Chapter 4

Christine glanced away and stared at the wall. She did not want to look at the face Meg was making. "Christine, you promised you would not let him hurt you again!"

Christine nodded"Yes, but he did not hurt me!"

"So you are shedding tears of joy?"

Christine hesitated. "Well, I suppose not."

"Christine, you promised me..."

"I am sorry, Meg." Christine pleaded. "Do not be angry."

'I am not angry, just disappointed.' Meg said in her mind. 'But I cannot tell her that.' Meg just lied back down in her bed and turned away from Christine.

"Meg!" Christine exclaimed. "Meg?"

"Whatever, do as you like." Meg said, coldly.

Christine sighed and climbed into bed. 'Now I only have one friend here at the Opera House...' Christine thought for a moment, and realised something else, 'Oh... I broke the promise I made to Erik, as well." Remembering this, Christine's eyes drowned in tears before she finally drifted to sleep.

Christine had awoke and her face was still drenched from crying all night. She wiped her eyes with her arm and looked around, and found that all the beds were empty. Christine glanced at the clock which read 10 o'clock. 'All the other ballet girls left to practise. Meg did not wake me this time..." Christine frowned as she got out of bed to ready for the day.

Christine stepped onto the large stage where the young ballerinas practised for now. She walked over to the other ballet girls who were giggling because of Christine's tardiness until Madame Giry yelled"Miss Daae" Christine froze in her spot and glanced over at Madame Giry"Yes..." Christine said. "Please come here" Madame Giry commanded. Christine gulped and did so. Christine blushed as all the girls watched her walk over to Madame Giry in shame. She could hear their giggles and a few of their comments. "Look at her face""She's so red" were a some of the things they said. Christine looked at some of them as she walked from the corner of her eyes and she could see Meg. Meg was staring at the floor, shaking her head. Christine was felt somewhat glad that Meg was not ridiculing Christine as well. When Christine approached Madame Giry, she looked up at her. "Yes, Madame?"

Madame Giry stomped on the ground. "Do not 'yes, Madame' me, Miss Daae! You were to be here at 9:30! You are almost fourty-five minutes late!"

"I apologize for my having been tardy..." She said quietly.

"What was that?"

"I apologise for being so late." Christine spoke up clearer and Madame Giry gave her a smack upon the head and hollered, "You cannot be late! You can never be late! Now, I would like you to do extra stretches after all the girls have left! Now, do not let it happen again!"

Christine nodded, looking a bit teary-eyed. "Okay..."

"Oh, Christine, Christine... you silly, little child..." I muttered, hiding behind the curtains where I watched her from there. I hate to admit that I chuckled myself as she walked over to Madame Giry for her punishment. However, she did look like she may have cried a little. Poor thing. I watched the entire thing, which ended when the older ballet dancers had to practise. Madame Giry ordered Christine to step out of the way to do the extra stretches. She stepped in front of my hiding spot and was about to begin to stretch when I revealed myself. "Hello, my dear." I said, calmly. "Eri-" She began. I interrupted her by putting one hand over her mouth and the other, grabbing her hand as I shushed her. I pulled her into my spot behind the curtain and whispered, "Do not speak my name." I commanded her.

"Sorry, I was not expecting you to see you now."

"I wander around the Opera House every day. Get used to it." I said, simply.

"Okay... but why do you hide? There is no reason to hide." She said, looking glancing around. She was pushed up against me because I pulled her so close to me. She then looked up at my face and her cheeks turned a pink shade, then she turned away. "Does something trouble you, Christine?" I asked. It was obvious that she was bothered and it was obvious what she was bothered by. I sighed, remembering the night before. "Christine," I repeated. "Is there something the matter?"

Looking down, Christine said in a hushed voice, "Yes, there is... I am sure you know what it is."

"Enlighten me." I tried to speak sarcastically. I wanted to make it seem like I had forgotten about the night before.

"Erik, don't be a fool! Why did... you kiss me last night..." Her eyes were still glued to the floor, but I could tell that she was turning redder. She was embarrassed... or ashamed.

I did not know how to respond, or what to do. "There was no reason" was all I could say. "Erik, please..." She lifted her head and her eyes looked into mine. She stared at me, pleadingly. "Tell me... why?"

"I said there was no reason." I shouted. The ballet dancers turned and looked. Madame Giry approached so I quickly grabbed Christine and dashed away. "Christine Daae, are you doing your stretches?" Madame Giry searched the area with her eyes, "Christine Daae!"

"Erik! What are you doing?" I ran through the Opera House, hiding in the shadows with Christine in my arms. Her voice was muffled because I kept a hand over her mouth. I pushed a door open and quickly shut it behind me, locking it. One wall was just a large mirror and the rest of the room was furnished luxuriously. I put Christine down and let her stand on her feet and I grabbed my head, wiping a drop of sweat that was rolling down my forehead. "I apologise, Christine..."

"Why did you take me here? How come you ran like that? Are we allowed in this room? What will Madame Giry say about my leaving?"

"Christine, please, stop asking so many questions. Nobody stays in this room as of now and Madame Giry will not be angry about you not stretching, I promise."
"I am sorry for asking so many questions... but if I may, I have another question and it is the only question I absolutely want you to answer me, Erik."

Christine put her hands on her face, which was already beginning to turn to pink. She turned her back to me and attempted to ask me the question. "Why... why did you..."

'I said it once, but I can't say it again!' Christine scolded herself in her mind. "Why did you kiss me, Erik?" She turned back around to face me...

But I did not want to face her, so I left the room a different way then we came. She gathered all her courage to ask that question, just to yell it at a wall.

Christine fell onto her knees and cried, "I just want to know the reason, Erik..."

(A/N: Ehh... I tried my best... I hope it's okay.)