Disclaimer:I own nothing of the Phantom's universe expect for my own and I don't own "Within You" by David Bowie. Hope you enjoy!
The week seem to go faster then usual for Paige. No big events to make her busy, no tragic event, nothing of that sorts, it was just a normal week for Paige. There was no more vists from the Detective, which was good in her opinion. But it didn't mean the rumors were stronger now, ever since last Saturday, Paige could go anywhere before someone ask what truly happen. There were rumors that they arrested her for the possesion of drugs, or she set a building on fire, she was running butt naked around town (the boys were the ones who came up with that), and more that had no sense in them. Yeah, thats what you get when you have a mortal enemy as Lily Laker. As soon this thing clears over, she would not be harrassed by anyone again, expect from Lily and her group of friends. Now it was Friday afternoon, 2 hours till 8. Paige was nervouse as hell! This was the day she would meet Erik again and began her singing lessons with him. She didn't know if she would trust him or not, she was practically letting a stranger teach her singing and he could just not anything about music. She thought at the possiblitys at what might happen if she go. He could be a rapist, a serial killer that lures his victims with free singing lessons, he could be with that gang of guys last week and seeting her up for revenge, or she would show up and he would not be there and standing her up for nothing.
Paige chewed on her nails as she paced around in her room, trying to make up her mind about tonight. Her hair a mess and her cloths wrinkly and uncleaned. A knock from her door and she turn around to see Stephanie leaning on the door's frame and smirking at her.
"Knock, knock, roommate. Whats wrong?"she asked, smugly
"Nothing, just kinda nervouse. I feel like butterflies in my stomach and they will not stop!"said Paige
"Oh, I know whats going on, its perfectly clear. You got a date with a guy and you think you will not get a chance to get asked out again."smirked Stephanie
"I'm not going on a date, just going to meet a guy who can probably help me with my singing. Iam not sure if guy is for real or he is just going to use me for his own needs."replied Paige, bitting her nails
"Oh, I see, I think. Its hard to tell whats going on your mind, Miss Paige. Anyway, since I'm a good friend, I will help you out. You look like a person who returned from a fight and lost! Just sit down on the bed and let old Auntie Stephie take all your problems away!"Stephanie nearly shouted as she ran to the closet and looking for cloths.
"But-"
"No, buts, missy! You do need help taking care of yourself when it comes to boys or you will round up misable and marrying my brother!"joked Stephie
Paige laughed at her friend as she closed her door to prevent any eaves-droppers listening in. She sat down on her bed and watch her friend throwing cloths around the room. She was glad when Stephanie finaly stopped and pulled out an outfit. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"I'm so not wearing that!"she yelled, looking at what Stephanie had.
Paige sighed as she walked on the sidewalk, shuffling her feet as she did. She hated what Stephanie made her wear. It was a purple button down shirt, with its sleeves rolled up, the buttons at the top were open to show her cleavage, and to top it all off was a black skirt. This was not an outfit you wear to singing lessons! Paige twirled the little circular device in her hand, it was only thing to protect her if someone wrong happens.
"This will help you if anyone tries anything funny, we don't want anything to happeen to you, Paige." Stephanie words echoed through her mind.
Pepper spray. Stephanie gave her pepper spray. At least it was better then nothing. Paige stopped when she saw the street sign saying it was 12th Street, here she was, going to see Erik again. She glanced at her digital watch, it read 7:55, she had five minutes before their little thing began. She button up her shirt up to her neck, just to look proper. She began to look for any building looking abandon or anything close to that. She stopped when she reached a old looking building with broken glass, boards covering the windows and doors.
"I guess this is it, now to find a entrance."she mumbled under her breath
Paige looked around everywhere and finaly found a back door entrance that was not coverd in boards, this was the only way to get it. She grabbed the handle and pulled the door open. Inside was nothing but tons of boxes stacked on each other and broken furniture everywhere. Paige squaeked when a croco roach walked in front of her, surprising her. She quickly calm down and began to walk around for any signs of Erik. Her foot steps echoing through the warehouse, she stopped suddenly when she felt the hair on the back her neck raise up, sensing someone behind her. She qucikly turn around, the can of pepper spray raised up in her hand. Her wist was quickly caught, holding her off before she spray the pepper spray can. It was Erik. Erik, dressed in pure black with a single white mask covering the right side of his face.
"Erik..."Paige whisperd in surprisement
"Surprised to see me? I must say I'm impressed at your reflexs and you did show up, thought you would not come,"Erik said simple, releasing her wist
"Now, lets your singing lesson begin."he added
"But can I ask a few questions about you. Nothing much just want to know that I can trust you."she said, rubbing her wist
"Certainly, ask your questions and I will try to ask the best I can."he said
"First, how can I know that you aren't going to kill me or torture when I follow you or something like that?"she asked
"I won't, you can have the can of pepper spray around you all times until you can learn to trust me."he replied
"Ok, next question. Why did you save me from that group of thugs last week? I know what you said but I really want a straight answer from you."Paige said
"You reminded me of a person I once knew, but she is dead now,"he said sadly,"On to the next question, please."
