Disclaimer: I do not by the pleasure of owning Erik, but I do own Dan and Stephanie!

A/N: I was able to find some time to quickly go over this chapter for you, but I want be able to get Chapter 26 up until later this week. The AP National Exams are this week and it's been killing me. But… TOMORROW THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA COMES OUT!

And… after this chapter I'm probably going to be getting flames for what I did. –Grins evilly- I'm ready to take them on since I already know the outcome.

Chapter 25- The Final Lesson

The mall wasn't so crowded like it was when the first time Erik went. Stephanie told him she was giving him his last lesson here, why he did not know. She seemed to have something up her sleeve from all the looks she gave him and the way she smiled like she knows a wonderful secret but won't tell. This infuriated him immeasurably for Erik didn't like being kept from secrets and the suspense was horrible!

They were wandering around, Stephanie still not mention what he will learn, when Erik stopped suddenly in front of a glass case at a jewelry store. Stephanie looked over his side to see what captivated his attention and it was a lovely heart-shaped necklace with diamonds embedded around the tiny shape. It wasn't gaudy but quite classy. She knew right away of whom he was thinking about.

Erik gazed longingly at the necklace and sighed when he saw the price. It was reasonable, but he hated to be a bother to Stephanie and ask her to buy it for him. When he saw it the first thought that came to mind was how wonderfully it would lie upon Christine's milky white skin. And it led to uncomfortable thoughts about other things…

He abruptly pulled himself away from the tempting jewelry and moved away. Stephanie leaned over and an idea came to mind. Mentally grinning, she followed Erik and led him to the food court.

Erik walked closely behind Stephanie as she maneuvered around the people. Stephanie decided to treat Erik out since he was behaving well and the constant puppy dog looks for pizza. She didn't realize she accidentally turned the Phantom into a pizza-eating maniac.

Finally after the long wait, they got their food and carried their trays over to the nearest empty table.

"It's getting packed now," Erik commented as he took a huge bite out of his pepperoni, mushroom, and pineapple slice.

She cringed when he swallowed and stared at her own plain pepperoni piece. Oh well. I still maintain that pepperoni is the only topping for pizza. "Yeah it is," she remarked. "But it's the weekend so what do you expect?"

"So whmpa aboot lie meson?" Erik asked.

"What? English please. And hint: don't talk with your mouth open. God it's gross."

He swallowed. "I said, 'What about my lesson'?"

She smirked. "It's more of a review of what you learned so far. This is your last test and I want to let you know that this is the perfect place for what I'm going to ask of you."

He gulped. Already his appetite fled and he felt sick to his stomach. "How do I know I'm not going to like this?"

She laughed. "Quit being such a drama queen Ghost," she said. "It's going to work, trust me."

"I'm afraid to," he responded. "Fine Miss Larson. What is your new plan of torture for me?"

"You're going to ask someone out."

"Excuse me?"

"You're going to ask someone out," she repeated. "On a date."

Erik began hiccupping quite loudly. Grabbing his drink, he guzzled it down and took a few moments to reflect on what she just said. Stephanie watched him with great interest like a scientist would with a specimen and rolled her eyes.

"Okay that's enough Erik. People are staring."

"No! What were you thinking?" he hissed. "I will not comply to this request! I'm not going to spend my time with another woman."

"It's just a date!" she protested. "God, you're making it sound like I'm asking you to marry her."

"It is!" he barked. "I'm not doing this Miss Larson, I'm sorry but I cannot betray Christine!"

"You're not betraying her by asking someone out," Stephanie pointed out. "If you kiss someone then yeah. Besides, you're not actually 'seeing' Christine anyways. But I'm not asking you to look for a serious relationship. This is going to help you."

"How is it helping me?" he demanded.

She sighed. "By doing this you will get the courage to ask her out and give her the time of her life. I've seen this done on MTV and it helps guys to practice first before they make their move in the dangerous jungle of dating."

"But I don't want too!" he whined, deciding this was the last resort and feeling like a complete lummox.

"Erik, you can right now get on the floor crying and screaming and creating a scene, but I won't change my mind. You will do this if you want to or not. I'm not taking any crap from you. You just have to do things you don't like. So, what other thing besides Christine is stopping you from this?"

He pointed to his mask and muttered, "Duh."

"Erik you're acting like a baby. Grow up please."

"Well, Miss Larson you maybe accepting towards my face but I'm not guaranteeing that from others."

"Where is all that confidence I taught you? Pretend to be a firefighter. You did it last time and it worked."

He groaned. "Why do you inferno child torture me so?"

"Someone has to set you right," Stephanie replied. "And it appears I'm the only one with the balls to do it. Now, to save your hide so you won't flip out, I could be your little sister who's helping her big brother look for a date because he's shy."

"I'll do it myself," he grumbled. "Who knows what lies you might make?"

She clapped her hands with a delighted grin. "Wonderful! Now let's finish our pizzas and you can go off date hunting."

"No I have plans."

