Disclaimer: I don't own anything!
Author Notes: So here's chapter 2 for you! First off I want to thank my firsttwo reviewers LazyCat& kristinekat13forreviewing and for putting the story on their favorites already! You guys are so nice! Now back to the story, I'm still writing the next chapter so please be patient with me okay? Thanks!
The Glade
Chapter 2:
After that first time I kept on coming back to the glade. Perhaps it was because I secretly wished that if I kept on coming back I'd eventually find my missing student card and not have to pay for a new one, or it was like Meg had said.
She had said that it was my own stage and it truly felt like that. Never was there anyone else there beside myself and sometimes Meg and it just felt so secluded from the rest of the world.
So I kept on coming back, sometimes by myself, sometimes with Meg, sometimes I would sing and sometimes I just came to think. The main thing was I did come and I like to think I spent most my summer there.
When I was there though, it was like magic, like a little piece of heaven on earth. The wind would sing through the branches and the sun always seemed to shine. Even on dreary days it was still beautiful.
But despite this all, I couldn't fight back the growing sensation that I was being watched. When I felt this I liked to think that perhaps it was the spirit of the glade or perhaps the place really was a piece of heaven and it was an angel. I always had had a wild imagination after all.
Even after imagining all that I still didn't quite believe it because why would a spirit or an angel's stare feel so cold?
I remembered one particular day when the feeling of being stared at was stronger then before really was catching up to me. So much that I felt the need to say. "Who's there?"
Of course no one responded and I blamed it on my mind playing tricks on me. Whenever I did call out though I realized that the feeling would go away in a flash, leaving me feeling naked.
One day when I was with Meg in my glade I was still feeling like I was being watched. Turning to her I asked the question that was plaguing my mind.
"Meg," I began to get her attention. She looked up from the book she was reading. "Do you feel something?" At her confused look, I continued.
"Like we're being watched by something," I watched as her gentile expression dropped and she became guarded.
"No I don't, do you?" I shrugged; perhaps it really was my imagination. I told her that and she smiled.
"Your imagination will be the death of you Christine!" I stuck my tongue out at her and we giggled together. Another thing about the glade was that it seemed to make anyone act young again.
Propping my head on my knees I began to hum a light tune and saw from the corner of my eye, Meg bob her head to the rhythm as she flipped the pages of her book. Then the peaceful scene was broken by my sudden need to stand.
"I'm bored!" I announced and Meg raised a delicate eye brow at me.
"Really, now why is that?" I shrugged. I didn't know why I was bored. Walking to where Meg sat I stood behind her. Waiting till she got frustrated I scrutinized my glade with a wary eye.
Everything was the same I thought. The trees, the wild flowers, the stone stage, and the pair of glowing yellow eyes. I paused and felt the color drain from my face.
"Meg…" I whispered but upon second glance they were gone. I blinked and looked down to find Meg staring at me with worry written all over her face. A nervous laugh escaped me.
"It's nothing…let's go," And we did. I trailed behind her as we weaved in and out of the surrounding trees. I couldn't get the image of those eyes out of my mind. They had seemed too deeply buried into the vastness of the trees but yet I could see them so clearly.
I didn't return to the glade after that fateful day, at least not for a while and before I knew it school had started again and I did have to buy another student card.
As I walked through the halls, sat through my classes, I felt as if everyone was walking on eggshells around me. Thinking about it they had been like this when I had returned to school after the funeral as well.
Why was it that the one time I took off the mask I wore of supreme optimism wasall it wouldtake for everyone I knew to think I was on the edge?
I pondered this as I sat in homeroom; idly I tapped my pencil on my desk.
"Students I'd like to introduce you to a new student. His name is Raoul Chagny and he'll be here with us for the rest of the year." My head snapped up at the sound of the name. Looking at the new guy I was sure I knew him and it appeared as if he recognized me as well.
I soon was on the receiving end of every glare from the female race as Raoul continued to stare openly at me. And while I was being glared at by all the girls, all the guys glared at Raoul who was blissfully unaware of the attention he was getting.
Sliding into the seat behind me he leaned against the chair and waited for class to begin. It was only after half the class was over did he finally speak.
"I know you," I turned to face him. So he didn't remember me? It was reasonable I guess, I mean I was shocked to find I still remembered him even.
"Really now? Well that's all nice and good but this isn't really the time for chitchat." I gaped openly and quickly covered my mouth with my hands. At his chuckle I felt my face go red and I quickly turned back to face the front of the class.
"I take it you're usually not so outgoing?" He whisper into my ear. I shook my head and my sudden nervousness seemed to cause him even more amusement.
Class ended without any more noise coming from Raoul and as I stood, I drew in a breath praying he wouldn't follow. Apparently god didn't like me today.
