Disclaimer: I do not own anything, the characters belong to Gaston Leroux and ALW
Author Notes: So here's chapter1 and it introduces Christine and Meg and even Mme. Giry who is Mrs. Giry... Anyway also the name of the story comes into play here as well.
The Glade
Chapter 1:
"Miss. Daae are you alright?" Was I alright? Could I ever be alright after this day I wonder? Despite my thoughts I nodded my head between sniffs but I knew I was lying and so did the man before me. With a heavy sigh he left me, all I heard was the click of the door.
After a couple of minutes had passed I heard that same door open again. I since had composed myself but with the pressure of someone's hand on my shoulder I felt the thin walls begin to crumble.
"Christine, what happened?" It was Meg, my best and closest friend. I faced her and she gasped as she took in my rosy face.
"It's… it's my dad Meg, he's…" I couldn't finish my sentence and right there in the principal's office I broke down. Sobbing uncontrollably into her shoulder Meg rubbed my back reassuringly.
"Shh, it's okay Christine," She whispered but it wasn't okay and she knew it. Meg knew of my relationship with my father, how close we had been to one another. How I couldn't live without him there to encourage me.
The principal reentered her office and saw us like that and I can still remember the look she gave me. It was full of pity. I didn't care though at the moment, for now I was just a lost little girl without her father. I was an orphan now, all alone in the world and I hated the feeling.
"Miss. Giry, why don't you take Miss. Daae home?" The principal suggested and Meg agreed with her. As we walked through the hallways of the school I felt as if everyone were staring at me. Me, who was always so happy, me, who never cried yet here I was sobbing into my friends shoulder.
When we did reach my small apartment, which I had shared with my dad, the first thing I did was go to the small table we had that was littered with photos of the two of us. I gazed lovingly at my fathers charming smile and felt my heart break. Lifting one such photo I caressed the smooth glass, all the while Meg stood watching me from behind. I held the frame close to my heart and felt the tears threaten to fall once more.
Overcome with grief and I don't know what else I gripped the edge of the frame and flung it at the wall. I barely heard Meg's yelp over my own tears as I sunk to the floor.
"Why…" I whispered. Meg leaned forward, straining to hear me. "Why?" I yelled causing her to jump.
"Christine," She said.
"Why did he have to leave me Meg?" I looked at her and was instantly flooded with shame. The look on my friends face broke me even more then I already was. She looked scared of me and I felt so heartless.
She too had gone through the same thing except she hadn't even gotten to know her dad like I had known mine. I stood and wiped my face with my sleeve.
"I'm sorry Meg. I'm being selfish," She stepped towards me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
"It's okay to be selfish a bit Christine," She began, and then looking right into my eyes she asked. "Would you like to stay at my house for a bit? I'm sure my mom wouldn't mind knowing the circumstances."
I nodded and hiccupped from the tears. Taking my shoulders she pulled away and nodded, a silly grin plastered on her lips.
"Great! And you know we can spend the whole night annoying her silly!" I chuckled, if anything Meg loved bugging her mother. She smiled lovingly.
"It's good to hear you laugh, Christine." I agreed full-heartedly with her statement.
After that Meg stayed true to her word. I stayed at the Giry's for a couple weeks until the funeral passed and the will had been read. I knew my father hadn't been the wealthiest of men and wasn't surprised when the will didn't include a lot of money. Really the only thing of value that he left to me was his violin, which I treasured endlessly but still there was the problem of money.
I knew there was no way in this world that I'd be able to pay the rent on the apartment so with much hesitation I moved out and took Mrs. Giry up on her offer to stay with them till I was steady enough to live on my own.
This was the way the rest of the year passed and soon it was summer and then my senior year of High School would begin.
"Meg Giry, wait up!" I yelled between hurried breaths as I rushed to follow my blonde friend as she sped down the busy street, pausing only to push my bag up my shoulder more. The only thing I could hear from her though was light bubbly laughter.
It had been a month since my father had died leaving me alone in the world and I was still living with the Giry's, who I had come to respect so much more for their hospitality. When I had shown up with my bags at Mrs. Giry front step the first thing she did was embrace me and we stayed like that for a while in silent understanding.
It felt so comforting to have a parental-like person there to support me again that I gave in to the hug. And now here I was, and besides the mourning black I still wore, one would never have guessed I had gone through troubling times these past months.
I finally caught up to Meg and stopped to catch my breath and to also take in our surroundings. We were in a glade of sorts and wild flowers were blooming, untouched by mankind. Looking around I spotted a floor of rocks jutting out from the side of a cliff and curious I headed toward it first.
Meg noticed where my attention was and ran ahead of me. Jumping up onto the rocks she spread her arms out wide.