Erik's head lowered at the rejection and went back to where Stephanie waited. "She said no, I give up, so can we go home please?"

"Erik, she was the first one you asked!"

"Does it matter? What if every woman turns me down? Then what?" he asked sarcastically.

"Then we leave here and go somewhere else. Look there! I think that red head is totally checking you out."

"Shut up Miss Larson. Shut up."

2 Hours Later-

"I give up officially. No one wants to go out with me. I've been charming and helpful and they all look at me like I'm some weirdo. All I asked was were they willing to accompany me for dinner and perhaps retire for some pleasant conversation and making music."

Stephanie bit her tongue. Apparently, he didn't understand that his innocent way of speaking could have another idea to others. She settled on patting his back, reassuring him, and said, "There, there Erik. You're doing fine. See? You've been rejected and you're still intact."

"Geez, that makes me feel so special," he retorted. "This is pointless. Can I just leave?"

"No Erik. You can't give up like that! Someone will say yes so you need to keep a positive outlook and play your cards right."

"Yeah right, when I-" Erik stopped as he saw what had to be an apparition. From a distance was a young woman around in her early twenties, with a wild mass of dark curls that were bouncing across her shoulders as she laughed with another person. Her laughter was music to his ears. Could it be-?

When she came closer Erik felt reality crashing back to him. It wasn't Christine, but she sure did look like her. She had a creamy white skin tone with a tiny birthmark on the corner of her lower lip. Her eyes were a dashing sea green, not brown like his Angel's.

Stephanie nudged him in the ribs and nodded towards the Christine look alike. "What about her? She looks single and she does have a remarkable resemblance to a certain ingénue don't yaw think?"

"Miss Larson," he warned.

"What do you have to lose Erik? Go and talk to her. Get to know her and ask her out. She's looking over here."

He stood up and caught the girl's look. She let out a small wave and trying to act casual, he strolled over acting all nonchalant. The closer he became the more his nerves grew, but he managed to be in self-control. I can't believe I'm doing this. Forgive me Christine.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I thought you were someone I knew. I didn't mean to-" she started, but Erik smiled and bowed his head in deference.

"No need for apologies."

She giggled. "I guess I should say 'hi' and not sound like a fool. Hi."

"Hi," he returned. "So who do I remind you of? If it's not too bold to ask."

"Not at all. Actually, I thought you were my friend Eliot. He wears a mask as well because of a skin condition on his right side. I mean, I'm not implying you do," she said in a rush.

"It's sort of true," Erik replied. "I guess it's safe for me to say that you look like someone I know quite well. Her name is Christine."

She smiled. "I'm Christa by the way." She held out her hand and he shook it. "Erik."

"How weird is that? You and Eliot both start with 'e' and Christine and I start with 'c'," she joked. She was about to say more when her cell phone began ringing. "I'm sorry. Could you excuse me for a second? Um, hello?"

While Christa was talking, Erik turned over to Stephanie who was giving him thumbs up. Shaking his head, he went back to Christa as she quickly wrapped up her conversation. "Sorry. That was my friend, Melanie. She's having problems with her boyfriend, my other friend, Rick."

"No problem Christa," he answered. The name did sound foreign to his lips, but nonetheless, it rolled off his tongue easily. "Would you like to grab a cup of coffee or tea perhaps?"

"That sounds great. I could use some caffeine. Thanks… Erik."

"And I told Rick that I wouldn't date him because I didn't see him in that way and I didn't want to ruin our friendship," she finished.

About an hour passed and already Erik couldn't believe how comfortable he was getting to be around her. They told each other a little about themselves and Erik was excited to know she was a Voice major. They talked about music for a while despite the constant interruption of Melanie, who kept calling almost every five minutes.

Then that started off about Rick and Melanie and how they were dating on and off and during one of those "breaks" he asked Christa out. She didn't want to and it hurt him, but a day later he and Melanie were together.

"Now Mel thinks Rick is cheating on her. I hope your friends aren't as a mess as mine are," she teased, thinking how he told her of a similar situation between himself, Christine, and Raoul.

"You have no idea," Erik said.

Christa glanced down at her watch and gasped. "Oh no! I'm sorry but I have to go. I'm late for work. Bob's going to have my head. Thanks for the coffee Erik. I had a nice time. I hate to cut this short but duty calls."

She began packing her stuff up and Erik knew it was now or never. "Christa, wait! Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?"

She paused to think and smiled. "I would like that. Here let me give you my number."

Stephanie was waiting over near the children's play area, wondering what was taking him so long. She had enough time to run back to the jewelry store and buy a present for him and she was growing bored watching a bunch of screaming toddlers trying to escape the confines of the play place.

After what felt like an eternality, the Phantom came swindling up with a content look.

"I take it she said yes, then?"

Erik nodded eagerly. "I hope it goes as pleasant with Christine as I did with her. But time will only tell and for that I have to wait."

TBC…

Trust me, you have no idea where this is heading.