Disclaimer: Same as in previous chapters.
Christine walked into Starbucks, the bell above the door announcing her arrival.
Brier looked up, smiling softly. "Glad you're here. It's been one hell of a morning."
Christine raised her eyebrows and looked around the almost empty café. "Really? It looks pretty dead in here to me."
"I'm only kidding. I am glad you're here though," Brier replied, sighing as she bent over to rest her elbows on the counter, propping up her head.
"I wonder why it's so slow today."
Brier shrugged. "Well, since it's a Friday, I imagine everyone went to work early to catch up on everything so they could leave earlier."
"True. Well, do you still think Erik will stop by? He said we'd go over everything for my singing lessons today."
"He's already here. He's in the managers' office, been in there awhile. I imagine he'll come out soon."
Time passed and Christine still saw no sign of Erik. She was eager to make the arrangements and not being able to discuss it with him was not helping.
The morning was dragging as random people came in from time to time.
Christine looked at the door and stood up. Rounding around the counter, she tapped lightly against the door a couple times. Brier just watched.
"Who is it?" someone called from inside.
"Christine, Monsieur."
"Oh, what is it?"
Christine scowled, hardly wanting to have to explain herself to the door. "May I come in?"
"The door's open," they called again, and Christine pushed it open. The three men that sat inside looked up at her, curious at what was the matter.
Christine's eyes were focused on Erik, a smile plastered to her face. She looked at his elegant stature and wonderful sense in fashion. He brought himself across well.
Erik looked back at Christine, his eyes focused on her chestnut colored eyes. She seemed interested in something about him, but that was probably just what he wanted to see.
"…Well?" Monsieur Firmin asked, looking very frustrated. Christine and Erik's stares broke apart and looked away, Christine blushing slightly.
"Oh, uh, I was wondering if any of you would care for some coffee or tea."
The managers rolled their eyes. "Is that all? Then, no, I think we're fine. Be on your way."
Erik stood up slowly and stretched out his arms and then turned to look at Christine. "Actually, tea sounds good. We also have some business to attend to, correct?"
Christine nodded and walked out the door, expecting Erik to follow. Walking back again behind the counter, she grabbed a kettle as Erik took a seat on a stool.
Grabbing a cup, she poured some into it and handed it over to Erik who smirked in appreciatively. "When would you like to start?" he asked, after taking a sip of the steaming tea.
Christine watched him for a moment and then shrugged slightly. "When ever is best for you, or as soon as possible."
Erik nodded his head and set the cup down. "I'm very busy, but since tomorrow is a Saturday, maybe you'd like to start then?"
"Of course, if that works for you." Christine grinned. Erik smiled and picked up his cup once more and stood up. "No need to worry about directions, I'll have someone pick you up." He touched Christine's hand lightly and rose up his cup. "Thanks for the tea."
Christine watched as he walked back into the office, closing the door behind him. She smiled to herself and touched her hand that he'd touched against her cheek.
Brier made her way over to Christine, almost laughing. "And you try to tell me he doesn't like you?"
"He might… a little."
Since work had been so slow, they'd been let off early. Christine couldn't say she was too upset to get away.
Once Christine had made her way back to the Giry's, she found Meg near the door, moving back and forth on the balls of her feet.
Meg then began to jump for joy when Christine walked in. Being pushed back out the door, Christine stared at Meg who looked completely overjoyed.
"What in the world has gotten into you? I just got back from work!"
"You promised we would go shopping today," Meg pouted.
Christine folded her arms across her chest and watched as he friend gave her puppy eyes. Christine sighed heavily and grabbed the keys out of Meg's hand. "OK, but I'm driving. I don't want to get killed right before I get to have a singing lesson."
"What's that supposed to mean? That I'm a bad driver?"
"That's exactly what it's supposed to mean."
"I'm not that bad," Meg huffed as she climbed into the passenger's side.
Once they'd drove their way to the long strip of shops, they decided to window shop a bit, instead of going into every store. If the clothes they had on display looked decent, they went inside.
It felt like ages before Meg decided to look through one store. Christine's feet were already starting to hurt, but Meg was going full force.
"Oh, look at this Christine," Meg said, holding up a dark orange shirt.
"I look awful in orange."
Meg continued to look through each shirt on every rack, occasionally holding up something she liked.
Christine was just about ready to grab the first thing she saw and leave until Meg squealed. "I've found it."
"Found what?" Christine sighed, not even interested.
"You have got to get this," she said, and held up a short, dark red dress with intricate black designs sewn into the bottom hem. The top scooped down, obviously made to show a little cleavage.
Christine had to give it to Meg, she had wonderful taste. "Are you sure I'd look OK in that? That looks like something you would wear, not me."
"Oh come on. You'll look gorgeous in this dress. We'll find your size and you can try it on, if you don't like it, we'll keep looking."
Christine half prayed to herself that she'd look OK in it so that she wouldn't have to continue in the hunt for something to wear for her first lesson.
Christine grabbed her size and made her way into a changing room. Quickly pealing off her clothes and slipping the dress on, she looked in the mirror. She actually looked decent, which rather surprised her.
She stepped out to show Meg, who stood outside. Meg grinned from ear to ear as she looked at her.
"What do you think?" Christine asked nervously.
"You look… amazing! Please tell me you're going to get it."
"Yes, I'm going to get the dress. Just let me get back into my clothes." Christine slipped out of the dress and pulled her clothes back on.