"Ta Da! So what do you think?" I looked at her nonplussed. Yes the place was beautiful indeed but I wasn't so sure about why she had brought me here. Guessing my confusion Meg laughed again.
"Christine, it's your own stage to perform!" She announced as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. It took a couple of minutes for the words to sink into my brain but when they did it was like the light bulb had just turned on in my head. It was a well known fact that I secretly wanted to become a renowned singer on the stage but I was too shy and quiet to even try out for a high school play.
"Meg…" I began cautiously, though the bubbly girl instead just grabbed my arm and pulled me up to where she stood then jumped down herself.
"Sing Christine, it's really refreshing!" I stared at her as if she was crazy, and really I was beginning to think she was, crazy that is.
"What do you mean sing?" I muttered and Meg sighed.
"You know, sing. Or do I have to go all Maria von Trapp on you and teach you the meaning of singing?" I laughed at the idea of Meg singing "Do Re Mi" from the Sound of Music, or even more ridiculous, the idea of Meg being in the convent.
"Ah you mean that kind of singing," I said lightly, dropping my bag on the stone stage, though the sarcasm dripped from my tongue.
"Yes that kind of singing." Meg replied, getting a bit annoyed with the whole scenario. Looking about my 'stage' I found the center and puffed myself up like a bird. Meg giggled at my actions and seated herself on the lush foliage as if she really were sitting in a grand theatre.
"Well then, does the audience have any suggestions as to what I should sing?" I asked in a haughty manner. Meg shrugged from her spot.
"Just sing already!" She yelled, throwing blades of grass at me, which I skillfully dodged.
"Ok, ok," I yelled back, giving in. I stood there on the stage, ignoring Meg's obvious yawns, thinking of what to sing. In the back of my mind I remembered a Swedish folk song which my father had taught me when I was little. I remember him telling me that his grandfather had taught him it and that now he was going to teach me it.
I remembered his voice and I couldn't help but smile.
"The stars they shine so brightly, all in the sky above. Oh, I shall never marry the lad I dearly love."I sang remembering the English lyrics to the song or at least the rough translation my father had given me.
"'Twas him my heart had chosen; I could not say him nay. He promised to be faithful until my dying day."I closed my eyes and rejoiced in the feeling of the song, of the poor woman who sung it.
"But then from me he parted, and then another came. Unwillingly I wed him, and Sorrow is his name." I took in a breath of the fresh air and opened my eyes to regard Meg's reaction. She looked stupefied and I felt my heart drop.
"Was it that bad?" I asked her and at the sound of my voice she was snapped out of her stupor and she cocked her head to the side.
"No not at all, your voice is really lovely Christine, it's just…" She trailed off looking for the right words. I felt nervous as I waited for her critique.
"Well?" I asked unable to stop myself. She broke out into a smile at my nervousness and I stuck out my tongue childishly.
"It was kinda depressing," She finally said and I laughed. Was that all? Meg looked taken aback as I kept on laughing. Standing she stalked off in a huff. I chased after her, jumping off the stage.
"Meg, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you mad." She tossed me a look from over her shoulder; her blonde hair covered her eyes.
"Next time, don't ask for my opinion if you're just going to laugh at me afterwards," I now felt bad for laughing even though I really had no idea why I had laughed in the first place.
"I'm sorry Meg, do you forgive me?" She stopped in her tracks and I bumped into her and stumbled backwards. Giving me an even stare she studied my eyes for any truth in my statement. Then before I knew it her hand whipped out and tugged at some of my ebony hair. I winced at the light pain even though I knew I deserved it. Rubbing my head where she had pulled I pouted and she looked triumphant at the sight of that said pout.
"Then don't do it again, you hear?" I nodded meekly and we stared at each other before bursting out in laughter at our antics. "Come on we should be getting back to the house soon."
I was about to follow her out of the small forest, if one could call it that, but then realized that something was missing from the picture.
"I forgot my bag back in the glade; I'll be right back okay?" With her reassurance that she'd wait right where she was I quickly ran back. Sighing in relief when I saw that the bag was right where I'd left it, I grabbed it and placed it back on my shoulder. As I stood there alone and the wind sighing, I couldn't help but feel the tiniest bit anxious. Shrugging the feeling off and blaming it on Meg I walked back to where I knew she'd be waiting for me.
Mrs. Giry was a bit upset with us for returning so late but when Meg told her that she'd finally taken me to my 'stage' her strict mother relaxed ever so slightly. It was only when I was dressed for sleep and sitting on my bed in the room I shared with Meg did I notice that my student card for school was missing. Cursing my luck, I fell asleep with the knowledge that I'd have to deal with the hassle of getting a new one at the start of the new school year.
Author Notes: The song I used is called"Allt under himmelens fäste", if anyone's interested. I have the next chapter ready I just want to see how the story goes over with everyone so far. Meaning if you want to read more please review.