Disclaimer: Must I say this? I will never own Erik!

A/N: Thanks for all of the reviews!

Chapter 5- Lesson 2: Anger Management

"All right Erik you did a good job yesterday and I'm glad that you were quiet during the night," Stephanie told him. "At least you're controlling yourself."

"'At least you're controlling yourself'," he mimicked under his breath. "Tell me why we're outside again?"

"It's a nice day out and in case you blow up or something at least someone will come to my aid," she replied.

"And what does that mean?" he demanded.

"In a second amigo. Just take a deep breath of this glorious air."

Erik regarded her with a strange look and did (so only to appease her). "I did. Good air can't get enough of it. Now what are we doing?"

"To successfully get the girl to fall for you there's some things you need to do internally," she explained. "Meaning we have to work on your behavior and outlook of everyone. It will be hard but worthwhile in the end."

"There's nothing to change," he growled. "I'm fine the way I am."

She shook her head. "Oh no Erik. There are only a few minor details to work on. I like to call this 'Anger Management'. Maybe tonight we could watch it. One of my all-time faves of Adam Sandler."

"Anger Management!" Erik's jaw dropped. "I do not have an anger problem!"

"Um, yeah you do."

"No I don't!"

"Yes you do. Your face is getting red."

When she pointed this out, Erik tried to settle his nerves to prove her wrong. "I can control my temper. See?"

She laughed. "Right. I can still see steam coming out of your ears."

He threw up his hands in defeat. "How do I have an anger issue?"

"Hmm, when Christine took off your mask and you started to curse. But seriously, how is 'Delilah' an insult? Pandora I understand, but Delilah? Isn't that a flower? Anyways, you allow your temper to get the best of you all the time. When the managers didn't cast Christine as Countess you not only caused Carlotta to croak but you killed Joseph Buquet as well. That right there I will continue later on about how actions speak louder than words and how girls don't appreciate it when their men kill for them. Remember last night when we listened to Down Once More? You placed Raoul under the noose and gave Christine the ultimate ultimatum in history! It's either you or he dies. Way to go lover-boy!" The last comment was sarcastic, but Erik ignored her.

"Any who, we need to control it otherwise it's going to drive a wedge between you guys. Now I'm not saying you have to get rid of it because that's literally impossible. But there's a time and place when you can't help but to explode and that depends on the situation. If you come out as an unhappy person with issues then she won't want to stick around much longer," Stephanie explained as in a matter-of-fact.

"So how do you propose we control my temper?"

A sly smile painted on her lips. "We see how long you can stay intact when you're annoyed."

"Why do I have the feeling I'm not going to like what you planned?" he groaned.

"This is little something that bugs my Mom constantly when I was younger. I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves. Everybody's nerves. Everybody's nerves. I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves and this is how it goes." She took a deep breath and repeated the same lines over and over and over until Erik burst.

"Will you quit that horrible singing!"

"You broke the record. It usually takes about six or seven times before someone calls for the end. You only took four."

"Glad I could do that. But honestly, Miss Larson was that really necessary?" he complained.

"No but it sounded like a good idea at the time. And will you stop calling me 'Miss Larson'. I have a name you know."

He snorted. "I think I prefer calling you Miss Larson thank you very much."

He is so asking for it, she thought evilly. "I bet right now Christine and Raoul are together. Probably having lunch as we speak."

Erik sobered quickly. "Don't play cruel games with me."

"I'm not. Think about it. Raoul is a handsome man. What girl can't resist him? If he was right here I would start making out with him." Stephanie had to hide the sudden rush feeling of throwing up at the thought. "I bet he tastes like candy."

A hundred emotions flooded through Erik at once. The strongest was wanting to have this girl's mouth closed for good. He didn't want to hear it. He refused to believe it could be true. But a nagging voice in his head told him since he wasn't there Christine might have given up hope on him and decided to allow the Vicomte court her. His blood began to boil as his mind was already processing Christine and the boy sharing intimate relations that rightly belonged to him.

Stephanie couldn't stop now. She knew this would hit him hard and she was right. His nostrils were flaring, his cool blue eyes were now hard and burning with rage, and his entire body was tensing. Yet, he didn't yell or curse or anything. She stopped and gave him a sweet smile. "That wasn't hard wasn't it?"