Christine handed the dress to Meg and she went to the cash register to buy it. Christine stood by the door, checking her watch. She was hungry and needed to get some food soon.
Meg approached her and held out the bag to her. Grabbing it, she smiled. "Hungry?"
"Starved."
Christine and Meg walked into a nice little restaurant, their arms linked together as they chatted and laughed.
Taking a seat, Christine glanced around the quaint room, each table covered with a red table cloth, flowers and a burning candle placed in the middle. It had a very romantic atmosphere.
Her eyes wandered to a table set a little remote from the rest of the tables, placed slightly in a shadow. Only a white, scowling mask stood out in the darkness.
Christine stood up, almost drawn to the shadows where Erik lurked. Meg looked at her strangely, but turned her attention back to the waiter she had an eye for.
"Erik?" Christine called out, before stepping into the darkness.
"You may have a seat, I won't bite," Erik chuckled.
Christine took a seat opposite of where he sat, and stared into the darkness. "Why'd you choose this table?"
"I prefer the shadows. I'm a dark person, if you haven't noticed."
Christine's eyes adjusted to the small amount of light, and she smiled. Erik smiled back, and he pushed a wine glass towards her. "Do you drink?"
She stared down at the cup. "I'll have a little."
Erik poured her a small glass and raised his own to his lips, Christine doing the same. He watched as took a small sip and almost laughed when she grimaced at the taste. He hadn't expected her to like it too much.
Surprisingly, she took another sip, reconsidering the bitter-sweet taste. It was good enough to bare, but not something she particularly cared for.
She swallowed the last bit and set down the glass. Erik had hardly touched his own and she blushed, glad for the darkness. "Care for some more?"
Christine tapped her fingers against the table, looking from the bottle to her glass. "Well, yes I would like some more, but only if you drink with me."
Erik smirked. "Fair enough." He poured her another glass. "Well, drink up." They both tipped their glasses to their mouth and swallowed.
Christine laughed as she set down her glass and set her arms on the table. Erik had picked up a book that was to his side and began to read.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to read at the table?" Christine chuckled.
Erik looked up with sad eyes, but tried to cover it by grabbing his glass and taking another swig of the wine. After setting back down the glass with a tink, he looked back at her. "My mother didn't say much to me at all."
Christine looked down at her hands, extremely embarrassed. "I'm… sorry Erik. I didn't know."
Erik sighed and went back to reading his book. Looking at the title, which read 'The Phantom of the Opera' she couldn't help but snigger a bit.
"What?" he asked, looking up from his book.
"Oh, nothing of any importance." She smiled, and he looked back down at his book.
Christine peeked over at the table where she'd left Meg. Meg was now sitting with a group of boys, chatting away happily. Christine shook her head and looked back to Erik.
"Looks like my friend ditched me for a couple of guys."
Erik turned around to look at the giggling Meg Giry and scoffed. "She seems to like the attention."
"That's Meg for you, the big attention seeker. Anyways, I'm probably bothering you since you seem to be busy reading."
A waiter then appeared by the table, looking from one another. "What will you have?" he asked, looking at Christine.
"Oh no, I was just-," Erik cut her off and looked at the waiter.
"We'll both have the lobster."
Christine gazed at him and then turned to the waiter to protest, but he'd already left. "I can't very well pay for the lobster dinner! Are you out of your mind?"
"Just a little. And don't worry about it, I'll pay for it," he replied calmly, setting his book down on the table.
"Oh I couldn't let you do that. You're already doing enough as it is by offering my free singing lessons."
Erik shook his head and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Please, just let me get this for you."
Christine sighed, but didn't object. She only smiled and grabbed his hand that was placed on her shoulder. She took it in her own and she could feel him tense a bit, but then relax and began to stroke her soft hand with his thumb.
Christine smiled weakly, savoring his warm hand embraced in her own. Even if they were only holding hands, it just felt good.
They sat like that for a long while, never pulling their hands apart. They talked about different things that was going on in the world, and sometimes just looked into each others eyes.
Finally, the lobster arrived and Erik quickly pulled his hand away. It wasn't as if he wanted to let go, he could have held on forever, but he really didn't need the publicity right now. Not at the height of his career.
He could see it now: 'Erik Beecher and His Lovely Mistress'. That wouldn't only be completely awful for him, but probably humiliating for Christine. She'd then loathe him and continue to never speak to him again.
He sighed to himself as he picked up a fork and knife, every so often looking up at Christine. Her pale skin stuck out in the darkness and her brown curls falling across her shoulders.
Christine looked up, feeling him watching her. Their eyes met and she smiled. He looked back down at his food and continued to fork at it.
She laughed slightly as she watched him. "Not a big lobster fan?"
He looked up at her and back down at his food. "No, not really. I do like seafood, but lobster isn't my favorite think in the world."
Christine looked down at her own food and sighed to herself and then looked back up at him. "Well, we can always try something else tomorrow."
She smiled, hoping he'd take the hint. He looked up at her and he smiled back. Christine took his hands back into her own, loving the feeling.
From that night forward, Erik knew Christine was his Angel of Music.
Author's Note: Aww. This chapter is cute, right? I love writing ECness! It's WAY better than RCness. Eww! Thanks everyone for reviewing… I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'll continue to update quickly. It's summer finally! WOOHOO!
Love you peeps!