Disclaimer: Same as in previous chapters. Also, I own nothing that has to do with Starbucks.
The alarm clock started to go off at 8:00. It was way too early to have to start her day. She'd just sleep a little longer and then she'd get up. Five extra minutes never hurt anyone, did it?
Meg then shrieked. "Turn that thing off!" Christine rolled over on her side to turn it off. Sighing loudly, she pulled back the covers and got up.
The more she thought about going to work, the more she got excited. Not because she'd be spending most of her day taking orders, but because it was a chance for her to get out of the house and maybe make some new friends.
Walking into the bathroom, she looked at her reflection. Her hair was huge and her eyes were puffy from the lack of sleep that she usually got. She really needed a shower.
She reached for the faucet and turned on the hot water. Peeling off her clothes, she stepped in. It definitely did the job of waking her up and making her feel much more refreshed.
Christine got out and wrapped a towel around her, her hair still dripping wet. She opened the door and slunk back into the room and made sure Meg was still sleeping. Holding back a laugh, she listened as Meg snored loudly.
Quietly opening one of Meg's drawers, she pulled out some really cute, black pants she had been meaning to borrow for a long time. Now was the perfect time, since she was required to wear black pants and a white shirt.
Running back into the bathroom, she slipped on the pants and the shirt, hen brushing through the tangled mess that sat atop her head. She continued to dry her hair into large curls and put on only a little lip gloss.
She stepped out and almost laughed as Meg looked at her and furrowed her brow. "Aren't those my pants?" she asked, trying to remember.
"I have no clue what you're talking about; I've had these for years." Christine snorted and grabbed her purse. "Well, since I'm working at Starbucks and have to go there no matter what, want to come with me and you can grab a coffee?"
"Sure, why not?" Meg replied and pulled back her hair. She threw something on and we were ready to be out the door within 5 minutes.
"MAMAN!" Meg screamed. "I'm going to Starbucks, I'll be back later."
They set out and walked in silence for a few minutes until Christine broke it. "I met a girl named Brier yesterday, she works there too. She's really nice. I think this job is going to be really fun."
Meg smiled. "That's what I like to hear. Maybe you can introduce me to her." Christine nodded and they turned to corner.
Christine took a deep breath. "Well, here we are. I'm kind of nervous…"
"Don't be, you'll do great. I think Raoul mentioned to mum that he was going to stop by to see you."
Christine moaned. "Great, now I'm going to have to work extra hard to try and impress him."
"You work in a coffee shop… how do you plan on impressing him? Showing him your special talents of adding just the right amount of cream and sugar? Or maybe how-," Christine punched her lightly on the arm and Meg laughed.
"You aren't helping, you know?" Christine pouted and folded her arms across her chest. Meg gave her a hug and a pat on the back.
"I'm only teasing Christine. You'll be great, don't worry about it. Just keep you head held high." Meg opened the door and allowed Christine to enter first, still a bit nervous.
A shorter girl with brown hair and hazel eyes standing behind a counter motioned for the two. The girls walked over and Meg took a seat on a stool at the counter as Christine made her way behind the counter and tied an apron around her waist.
"Meg, this is Brier, the girl I was telling you about. Brier, Meg." The girls shook hands and continued to make small talk as Christine took a couple simple orders from the steady flow of people coming in, most of them looking in a hurry.
"Christine, do you think you can get me a tall caramel mocha?" Meg called, over her shoulder. Meg had turned her attention to a group of rather cute boys that had just entered.
"Oh Christine, I'm so sorry," Brier rushed over, beginning to help her with some of the orders. "Meg is really nice, I lost track of where I was."
Christine shrugged it off. "Good practice."
"Well, if you think you can handle it the rest of the day…" Brier watched as Christine's eyes grew wide. "I'm only kidding. Don't worry; I usually don't slip up like that. I'll do as much work as you."
Christine bent down to grab a couple cups from under the counter; they were already running out within the 30 minutes she'd been there. "Hey Brier, do we-," Christine looked up to someone tapping lightly on the counter top.
He was one of the strangest men she'd ever seen, and Christine had seen her fair share of strange men in the past. A white mask placed on the left side of his face. The mask was shaped into a scowl but the right side looked very gentle and handsome.
Wearing black slacks, a white dress shirt and a blue tie that matched his eyes hung a little loosely around his neck. Someone very important was Christine's guess.
Christine stood there, staring at the mask probably a little longer than needed to be. "Ahem," he said, looking completely frustrated. His icy blue eyes pierced into her brown ones.
"Oh, um… sorry, what will it be?" she asked, looking away from him, feeling herself blush profusely. She would have liked to look at him more, he was quite nice to the eyes but she felt awkward and scared her eyes might begin to wander on the mask again.
Erik didn't make any notice of Christine's obvious embarrassment but simply looked up at the board above her to look at his choices, but already knowing what he wanted. "I'll take the usual."
Christine looked up confused. "Monsieur, I'm new and I really…" Brier inched towards her and smiled at the strange man.
