monsieur Myrcel just told us you were leaving to join the Opera. I'm so happy for you," she said. "But I'm going to miss you!" Caroline handed Carly a tissue.
"I'm going to miss you too, darling. All of you. You're my sisters and I won't forget it. I'll keep in touch. Opening night, I want all of you there and at the Gala. Don't worry," Caroline said. After Carly stopped crying and left, Guilliame and Erik came in.
"That was beautiful," Guilliame said.
"Thanks. Firmin and Andre want me to come down tomorrow and work out my contract. And I owe it all to you," Caroline said, hugging Guilliame. "Can we still continue with my lessons for this month? My practices begin next month," Caroline asked. Guilliame agreed. Caroline then remembered her two guests. "Why didn't you ever tell me your stepfather's last name was Dupont?" she asked.
"Because you never asked and know I don't like talking about them!" Guilliame answered back. "Why?"
"Because then your stepbrother is Monsieur—or now Captain—Controlling Jerk!" Caroline exclaimed.
"Pardon?"
Caroline smiled at Guilliame's confusion. "Remember back six years ago when Jean-Phillipe was engaged?" she asked.
Guilliame nodded and then realization struck him. "That was you!" he shouted.
"Hush! Yes, it was me. I was engaged to Captain Controlling Jerk and Monsieur Boring Jerk. I ended both engagements upon the death of my grandmother. God bless my Uncle Max," Caroline said.
Guilliame stood there, gaping. "Close your mouth, Guilliame. Well Caroline, we must be off. Congrats," Erik said, dragging a shocked Guilliame with him out the door.
Caroline finished changing and slipped out the back door. She hailed a carriage and entered her apartment. She smiled as she got ready for bed and went to sleep with only good dreams that night. She saw herself on stage as L'Opera Populaire's Prima Donna. With her on stage was all her friends: Caramel, Blaise, Dove, Venus, Aphrodite, Chocolate Countess, and the Gemini. In the front row sat her Uncle Max and Aunt Veronique. From a private box, she saw Guilliame and Erik applauding her as she took her final bows. Caroline smiled in her sleep and rolled over excitedly.
A/N: Sorry for the wait! Senior year kills…really. This is taking so long, since I have to transfer it from a notebook. In that notebook, would you believe this story is up to Chapter 18. Please be patient. Mac
A/N 2: There used to bea song in here, "Big Spender" from "Sweet Charity." However, I removed it because of the rules regarding song lyrics. Go back, read it and imagine the girls singing this song! Mac