Notes: Okay, okay I promise you a decision will be announced in this chapter. As I do not know entirely what I am doing with this story, I might not always get things in the promised chapters, but I will try my best. I hope Travis doesn't kill me for making him wait this long.

Chapter 4: The Decision

Marissa opened the door to the practice room and said, "Mme. Giry, I have made my decision."

Mme Giry looked up with curiousity, "Yes, dear? What is your decision?"

Marissa walked closer to her and said "I would like to take the part. If it's not too late to pull it off tonight, I would like to do it then even."

Mme Giry looked at her and said "Marrisa, are you sure?"

Marissa smiled at Mme. Giry, "Yes, I am sure. I am not weak and I want to prove so. I want to perform the opera and I want to perform it this evening."

Mme Giry stood and walked with Marissa to the door. Final rehearsal was scheduled any moment, provided they had a star, Marissa was ready to be that star.

As they walked down the corridor, they ran into Dorine. "Hey mama, hey Marissa!" She said as she turned to walk with them.

"Hello Dorie," Mme. Giry said. "as you can see, I found Marissa."

"Yes, mama, I do see that." Dorine said laughing at her mother. "I'm not blind you know."

"Hi, Dorine, how are you doing today?" Marissa smiled at her best friend. She looked so much like her mother, yet they acted so different.

Dorine smiled back, "I'm fine, Rissa, how about you?" She asked her "Have you um, made a decision yet..." She asked timidly.

"Yes," Marissa smiled, "I have. I have decided to take the part"

Dorine smiled at Marissa's apparent new found confidence. "Well, if you're happy with that decision, Rissa, so am I"

As they walked down the corridor together, Dorine's Blond ponytail bouncing as they walk. They talked about the opera and the opening tonight. They were so excited about it, as was the majority of Paris.

Waiting this long was the best thing, they knew for sure that by now Eric was dead. His body was never found, but no one lives that long. Marissa still wondered, in the back of her mind, if the Erik could be a real phantom and if he would possibly come back to the opera house. She hoped not. She didn't really believe in ghost stories either, but something about the feeling of the newly rebuilt opera house made her wonder.

They walked on to the stage and walked around. No one was there yet. They sat in the center, together and waited. They looked out toward the house area, it was a beautiful sight. Brand new seats red upholstered seats in countless rows, above the ground level there were boxes, in a dark wood finish. Marissa glanced up toward Box 5 and wondered.

In Christine's day, the phantom would always request that Box 5 be kept empty for his use. Well if he was back as a ghost, she hoped he wouldnt want to inhabit Box 5 tonight. It was a full house and there would be nowhere for him to sit.

There had been no notes found yet. As the Opera Ghost was famous for notes with outright demands. They would also be signed "OG." The managers in the day of Christine, started out refusing his demands, thinking he was absolutely insane. Yet he was, he was insane. He murdered people who would get in his way. He almost murdered Raoul because he wanted Christine to himself.

Toward the end of the Opera Populaire, however, they met his demands in hope of catching him in Box 5 and arresting him. They had no clue, whatsoever that he would appear on stage, as Don Juan and end up taking Christine down into his dungeons for Raoul to risk his life to save.

Marissa snapped back to reality as some of the dancers started showing up on the stage. Mme. Giry asked them all to practice and pulled Marissa aside. "I would like to go over with you some of the harder steps that Claudia has to perform, to make sure you know them all correctly."

Marissa started dancing, she was a very graceful and beautful dancer. She had a lot of promise. She carried an ease and an elegance with her that carried from dancing to her every day life.

As she twisted and turned, twirled and jumped through the movements of the opera. Her black curls flew and then fell quickly right back into place. Her hair never got in her way and always did what it was supposed to.

As she got toward the end of her main steps, more actors, dancers and singers started to find their way to the stage. Everyone practicing their parts just on their own. She stopped and watched as everyone in their own little world in the own concentration. She smiled. This is how the opening day of an opera house was supposed to be.

The managers stepped up next to Marissa and stood next to her watching the practicing. She jumped, startled. "Oh, hi Monsieur Ramon, Monsieur Allandro."

"Hello, Marissa," Monsieur Ramon said to her, "have you yet come up with a decision?"

"Yes, Monsieur, I have." Marissa replied smiling. "I have decided to take the part."

"Thats fantastic! Only if you are sure, of course." Monsieur Allandro said.

Marissa laughed. "Of course I'm sure!"

"Well then!" Monsieur Allandro said, "On with rehearsal! If it goes well this afternoon, we open tonight."

Marissa wanted more than anything for the show to open tonight. She wanted to prove to Lucinda she got asked to replace Bianca on talent and not on relation.

As they went through rehearsal, Marissa remembered everything so well. She was perfect on her cues and she didn't once miss a line, or a note or even a dance step. At the end if rehearsal they sat and waited for the managers notes.

"Marissa!" Allandro said "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

"I agree, monsieur," Ramon said, "I knew she could do it when we offered her the part."

"She did an absolutely splendid job!" Allandro raved again.

"We are definitely doing the show tonight!" Ramon announced.

"Now, for the notes. please be patient, as we do have quite a few." Allandro said.

They sat ad listened as Allandro and Ramon went over all the notes the had over the rehearsal, they hadn't been kidding, there were a lot of notes, some bad, but mostly good. All of the notes about Marissa had been good. When the end of the notes finally came, they told everyone to go relax until about an hour before the show and then to meet backstage at that time.

As they filed off the stage, Dorine followed Marissa. "Wow, Rissa, you were absolutely amazing!"

"Thanks Rine" Marissa said smiling. She wouldn't let all of this go to her head, but it did feel good to get compliments.

"You're okay" A voice behind them said. They turned to see Lucinda standing there. "You're obviously just a chorus girl. Wait until you're up against real talent. Then see where you're cast. I hope you freeze in front of everyone tonight. That would be worth a laugh." After that, she walked off, leaving them behind.

"Wow," Dorine said. "What an attitude!"

Marissa sighed. "I am just a chorus girl though, Rine. This is my first lead role, and I'm scared. What if I do freeze tonight?"