"Ok, this is going to be the last question for right now. You said that you were in the arts, singing, art, and all that stuff, do you used to have another student?"Paige asked
"Yes. I taught her how to sing, taught her everything I know. But, she went and betrayed me and I never taught her again after that,"said Erik,"Is that all, Paige?"
"Yes, for now that is."Paige replied
"Now, lets get working on your singing lessons for tonight."Erik said, smiling a bit
Erik lead Paige to a small trap door that was hiden under a pile of empty boxes. There were small little lamps on the walls as they went down, lighting the way. It was less then a minute before they reached a wooden door, Erik open the door for Paige and lead her into his home, or something like a home. It was the same place Paige had first woken up in. She saw that the dusty organ she first saw was now clean from the dust it used to have.
"So why would you did singing lessons for?"asked Erik as he sat on the organ bench and turn to face her.
"Well, I can sing well when I'm alone but, I can't sing in front of people before getting...well, nervouse and feel kinda ill or I just stand there and do nothing."said Paige
"Well, its common for most people but we can get over with that. I'm going to sing a few lines from a song and you can follow repeat it. Are you ready?"he asked
"Yes, just get on with it, please."
"How you turned my world, you precious thing- You starve and near exhaust me- Everything I've done, I've done for you- I move the stars for no one..."he began to sing softly, his eyes closed as his fingers danced on the keys.
'Wow, he is singing so beautilfuly, almost angelic. But why all of this seem so familar that I can't put a finger on it?'she thought to herself
"How you turned my world,"she began to sing, trying to follow what Erik sang,"you precious thing- You starve and near exhaust me- Everything I've- Everything I've, Everything I've- Damn!"she yelled, forgetting the rest
"Whats wrong?"asked Erik
"I can't-I can't remember the rest. Its not like I can't do it, I just can't remember all of the damn lyrics."sighed Paige
"Here,"said Erik, getting up and ushering her to the bench and sat beside her,"Just listen to me for now and when your ready we can start again. It may not be tonight but soon you will get the hang of it, I promise."
For the rest of the night, Erik sang differnt songs, letting Paige listen. Before the night was over, Erik said that their next lesson will be next week on Saturday at the same time and same place.
One week later.
It was finaly it. Her two week suspendtion from her job in 'The Lounge' was finaly done and out of the way. Paige promised herself that she would messed up this job and get fired from it. As much as she hated working nights, she still loved the place, it was kinda like a third home to her, beside her dorm and her real home.
Paige was serving a table with their drinks before returning towards the bat where Susan was serving the other customers there. She looked up when she felt someone's eyes on her. She saw Susan standing there, cleaning a glass, grinning at her.
"What? Is there something on my face?"asked Paige
"No, no, nothing like that. You seem...glowing in some sorts. I have never seen you like this before, no offense but, you seem so depressed and pale. But now, man, your like a glowing beacon at the end of a dark tunnel. Do you have a boyfriend that I don't know about?"she asked
"What? Heavens no! I don't have a boyfriend, I have a friend that is a boy and that is course Rob, but other then that, there is no one. I guess I'm happy lately because I'm having a private tutor on my singing and he sings so beautifuly, like I'm in a trance and I don't want to get out."sighed Paige, with a dreamy smile on her face.
"So you like this guy?"asked Susan
"No way, I only meet the guy. Besides, Erik-"
"Ooh, Erik, thats a sexy name,"intrupped Susan
"Back to the point, Erik is very older then me, I don't-"
"Older men are the most experience men ever."intrupped Susan again
"Will you stop intruppinging me!"she yelled,"Anyway, I don't think Erik is into girls like me. Shy, lonely, does not talk much, and kind pale."sighed Paige
"But most guys kinda like mysterious girls and the same thing goes for girls. So tell me what he is like. Is he tall, dark and handsome or kinda greeky but hot all the same? What kinda hobbies does he do? And where did you meet this guy?"asked Susan
"Well he has dark, black hair, kinda tall, and has a pair of golden eyes that seem to pull you in and never let go. All I know that he sings and gets in the art buisness. And he kinda ran into me and he got me dinner."she replied
"He sounds so romantic!"exclamied Susan
"Yeah,"said Paige with another dreamy smile of her face
"There! You have the same dreamy smile on your face. I knew it, I knew it! You like him! Paige and Erik sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, First comes love, then comes marriage, then the baby in the carriage!"sanged Susan
"Susan!"Paige hissed,"Can it before Mr. Claude fires us for not doing our jobs. And grow up, that song is like for five-year olds."
"Fine, spoil-sport."her older friend said, sticking her tongue at her.
Paige sighed, rolling her eyes at her before taking up a couple of glasses of liquor and went back to serving the customers before her boss fired her.