"You! You little minx!" Erik roared suddenly.

Stephanie shook her finger at him. "Tsk tsk tsk. And you did so well too. Okay, I only did that because it will obviously hit a cord in you. And I was right. Sometimes you have to face reality with a grain of salt. I could be right and I could be wrong. But when faced in a situation where you are uncomfortable in you have to suck it up and do it. So if hypothetically speaking, Christine and Raoul were married and you were at the wedding, you would of course get upset when they kiss and whatnot. You're not going to all of a sudden get up and punch the priest. Instead, you swallow your pride and handle it no matter how much it kills you."

"Boy, that makes me feel special and good."

"Okay, enough of that. What I'm going to do is have you go through the times when you were upset and see what you could have done instead of screaming."

He sighed. "Fine let's get this over with."

She smiled. "First, the mask. You've seen her remove it and you heard it too so what could you have done instead of spitting out venom?"

Erik shrugged. "Well she disobeyed me so I had to say something."

"You make her sound like a dog. But you kind of got carried away with it. You could have shown your anger in another way. In all truth, I don't think your face freaked her out, it was more of what you said."

"Yeah right. My face is more terrifying than any words could ever be exchanged!" he argued. "I've gone through my whole life with looks of horror whenever anyone lays their eyes on the face of death!"

Gotta definitely work on his confidence and self-esteem, she thought. "This is where the 'I' statements come in."

Erik narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Come again?"

"'I' statements," Stephanie repeated. "It's a way to communicate your feelings to another person when they do something to you. It helps the person to understand what they done has affected you. The model goes a little something like this: I get (blank) when you (blank) to me and I need you to (blank). Or you could change some of the words around to get your meaning."

"Blank?" She nodded. "You fill in your emotions and the trouble. You have to use good strong words to get your point out. For example, you could say, 'Christine, I got hurt when you took off my mask and I need you to not do it again unless you ask me'. You should also apologize for any yelling and that you didn't mean it, but in a more subtle way show her what she did hurt you like no other! Talking things out helps soothes the raging beast within you."

"So I use the 'I' statements right away after she done this?"

"No, not right away. It will sound funny if you do. Wait until the shock dies down and calmly explain what's in your heart and mind. That's your opportune moment."

Erik's features brightened. "I got it! So if she's scared it goes like this: Christine, I got frightened when you screamed at my face. I didn't mean to scare you, but I want you to trust me and hopefully stay for a while and see I'm no monster."

"Better. Doesn't that feel good instead of lashing out?" she asked.

"Yeah it does actually. I thought before I was going to hate this, but it's not so bad. I feel like I'm becoming a new man after being around you," Erik told her.

Stephanie blushed. "I'm glad that's how you feel. But there's more to learn and do. Erik, I mean this in the nicest way possible but you're a broken man who needs a lot of fixing. You need to stop referring yourself as a 'monster' and a 'corpse' or anything of that sort. You're only admitting what others call you and that doesn't make a good impression. You're allowing those words to win over you. But that's for another day. Do you want to take a break and grab some lunch? And maybe a little bit of shopping for some clothes."

"What's wrong with my clothes?"

"Nothing! I just thought you might need some extra shirts and pants unless you're planning to go naked."

His eyes widen. "Miss Larson I'll have you know that was uncalled for and impolite to say in front of a stranger."

"Ah, but you're no stranger to me Erik. Besides I was kidding. Don't take it so literally. I have enough to get several outfits. You know? This would make a great opportunity to change your fashion a bit. I bet you would look good in a dark green or navy blue." Stephanie was growing excited. This is going to be fun!

"I prefer black Miss Larson," he replied stiffly.

"You can get black along with some other colors. C'mon Erik! Live a little!"

"Miss Larson, I get scared when you talk like that and I normally don't get scare easily."

"Very funny. But it's not going to work. We're going to the mall so relax and you're going to have fun. Trust me."

"That's what I'm afraid of," he murmured.

TBC…

Don't forget to review! If you like this, then please read my A Love Denied No More. The pairing is MegRaoul, but there are some E/C moments!