"Ah, Monsieur Beecher, you haven't been here in awhile," Brier smiled, apparently knowing the man.
"Yes, well, I've been rather busy. I'm also in a great hurry so if you don't mind, I'll just take the usual. I take it that you remember what that is, right?" he asked Brier, and then glancing at Christine at the corner of his eye. She could tell he was trying to show her how stupid she looked right about now.
"Indeed I do, sir," Brier replied, then walking off to make his order, as Erik and Christine just stood there, standing in an awkward silence.
"I'm very sorry Monsieur, I didn't know. I'll remember it next time you come in, I promise."
He looked at her empathetically, her eyes full with sadness. He felt better than, as unkind as it may sound, that he wasn't the only one going through misery and sorrow. Erik felt a wave of sympathy wash over him as he looked at the younger woman. "It's… alright," he muttered, shrugging his shoulders slightly.
Just then, Monsieur Andre and Monsieur Firmin walked out of their office, obviously delighted to see Monsieur Beecher. A slight grimace reached Erik's expression as he saw the two. They both held out their hands when they had reached him and Erik in turn, shook them both.
"Erik, it's positively wonderful to see you. We'd thought you died or something," Monsieur Firmin laughed, obviously joking. Erik apparently did not find this funny.
"I've been around," Erik replied, obviously uncomfortable with the whole conversation. "I've just kept myself busy."
"Well, we won't keep you then. We do hope to discuss some architectural plans for the new scrap metal industry. Do you think you might be able to stop by tomorrow? We wouldn't want anyone but you to design it."
"I'll see what I can do," Erik murmured and took the coffee that Brier now held out to him. Pulling out some money from his pocket, he looked at Christine again and she smiled. He handed her the money and gently brushed the back of her hand, sending shivers down her spine.
"Until tomorrow," Erik almost whispered, not saying it directly to Christine, but she was almost positive he was talking to her. He turned around and walked out the door, the bell jingling as it open and closed.
Christine stood there, watching him until he disappeared into the crowd. She looked down at her hand, still feeling where he had touched her.
Meg walked over and whistled. Christine had completely forgotten she was still there; she had just been rather quiet for Meg. "Wow… now that's what I call 'boyfriend material', rich, mysterious and handsome." Christine laughed.
"Oh Meg, you're such a little gold digger," she said, playfully. Meg pouted and stuck out her tongue rather childishly.
"Am not, you take that back!"
"Aww… did Cwistine huwt your feewings?" Christine teased, laughing. Meg shook her head slowly and then stopped and pouted again.
"OK, maybe a little." Christine reached over the counter and gave Meg a hug.
"I'm sorry, Meg. You aren't a little gold digger, you're a huge gold digger," Christine laughed, and pulled away before Meg could take a good swat at her.
Christine raced over to Brier and leaned against the counter, Meg following behind and punching her in the arm. Brier looked at the two and rolled her eyes.
"OK, you've got to tell us who that man was. Do you know any dirty secrets? Is he married?" Meg asked Brier, anxious to know anything about the man. Christine had to admit, she was also rather apprehensive to know anything about him.
Brier giggled. "You two are so nosy. But, no, I don't know anything about Monsieur Beecher. All I know is that he is an architect and a very talented musician that occasionally comes out with his own opera. He's a very conservative man that doesn't say too much."
"Can you at least tell us why he wears that mask?" Christine asked. Brier shrugged.
"I know as much about him as the next person does, but that's one thing that he'll never talk about. He's probably the only one that knows."
"Well you're no help," Meg huffed. She laughed a little to herself. "I'll bet it's all scarred and nasty." Christine looked at Meg and almost loathed her for a moment.
How could she say such hateful things? He probably felt so humiliated to even go out and public and if circumstances didn't demand he even go outside, he probably wouldn't. Christine had seen the sadness and vulnerability, why laugh at him for being miserable?
Christine shook it off but remained silence. She'd never take a part in making fun of someone who was probably just as distressed as herself.
"Anyways, I should probably get home. Maman is probably worried sick, I told her I'd be back soon. I'll see you when you get back Christine." She then sped outside and back around the corner.
Christine couldn't stop thinking about this Monsieur Beecher the rest of the day. His voice had seemed so pure and made you feel wonderful… like an angel. Was this maybe the angel her father had promised to send her, the Angel of Music? She shook her head at the thought.
'Christine, he was clearly a man and nothing more.' She said to herself. And with that, she continued the stressful, but interesting day.
Author's Note: Thank you guys SOO much for reviewing. You guys literally made my week. I hope you guys liked this chapter. A lot of you were asking for longer chapters, so I tried my best to make it longer… without making it just complete filler.
Also, I did my studying and 'Beecher' means fine entertainment in French. Suits Erik, right? And thank you MagickAlianne, for pointing out that Meg should say maman. Heck. I'm from the U.S.; I don't know any of this French talk.
Boxes of cookies to all that reviewed!