X-Treme Makeover: Phantom Edition

Chapter 6: A (Pretty) Boring Week At The Hotel.

When Erik awoke the next morning—it was Monday—he felt a pounding in his head. At first, he lifted his head up, and tried to sit up, but the room seemed to spin. So instead he laid his head back down. Though he did it a bit too hard, and forgot that his head was up farther. Erik yelped and winced in pain as his head hit the backboard of the bed. Right now, all he wanted was to sleep and to forget…

- - - -

Erik slept that whole day, waking only to use the bathroom and nibble on some crackers at one point. When he woke up on Tuesday morning, the sun was shining brightly into his room. Forcing himself to get out of bed, Erik took a bath (as showers weren't allowed due to his bandaging) and brushed his teeth. Then he took the time to comb back his hair. Satisfied that he looked about as good as it was going to get, Erik decided to go down to get breakfast.

Since his hips still hurt pretty badly since the surgery, Erik chose to use the wheelchair. At least if he talked to Hilary it would be an excuse why he didn't use the steps. Sitting down proved pretty painful, and Erik was glad when he was comfortable.

On the way down the hotel's hall, he discovered that wheelchairs were actually pretty fun to ride around in. Erik spun in small circles, using his powerful arms. He credited all those years of rowing out to his home in that boat to his thick limbs.

Suddenly, he ran into a table. CRASH! An antique looking vase fell to the floor and shattered. Erik glanced around, and then—whistling "Music of the Night"—wheeled himself down the hall toward the elevator.

Luckily the elevator was already at the top when he reached it, and it was open. Erik wheeled himself into the small area. Then he pushed the "B" button on the panel. Frantically, he tried to make it "1" but it was too late, the elevator was already heading down to the basement.

Sighing, Erik sat back and listened to the elevator music. It was horrible. So he couldn't hear it anymore, Erik began to sing the Phantom of the Opera Theme.

"The PHHAAAANNNTTOOMM of the Opera is thereeee… inside your mind…"

Erik sang his part, Christine's part, and even the music. He's memorized quite well by now. And he was absolutely sure that nobody would hear him. Elevators were sound proofed… right? RIGHT!

Erik was shocked when the door opened to reveal the first floor. Then he realized that since he'd pushed the first floor's button too, the elevator had decided that it needed to stop there first. Erik rolled his wheelchair out of the elevator and into the people crowded lobby.

People were staring at him. At first he believed that it was because his bandages, but then a small old woman came up to him and patted his hand.

"Well done, young man. I think that you and that little—well, not really little—big voice of yours have a future on Broadway! You should think about going to New York. They might even let you play the Phantom in that show, oh, what is it?"

"Phantom of the Opera?" Erik said dryly.

The old woman nodded and then hurried away to get back to her breakfast. Obviously elevators weren't sound proof.

­ - - - -

Throughout breakfast, Erik dodged peoples' glances. He didn't even notice when a person came skipping up to his table and sat down.

"Hiya Erik!" Hilary exclaimed.

Erik jumped and spilled the homefries that had been on his fork into his lap. "Hi Hilary." He paused. "How are you?"

"I GREAT! My cat isn't too great though. He ate ten bags of dog treats, and they aren't digesting well. Last night he threw up on my carpet in my room and I had to suffer through the smell the entire night. I stopped by yesterday but they said that you were sleeping. What was wrong?"

"I had a headache." Erik groaned. He was getting another headache. How could enjoy this girl's affection? But yet… he did.

"Oh. They suck. I get headaches and feel like I'm going to barf when I smell fish. I hate fish. Do you?"

"No. Well, kinda… its okay."

"You have bad taste. Well, I can't stay long because I got to head back to the vet, but you have an appointment with Dr. Perlman on Saturday to see how you look under those bandages." Hilary played with a piece of hair that was hanging in her face.

"Oh. This Saturday?" Erik asked, enlightened.

"No. In two weeks. Gotta go!" Hilary said.

Then she skipped out of the hotel. Erik groaned.

- - - -

The rest of Erik's week, he slept. And ate. And sang. It was a VERY boring week.

Reposty! R&R!

Kara