"So, as I was saying I know you. What's your name?" I told him my name in a mumble. "What was that?"
"I said, my names Christine Daae," I spat out between gritted teeth. He seemed to think about it for a while and I took this chance to get away. Unluckily for me he was a quick walker.
"The name sounds familiar but I can't place it." Raoul pushed on. I was quickly getting peeved by his constant questions and finally gave in.
"We met at a county fair once. I… I was singing and my dad was playing the violin," There I had said it; something I hadn't brought up in what seemed like forever. After all I didn't really like to be reminded that I had once sung at a fair when my father and I were tight for cash. Though I believe it was worth it to see his reaction.
"Christine! Wow I can't believe it's you. You've," and here he paused to look me up and down. "Grown up if anything," I blushed.
"And you, Raoul, have become very, very forward." He laughed a deep throaty laugh. After a few moments of silence he spoke again.
"Wow, I still can't believe it's you," I chuckled quietly to myself.
"It reels the mind," I said sarcastically and Raoul caught onto my sarcasm.
"You're a lot more sarcastic then I remember though." I sighed; I'd admit that since the death of my father the sarcasm was something that came with the whole ordeal.
"Christine, wait up!" Both Raoul and I spun around to see a bobbing head of short blonde hair heading our way. Stopping mere inches in front of us I gestured to my friend.
"Raoul this is Meg Giry, my best friend. Meg this is Raoul Chagny, a childhood friend." Meg gave him little to no attention which I noticed shocked him; instead she drew out a piece of paper and handed it to me.
"This year, you my friend are auditioning for the play," I looked down and saw that indeed it was a flyer from the school drama club. I gave Meg an even stare but she was completely oblivious to it. It was actually Raoul that spoke first.
"You still sing?" I nodded somewhat. Yes I did still sing but I didn't like to in public and Meg knew that. I repeated this to Raoul. "Well wouldn't this be a good way to get over that fear?"
"Exactly my idea," As she finished this, it was like Meg actually saw Raoul for the first time. Suddenly she took a complete 180 on her personality and before my very eyes she became a shy, stuttering girl. We both laughed at her expanse which caused her to blush even more.
Raoul and I took the rest of the day after that to get caught up in the others life. As it turned out Raoul was still the boyishly charming kid I remembered him to be and he was still filthy rich. And apparently I still seemed to be the same naïve kid Raoul remembered as well besides the sarcasm. Surprisingly or not it soon seemed as if no time had come between us at all and we were the best of friends again. Even Meg came around and stopped stuttering every other minute. Despite that I couldn't help but smile whenever he was around.
"So," He said one day, a couple months after school had started, as he drove Meg and I home. He cast a glance at Meg and with a slow realization she left with a huff. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I think I knew where this was going and I wasn't sure if I wanted it. "Christine, I was thinking," I cut him off by opening the door and stepping out. Looking back at him I smiled weakly.
"Raoul, it's not that I don't, you know, but…" I trailed off when I saw the small glint of hurt in his eyes. I sat back down and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Not now okay, ask me later and I'm sure I'll say yes, okay?"
He nodded dejectedly and I felt so guilty about it. It wasn't that I didn't like him; in fact, he probably was the only guy I had 'liked' liked in a long time. But I felt not ready to date yet or get into anything serious right now and I hoped he understood that.
Walking away from the car I stood in the driveway and waved as he disappeared down the street. Feeling miserable myself I walked into the house and dropped my bag with Meg's. Leaning on the door so as to prolong Meg's questioning, I let out a big sigh.
Realizing that I wasn't really at all ready for Meg's gossiping side, I upped and picked up my bag and headed to a spot I hadn't been to in ages.
The glade was the same as always, as if I hadn't ever left it at all. Lying down on the grass I spread my arms out wide and just breathed in the fresh air. Everything was better here that was for certain.
My eyelids began to droop as the wind through the branches sang a haunting melody. I was almost asleep when like a bucket of water had been splashed in my face, I sat up. The melody wasn't the wind. It sounded too human but it didn't sound human, it sounded. I listened intently and found myself lured by the song.
It sounded angelic, heavenly.
High on this melody I stood and moved trance-like to the stage. Once there I swayed to the rhythm and opened my mouth. No sound came out but I wanted to sing and I don't know why I didn't.
Looking around I searched for the source of the angelic voice but wherever I looked it seemed as if it too were coming from that direction. I spun around, head whipping around on my neck, until I was dizzy and fell to the ground.
"Who's there?" I managed to whisper.
The song stopped and I rushed to my feet and searched on frantically.
"No, don't go, please!" I pleaded but the voice did not return and I felt a terrible longing in my chest.